(Gabi) Today was another Disney day and this one was particularly exciting because we went to California Adventure, a park that is unique to California. It represents the different regions of the State and has a relaxed atmosphere. It certainly helped that this park was less crowded than Disneyland.

What makes CA an instant winner is Cars Land. This is the best themed area I have ever seen. Anywhere. You are literally walking through Radiator Springs from the Pixar movie Cars. The Disney Imagineers (the guys who create the park environments) went all out and put 100% effort into every single corner of the place. This is why I am hopeful for Star Wars Land, because the Imagineers have been knocking it out of the park, lately.

We took a photo with Lightning McQueen because how could we have said no to that face?

Little snack stands in the ‘Cone Motel’.

More of Radiator Springs taken directly from the movie.

The Monster’s Inc. ride was as cute as you’d expect.

And hey! We’re back in Northern California in an area that looks a lot like Monterey!

Chinese Mandarin Chicken and a strawberry Margarita for lunch. Guess which one was mine.

This is the lovely boardwalk area of the park called Paradise Pier. The Mickey Mouse ferris wheel is super iconic.

There’s a huge playground area and trail modeled after Sequoia national park.

The Little Mermaid was the first Disney movie I saw at the cinema and so I couldn’t wait to go on the ride. Beyond adorable.

Thomie coaxed me on that beautiful ferris wheel we saw earlier and it made me a bit nervous.

But the views were worth it!

Time for some ice cream at Ghirardelli. A Famous Fudge Sundae which finally helped me figure out what ‘hot fudge sauce’ is. It’s warm, thick, gooey chocolate-caramel sauce. Incredibly sinful and to die for when you smother cold ice cream in it.

I just love the Tower of Terror, even if I’ve never been brave enough to ride it!

For dinner we went back to Carsland and shared a plate of BBQ ribs with mash and coleslaw. The mac and cheese were a little addition for me, because I just find them super comforting.

Thomie just had to take a photo with Mater.

And this park area gets even more magical after sunset when they switch on all the neon. I am SUCH a sucker for pretty neon signs.

How perfect is that?

The night time spectacle in California Adventure involves a huge wall of fountains, light effects and projections. You just sit there with your jaw hanging open for 25 minutes. They did one part where the fountain goes wild to the Star Wars theme and people were really into it. Us included!

After all that excitement, we drove over to our hotel for the rest of the week in North Hollywood. Best hotel we’ve stayed at so far (the Holiday Inn Express, if you ever want to come here). Some reviews found the neighborhood ‘dodgy’ but I don’t get that feeling at all. Maybe not as posh as Santa Monica, but just a normal residential neighborhood near the motorway access. The hotel is very secure, modern, impeccably clean and the staff is incredibly lovely. Perfect base for us to explore Hollywood from.