Birthday in Vegas

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Hey guys,

On Saturday I celebrated my 22nd birthday and there is no better place to have a birthday than in the city of Las Vegas! To the first-time visitor to vegas it can be a little overwhelming, Its kind of like Blackpool but on a much larger scale and with much better weather! The casino's which make up most of Las Vegas's highlights are in a class all of their own. Over the top does not even get close to describing the gambling establishments. Take 'New York New York' for example, the casino building is made up to look like the New York skyline with the statue of liberty, and Empire State building making up part of the exterior. The inside's are just as breathtaking each made up with its own themes and styles.

On Saturday, our first stop of the day was the Stratosphere Casino. It is one of Las Vegas's major casino but we weren't there to gamble. At 921 ft the Stratosphere is Las Vegas's tallest casino and tallest amusement park. There are three rides on the roof of the casino, Insanity (a giant swing that dangles you over the edge whilst spinning at high speed), X-Scream (a giant see-saw that holds you over the edge, dropping you then pulling you back up) and the Big Shot (a huge tower rides that shoots you an extra 160ft in the air to a terrifying 1,081 ft) All of which were even scarier considering im not really fond of heights!!!

In the evening we got tickets to see the Cirque du Soleil and their KA' show at the MGM Grand. It was one of the most amazing things i have ever seen in my life, the performers chased each other around the auditorium on highwires swinging over the crowd. However it was the stage that was most amazing, built on a mechanical arm the stage could be raised, tilted and swung in any direction. (sometimes they did all three at once). During one scene the stage would be on the ground, the next it's moved to become a vertical rock face with the performers leaping and fighting on a revolving stage 60ft in the air!

We have also taken time out this week to go and visit the grand canyon. From the maps we had seen the Grand Canyon was on the doorstep of Las Vegas however it took 6 hours on the coach each way to get us to and from the canyon. The sheer size of the Grand Canyon is staggering, (I guess thats why its called the grand canyon and not, the mildly impressive canyon) and the many pictures we took could never do it justice.

Our time at the Sin City hostel was one of our best yet. Over the three days we spent at the hostel we got to know some really great people, whom it would be great to meet up with again at some other random place on the globe.

So that pretty much brings you up to date with whats been going on in my life for the past week, We have spent the last two days in LA, just chilling out and finding ways not to spend too much money. I tell you it seems to be evaporating from my wallet, I personally blame the beer monkey. Anyway, staying on track, we're off to San Diego tomorrow. A few people have suggested it as a nice place to visit and being almost on the mexican border it should still be warm.

This will probably be my last blog untill after fiji, We fly out on Monday evening for 10 days of sun-soaked bliss, laying on the beach and generally doing nothing. I can't wait...

Neil

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Comments

[WillM]

Lucky Bugger!
Just managed to catch up with what you've been up to so far, i'm jealous already and you haven't even got to new zealand yet!!!! have a good 'un!!!