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Published: August 17th 2010
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What day is it?
Since we last wrote we had a busy day of travelling, a flight from Washington DC to LAX, and then collection of a car that reminds me of the Dukes of Hazard car - you know the ugly orange one with the black stripes! Then we set off on the lengthy drive to Las Vegas.
I was a pretty tired by the time we got in - due to the time differences from the West to East coasts and the travel. So we had a quiet first night in Vegas & a nice swim in the pool.
Yesterday (Monday 16th) we headed off on a walk after breakfast. We visited most major casinos/sights on the MGM end of the strip. Although our hotel is one block back from the strip, it is in the dead centre of the strip - which suits us perfectly. So we saw everything we wanted to on 50% of the strip and I’m sure we’ll head out and see the other half later.
Our favourite was the Paris casino complex so far - the furniture was very comfortable and it seemed clean and cool. We stopped for a
drink in the Rainforest Café in the MGM Casino complex - it was funny, with rain and pretend monkeys etc.
After a few hours of walking and the odd flutter we were well and truly over the heat (ohh the heat!) and crowds and went back to the hotel. Matt took his ugly car for a drive out to the valley of fire and I headed to the day spa for some relaxing and pampering - bliss!
Last night we went for a drive, to see what was outside of the strip area and came across Chinatown and the suburbs. Also the old Las Vegas. I believe the Las Vegas part we’re staying in is 20 or 30 years old. So I wonder when my Nanna and Poppa came to Las Vegas whether it was where we are now or the old Vegas?
Tuesday 17th
This morning the alarm went off way too early. Our stretch limo was picking us up at 605am!
We headed out on our helicopter adventure to the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately Emma the scaredy cat got seated in the front seat on the way to the Grand Canyon and had her eyes
closed for the majority of the trip to the canyon (the back seat on the return journey was great, I really enjoyed it. I just didn’t like the front seat with clear plastic all around me - yuck!).
We stopped off in the bottom of the canyon for brunch and champagne and for a walk around. It was a really nice place to visit.
Now, we’re back at the hotel, Matt’s in the pool amazed that it’s happy hour already and that they serve him beer in the pool and I’m typing this while lounging on a pool side sofa sipping a nice cold vodka soda - it feels like we’re on holiday!
Yo Matt here:
Sunday was a long day, up at 630am to the Airport, super security measures to get out of Washington, thermal scans, full body imaging and explosives trace checks. Our Alaska Air flight was very sardine like, left at 915am flew for 5.5 hrs and arrived in LA at 1115am LOL, picked up the beast, this car is so me…. The driving here is real easy, after Europe with no English and no GPS, it is too easy. The drive is
great, LA is huge I reckon it took 1hr+ at 75mph just to clear the suburbs, the roads went from 8 lanes to 6 lines to 4, 3, 2 and the beautiful desert opened up, just like a cowboy film scene, awesome then Vegas appears like a mirage out of nowhere. I managed to smuggle a copy of Elvis’s Viva Las Vegas into the CD player as it came into view, the look on Emma’s face was priceless - a cross between disgust and surprise.
Monday
Got up and hit the Casino’s, did all right I only lost a bit (I suck at gambling) and Emma won as normal. It is hot hot hot here 110 deg F whatever that is (44?).
Emma went off to a day spa and that was all the encouragement I needed to wake the beast again, fuelled it up and hit the road, went past Vegas Motor Speedway to check where it is (more later) and then on to the Valley of Fire, it was stunning bright red rocky canyon of iron oxide stained rocks and also it just happened to be a great place to open up the car
and see what it’s got, a lot oh yer 550 wonderful horses at 6500 rpm flying through the desert, if there is a heaven I think I just found it.
After 4hrs and 20 gallons of fuel I headed back to Vegas, and then we went to Chinatown in search of anything that wasn’t deep fried! Yes there is a limit to how many giant hamburgers one human should consume.
Tuesday
Up early, in a copter and off to the Grand Canyon, wow the place is huge, a must see in anyone lifetime.
Now I’m at the pool drinking Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at 10 in the morning and it’s already happy hour…. Sweet………………………………………………………………..
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Kayleigh
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WOW!!
WOW!! Limos and helicopter rides.... we are not at all jealous! Sounds absolutely amazing, glad you guys are having such a great time!! Enjoy..