Well as predicted we woke to fog,fog and more fog.... So the Grand Canyon was not to be.... But all was not lost as we got a taste of it driving to Vegas and going to the Hoover dam.
...and what a dam.... So hard to fathom that is was built in the 1930's it is spectacular. It had changed so much since I was there 15 years ago. The water level has plummeted and this is clearly visible on the rock faces. The place I remember standing (which was just above the water back then), is now metres and metres above water level.....
We had watched a programme on the dam before we left home so it was great to get perspective on it. The visitors centre and even the loos were very well done and blended into the landscape fabulously. The dam is obviously a huge "attraction" as was evident by the screeds of people there. It really makes you appreciate how precious water is as one does wonder what will happen to Vegas when the water runs out (which is predicted to happen).
Aaron and Quinlan were the only ones keen to walk across the viaduct high above the Colarado River but when we got up the top the police had barricaded the entry and we think due to high winds were not allowing anyone across. (although one does wonder as we had to go through a security checkpoint to get into the dam...I did mention to Aaron at the dam that it would have to be a pretty big bomb to blow that mofo up.
The kids were most intrigued by the state line running through the middle of the dam and spent quite some time jumping back and forth from Nevada to Arizona (once again.... The simple things).
It was a short trip from the dam into Vegas and thanks to the GPS (now nicknamed Betty Sue.... Who often calls out to us... "recalculating") a relatively straight forward trip.
Sophs was most impressed when she spotted a giant castle and blown away when we told her that was where we were staying. Although she was most distressed when we walked through the casino and she was told by us that she wasn't allowed to play on the machines... She was gutted as she "really wanted to play on the one with all the goldfish" and "they aren't adults games they are kids games" hmmmmmm ... no Sophs ....
Anyway after getting our room and returning the jeep to the airport we started to check out the strip. It was surprisingly not too bad ... It was clean, there were very few homeless, and the nudie card people were very discreet and left most people alone. There were lots of families out and about so we weren't being bad parents by bringing them here.
The m&m shop was amazing 4 floors of m&m's and anything and everything you can imagine to buy associated with m&m's.... Very cool. The wall of m&m's where you can select by colour was awesome. Although it just didn't feel right selecting based on colour. We didn't personalize our own m&m's.... They weren't going to last long enough..... But how cool is that... You can put on whatever you want. Your own m&m.
We stopped for dinner next and looked at a map and in about 2 hours had basically gone past 2 Casinos.... This place is massive.
Sophs is very upset that casinos are stealing peoples ideas and things and putting them here....ie the statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Eiffel Tower etc.... And thinks it's just not right.
Off to the Bellagio we went to watch the famous water fountain show.... Amazing.... So well done and very cool.... And so worth going all the way down the strip for.... But that was enough for us weary travelers so we wandered back to the Excalibur to bed and to plan our next four days.... There are so many shows we want to go to and some shopping to be done so we need to make sure we fit them all in. It looks like we can get some great deals on shows on the day so we are glad we waited to book. There are nine different cirque de soleis on here at the mo and I have wanted to go for ages so hopefully one of those.
Our room looks out over the strip and across to New York New York and their giant roller coaster which the kids are dead keen to go on... me not so much... I think tower of terror has ruined me! So a big day tomorrow I think!
No comments:
Post a Comment