Monday, 7/18, Universal Studios

Headed out around 9:45AM to go to Universal Studios in Hollywood.  First we had
to stop to get lunches.  Karen got a break this morning from making the usual
sandwiches as we went to The Bagel Factory and had them make up the sandwiches. 
Then had to fill up gas since it was flirting with the 'E'.

We arrived at Universal Studios at around 11:00.  Put our stuff in a locker and
proceeded to have some fun!!  I think we pretty much hit every attraction. 
Started with the House of Horrors, over to the Terminator 2 3-D movie, The
Simpson's Ride, and then to lunch.  After lunch we did Shrek 4-D and the
WaterWorld stunt show.  This was all in the "Upper Lot" area.

Then we headed to the Studio Tour.  There was an hour long wait, but it was
worth it.  They have a new King Kong 360 3-D experience with it, where the tour
tram goes into this tunnel, but it's really a 360 degree 3-D screen that shows
an action sequence (i.e., big fight) between King Kong and dinosaurs.  They
"jump" over the tram and the tram is bouncing all around in tune with the action
on the screens.  It really is one of a kind.

WaterWorld

Jake and Elwood were IN THE HOUSE!!!

Fast and Furious

Bates Motel

After that we went down to the "Lower Lot".  They have a Jurassic Park ride,
which is like a log flume ride.  The big drop doesn't get you all that wet, but
they just have waterfalls along the way that there's no chance of keeping dry. 
There's also a Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster.  It's indoors and has some
pretty good acceleration.  No real drops, but some nice tight turns.  Then it
stops and you do it backwards.  Karen actually did this one with us.  Maybe this
will be a first for some of the more adventurous coasters in the future???

We then raced over to Special Effects Stage show where they show how special
effects are/were done.  From the old time movies to the current ones using
advanced computer imaging.  The last show would be an Animals Actors show.  The
boys and I skipped it since it was getting close to afternoon prayers time.  So
we went off to a corner and did our thing and the girls went to the show until
we were done.  Then we left the park.

For dinner we went to Jeff's Gourmet Kosher Sausage - a burger place that makes
their own sausages and stuff too.  Lots of choices to pick from.  Most of us got
some form of a burger.  There was no room to sit there so we got it to go. 
Besides for the couple of items they missed on the order (some sides),
everything was great.  We treated everyone as a thanks for a most welcoming stay
here.

Tomorrow is a religious fast day and we will head to the Grand Canyon area
(Kingman, AZ for a couple of nights, then to Flagstaff, AZ for a night).  Better
to drive on the fast day than to be out and about doing something that could be
more tiring.