Universal Studios and Hollywood, CA

Day 15 CA 

July 15th, Wednesday

Today started out as a travel day. We left Las Vegas early morning and we drove to California. We arrived at Unversal Studios Hollywood at 11, and we had half a day to spend there. 

   I was very excited! I've been to Unversal Studios Florida in February with Saki, but this one was so different! The whole experienced started interestingly. I found a phone in the bathroom 2 minutes after we got off the bus. I wanted to bring it to the lost and found, but the girl who it belonged to called the number. We met up inside the park, and she got her phone back. It felt good, doing something nice to a stranger. I just hope, that if I ever get in a sitiation like this, someone will help me too. 

  The first thing we did in the park was watch a Waterworld show. It was rated the #1 show, and I understand why. It was a stunt performance by Hollywood's best stunt actors. It was a in a giant pool, that reminded me of dolphinshows. But the decoration was very steampunk. It was an exciting performance about finding dry land in a futuristic land of water. Lots of explosions, pyrotechnics, jetskis and stunts. It was very impressive.

  Afterwards, we could meet the cast of the show, so we chatted with the actors. Some of them were in famous movies and TV shows. For example I met a dancer from Magic Mike and Mac's stuntdouble from Marvel's Agents of Shield!!

  Of course we had to go on the behind the scenes tour of the studios! Whoever knows me, that my life is watching movies, so this was my scene. We sat in these carts, and we drove through a still functioning studio area. A narrator told us about the history of the place, and we just sat there, watching in awe. I did anyway. I was at the  square where Back to the Future was shot!!!! That is a whole new level of awesome!

  There was also two different 3D experiences built in to the tour, one of them was directed by Peter Jackson. It was a King Kong vs T-Rex fight, that we found ourselves in the middle of. It was said to be the most intense 3D experience in the world, and it really was something new. I was very impressed, we all felt like we were in the dino era again!

  The whole tour was around 1 hour long, and it was so worth it! I saw sound stages, the sets of Back to the Future, Jaws, Spider-man, and so many more!! Anybody who goes to Universal Studios can't miss this!

   Afterwards, the group had dinner at Krusty Burgers, in the Simpson themed part of the park. The last attraction we went on was Krustyland, another 3D experience. We were put in this room with a giant quarter globe screen. and these cars that moved to the image's changes. It was very believable and so much fun. 

  We went back to the bus, and after everybody gathered, we headed to Hollywood. It's much different to hear about LA traffic and be in it. I noticed that right away. It took us a while to get there.

   Honestly, Hollywood was one of the funnest places we've been so far. It's just one street, but it's filled with people, sounds, and sights to see. For most of the time, we were walking around with our heads down, reading the hundreds of stars that bear the names of famous actors, actresses, singers, directors, sporters and many more. I took a pictures of almost every one I knew (there are lots of old movie stars I never heard about, so there wasn't a lot), but I was specifically looking for Steven Spielberg's star. Once I found it, I took a picture with him, and I didn't care about the dirt when I lay on the ground. I really admire his work as a director. 

  I was really sad, that we only got one hour to spend there. We should have had a full day Universal, and at least half a day in Hollywood. We didn't even see the Hollywood sign, only for a few seconds from the bus. But being there was just a dream come true. I'm definitely going to come back! This day was filled with movies and TV, literally my life. I'm very happy that we had this day on the bustrip.