We got everybody up way earlier than they wanted to and jumped on the 7:01 am Metrolink out of Laguna Niguel. That put us in Union Station by 8:20, and from there to the Red Line subway for a 20 minute ride up to Hollywood & Highland. I snapped a quick shot of the tribe at the Hollywood-Highland Center:
We didn't stay long in Hollywood the first time. It was still early and the real sideshow hadn't really gotten going yet. At that early hour in front of the Chinese Theater there was a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator, and a guy made up like Gene Simmons from KISS, complete with fake tongue. We did see Michael Caine's fresh footprint, handprint and autograph in a newly laid section of concrete in the Chinese Theater courtyard.We jumped back on the subway and went one stop further to Universal City. The subway station is at the bottom of the hill and CityWalk is at the top, so thankfully they provide a shuttle service that keeps you from coronary-inducing hike. I had my daughter take a shot of the other three of us at the famous Universal Studios Fountain.
That last place is the Saddle Ranch Chop-House, a restaurant right outside the main entrance to Universal Studios. We ate lunch there, and may I suggest that if you find yourself hungry and in that area, be advised that you might see that meal again sooner than you planned. The food tasted good and there was plenty of it, but by the time we finished I was in the bathroom throwing up and feeling awful, my son was almost right there with me, and my daughter wasn't feeling well at all. My wife had no problem, and she ate exactly the same thing I did. I don't know what happened, and its probably not even be the restaurant's fault, but be advised.
We walked it off for awhile at CityWalk, and then jumped the subway back to Hollywood to see how things had picked up. There were crowds everywhere, and lots of those character impersonators who try to make a buck taking photos with tourists. There was a Marilyn Monroe, an Elmo, a Tin Man and 6' tall Dorothy, two Capt. Jack Sparrows, a Zorro, three Spidermen, Gene Simmons was still working, two Batmen, and one guy made up like Heath Ledger's Joker who looked scarily like the real thing. I almost got my picture with him because he was so good.
We decided to walk from the Chinese Theater down to Hollywood and Vine, and on the way I spotted a couple of the famous sidewalk stars that had some meaning to me. The first was for HolyCoast dad's all-time favorite singer. He wrote a post about him here.
The second star was for a guy who was being honored for his work on TV, but who is sorely missed this campaign season:
We headed back to Union Station where the rest of the family killed a little time at Olvera Street, and then came back to join me waiting for our 4:30 train home. The day was harder on some of us than others:
The trip home got a little bit interesting when the train stopped at Anaheim Stadium. The matinee game between the Angels and the Red Sox had ended a little earlier, and the southbound Amtrak train that many of the inebriated fans were expecting had been delayed and was actually following a few miles behind us. The fans, apparently not noticing the word "Metrolink" on our train instead of "Amtrak" climbed aboard with much noise and some staggering. The train was pointed in the right direction (though it was only going as far as San Juan Capistrano instead of San Diego), and I guess if you've been sitting in the sun for hours downing beers, any old train will do. It took a fair amount of cajoling by the conductor to convince them they were on the wrong train.
It was a good day (except for the barfing part), and these little train trips are a good way to take a little trip somewhere without paying the ridiculous gas prices. I highly recommend them.
For lots more photos of Hollywood and the Disney Concert Hall, click here for the recap of our February visit up there.
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