Week Eight: Have a Disney Day! Discovering CA Movie Magic

So I regressed back to my childhood happiness and went to visit my friends at Disneyland Resort, CA. It is, conveniently, a 40 minute drive from my Pasadena house and as someone who loves to daydream and read fairytales, it was the perfect trip. The resort is split into two parks – Disneyland and California Adventure Park.

Disneyland

Must do:

Indiana Jones Adventure

Pirates of the Caribbean

Splash Mountain (you will get wet!)

Haunted Mansion

Space Mountain

Buzz Lightyear's Astroblasters

Peter Pan's Flight

 

Must eat:

Blue Bayou – seated inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, it is a magical dining experience inspired by New Orleans and Cajun cuisine. I recommend the gumbo!

 

California Adventure Park

 

Must do:

Twlight Zone: Tower of Terror

Grizzly River Run (you will get soaked – I was splashed in the face and completely drenched!)

Mickey's Fun Wheel

Toy Story Mania

Radiator Springs Racers (queue for the fast pass at the beginning of the day as they run out and you will end up stuck waiting for 2 hours! The ride is, however, worth it!)

Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular

Must see:

World of Colour lights and water show – full of magic and wonder. The waters of Paradise Pier are shot into the air and lit up in a multicolour spectacular. They dance and move to the soundtrack of Disney's famous movies. Scenes are projected onto the water to transport you on an adventurous journey through your favourite films, with your favourite characters.

I wish I could watch it all over again!

 

 

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Week Eight: VEGAS BABY!

Upon hitting the two month barrier this week I decided to escape Pasadena and break from my research self with its tight schedules, rare book request forms and library induced silence and venture out to celebrate my work so far with a blast of Vegas, NV.

One word: AWE-SOME

I have never been anywhere that embodied a superlative before and Vegas captures just that. It was the brightest, loudest and brashest feast for the senses I have ever encountered. It was a whirlwind trip. We drove up (four hours through the desert – thank you air con for keeping us from melting!) and came back the following night.

It was a truly disorientating, yet strangely wonderful place. You find yourself driving constantly along a long, straight road for miles with nothing but barren desert landscape surrounding you, when suddenly there it is, glimmering on the horizon – the Emerald City – Las Vegas. We stayed at the Stratosphere Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard, at the northern end of the famed Strip. Its key attraction is a 1149 foot tall Tower; apparently the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US. You are able to go up to the top and peer out onto the entire stretch of the Strip and it was breathtaking. For the more adventurous, they offer free fall style rides (I wasn't brave enough to try!), I did, however, whole heartedly enjoy the view from the safety of the glass viewing deck.

Shining Strip: View from the Stratosphere Tower

The trip also featured the beautiful Bellagio fountain show (watching it at night is best), some delicious drinks at Margaritaville and the must-do Strip hotel and casino tours. I recommend all of them! Each hotel is completely different, in terms of identity, theme and atmosphere and need to be seen and experienced, as no amount of vivid description can capture them. I have read Baudrillard and studied the hyperreal but it does not compare to the actual experience of standing underneath the “Eif-faux Tower” of the Paris Hotel or walking across the Rialto Bridge at the Venetian.

The Bellagio

Flower Fun: The Bellagio's indoor garden

The Paris Hotel

The main entrance at the Venetian

New York New York Hotel

It was a spectacle and I can definitely say I enjoyed it all! I do hope to return with more time (and money!) and lose myself again in the bright lights, loud music and wonderous sights of this placeless place…before quickly returning back to my reality!

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