I am having such a wonderful time with my friend, Nekisa. Yesterday was the best; we spent the day at Universal studios area and later on Hollywood, where we went up walk of fame and took tons and tons of pictures!
Walking to Universal studios took about an hour from her apartment, which we were the only ones in the area who'd thought about, - that is walking in between places, and not driving. Again, the whole car thing here, that I mentioned in the earlier post from this trip. It was nice to walk and talk about whatever we hadn't been able to for a year. Good to feel the same bond, trust, support and interest in each other's stories - obviously, nothing will change with us I am almost certain.. it's been like this since before we could talk.. so growing up together, knowing there's a friend who knows you inside out - even when you sometimes don't - is undetachable, since also the things we have in common are what we discovered with each other, experiences, people or parts of our personality.
Our walk there reminded us of the walk to Estoril beach from my grandparents house in Portugal, when we had a trip there a few years ago.
We had packed a good lunch for the day and was well prepared to spend time out way after dark at 8-9ish in the evening.
Warner bros. studios, my friend's neighbor building!
Coca cola truck going to a factory nearby! Right: Once, the musical from Broadway is coming to L.A. on tour!
Beautiful tropical flowers.. and to the right; a sign telling me which part of L.A. we're stepping into ;)
L.A. is highway after highway... and lots of cars!
Before approaching Universal studios, my friend pointed out a big green area which she identified for me as the Universal studios' backlot. Here are most of the sets and the big films like 'Back to the future', 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'King Kong' are filmed.
My friend told me the means of a 'green screen' - the fact that most scenes with a nature or any fantasy background that is meant to look like it's set in an exotic place far away is almost always created digitally on a computer, than later on edited as the background into the picture of the actors' scene. When the actors play the scene, they are standing in front of a green screen, which is where the real background later on will be added onto instead.
Of course I was familiar with this, but I hadn't necessarily thought about the fact that almost then entire Pirates of the Caribbean movies had been filmed in a studio!
Half an hour later we finally got to the Universal studios area .. 'area' which I call it, because we didn't actually go into the theme park with amusements and a tour of all the sets, since it costs $90.. but after I discovered that 'Wysteria Lane' from my favortie TV-show Despearate housewives, was built and filmed all through the 10 seasons here, we sure did consider paying the entrance ticket very much!!
We got some great pictures from outside the place though. ;-)
It's just such a paradise, this place!
I found this sign funny! This is where is was filmed ;)
There is a downtown area, which is a neat place with lots of restaurants and a few shops, where you can hang out for the day.. or dance to the music on the big screen that plays music videos all night long.
The Universal downtown area
Candy store, discovering where they get the blood from in Twilight, and discovering overwhelming American sizes...
This is the biggest guitar in the world. When it was built, it was played to a music video. Now it is a figure with no sound.
Fast food.. and art!
Taking in the view ;)
Behind - One of my favorite actresses on the screen behind, from a scene in Frankenstein.
.......
Suddenly a music video played that had been filmed on the exact same place we were sitting ;)
Also - Justin Bieber's music video 'Baby' had been filmed here .. so we also got this picture to greet my sister, who's a big 'Belieber'. Are you jealous? .. and no .. we didn't see him!
I'll keep looking out for him though ;-)
Starbucks refresheners and lunch pack !
Clara! - Do you see the escalators behind us? Those are the ones J. Bieber was on for his music video. - in the beginning and the end of the video. you can recognize the monkey too ;)
After spending a few hours here .. including a refreshing trip to Starbucks, we headed over to Hollywood. Nekisa's class mate, Hank, has a car so we drove there with him and spent the evening there.
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It was actually mindblowing standing on Hollywood boulevard... touching all the stars... finding and empty one for me.. (!)... seeing Hotel Roosevelt where Marilyn Monroe died... touching the fingerprints and signature of Meryl Streep and many more ... and last but definitely not least - my favorite spot was seeing the Dolby theatre. One of the biggest buildings on the boulevard.. but this is the place The Oscars are held every year. The entire road that I was standing on was closed off for all the film stars, as I was watching it on TV at home in New York. Wowaa!
Here is a bunch of amazing pictures from the place we'll definitely get back to. We might drive to Disneyland too, to see the area and get a glimpse of the magic, that I've dreamed to see for so long.
The first sign telling us we're in Hollywood!
How appropriate that this was the first star I found ;)
Me and Nekisa cuddlin' by each of our ideal male lead actors!
Dress look-a-likes. Here is Michael Jackson. Some of them really look like the actual people, awesome but creepy too, knowing this one is dead..
One of the greatest in film history. The creator of ET stood here
This was probably one of the best moments in a long time. This was awesome. If I could say I have an idol, it's definitely her. She's the greatest!
A gift to Clara from Nekisa. Looks cool right?
Hey Franni og Zaka! Cool right?
I think I look a bit like her, lying there..
L: One of the greatest and most noble storytellers of our time. R: a memorial statue for Marilyn Monroe. The coins thrown in the water contribute to theatre. A wish/dream that is taken care of, not just staying in the water..
The King of pop... when he was a tiny star.. and later on too!
This is cool right Grandma and granddad? I know you love this one, and loved seeing him live in London!
Transformers live on the street!
Coffe break!
Flashback, - this was my afternoon:
Back to Hollywood!...
The American dream..
A former Egyptian theatre. Now a great mall/dining area - and perfect spot for gazing at the Hollywood sign!
I thought I saw some of them, but they were just pictures!.. They're kind of everywhere..
Moonriver, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style someday...
A standard ballad in my audition book, a very dear song to me of a genius.
We love this star.
Known in my family as the bullock-lady.. Zaka: "Bullock-damen". Ik?
Quotes and inspiring words about former talents who made it to the screen or helped on it somehow in the industry.
These were some of the biggest stars for me, when I was a young teenager. It sure has changed.. but it was very awesome to see, knowing how much I wanted to then..!
The original wizard in Wicked on Broadway!
Best.moment.ever.
A phone book carving of Frank Sinatra,
who's literally a hero in the performing arts!
Star maps available. Isn't it ridiculous, awesome and creepy at the same time? We found Elvis too, but he turned around when I sneaked up my camera..! (Maybe it was Phil?!)
Without this man there would be no magic in Disney movies, and music would have been nothing as far as what it is now, without him. Let's meet the guy one day?!
Be cool.. Nope, can't be. This is where the Oscars are!
We won an Oscar.. for our music videos. Didn't we say??
Late at night we met with two more of Nekisa's friends, Issa and Majit. It was great seeing my friendly faces in this city and seeing more of my friend's world here.
.. Oh.. and then there was of course time for another of my timeless dips in the pool!
Midnight swim.. ah!
Crazy Nekisa hyperactive and overtired
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Today, Thursday, I've just been chillin' and swimming and reading a whole book today by the pool. Gotten extremely tanned.. unfortunately also a bit burnt.. but all happy and relaxed. The way it should be on holiday!
To be continued....
