Vegas; Last Day

We wanted to see the Vegas sign today - it's at the beginning of the strip. Josh decided it would be a good idea if we walked down! Half way down in over 40 degree heat I had, had enough - surprise, surprise I wanted a cab - but hold on Josh had no more cash! Well I can tell you it was not pretty as we trundled into the nearest casino- which by the way is never near when you are walking along the pavement - they all have long convoluted entrance ways and walk ways in - however, we went back in the Mandalay bay and caught a cab about 2 min down the road to the sign - however, it now meant that we had a nice cab ride as we had a mad dash around the outlet shops for a shop before our flight at 8pm! We left at 8pm but didn't arrive back until the following day at 2pm (time change again). Vegas was good but we certainly didn't leave with any winnings!

Vegas: Sunday and Monday

Strip at night Bellagio Fountains Mirage and the volcano erupting Treasure Island and the Pirate Show For the next two days we spent the day laying by the pool and having drinks - you could buy a half yard mug or funny shaped thing I had on the first night and then get half price refills of Daiquiri's or Margarita! There are 14 pools at the MGM grand and we lay by the river one - it is long and windy like a river and has a current that takes you around. On the first day we hired a floaty circle and floated around the pool - it was quite nice and relaxing - don't know why we didn't think of this on the first day! In the evening on Sunday we went to Smith and Wollensky's for dinner - the steak place I love - only problem was I was so full of iced cocktails I couldn't really eat my dinner! On the Monday evening we went to Treasure Island and had dinner Wolenskys outside there and watch the free pirate show, we then walked down to the Mirage and watched the volcano erupt! Then down to the fountains outside the Bellagio and watched them go - the fountain show is with music and lights - we saw it during the day on the first day but it's so much prettier at night. Then we we went back to Treasure Island and watched the Cirque Du Soleil show Mystere. A good fun night!

Saturday: Grand Canyon

Return flight We climbed up to the top of the rocks! Sky Bridge Eagle Rock - the rock formation behind us is shaped like an eagle with us standing in front of the body and then the wings spreading out either side. Boat ride at the bottom Josh even drove the boat! Helicopter at the bottom of the canyon Ride down View from the helicopter Inside the helicopter Getting on the helicopter Inside the plane Hoover Dam - view from the plane - the black mark is the propellor Our plane! Today we went on a day trip to the Grand Canyon. We started the day with a buffet breakfast - $15 all you can eat - a real bargain. Then we where picked up by a coach at 10am and driven to the airport where we where given a little packed lunch and put on about a 14 seater plane - each of us had a window seat which was good - it was one seat, aisle, then one seat. We then flew to the canyon - it took about 40 min. The plane ride was ok - at least it was until the pilot - a female started cleaning the plane with wet wipes - much to Josh's amazement! When all of sudden the co-pilot grabbed the steering and quickly averted us out of the way of an on coming plane!!!!! Quite an experience. However, I was well prepared and had taken my ginger tablets and felt quite pleased with myself when we disembarked that I had managed to hold my stomach together - only just though! When we got off the plane almost everybody else was carrying a sick bag! In fact we nicknamed one of the men 'chunder pants' as no matter how may pills I gave him everything we went on he just kept vomiting! After the plane we where put into fours - us with chunder pants and his wife and we got a helicopter down into the base of canyon - it was so amazing and a totally different perspective. The ride took only about 8 minutes each way. Then we took a boat - like a pontoon really up the river at the bottom for about 30min before taking the helicopter back up to the top. We then took the bus around to the different sights - we didn't go on the sky bridge in the end - no need after the helicopter really! We left the canyon and returned to Vegas about 7pm. We where quite tired so had sushi for dinner and an early night.

Las Vegas Thursday 26th - Tuesday 31st August

The Strip at night My Margarita Treasure Island Inside the Venetian - themed like Venice - with the waterways and everything - you could even take an over price Gondola ride. Outside the Venetian Casino - Bridge of Sighs Fountain outside Caesars Palace - of Nike Inside Caesars Palace

Foyer of the Bellagio and the Garden area - isn't the ladybird cool! Paris Casino Front Of Caesars Palace Excalibur Casino - Medieval Theme - you can go to a 'Knights Banquet' here with dinner and jousting etch (we didn't go)! Brooklyn Bridge - outside the New York, New York Casino New York, New York MGM Grand Breakfast in the Rainforest Cafe We left for Vegas in the afternoon on Thursday and arrived in the evening. We stayed in the MGM grand. We where quite tired after we arrived (10 hour flight) so we had a walk around the casino and went to bed. On Friday we woke up really early (jet lag) - however, most things open really early so Josh went and got us Starbucks which we had in bed! There are no coffee and tea facilities in the room in a bid to get you down to the casino to spend more money! Once the hour became more reasonable we had breakfast in the Rainforest Cafe - termed this as it is all done like a rainforest - it was awesome! Next door to the rainforest cafe is a lion enclosure - all inside the casino - quite eccentric really. After breakfast we went for a walk around the different casinos - each with their own theme! In the evening we spent some time at the Casino New York, New York and had dinner at a great mexican place (which for the record I find food I can eat quite hard to find!) But finding a drink was easy - check out the half a yard or Margarita I had!