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Published: September 26th 2008
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Day 351 - Monday 15 September
I don't know what it is about buses in a western country but their always full of wierdos. The bus we were on this morning was no exception and so was the one this afternoon. I have to admit though it did result in some funny moments.
Eventually after a mammoth journey we arrived into Las Vegas dead on 9pm. Were staying at the stratosphere tower on the strip itself and as we can see it from the bus station we decided to save the money by walking rather than taking a cab. It might have looked near but I tell you that walk took ages.
Wow I cant believe the room we've got. Its just pure luxury compared to what I've become accustomed to. I'm not sure if I could ever stay in a dorm again. I was pretty tired from the journey and it was now pretty late but its not often your in Vegas so I gathered the strength to explore our casino complex for an hour before I really did need to get some sleep.
Day 352 - Tuesday 16 September
I was up reasonably early
and spent the morning information hunting. Wheres the pool, gym, washing facilities, internet etc). This stufff always takes longer than you think to find out and by the time I was done Chelsea game v Bordaux was just starting. I shouldn't have watched it but I did.
Eventually I managed to tear myself away to try and use the internet as I still have lots to sort out over the next two weeks. Unfortunately like back home their aren't any internet cafes about and the casinos are all charging about $10 for half an hour. An absolute rip off. In the end I headed to the public library to use theirs for free. However by the time I'd got there and back and used the net for just half an hour it was already 6pm. I still haven't done anything today.
Russ had gone to get a burger but after 2 hours he still hasn't returned. No doubt he's got caught up gambling somewhere so I gave up on him and went to explore the strip.
Its certainly busy outside so I decided to visit some of the famous casinos. I called in at the Mandalay Bay,
Luxor, Excalibar, New York New York, The MGM, The Bellagio, Paris Las Vegas and Ceasars Palace and I'd only got halfway down the strip. However it was already nearly 1 am and after all that walking I was knackered. The other half will have to wait for another day.
Day 353 - Wednesday 17 September
I forced myself up early to spend the morning by the pool before the sun got too hot. I still had my laundry to do so then had to spend the next 2 and a half hours doing that. Luckily I'd timed it so that whilst I was waiting I could watch more champions league football.
By the time I was done it was already mid afternoon. I left Russ to play some poker tournament hes entered and went to have a look at the strip by daylight. It looks different in the natural light and I did see a pretty cool free 3d movie in the M&M world store.
Before I knew it it was time to head back and get changed. After meeting up with Russ we headed back down the strip for a bit of a walk around
and a beer. I'd like to have stayed out and hit one of the clubs but its not cheap here and after all this time away I'll have to save it for the weekend. I'd like to come back to vegas again some day this time with lots of money to do everything. Its strange that when I'm in the third world I change and think theres more to life than work and money, but it only takes a day or two in a place like this and you revert back to wanting to have as much money as you can.
Day 354 - Thursday 18 September
We hired a car today to drive over to the grand canyon. The one thing that annoys me about America is the advertised prices. All displayed prices exclude taxes so you end up paying about 20% more than you origionally thought. Our advertised $45 car hire was even worse, it turned into $130 once all the compulsary extras were included. Still its cheaper than taking one of the tours from here.
Its a 5 hour drive to the canyon and on the way we stopped off at the Hoover dam.
It was a lot smaller than I thought particulalry if I compare it to the dam I saw at Itaipu in Brazil.
Eventually late afternoon we finally made it. I'd wondered how good it was going to be after seeing so much already but I was pleasantly surprised at how good and spectacular it was. Well worth the 5 hour each way drive.
We eventually made it back about midnight and it had been such a long day, rather than heading out I went to bed. What a party animal I am.
Day 355 - Friday 19 September
Because I needed to use the internet to book some stuff I had to go back down the library once again which took up the whole morning just to use it for 45 mins.
After spending a couple of hours by the pool and getting into the holiday atmosphere (Vegas really has got a lot busier this last 24 hours), I took yet another trip down the strip to have a quick look at a couple of casinos I've yet to explore.
Upon my return I found my mate Alistair from uni has just flown in
for the weekend so after a brief catchup we all started ploughing through a bottle of vodka we'd bought before heading out. Even though I've been here quite a few days I still haven't seen all the free shows. I thought the Sirens of Ti outside Treasure Island was particularly good.
Unforunately by the time we'd seen the last few the queues for the clubs was huge. Having heard its really good we had hoped to go to Pure in Ceasars Palace but that queue was just ridiculous. In the end we ended up in the club in our own casino but it wasn't really wasn't that great.
Day 356 - Saturday 20 September
By the time we were all up and about it had already just gone past lunchtime so we headed up to the pool to chill out for the afternoon.
Early evening we did head into downtown to have a quick look at the casinos there but they weren't that impressive so didn't take too long.
After learning from yesterdays mistakes we were out a bit earlier tonight and after a recommendation went to Jet in the Mirrage. Now this is more
like it.
Day 357 - Sunday 21 September
Although I'd not had that much sleep unfortunately beacause we have to check out today we had to be up before 11 to pack up. Not ideal when we'd had a late night yesterday.
Afer watching Europe lose the Ryder Cup we chilled out round the pool for a while before it was time for us all to go our seperate ways. Russ is staying to gamble for a few more days, Al is off back to Houston and work tomorrow (Work, poor guy), and I'm off to San Francisco.
There was quite a wait at the bus station but eventually I set off. A lot of people rave about Las Vegas but I dont think its as good as they make out. I could take you to a lot of better places in the world.
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