It's Vegas Baby! - Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas3rd - 9th July
It's Vegas Baby!
So we landed into Vegas from Dallas. Fortunately the weather change was only going to be from a humid heat to a dry heat, we were estimating a possible higher temperature though. Well actually, this was discovered about forty minutes later when we exited the airport to be incredibly accurate. It was at least 40 deg Celsius at around 6pm. Quite the slap in the face welcome from Las Vegas itself!
Initially we had some minor issues in trying to leave the airport! However, such minor things as, trying to collect our bags from the wrong terminal and then not being able to find the terminal shuttle, to loosing the exit of the terminal and then landing upon a very large taxi queue, did not dampen or even make a smudge on our excitement about landing in Vegas just in time for July the 4th celebrations!
The Taxi line moved rather quickly and before we knew it we were arriving at the Four Seasons hotel. Now when we were planning our Vegas part, we both decided we would be five starring this location, as it would be the only time we were going to be able to afford it. So apart from Niagra and now Vegas, airbnb and the RV parks were our budget for the rest of the trip, but Vegas baby, well thats what expedia is for! So thanks to expedia and Jen's hours of researching all the best hotels, to see if they fitted 'our' requirements, we landed an awesome deal for wait for it.... The Four Seasons. Probably the only time in my life i'll ever stay in one, but hopefully I'm wrong about that! ;o)
We settled into our hotel room and ordered room service for dinner! (well why not hey? it's vegas!!) The views were of the mountain side of the strip, so at night it was just lots of lights from the car parks below and the fwy. But hey who's complaining? definitely not me! Our room was on floor 36. The Four Seasons is actually the top five floors of The Mandalay Hotel. However, we had all our own resort features plus use of Mandalay's.
In fact on the next day, we decided we needed to just catch our breath for a wee while, and opted to chill out at the pool for the morning. We ventured across into the Mandalay territory and tried out there wave pool. Now apparently this is a big feature of vegas! We were confused by this, but then once again had to remind ourselves, that we come from a land of many beautiful beaches, so what has become the norm for us, is far from that for many others, (plus those who live in a desert!) So we packed up and decided to stop fighting against the mass swarm of crowds and ventured into the high security secluded Four Seasons pool area. When we first walked in, we just walked around looking for a pool bed. Little did we know at this point, that you check in at the pool concierge, where they take your room number and then chauffeur you to either sun or shaded chairs (your choice) they then dress the pool beds in a towel like base sheet and then turn a pillow for you, all before bringing you over an iced water jug which they continuously refill.
Jen and I were in seventh heaven! The fact that it was a good ol 40 degrees again, made it very hard to just lay and veg on these awesome sun beds though! So to counteract such heat, we followed everyone else and hopped in and out constantly. Of course, while doing this, we consumed lovely cocktail beverages and yummy poolside snacks, which our waitress continuously delivered to us, whether we were in the pool or on the sun bed. It was great standing in the pool cocktail in one hand, book in the other, steak sandwich, ceviche, tacos or what else did I eat??? on the side of the pool. What a life! Also, everyday they would bring out their snow cone cart, where of course I made great use of trying out the flavours, this was of course done in intervals of them, delivering an afternoon treat from the chefs, some days it was frozen snickers, on others it was cups of delicious smoothies and on this one day, it was an awesome scoop of ice cream inside a kind of jelly marshmallow pillow...... delicious!!!
Upon our first visit to the Four Seasons pool area, we decided to refrain in future from the Mandalay Pool area (even having been there only once, we found the concept that having to find our own pool bed in such busy crowds with so many kids, ewh so traumatic to even consider now! so that was made redundant pretty much immediately) Of course, the only other time we went to the Mandallay Pool, was for the Concert on the Beach series pool party. We got tickets and indulged on the saturday night by the poolside listening to Sugar Ray (who was my favourite by the way) Vertical Horizon, Fastfall, Gin Blossoms and the leading act of Smash Mouth. Great Fun, and surprisingly no where near as drunken and eventful as I expect it would have been, if it was in Australia....... honestly people do not drink the same way here as we do in Australia, it's like they are responsible and manage to retain their manners when consuming alcohol! If only the Aussie idiots can learn from them! Sadly that's probably wishful thinking? (but I guess, in all honesty, we all have our turn at being drunk and obnoxious! let's call them occasional once offs!)
July the Fourth, did not end up being a day full of street parades and fairs as we had imagined it would. Instead it was too hot, so we stayed poolside until the afternoon, where we then hit the strip for the first time. Watching the strip come alive with lights from dawn to night was very beautiful. Vegas really is a city of concreted hwy, desert sand and high rise colourful hotels and casinos. Within two blocks of our hotel, we had walked past the rolercoaster of coney Is, and of course iconic buildings of NYC in the NYC Hotel. It was fabulous that we could a) recognise all the buildings and b) what they were significant for! gold stars to us.!! We had also past the Egyptian pyramids, of the Luxor Hotel. Unfortunately we never had the time to go inside and view this hotel, but it was very interesting from the outside.
Further down the strip we past the MGM, which we later entered for the CSI workshop (by the way I make a very good detective!) Of course in trying to exit the MGM, we got lost and came out three blocks behind the strip, How is it possible for a hotel to be that big? From outside we continued on past the MGM and down towards planet Hollywood and the Venetian. Gordon Ramsay's new Burgrr Bar, had a queue out the door, so we postponed that idea and continued down the street. At this stage the street started changing, when first walking out onto the street, we couldn't understand where all the people were?? its Fourth of July? where are they all?? Well they showed up! just after the sun went down, however it was still 40 degrees, just no beating sun, but masses of people and congested walkways and screaming kids and people dressed in costumes trying to earn some photo money. Yes all sorts of hot costumes, transformers, cousin IT, vegas showgirls (well they wear a lot less!) Star Wars characters, Mini Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Freddy cruger, you name it they are on one of the side walks, probably drowning in sweat, hoping you pay for the photo you're taking!
We were a little disappointed that there was no street parade etc...... after all its what we thought July the fourth was all about. But as the night grew older, fireworks came flying out of the Bellagio and fireballs out of the mountains of Treasure Island, then at the end of that, there were people just trying to get everywhere, it was hot and rather bothersome, so after walking miles up and down the strip we ventured into the Venetian. This place was like walking back into daylight in Europe. What an awesome escape. The ceiling was painted as if the clouds and sky was a beautiful sunny day, honestly the illusion was so accurate, we had to keep reminding ourselves we were inside. It was very beautiful, of course we greatly admired the shopping, after all it was full of fabulous stores from famous european and american designers, oh if only I had all the $$$$$$ in the world!
Day two saw us dining and swimming in the pool of course, and then out on the strip again for some more hotel and shops sightseeing. It was becoming hard to leave the sanctuary of the hotel, to the busy hot outside world of Vegas...... The transformation to a snob, was a downhill slope! It was just so easy! So everyday we made sure to pull ourselves out of our retreat and head out somewhere in the town.
Day three saw us heading out to Hoover Dam for the power station tour. I was incredibly excited about this excursion. We were picked up by the bus and transported out towards Boulder City. The bus then carried on past towards the dam and the tourist centre. We watched a short film about the dam construction and then went below to the power station, before coming back up to the view platforms and then walking out onto the access raad across the dam wall. There is a very obvious drop of about 100ft where the water level has dropped from it's normal level. After seeing this, I was really interested to know, where in Vegas are they on water restrictions??? But I found out, while the level has dropped 100ft, Lake Mead which feeds the dam is man made and 500-600ft deep! It's bloody massive!
Unfortunately before I knew it, it was time for us to head back to the bus, but rest assured we fitted all of the parts to view in. I have to admit going down into the turbune hall, although hydro had that same familiar feeling as the coal fired turbine halls. The ground beneath vibrates a constant humming from your feet up, the air is humid and warm, and there is a very fine contanst film of oil and dust like a tiny tiny grime on the surfaces. So familiar, just like the old days! Sadly there were no turbines shutdown for an outage, so unlike the hydro station in NZ there was no peep at the turbine from the top down through the stator into its centre. But hey definitely no complaints here!
We finally made it back to Gordon Ramsay's to try those Burgrrs and they were great, but we also learned that instead of lining up, if you are happy just to sit at the bar (who isn't right?) or the high tables just away from the bar, you can walk up and sit there and treat them as you would in Australia, just order your beer and a bar snack, a burger! lines here are for waitered service! (just a tip for future travels!)
One thing I didn't like about Vegas was the stale smelling smoke filled casinos. As soon as you entered a casino you could smell the cigaret smell in the carpet. I love that in Oz we have the NO SMOKING in public places policy! I love it love it love it! Anyway due to the putrid smelling casinos, we spent very little time in them, in fact I do believe I didn't even bother to lay a bet! I'm not a big gambler anyway, I tend to give casinos my money through the cocktail bar, or bookies my petty little bets on the horse races. (my gosh that's probably even worse admitting to gambling on animals!)
One afternoon seen us catching a cab out to 'The Gun Store" where we both fired a hand gun and a machine gun each. I've got to say, I had nerves swirling away in my belly, the kickback on the handgun was ferociously strong, the spark in my right side peripheral vision, didn't make me feel any less intimidated by it either. I started off with the hand gun thinking it would be the easier of the two, but in honesty, over the MK47, the hand gun popped your arm off way more. But don't worry, I had nerves the whole way through, they didn't lessen after the first try on each, instead I think they intensified as each time I knew, as soon as I pulled the trigger, that loud bang would pop, the spark would fly out the side of my head and I'd feel like i just got kicked back on the right side. But I did a round of ten each. My first target, the standard bullseye with a reference grid, had nine bullet holes in it. I only missed once, and you'll notice there are several almost on the bullseye. As for the machine gun, well (as I hope we've already established....I'm not totally vindictive!) and I would never choose a target with a picture of a person, normally, but I chose the hostage picture, where I thought I'd play out a little harmless yet more (psychologically healing?) payback to slimy teeth. You'll be pleased (as I most definitely was) I never killed anyone or harmed the girl, but I did blow ten bullet holes worth out of slimy teeth s right ear. All in the same spot..... Now that's a damn good aim!
On another day we had to find the post office to post a few parcels back home. To do this, we headed downtown to the UPS, not realising we had just come down to the traditional part of Las Vegas. This was evidently clear by the mass of wedding chapels, Elvis stores, pawn brokers and loan sharks and trinket stores. It was actually a really cool few blocks to walk along. However we had to forfeit from walking around any further, as we were walking in 40 degree plus heat in the sun and we were both on the borderline of some serious heat stroke, so we called it quits and waited for the bus. The downside to the bus was, once it hit the main part of the strip, we could have walked it twice as quickly as the bus. The strip is apparently the busiest street in Las Vegas 24/7. Honestly the cars move only a few feet every minute.
After travelling through Texas and seeing refried beans on so many Mexican food menus, I was again constantly reminded of two very good friends I lived with in New Zealand. I had been thinking of them a lot especially while in the States, as Jane is from Ontario, Canada and Chris from Portland, Oregon. As I had not been in contact with them for around four years I didn't know where they were living to even contemplate meeting up with them while in the States. As I was saying I felt like I was being continuously reminded of them, almost everywhere we were going, so I pulled the plug on my stubbornness of Facebook and logged back on for the first time in about four years and contacted them. I was so excited to hear back from them, but devastated at the same time, it turns out when Jen and I were in Niagara Falls, Jane lived less than an hour away! Bummer!! Anyway, I also discovered so many of my friends have kids (when did that happen?) and so many of my other travelling friends are still out there still travelling, just some are doing it with their families now! And sadly there still appears to be those daily repeat offenders of continuously posting their every thought and movement. (I'm pretty sure that's what drove me nuts the first time on FB!) But each and all to their own, plus I'm sure I'm close to one of them bye now, what with all my blog babbling and bog update emails! please don't shoot me!!! remember I have very good aim!!!!
Back to Vegas..... well there was the Grand Canyon! and boy did we do that one in style. We were up bright and early one morning, and out on the helicopter from Boulder city, where both Jen and I fell in love with our Pilot. He was just so handsome and had that whole manly aroma happening. Escorting us to the helicopter, cracking jokes, flying us over the Hoover Dam, along the Colorado river, and then down into the canyon where we landed and were escorted and pampered with a Champagne breakfast. No wonder we were falling in love! What a morning!! Oh and it didn't help that the pilot was damn good looking. Thank you God! what a treat :o) (Wow I really shouldn't write these blogs when I'm so overtired! I confess far too much!!)
The Canyon, was beautiful. The land on top was dry and very barren. Yet the ochres of reds and golden hues glistened away on the Canyon walls. Over top the sands and rocks seemed to look very beige, almost like a weak mustard colour. We went past the dam and the river. On parts of other Canyons like the black canyon we could see white beaches. It later turned out this was Willow beach where we finished our rafting trip. But back to the canyon helicopter ride, after a delightful breakfast we jumped back into the helicopter and left the canyon by heading out into another direction. It didn't take long before the deep walls disappeared and we were back on flat land following the bright blue trail of the Colorado river. The land was so barren and sparse that you just looked ahead at the few mountain tops or changes in rock form, and the occasional trailer home, (most likely some squatters) Other than that there was just the river, the dam, and the canyons! and that's all there needed to be. The place was surreal, it had an air of isolation and remoteness along with total ownership by mother nature. The whole time I was on land or in the air, I felt like I was a guest in the big mothers land, viewing the birds flying, the boats soaring in the water, the choppers stirring up the wind, the heat passing your face, the sand grinding under your feet and the sound of just yourselves and the choppers echoing in the canyon. Priceless!
After we landed back at the helipad we headed out on a bus to the black canyon. This is the backside to the Hoover Dam wall. So really, we started our river rafting, right behind the wall. We then ventured 13 miles down the river. We were in no mans land. We had the state of Arizona on our left and the state of Nevada on the right. The water was just beautiful, it was super crystal clear and an electric clear greeny blue. It was also very cold. At lunchtime, to cool off I went swimming in it. This put the cold waters of the Baton Springs to shame.... Let me assure you, while the Colorado river runs through the very hot states of Arizona and Nevada, it is glacial water that runs down from the melted snow on top of the mountains.... so very cold, but my gosh so refreshing! Along the river, there are parts, where other gorges taper off, also, there are hot springs in some of these. Yep, we pulled up near one little cave part of the gorge wall, where deep down below in the crater plates, there's a shift, where hot water bubbles up, I could feel the hot spots in the water with my foot hanging over the edge, here's the difference, at one point my toes were almost freezing then a hot puddle floated past and almost burnt my feet. Quite dangerous really, because if you had left your feet in the cold long enough, they would go numb, and then you wouldn't know you have your feet in boiling water! The sudden contrast in temperatures was quite bizarr.
Along our river ride, we past many birds, including the red tailed hawks and what Jen and I are sure to be was an eagle in full flight above.... It's wing span, amazing! It wasn't only birds that gained attention on this trip, it was the mountain goats as well. These guys are almost impossible to spot!, but fortunately we had a guy on our boat with exceptional eyesight! We seen around seven different bands of goats, and a couple of them had the really big horns. Watching them scatter up and down the mountainside was very impressive, these guys sure do have some balance and absolutely no sense of fear! How is it possible to scale such steep rocks both up and down so quickly?I really enjoyed sitting in the sun, one foot trying as hard as possible to reach down to the water and the other in the boat. Our tour guide kept rinsing towels in a bucket of the freezing water and throwing them to us, to keep us cool, as unfortunately we could only swim while we stopped for lunch. Which, by the way only a few made it all the way in.
Along the edges of the Canyon you could still see the old walking platforms , where the men use to come out and monitor the water level. These guys would walk for miles and then by a catanery wire, pull themselves across the river to the other side, to continue walking towards the huts where they could mark the water levels. Apparently they spent six hours of their ten hour shifts in transit. But you could say they had the best views!
As our time in the river was drawing to a close Jen and I both took the moment to make sure we were taking in as much of our surroundings as we could, it had been such an exciting and pleasant day in the NAtional Park that we wanted to make sure we squeezed everything out of the day as possible! As the boat pulled up to Willow Beach I said my quiet goodbyes to the park and stepped foot for the second time that day onto Arizona soil. (lunch was on the left side of the canyon! hence, Arizona) On the bus ride back, as we were in Arizona, we had to pass over the big arched bridge over the Hoover Dam and back onto the Nevada side, then the bus driver took us home to the Four Seasons, our last night in our five star hotel! But don't be too sad, we were packing to head to San Francisco!