London...HARRY POTTER TOUR!

Ok...prepare to be bombarded by just way too many pictures and movies. This is a MUST DO for anybody that even slightly likes Harry Potter!!! And get the audio tour with it! There are clips from the actors, etc talking about their times there and what it was like. When they were talking about how there was a school set up for them there at the studio (or thereabouts) and going to classes together and then working together...it sounded like the dream of a life time!!! (For those who may not know, there is a part of me that will always wish I had become an actress-I loved being in plays growing up; it's something I dream about all the time- and not necessarily big movies; just once on broadway- or a tv series...anyway).
Hmm...I've already been distracted. Back to starting from the beginning of the day. We walked a direction we hadn't gone before to catch an overland train. London is organized in to 9 zones as far as travel goes. The studio is just outside of the 9th zone, or the furthest zone. (oh, while I'm thinking about it and since I didn't mention it before, London city is actually just a tiny part in the very center. The rest is West Minister...and other cities...or something-back to HP). On the ride we rode across from an older lady. She was very excited about a musical concert she was going to with her daughter. As we were walking off the train to catch the next one, she looked at me and said, "You have a light around you!". I was taken back by the comment. I was a teenager the last time I was told that. I thought the light had disappeared a long time ago. I told her thank you, and tried not to cry. I was so happy.
The ride there was beautiful. There were so many trees and greenery, and very old houses, and dirty parts too, but I loved the ride. At the end of the train, you hopped on a magical Harry Potter bus!!!! that took you the rest of the way to the studio. When I saw the bus I started freaking out and saying, "AH! This is really happening!"!!!!! This is a small part of the bus.

And then we got there and I was totally overwhelmed and started taking pictures left and right...so the rest of this post is going to be over six hours worth of pictures. Oh! And halfway through the tour you get to eat at a cafe in the studio and I had butterbeer for the first time, and it WAS DELICIOUS!!!! I bought two of them...because it was so good!!! Butterscotch drink is what I'd explain it as. Go get some! I don't know if I had a favorite part. It was all so good. AGH! There are no words! It's too overwhelming...so you just get pictures. If you want details about a certain picture, then ask! I would love nothing more to explain! I hope blogger lets me load all fo them. May have to do two posts. 

above is the boys gryffindor room, and below is common room..for a couple pics, then it moves on 

 dumbledor's office below. then potions. then other stuff

can I just tell you how much it hurt any time I saw the twins stuff together?!

 this is how they made the doe and stag patronus. they put a light suit on a dog that ran. And to hear the stories of using and training all the animals! so fun!

 holy cow I LOVED the chess pieces!!! It's a favorite part of mine in the movies, too.

So, I realize these pictures are poor quality, so I bought a book of the studio tour. Feel free to come and look at it! Pictures can never, ever do it justice though. Just being there where they all were and seeing all of the things actually used in the movies; it was overwhelming...and wonderful...and I'm a dork, but I loved it.!!! Really it's a must see. Make sure you get your tickets a month in advance though...or more...they sell out that far in advance. To see the things move, and hear how they did special effects and...I can't remember the other term. Some things are done in the film, some things are done after the film...I can't remember which is which now. I need to go again. You could go several times and still not catch it all. More than once they talked about how these sets and props were not meant to last more than a few months (except like the great hall, etc), but they are still there. They are all so beautiful! The detail! I cannot even begin to explain! And like the Olivander wands?! 17,000 of those things were made with handdrawn labels, and the portraits (which there are hundreds) all handpainted; many after members of the production staff, directors, etc. I had no idea the amount of work and detail...it's extremely difficult to comprehend. But anyway- GO! Just GO!