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Published: June 24th 2006
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Where do I start about Vegas?! The journey from San Fran was ok, other than the fact that we didn’t really want to leave! When we arrived at the greyhound terminal we were a bit shocked by how small and busy it is! We ventured outside in the scorching heat of the dessert and tried, unsuccessfully for about half an hour to get a taxi. They were not stopping at all so I suggested that we walked a while until we found a hotel. Sure enough a taxi turned up straight away. When we asked the driver why none had stopped he informed us that they do not make money off people that ride the greyhound and therefore did not bother to stop and pick anyone up from there!!
We were in for another shock when we entered the lobby of the Circus Circus Hotel. We queued to check in for what seemed like a eternity but was actually only two and a half hours!!!! After a bit of huffing and puffing was over we finally got the key to our room and were pleasantly surprised to see that we had a view of the strip and a massive room.
After showering we ventured into the casino to waste a few bucks on the slot machines. Everyone had told us that these machines were a total drain of money, true. However if you are careful on them and bet the minimum you can still get the free drinks from the casinos, especially if you tip the near naked waitress often enough.
Vegas was not all about drinking the ‘free’ drinks and losing money though. We actually did quite a bit in the short time we were there. A lot of the time was spent walking up and down the strip taking in the atmosphere, it is over three miles long I was informed. I think we pretty much walked most of it everyday there! There was a trolley that ran the length of the strip, however this was always crowded and I don’t think they let you on with frozen margaritas!! We visited all of the major resorts, most of which span for a good few blocks! They are all just as impressive as the next one inside. However in my opinion the architecture on most of them is pretty plain and boring to the eye. Having said that
Me wth Wax of Simon Cowell
Funny he was is a wax model in America! the Venetian and new Wynn are quite different. The Venetian is by far the most detailed and impressive. We also ventured into the New York New York casino to ride the worst rollercoaster I have ever had the unpleasant experience of enduring! It throws you around like a rag doll, and not in a good way. I love rollercoaster’s but the thrill was simply ruined by the fear of breaking a shoulder or two! No cheap re ride for me! Someone would have to pay me to go on that again!
We also managed to catch one of the many water displays outside the Belliago, this was quite grandiose and worth the ten minutes. The volcano outside the Mirage was also worth standing around to see. The only show I didn’t really think was worth hanging around for so long (30minutes) to watch was the one outside the Treasure Island resort. Do not get me wrong it was ok, but the length of time waiting for it to start was too long. Most of Las Vegas is really flashy and over the top, some would call it glamour but I thing that most of it is too tacky. Of
course there were some glamorous parts to it all but most of that was kept behind the scenes or on the large poker table areas that the average Joe does not get the pleasure of witnessing. There was one really annoying factor about Vegas that I was so pleased to leave behind, the static shocks! Boy these really were something. To begin with I found it very funny, but after the 30th shock in one day (am not exaggerating either) it really began to grate on my nerves. It got to the point where Thommo and I could not touch each other for fear of a really strong shock. We would both stand at lifts waiting for the other to push the buttons, or for someone else to come along!
We didn’t actually lose that much money either, both of us managed to win quite a large amount on the Star Wars slot machines, so overall I think we lost about 20 pounds together over the whole time we were there. Not bad considering the time we spent sitting at the machine to get the drinks and taking in the atmosphere.
The high light of our time in
the dessert was the trip to the Grand Canyon. We splashed out on this trip to make it really special. Thommo had never had the pleasure of a light aircraft flight or a ride in a helicopter (although I have done this quite a few times in my Space Cadet days) so we opted to do it all over the Grand Canyon. We started the day with a short bus ride from our hotel to the aircraft site. This was a small operation, quite a few planes but a small and welcoming reception. Once we boarded the small craft, I think there was room for 12 people, we flew over the dessert, taking in the sites with great views of the Hoover dam and the enormous Lake Mead. After the 30min flight we landed on the Indian reserve to board the helicopter. This all took place on the West rim, which we were informed is the only side still owned by the Indians, and also the only side you can actually take the helicopter ride down to the base of the Canyon. Once at the base we experience a boat ride up the Colorado River for a few miles and
then back down again. Although this part of the Canyon is not as tall as the South and North rim (the parts visited by most tourists) it was still really high when sitting in a boat at the bottom. We spoke to a few of the people on the tour that have been to the other rims and they all said that this was the best trip they had taken yet to the Canyon, which made us feel better about not going to the tallest part. The views really were breath taking. You see it all the time on the posters etc but I do not think you can really appreciate the size and beautiful views unless you see it first hand.
Overall we both enjoyed our time in the entertainment capital, although now that I have been and seen what it is all about I do not think that I would return for some time, if ever. It is the kind of place that once you have seen and done it it is enough, well unless you are a mad gambler, which I certainly am not! Although surprisingly over tens of thousand of people opt to move here
each month!
Sorry this instalment of our adventure is really late. But been busy and also not had access to the net for while. Another one will be coming in s short while!!
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Lindy_LoO
non-member comment
Humm......
Awww you didnt like vegas? I only remember eating the buffets and stealing the cookies in the coin pots :) Uh huh the Manhatten Express is lame xx