Saturday, I went on the Harry Potter Studio Tour at Leavesden Studios/Warner Bros. I stood in the same sound stages where they filmed the movies, where Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Feinnes and Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson stood. Props, sets, costumes, creatures and models, all alluringly arranged for everyone to exclaim over and capture in megabytes.
From the grand, breathtaking entrance to the tiniest details--like the fact that every wand box (and there are probably thousands) in Ollivander's shop has a handmade label--the cinematic world came to life. It's fascinating to see how the Gringotts vault car worked, and how a tiny model of a dementor could become so gigantic and terrifying in the third movie. So much care and passion went into every aspect of the films, and it shows. It's astonishing and awe-inspiring.
Sunday, I took a train up to Thirsk, in the heart of Yorkshire. I wanted to visit the home of my other huge literary/media love: All Creatures Great and Small. Originally heartwarming novels written by a country vet named James Alfred Wight (Alfie), these stories became a TV show with BBC, a play, a new spinoff series, and more. The BBC show had something like 37 million viewers in the US when it aired.
The stories revolve around the life and times of this country vet, as he visits hard-scrabble farms and tackles tough cases. There is a museum dedicated to his life, his work, his writing, and the BBC show, set in the house where Wight lived and worked. There are even actual sets from the show that you can see up close. Gazing up the staircase, even though it only went up a dozen steps or so, I was sure I'd see Tristan or Mrs. Hall coming down, ready with a quick quip. It was quite an experience being on the set of such a beloved show.
Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to visit Herriot Country. And I wasn't disappointed today. These vast expanses of wild country are carpeted in heather and gorse, with grazing sheep like woolly polka dots on the emerald hillsides. Ruins of medieval castles and abbeys remind you of the history here, and make for interesting afternoon jaunts. Thanks to a friendly Yorkshireman, I got a personal tour of Helmsley Castle, and a good bit of insight into life on the moors as well.
In his words, "In 20 years, I've never gotten fed up with it. I came here for a weekend, and I never left. How could you leave all this?" And I completely understand. The earthy smell of loam and the intermittent bleating of ewes are enchanting. When locations have only been settings of stories for you, and imagined adventures, they don't even seem real when you're there. I can't wait until my next trip to the Yorkshire moors.
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