Days 35 & 36, 17-18 May. Grand Canyon by Helicopter then on to San Francisco

Day 35-

Woke today and was laying in bed when my neck muscles just weirdly went into spasm & left me stranded in the bed! It ia sooo painful cos I couldnt move to my left. Graeme worked on it while I whimpered haha then had a hot shower and lots of meds to try and ease the spasm a bit.  Didnt want it to affect our first helicopter ride as we are flying out over the grand canyon today. We usually mostly do a lot of walking when we are away on a big trip and dont spend a lot but this is a oncer that was too good to pass up.

And it was the best $380pp we spent, especially when you find out the chopper you are on is worth USD$3million!!! I got the price down $100pp as I had seen a special online but knew we hadnt booked the 5 days in advance for it, but after he tried to sell me the more expensive tour, he looked and found 2 spots left so we got that at a much better price.  Its a 75 min flight with 2 stops and 35 mins on the ground as well.

Our pilot was Tim, he reminded me of a better looking Ron Howard!  Funnily enough, after not meeting any other kiwis on our trip, the other passengers today were 2 english girls and 3 kiwi's from Christchurch!! Heard the accent and thought- really??!! Plus we were on an "all Black" chopper which we joked was most approriate lol.

We flew out over the desert and a maassive solar farm which is only 3 yrs old, then over the Hoover dam which we really wanted to see. Dont think Id like to work in that power station- it is directly below the dam, so if it ever gave way, you would be a goner!! Next we flew on to query the west rim and Tim put the chopper down for half an hour for us to look at the majestic canyon and river below. It was quite surreal, then we moved around seats and flew to the next stop where there are some bigger joshua trees- apparently they can go for 2 years without water!  Flew back over a town that was built for workers in the surrounding area - alot of houses all identical in neat grids of streets.

Hoover dam

The flight was very worthwhile and something we will always remember. Hard to believe you are traavelling at approx 250km/h cos it feels so slow! We did hit one massisve updraft which threw us all up then weightless back down- Tim aid that was the worst he has felt and makes pilots uncomfortable! But he handled it well.

Tim the pilot photobombing!

Giant solar farm in the desert 

The shuttle too us back to the Aria then we went back to the hotel to rest up for a bit. I have been fighting a bug for the last couple of days and have had a really sore throat. You notice that a lot of older asians cough and sneeze withoout covering their mouth and I had one yesterday give me a full blast sneeze right in the face with no apology. So am  now paying the price I think..grrr.

We decided to go to the Bellagio for a buffet meal tonight as its our last night in Vegas but there was a very long line and it didnt move, so we wandered over to the Aria and found they had one there too that we got into quickly. Could not complain, they have e.v.e.r.y. Type of food you could ask for and as usual the customer service in the States is really good - although what you have to pay in tips here is painful...but its the way it is so we dont begrudge service staff who are on low wages and rely on the tips to make a good income.

After dinner we went down to the lake at the Bellagio to watch the fountain lights  they do on the half hour to music. Its funny, that hotel is very popular with asians and they are delightful to watch when they are oooh'ing & aah'ing over the fountains dancing! Although one guy came along late and decided to try his luck and ducked down under the 2 guys beside us and popped up in front of them in  the front row, where everyone had been waiting in the cold wind for ages. The guys were so shocked they just stared at him - I go 'Aah no, thats this mans place' while Graeme taps him on the shoulder and indicates for him to go!! He knew he had tried his luck, so ran away quickly- was quite comical!!! The hotel also has pretty impressive displays with an asian inspired theme, plus  indoor flower beds - all very pretty.

Day 36-
Up today and packed as we move on to our last destination on  the american map! Off to San Francisco- we got an uber to the airport and check in outside actually! They offer a tip service, curbside check in where the guy also wears a uniform & hat like a pilot - only in Vegas! We bought a wheelie cabin bag since everyone else here takes a backpack and a small wheelie bag onboard, so this time our bags werent over the limit!

Went through border control - the staff there were really nice and hilarious. Our guy called out our first names and something funny as each person went through. Some were like 'aah....' and didnt know what to say but we all ended up cracking up at the back and forth banter he gave us! Saw on the departure board after we got through that our plane was being delayed 2 hours - bum, but what can you do. We wandered round the shops then got lunch in a nice diner. The  departure time was then moved forward a little, as the plane issue had been fixed.

Flight was good, only 1 3/4 hours and we were in San Fran. I had emailed the shuttle service we have used all over the States, to let them know we were delayed and that was all good cos they monitor your flights anyway. Got  out to the kerbside agent they had for supershuttle and checked in online. They usually allocate you a van within 5 mins or so, but nothing....... Their staff member was pretty ineffective and just kept looking at his clipboard. But after 40 mins Graeme was starting to steam and since it was a booked anad prepaid shuttle, it shouldnt have happened. The guy told us there were no vans nearby,  and we ended up waiting an hour. Just as we said we are going to make our own way, a van  finally showed up - and surprise suprise it was right when a later flight with passengers arrived for their pick up! Then we saw other shuttle vans from this company sitting in the carpark we realised they had been there all the time and were stringing us out until the later passengers came.  All the other cities we have used the company have been good, but this franchisee was not! Dirty email went their way.

So finally got to our hotel at the end of the stops - Fishermans wharf is gorgeous and I can see why people say to stay there and not in town, it postcard perfect and very cruisey.

We chucked our bags in the room then out for dinner- seafood chowder heaven, its served everywhere here and is really affordable. Will crash tonight, my. Neck is  still pretty sore with all the travel tooo.

Days 33 & 34, 15-16th May. Viva Las Vegas!

Day 33-
We didnt have to get up early today so was nice to sleep until 7.45am and take our time. We got ready and went for a wander to get our bearings. The V'dara where we are staying is right behind the Aria in the middle of the strip, so we walked through to its huge lobby and casino- so much louder in other hotels as ours is casino free and smoke free! The Bellagio next door is massive and has Murano glass chandeliers in its lobby.We found the Planet Hollywood shoppping mall which is pretty much over the road - they have this freaky ceiling that looks like it is the sky, its kinda surreal. Had breakfast at the La Salsa Cantina there.

  

Bellagio foyer

"Sky" ceiling in the Hard Rock mall

We walked  the strip for some hours quite a way along. Man-anything goes here, there are  so many contrasts of people....people in singlets and shorts, people in Prada and it seems very normal to walk along with these long plastic drinks glasses you get from some of the hotel with your drink. But no-one is obnoxious at all, its all very relaxed. There are casino's for Africa!!! A lot of the big hotels have upwards of 6 casinos and lobbies that are like shopping malls. Everything is on a gigantic scale and excess is the theme - opulence everywhere and hawkers trying to give you stuff on most corners. Took heaps of photos then we came back and put our feet up for a while before returning back to it for another walk in the other direction! You cant cross the road here apart from at walkways that go up and over the roads above the strip, so its quite a walk to be able to cross if you dont plan it!

Bought bits and pieces for home, stopped for a drink at another Maragaritaville. Same as the one we visited in Cozumel, Mexico for margaritas! Then wandered to the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant as we had visited the one at Sanata Monica and liked it. Got coconut crumbed shrimp this time - they are more like prawns and so yum. They have memorabilia everywhere from the Forrest Gump movie.

We staggered back after walking over 10kms today, to have a lovely hot bath and soak our tootsies!

Day 34-
Had good sleeps as usual - walking over 10k steps a day tends to help with that!! We had bought some yoghurt and fruit last night, so we had that for breakfast this morning and caught a cab up to the old part of Vegas. The driver pointed out Elvis Presleys vegas mansion which he left to his gardeners and house staff and some of them still love there apparently.

It can get a bit dodgy up this end of the strip we have been told at night, so you dont walk around drunk up here or you find your wallet gone! Its prefectly safe though during the day and we got the taxi to drop us a couple of kms short of Freemont st as we wanted to visit the place of the tv show Pawn Stars, where the Old Man, Rick, his son Corey and Chumlee, who made it famous. Its actually not a big shop at all and apparently the stars 'family' arent seen much anymore. Probably dont need to with their fame! They had some nice stuff in there though.

Then we walked about half an hour over to the Mob museum and spent an hour or two there. Pretty interesting how it all got started, laundering or skimming money off casino incomes and how politicians, judges and lawyers ended up being involved. The museum is actually in the court house where a lot of the mob were brought to justice, but sheez so many people were muurdered on both sides.

Freemont st is just down the road so we went there to have a look around and do the Zipline experience, where you get strapped into a harness and zip down the line over the st. Its pretty cool, it was a bit disorganised and omg they harnesses are tight between your legs haha! But we did that then walked around looking in the stores as the prices are a lot better than downtown in the newer part of Vegas. We bought a cabin bag as our luggage is growing and everyone  over here seems to take on a backpack and a roller bag - some are massive and they seem to get away with it, so hopefully we will.

We went to an Irish pub for a late lunch/early dinner with a pint of guiness for Graeme and a raspberry beer for me- rather nice. There are a lot of beggars who do not seem to be destitute here, including one guy who had a sign saying "Not gonna lie- want $$ for drinks and ciggys"!!

We caught a cab back to our hotel, changed then out to see a the "Vegas Show" which w as very, very enjoyable. It followed the time line of Vegas with Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Cher, Aretha Franklin & Elvis - along with the gorgeous dancing girls. It was so energetic and also had comedy in it with jugglers, hula hoops, a hilarious juggler called Michael Holly and some magic. Super great show.

Walked back through the Hard Rock mall again and bought a few things then back to relax!

Days 31 -32, 13 & 14th May. Texas & on to Las Vegas

Day 31-

Woke after sleeping on the wonderful posturepedic mattresses Connie has at the beach house as well as their home house. The entire mattress is memory foam - not just a topper pad. They are the best beds ever. 

We mooched around and tidied up then went into town to the historical town again. We saw Connies nephew who lives there and he showed us his loft apartment right in town- massive windows and his awesome motorbikes downstairs, which are his business. Walked around afterwards- it almost has a Louisiana feel about the architecture and the vibe. 

Another beautiful clear hot day, so we ate at a wonderful outdoor cafe called the Stuttgarden. Under the leafy tree's, sipping on a Stuttgarden punch & a choice of soooo many beers- it was rather nice! We had a nice meal then left to look around the stores for a bit. Then travelled home as Connie is working later in the day today. 

We dropped Connie at Build-a-bear, had a look at her store then the 3 of us returned home to lax out by the pool. Graeme and I had heaps of fun with their 2 dogs Ollie and Wilson who are labradors and loooovvee to play ball even if it is in the pool!! Ollie would carefully step in and swim as hard as he could to try and fetch it 1st, but Wilson is clever - he runs around the outside of the pool to where the ball is, then launches himself in midair in a leap of faith and grabs the ball 1st!!  After the swim, we and Tony sat and chatted over a few beers and the Jaegermeister medicine of course outside!

Then Tony cooked us the best salmon dinner- he smoked marinated salmon on a cedar plank in the BBQ- omg, better than a restaurant. Then we relaxed and watched the Matt Damon. Movie ' The Great Wall ' - a sci-fi/fantasy movie which we enjoyed.

We are all packed up now to leave for Houston airport tomorrow. 

Day 32-

Up after another night of weird-o dreaming! About the power station where we used to work in NZ, mixed in with other friends and strange-but-normal-in-dreaming, dreams!!!

We left for the airport at 9:15am as we fly out to Las Vegas today. Tony & Connie have been great hosts and leave us with lovely memories of their little part of the world.  Checked in fine to United airlines and through border control. They had anti-stress dogs on the air side for people to go up and pet. Saw this in LAX as well and such a great idea, especially for us dog lovers! Like this airport, very chilled out and open. They also have ipads by the dozen everywhere at stations, for passengers to use.

Flight was fine- united charge though to watch any movies etc, they put a box across the movie inviting you to purchase entertainment on their tv screens. Non alcoholic drinks are free but everything else you pay for in-flight. Good to compare airlines since we are flying 3 of them 6 times on this trip domestically. I think the leg room is a little better than American airlines, but the seats are super narrow.   All good though and no stress at all. 3 hour flight and back 2 hours time wise.

Flying in the landscape of Vegas is pretty interesting!