I had been looking forward to this particular weekend trip for a while, and I will tell you up front… it did not disappoint! Heather did have a pretty bad headache and the drive home was a bit longer than usual, but overall it was lovely. Well… lovely… and depressing. Yeah… you’ll see.
“If sailor tales and sailor tunes, storm and adventure, heat and cold. If schooners, islands and maroons and buccaneers and buried gold, and all the old romance retold exactly in the ancient way can please as me they pleased of old the wiser youngsters of today… So be it!” – RLS
Friday. September 21. 2012.
Once again, we stayed with our friends, Nicole and Donnie, at their condo in the Castle Green in Pasadena. Sadly, it may have been the last time as they might be moving in the near future.
We got there late and didn’t do much before we went to bed cuz Heather and I were tired.
Saturday. September 22. 2012.
Oh boy! The day I had been waiting for! My very first visit to the Walt Disney Studios! Eek!
Why was I visiting the studios? Well… I am a member of d23… the official Disney fan club. D23 holds many events for its members. One of them is called From The Vaults. At these particular events, members have the chance to watch a classic Disney film at the Walt Disney Studios in the main theater on the lot. The movie for this day was Treasure Island. One of my favorite Disney films of all time! I couldn’t pass this up.
Doubt I’ll ever live somewhere with a view as lovely as this…
When I woke up in the morning, I looked out the window to check out the amazing view and quickly remembered what was in store for me later in the day.
To say I was excited would be quite the understatement.
Loved waking up to this view!
We weren’t leaving for a few more hours, so I decided to pass the time by being mean.
Sorry, Heather!
Heather was still asleep. I had access to a puppet of Angel (the vampire with a soul). I laid him down next to her on the pull out couch she was sleeping on. He was inches away from her face and staring right at her. I gave her a nudge. It wasn’t an intense reaction, but there was a reaction. And it was awesome. She actually thought, for a second, that it was me and my face had somehow become disfigured. Yikes!
Historic! Beautiful! Totally rad!
Time seemed to be going slower than usual, but, eventually, it was time to go!
Is this real life?
We made it to the studios!
So many emotions! All good, of course.
Magic is made in there!
Seeing all of these historic Disney buildings and being on the lot that Walt actually worked at and built was really intense. It was the same feeling I get when I’m at Disneyland and I look at the light in the window of Walt’s apartment. Both are places that wouldn’t have existed without Walt. They both have brought, and still bring, joy to millions and millions of people around the world. They’re both physical representations of his beautiful vision.
“Them that die will be the lucky ones!”
Movie time!
Not much to say about Treasure Island…
It’s really a perfect film. Great for all ages. The acting is almost too good. The sets are beautiful. The story is fun. And seeing it in the Walt Disney Studios? Magic.
One of the best movie props ever made!
We really weren’t allowed to walk around too much, but they did let us go see the amazing fake street sign from The Reluctant Dragon. Definitely going to create a DIY replica of it someday.
The magnificent Golden Gate Theater CVS!
After being kicked out of the studios (sad face), we decided that the only logical thing to do next was visit Disneyland!!! Off we went!
We did need to make a stop at a drug store on the way, so Nicole used her handy dandy smart phone to find us one and we started making our way to it. On the way, we spotted a CVS sign! Huzzah! Upon further inspection, I freaked out. Why’d I freak out? Well… this was no ordinary CVS… this was the Golden Gate Theater CVS!
What a weird juxtaposition…
Last month, when the new CVS opened, I read an article about it at The Eastsider LA. I knew I’d want to visit it someday, but I never thought I’d just randomly happen upon it!
A little history from the Los Angeles Conservancy…
Built in 1927 at the prominent corner of Whittier and Atlantic Boulevards in unincorporated East Los Angeles, the Golden Gate Theatre is one of a handful of neighborhood movie palaces remaining in Southern California. It is the only East Los Angeles building listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Spanish Churrigueresque-style theatre was designed by William and Clifford Balch, who also participated in the design of the El Rey Theatre on Wilshire Boulevard and the Fox Theatre in Pomona.
It had been empty and unused for almost 20 years until CVS stepped up and asked to turn it into one of its stores. There was some controversy surrounding its approval, but, in the end, CVS won and the Golden Gate Theatre was turned into a drug store.
Anyway… it was weird inside, but I loved the crap out of it.
We got our stuff and were off to Disneyland!
Nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom!
Disneyland! Well… California Adventure. Whatever. We made it!
First order of business… food. What we chose? BREAD BOWLS at the Pacific Wharf. Yum!
Next? White Water Snacks in the Grand Californian! Why? Nicole had never been and Heather and I love the crap out of it and want everyone we know to know how freaking amazing it is. She loved it, of course. We had a great time just hanging out and chatting. I had a beer.
After that? Mad T Party. No boozing it up or dancing took place. Just wanted to go see if the band was playing. We missed it. DAMN.
DCA was about to close so we went on over to Disneyland! Didn’t wanna stay long, but I really wanted to do at least one ride. The ride we chose? Haunted Mansion Holiday. It rocked. We got to listen to Fantasmic! while we waited in line. The new gingerbread house was out of control amazing. Really bummed that I’m probably not going to be able to visit during Christmastime this year. Oh well. Disneyland’s not going anywhere… plenty more Christmastimes in the future!
After that, it was time to head back to Pasadena for sleepy times.
I don’t wanna go! You can’t make me!
Sunday. September 23. 2012.
Time to go home.
Morning. Balcony. Cat. Feet.
Usually, Heather and I drive straight home once we leave Pasadena. Not today.
Today, we were taking a different route home. A route that contained two points of interest.
The Salton Sea and The Center of the World.
First up… THE SALTON SEA.
For those of you who don’t know much about this fantastically depressing place, check out its Wikipedia page or, better yet, watch this amazing video.
Powerful, huh?
The Salton Sea… yeah…
There ya go. That about sums it up. Want a better description of what it was like?
Here’s what my lovely wife thought about it:
Adam asked me to write a little something about my thoughts of the Salton Sea. Well, that place blows. Sure, I could think of something positive or nice to say, but really, it’s just a sucky creepy, spooky-scary place. The history is interesting and depressing and everything so it seemed like it might be worthwhile to stop by, but seriously that place will change you. I mean, it will change your insides. It kind of made my insides want to be on my outsides. That SMELL. It was EVERYWHERE. I guess I knew it would smell bad by the water, I mean, there are literally fish just rotting all over the place right there, but miles from the water and it still smelled. BAD.
The flies were eerie too. I never thought of flies as being eerie before. There was something about how there were so many attacking the car, trying to get in… where I was hiding. Adam says they were just there because of the dead bugs on our car. Really, that doesn’t make it any better, but I don’t even think that was it. I think they were trying to hitch a ride. Not even flies would want to be there. When we first got there we didn’t see anyone for the longest time. It was so weird. I know it was supposed to be sort of deserted and whatever, but seriously. Rows and rows of obviously occupied houses and we didn’t see anyone. Eventually we did see people. I quickly found myself wondering why I had hoped to see anyone in the first place. At that point I wanted to be alone again.
Yeah, I’m a changed woman. The Salton Sea is the saddest place I’ve ever seen, or smelled. Worse than a CPS office. Swears. Ok, maybe not worse than a CPS lunch room where a family visit is taking place during my lunch hour and a baby’s diaper is being changed ON TOP of the lunch table to my right, but still… really sad. To get to the water you have to walk over millions of little dead fishy bones! Ok, I’m really not sure that’s what they are to be honest, but some of them are definitely bones and the rest doesn’t seem like regular sand. I guess it wouldn’t now that I think about it. I mean… that water shouldn’t be there so… the sand couldn’t just be regular. Right?
Well, that’s about all I have to say about that place. Kind of don’t even want to talk about it anymore. I know Adam’s going to make us go back. I’m not looking forward to it, but I don’t think it will be as bad. I know what to expect now. It would be better with a group though. I’d feel less like I needed to lock the door as we drive around. Hopefully. Any takers?
Sounds fabulous, huh?
The Salton Sea beach…
That picture makes it almost seem nice…
There is no sand… only fish bones…
Yuck.
A very common sight…
Gross.
Eerie signs for the Salton Sea Beach Marina
Creepy.
Freeway entrance sign… enticing, huh?
Yeah. We didn’t hang out for too long. I do want to go back, but I need to emotionally prepare myself first. That truly was a life changing experience.
Next up… The Center of the World!!!
Well… that was the plan.
Center of the World Plaza in Felicity, CA
As you can see, we didn’t get there until dark. I think we could have gone in and looked around at the monuments, but it seemed creepy and we were getting tired.
Not sure what The Center of the World is? Have a look at the Felicity, CA webpage!
Welp… that’s it! We did stop in Yuma for a bit, but it was stupid and crappy and we hated it so I took no pictures and don’t wanna talk about it! Psh!
Bye bye! I love you!
The post Trip Report Three: Treasure Island, CVS, and the Salton Sea appeared first on San Magnifico.