Round the West - Day 34

We actually set out today intending on doing most of the run to the Grand Canyon, but as we were driving by LA, the siren call of Hollywood issued forth and we cancelled our hotel reservation in Arizona, booked one in Barstow, CA, and called up Paramount Studios to book the last two spots they had on their 2pm tour (there are four tours a day with 18 people let in each time; what a horror it must be to get tickets during the summer). We were about an hour away by that point so we arrived early, were told we couldn't park in the main parking lot so went around the corner and found parking on the street and walked to a cafe on the opposite corner from the studio. It was like visiting a New York deli only without the New York part - they even had four different kinds of proper New York bagels. We had a sandwich called a Kremlin (like a Reuben only with roast beef and barbecue sauce). Very tasty. They also had fantastic, homemade lemonade there. By the time we finished, it was time for our tour (you have to arrive a half hour early) so we parked in the proper parking lot and went through security. I used the guard's toilet and was amused to find they had one of the chairs from Monk in there. They passed us from one person to the Paramount store where you were encouraged to wait and buy something, though there was nothing really of interest other than Iron Man toys. Our tour guide was very friendly and tried to get us in a lot of places though we were only ultimately allowed on two lots.

The tour starts outside and we were shown one of the cars used in the 4th Indiana Jones film. We also had a great view of the Hollywood sign. From there, we were drive round the lot to see where Lucille Ball used to work and where the cast of Cheers went crazy. We were allowed on the set of some new show called Privileged (which sounds quite boring, frankly) but it was interesting to see the set which was in the process of being converted into a new set of rooms. From there, we were driven round 'New York'. The bottom, corner store in that picture was the cafe where Indy met his son and got into the fight with the 50's stereotypes, and was also the place where Peter Parker made a fool of himself in Spiderman 3, and I'm sure, a bunch of other places as well. This alley way, in 'Chicago' is where they filmed a lot of Angel and Charmed scenes apparently. We saw the giant sky backdrop where they filmed the exit scene for The Truman Show. We also learnt that they do very silly things to accommodate Tom Cruise's shortness *L*

Probably the coolest part of the tour was when we were allowed on the set of Monk (sorry, no pics were allowed). We got to wander through the police precinct and marvel at the details of half done crosswords on tables and strange little notes written on things. The police set was right next to Monk's apartment set which was interesting to explore. You could check out his alphabetically arranged music and record collection. Very neat.

From there, we went to the original Paramount gates with their pretty fountain which they only just turned on because they were filming another show out on the lawn there (Dirty Sexy something or another). (Here's a fun tidbit, apparently they just hire actual bums off the street when they need them - easy casting.) Forest Gump's bench was also on the side near there. Here's Dad playing the part:)

The tour ended after that so Dad and I hoped in the car, stopped for drinks down the road then navigated out of Los Angeles and north (because you have to go north before you can go east *sigh*) There was a gorgeous sunset at our backs and the full(?) moon tonight was amazing. We watched it rise over the desert hills as we drove, a bright orange. Later, at the hotel, it looked like this.

Tomorrow, we head towards the Grand Canyon, though we won't get there until the day after. By my calculations, were not only on the last leg of our trip, but it should take only another week or so to finish off all our touristy stuff (still have to stop by my brothers on the way back etc).

Round the West - Day 34

We actually set out today intending on doing most of the run to the Grand Canyon, but as we were driving by LA, the siren call of Hollywood issued forth and we cancelled our hotel reservation in Arizona, booked one in Barstow, CA, and called up Paramount Studios to book the last two spots they had on their 2pm tour (there are four tours a day with 18 people let in each time; what a horror it must be to get tickets during the summer). We were about an hour away by that point so we arrived early, were told we couldn't park in the main parking lot so went around the corner and found parking on the street and walked to a cafe on the opposite corner from the studio. It was like visiting a New York deli only without the New York part - they even had four different kinds of proper New York bagels. We had a sandwich called a Kremlin (like a Reuben only with roast beef and barbecue sauce). Very tasty. They also had fantastic, homemade lemonade there. By the time we finished, it was time for our tour (you have to arrive a half hour early) so we parked in the proper parking lot and went through security. I used the guard's toilet and was amused to find they had one of the chairs from Monk in there. They passed us from one person to the Paramount store where you were encouraged to wait and buy something, though there was nothing really of interest other than Iron Man toys. Our tour guide was very friendly and tried to get us in a lot of places though we were only ultimately allowed on two lots.

The tour starts outside and we were shown one of the cars used in the 4th Indiana Jones film. We also had a great view of the Hollywood sign. From there, we were drive round the lot to see where Lucille Ball used to work and where the cast of Cheers went crazy. We were allowed on the set of some new show called Privileged (which sounds quite boring, frankly) but it was interesting to see the set which was in the process of being converted into a new set of rooms. From there, we were driven round 'New York'. The bottom, corner store in that picture was the cafe where Indy met his son and got into the fight with the 50's stereotypes, and was also the place where Peter Parker made a fool of himself in Spiderman 3, and I'm sure, a bunch of other places as well. This alley way, in 'Chicago' is where they filmed a lot of Angel and Charmed scenes apparently. We saw the giant sky backdrop where they filmed the exit scene for The Truman Show. We also learnt that they do very silly things to accommodate Tom Cruise's shortness *L*

Probably the coolest part of the tour was when we were allowed on the set of Monk (sorry, no pics were allowed). We got to wander through the police precinct and marvel at the details of half done crosswords on tables and strange little notes written on things. The police set was right next to Monk's apartment set which was interesting to explore. You could check out his alphabetically arranged music and record collection. Very neat.

From there, we went to the original Paramount gates with their pretty fountain which they only just turned on because they were filming another show out on the lawn there (Dirty Sexy something or another). (Here's a fun tidbit, apparently they just hire actual bums off the street when they need them - easy casting.) Forest Gump's bench was also on the side near there. Here's Dad playing the part:)

The tour ended after that so Dad and I hoped in the car, stopped for drinks down the road then navigated out of Los Angeles and north (because you have to go north before you can go east *sigh*) There was a gorgeous sunset at our backs and the full(?) moon tonight was amazing. We watched it rise over the desert hills as we drove, a bright orange. Later, at the hotel, it looked like this.

Tomorrow, we head towards the Grand Canyon, though we won't get there until the day after. By my calculations, were not only on the last leg of our trip, but it should take only another week or so to finish off all our touristy stuff (still have to stop by my brothers on the way back etc).