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It's good to be back.  What a ride.

Day 19 Last One

We slept in and spent the morning packing up the ole suitcases for the last time.  

We have had a marvellous adventure.  

We spent the day mooching aroundDowntown  Disney.  We caught a movie.....

Met a robot....

Went bowling......nice shoes man.....

And ate ice cream whilst waiting for our shuttle bus to LAX.

M-I-C see you real soon K-E-Y why? because we like you! M-O-U-S-E!!!

Ahhhh the Disney Way is the good way!

That's all folks. Thanks for listening. 

Day 18 California Adventure Park

Well, Day 2 at Disneyville was awesome too.  California Adventure Park today. 

My research paid off again.  We lined up early for the 8am opening and were in the park for the countdown.  Lach and Grace sprinted off to the gigantuan roller coaster (California Screamin') and Rose and I lined up for the passes to the Cars movie ride.  

The tactics were great for Cars but the roller coaster opened later that day so Grace did not get on until mid morning but all good.

We headed over to Grizzly River Run which was awesome and deserted.  I lost count of the times we rode on it.

Me in my poncho.....

No poncho for Lach.....unfortunately they didn't sell Mickey chafing powder ....

It was way cool.

The rest of the day was spent on the Goofy Skyride, Cars...

That would be me holding on for dear life  behind Grace's hand.  

The Ferris wheel....

And eating more junk.

With  more crowds.

Many hours were spent waiting for kids on rides and in lines but that was fun too.  

The people watching at Disney was part of the attraction.  It's hard to describe but people just love being there and dressing up.  I found it fascinating and uplifting.  It really was all about escaping the real world and having fun.  No Ebola or ISIS here!  And, there is a sign saying you can't take your weapons into the park which is great too!

We went home again for a mid arvo rest 

and went back for the evening light show which was fantastic. 

My only comment would be that there should be more acknowledgment of past animated classics and Walt himself.  Robin Hood is a classic and so is Fantasia and Three Cabelleros.  They don't even exist in the parks.  

We went back to the hotel and were lucky enough to see the Halloween fireworks at Disneyland from our room.

Aw gee.  It's just the happiest place on earth.

Day 17 Disneyland - the original

We were off and racing early.  After possibly the worst breakfast spread I have ever been confronted with (Fakin' Bacon) we were at the gates by 8.20am for a 9am opening.

Ready to rumble.

Then the crowd actually counted down 5...4...3...2...1.....woo hoo.  

Hello Walt!

Getting the most out of Disneyland requires much background research, forward planning, maps and patience.  It was amusing watching all the other "guests" tackle the mammoth day out that is Disney.

Lach and Grace wouldn't come at matching family tee shirts but we all received our "first timers" badges and wore those - even Lach.

There were a lot of matching tee shirts.  One family had on the kids' tee shirts "If lost, call .... " with a phone number.  The parents' tee shirts had "If lost, call Jesus".  Oh brother.......

We named one dad "Running Man" as he literally sprinted from ride to ride, his tired kid in tow, sweat pouring out of him.  I don't think he was having a happy day but he was covering some ground.

We got on as many rides as we could but  did not queue up if the wait was over 20 minutes.  We didn't do too badly but missed out on some of the iconic retro rides.  Maybe next time sistas.   

Lunch.

Or a snack?  Get your Disney pickle here.

We went back to hotel for siesta and swim and tackled the old place again at 6pm.

Lucky for us we met Pluto....

And Mickey.....

And some princesses......

And Goofy.

A fun day was had by all - even Lach enjoyed it.  We left about 10pm totally shattered.  Unfortunately it was Columbus Day and the crowds were huge but people watching is part of the magic.

California Adventure Park tomorrow.

Day 16 The Happiest Place on Earth

Back in the 70s, lying on the mission brown carpet watching the Pye TV set on a Sunday night, a little girl dreamed of going to Disneyland.  Well folks, today I arrived.  I think I am more excited than anyone else and am astounded that Lach and Grace refuse to entertain my idea of wearing matching t shirts.  The sistas would wear them!

We arrived in Anaheim this arvo to bright blue skies and more fast food outlets than I have ever seen. 

I was glad to be out of the cesspit that is Hollywood and all the smog and decay that goes with it. 

We have checked into our motel across the road from the entrance (prime position thanks to my research), goggled the tips, picked up the maps, prioritised the rides and are ready to rumble at sunrise tomorrow.

Bibbidy, bobbidy boo.

Day 15 Makin' Movies

It was up and at 'em early to beat the heat. 

First stop, Graumanns Chinese Theatre. 

Next stop, breakfast of champions at Maccas followed by a big walk down Hollywood Bvd, into La Brea and onto Melrose - we walked for miles through some particularly unsavoury neighbourhoods.  

We finally reached Paramount Studios to buy Dad a 100th anniversary commemorative something but could not get in the gate or gift shop without a tour ticket.  So unAmerican to not let us into a gift shop!  Sorry Dad.

We staggered back to the hotel, rested up and then went off to the Warner Bros studio at Burbank.  

Not enough nostalgia for me but the kids loved being on the sets of their fave shows - Big Bang Ellen, Friends.  

Rosie also loved the Batman exhibits.  She is a Batman freak. 

Rose got sorted into Gryffindor......

Lach was sorted into Slytherin. Boo hiss...

Legendary WB sound stages.

I walked the same floors as some real stars.  As opposed to the actors in sit coms.........

And to cap off a great day, I met up with Emily - my soul mate from uni days - we were inseparable. She now lives in Seattle with her lovely family but was in LA for the weekend.  You can't make old friends xx

And it's off to The Happiest Place on Earth tomorrow.  Lachlan can't wait 😃.

Day 14 La La Land

A 5.30am wake up call to get out to Dulles early for a 9am flight.  We are used to sleeping in so it was a tough morning.

Lach was so tired he said yes to turkey bacon when he bought his breakfast.  What is with that?  There is turkey and there is bacon.  If it's turkey, it's not bacon.  There is no lamb ham or beef wings so there ain't no turkey bacon.  Don't get me started on chicken fried chicken.....

And while we are on food, here is Lachlan's 5th unsuccessful

attempt to get a "decent coffee" in DC.

Me, I have learned to drink the regular filtered stuff.  It's less stressful than dropping $4.00 on a coffee that deep down, you know is not going to meet your expectations.  Give it up Lach!!

We enjoyed our 5 hour flight with free access to 30 TV channels.  I simultaneously watched The Lake with Keanu, Queen Latifah's morning show and the Bobby Deniro/Billy Crystal movie about the mobster and the psychiatrist - bada bing, bada boom.  We gained three hours due to the time difference so arrived in LA only two hours after we left DC........

Landed in LAX and after waiting forever for a shuttle bus, drove through 40 minutes of the most depressed, dilapidated suburbs we have seen in a long time.  Car wrecks, oil rigs (????) and run down old shops.

Got to our hotel, just down the road from Hollywood Bowl and just up the road from Hollywood Boulevard (Boulevard of Broken Dreams indeed).  Like Luke Wilson in Paris at Midnight, I have finally made it to Hollywood but I am 80 years too late.  If you squint at some buildings, close your ears and imagine real hard, you can almost imagine what it was like in the golden years.  Almost. 

The beautiful old Max Factor salon has been turned into a museum of sorts but I was thrilled just to be in the same building where he worked his magic on Jean Harlow, Lucille Ball, Greta Garbo just to name a few.

I read his biography several months ago so knew all about the building and his work.  Max Factor single handedly invented movie make up and was responsible for all those beautiful film star faces that we have come to love over the years.  Platinum blondes, bee sting lips, big fake eyelashes.

Here are some of his original products.

Also amongst the artefacts was this holy grail  - Jeannie's bottle!

And of course, THE sign.

 

So, we only have a day and a half here which will be plenty.  I'm sure there are beautiful neighbourhoods somewhere but we don't have the time to find 'em.

I will leave you with a question - who in their right mind would put their bank card into this ratty ATM?  What the?

 Ciao for now