I had set the alarm a bit later this morning, because I went to bed so late last night, but happily I wake up about a quarter to five. I slept quite well the first night in the car and feel energized for my favorite hike, to the Hollywood sign. It’s still dark and a bit chilly outside when I start walking, but very soon it’s not cold anymore. The hike up to the sign is always a big climb. It’s very misty this morning which makes it a different experience than last time, I like it though.
In about an hour I reach the Hollywood letters that are barely visible in the mist. I sit down and wait for the sunrise that’s not coming this morning. The mist is too thick for the sun to break through. I still enjoy being here and just as always I think about how this is my favorite place in the world, even without the view of the city. When I start with the return hike, my sister calls and we catch up for a bit. She’s just done with the workday as I’m starting my day with this beautiful hike.
I had planned to go to a coffee place after the hike to do some writing and perhaps some work, but on my way down I get the thought that it might be better to first go to Warner Brothers Studios, which I’d also like to visit today. That turned out to be great inspiration. I arrive at the studios around 10am and there is a Studio Plus tour just leaving in a few minutes. I wanted to do the Plus tour, which is an hour longer, because last year I skipped the movie studios and I love to spend some more time here again. We have a great tour guide who knows a lot about movies and TV-shows. He shows us the backlot (the buildings outside) and the front lot (the indoor studios). Especially the backlot is always fun to see, because there are so many buildings that look very real, but aren’t. Also there a many familiar places from movies and series. The guide also takes us to many of the buildings of Gilmore Girls, one of my favorite series. Upon asking he takes us to Luke’s Diner where I get a picture inside the building that was once a cool coffee place.
We also get to see the props department which is basically a huge warehouse with about 500.000 items that movie studios can rent for their movies and series. As last we get to see a sound studio from the inside where they make sitcoms. They’re not filming there now, but the stages are still there to see and the guide tells us that back in the day they also recorded the Big Bang Theory in this building for a live audience. I wish I could have been there for that.
I’m glad I got to do this tour again. More than two hours fly by super quickly and just after noon we’re dropped of at Central Park (from Friends) where a complimentary lunch is waiting. In Joey style I get a pepperoni pizza and sit down in the coffee place to do some writing. I’m not gonna work here, because I want to keep this a fun-only place. Being here today makes me wanna watch more movies and series when I’m back home and gives me something to look forward to. If someone wants to watch some Friends episodes with me when I’m back, just let me know.
