The Grand Canyon

We must be the only ones in history that bought a Canyon $25 pass to gain entry to do the laundry but there is nothing on the outside and we are both out of clothes. We hadn’t realised that Arizona is an hour ahead of Vegas either so we lost another hour. With all the promises of storms Friday evening and Saturday we were very fortunate to have nice blue skies while travelling along the Canyon taking photos. Almost the second we finished and got in the car to drive back it came overcast and dark. I have worked out that last time I came here 30 years ago; we went along the North rim because we had come from Bryes Canyon; I guess that is why I don’t remember the Hoover Dam.

They have found stone arrow heads dating back 12,000 years ago but it was discovered by white man, well the Spanish, in 1540 and I have included a picture of the information board in case anyone wants to read it. I tend to photograph these as I go along so I can read them later, also it gives good markers to where the following photos were taken until the next board. As I have said before, places like the Canyon are so huge that photos just can’t do any justice to what it looks like when you are here. Last time, in the 30 minute helicopter ride, I shot 5 or 6 films of 36 exposures because I couldn’t believe my eyes and I don’t think any came out as good as they did this time. I am looking forward to having another look at them when I get home as I have never got them out again in 30 years; if I can find them.

We went out to dinner last night as we were starving travelling all day and not even having breakfast. We found a hotel that had food called the Canyon Star where we both had the steak which was very nice but we couldn’t eat them all; we should have ordered one with two plates. Trouble is we are not used to eating a big meal late a t night, I guess if we had them for lunch we would have been ok. Our waitress could hardly speak English which made things a little worrying as we didn’t expect to get what we had ordered. Also she seemed to drop everything but the price; first Claire’s sour cream for her baked potato, then my knife, then my credit card and finally the pen. I didn’t think that she was entirely cut out for witnessing. Having said that the food was very good and about the first time that our vegetables were not been under or over cooked in our entire journey. Today we were back to tourist food and had to settle for the Mexican because most of the others close at 2pm and we weren’t back until closer to 3.30pm. As dinner started at 5pm at the earliest we thought we would give it a try. Claire only ate about two mouth-full’s but I managed about ¾ of mine being heavy on the pepper sauce. They did bring complementary Nacho’s with a large bowl of salsa which was nice but Claire doesn’t like those either. We should have tried our restaurant which was the other one that was open (also McDonalds) and had more varied food but Claire didn’t fancy the menu. Never mind at least the beer was good and she is loosing weight, especially with all the walking we did in Vegas. I can’t say the same for me as my palate is much more varied; I made a conscious effort when younger to try and like as much as possible so that I would be a little happier on average. If you like everything then you will always enjoy whatever you have. Trouble is there are side effects!

Anyway the pictures speak for themselves and I won’t waffle on much more. The picture of the raven about half way through came out well; it looks almost magical. He flew down right in front of me when I was just about to take a photo; I guess he thought that I looked like the kind of guy that would have some food. Which reminds me of when we had lunch with Ian and Jane in the Dandendongs, or whatever they are called, and only Jane ordered desert. The waitress that brought the huge chocolate fudge cake over to our table looked at us all, smiled and handed it straight to me.

Arizona in winter

Thanks for the comments yesterday; in hindsight we shouldn’t have gone to any shows, it would have saved us 3 days. One getting the tickets and the next two evenings going to the shows, we would have been better of seeing the evening sights. Never mind we may get a chance on the way back as we have been thinking of staying in a cheap place in Downtown Vegas for a couple of days. Also I think that the water show at the Bellagio would have been in colour if I had caught it on the hour. It seemed too much trouble to get our car out when we had to wait for the valet service; maybe it will be easier in a downtown hotel. Also, everything is so much cheaper there which suits me. I didn’t really fancy the $10 Black Jack in our hotel, it would no longer be fun for me; I actually enjoyed playing the 25c machine and winging free beers; if I can get Claire playing our night will be free except for tips. We bought a pack of cards and have been practicing in our room. We have both worked hard for our money over the years and I don’t like the idea of just poking my notes straight down the drain.

The Satnav didn’t play up today and was almost straight into action and I couldn’t believe that it even knew its way around our hotel grounds which are a nightmare as they lead into Mirage and very hard to find your way back if you go wrong. No, it seemed to have been to Treasure Island before and knew all the little tricks and back allies. It also got us out of the spaghetti junction style highway system so you can actually go in the correct direction right from the start. It certainly seemed a lot happier in Vegas than in Sydney where it was worse than useless.

Once on the right road it was quite a boring journey but the landscape did change quite a bit with flat desert, rising mountains, snow capped mountains and even Boulder Mountains. We had to drive over the Hoover Dam which used to be called Boulder Dam and I can’t remember doing that crossing 30 years ago but I see that it was built in 1936 so who knows; maybe I can have a look back through my photo’s when I get home. It was a nightmare as they have over 20 miles of roadwork with speed limits of around 15mph; at one stop alone we waited for 30 minutes. I need to look at a map to see which way we went to Vegas from the Canyon last time.

The closer we got to the Canyon the more snow was around until we finally arrived and there were piles of snow everywhere; we should have got a bigger car with all wheel drive. The motel that Claire had picked out which was next to the Imax we couldn’t find. I know it sounds odd but we drove all around the Imax place without finding it. We found a sign advertising it and showing the way but it lied. We ended up in another one that was in the discount book next door called Red Feathers. Our room is the same size and identical layout to the one we had in Treasure Island but the furnishings and not quite the same quality and we have 2 Queen beds rather than one King bed. Also I noticed a sign on the inside of the toilet lid that says that the water is recycled so you shouldn’t drink it. Must remember that in the night when I’m really thirsty.
Claire was very pleased that she bought her new green pullover and coat otherwise she would have been freezing like I was in my short sleeved shirt, shorts and sandals. She was also very pleased that she hadn’t totally missed all the snow that we had in England. I did get some strange looks when I turned up in reception to check in though.

There is no laundry around this area we had to get our pass and drive into the national park to the campsite laundry but unfortunately, by the time we got there, it was too late as they closed in 15 minutes. That means we will have to take some time out of our sight seeing tour tomorrow doing domestic stuff. We have not decided yet on where to go tomorrow and will be talking about it with the maps we picked up over dinner tonight. Last time I did the helicopter ride and loved it but don’t want to spoil any more of my memories. We quite fancy a walk down the canyon and I was reading some of them but at this time of year they recommend the use of crampons for the journey back up. Does that mean that you slide down without them? Anyway, I’m not sure if crampons will fit properly to our sandals. They say that they have had 2 meters of snow in this area and we have another snow storm on its way. I’m sure that its colder here than it was in England; did anyone see icicles as long as those in England?

Last Night in Vegas

We still seem to be sleeping really well but somehow feel tired all the time. The curtains seem to black most light out, the bed is massive so you don’t feel each other move around, combined with a few drinks your out cold. We started off by walking north towards Circus Circus so Claire could look in a shop that she had spotted. She managed to buy a nice green coat and a green pullover and we carried on towards Circus Circus. We were going to get a taxi to downtown and Freemont Street but once we were out of the hotel area we couldn’t flag one down; its not like New York. We carried on walking passed Circus Circus where I had played $1 Black Jack yesterday towards the Stratosphere. It was about $30 to do the ride but I felt like I might have a heart attack if we did it and wimped out.

Anyway we ended up walking all the way to down town Vegas and onto Freemont Street; I guess that not many people walk over here because nobody would believe us. It was a nice sunny day and lovely in the sun so we enjoyed the walk. Mind you we were knackered by the time we got there and didn’t even fancy walking the street. The best time to come here is at night when they have the laser show on apparently but we have no time left as we have to be back for The Phantom of the Opera. Claire had read about the Golden Nugget so we went in for liquid refreshment and some lunch as we were starving by then. We stopped for a drink at one of those bars where they have Black Jack on a screen in front of you and it was only 25c minimum, which is more my style. Because I was playing it we got our beers free so it was a double whammy. I had about 3 drinks and only lost one dollar so that made it even better but Claire didn’t fancy any of the food places in there so we walked all the way back to where they had steaks and a beer for $10. By the time we had got there Claire didn’t fancy that either but she settled for a pizza while I went for the steak. The steak was good but the rest not so and Claire’s pizza tasted sweet somehow which you wouldn’t expect for a cheese one. By the way, yesterday we ate at Margaretville and my steak was one of the best that I have ever had. I had Teriyaki steak and it melted in your mouth, mmmm! Claire had a plain sirloin but hers was a little tough but still it had no fat or gristle on it. And the Margarita that I had was even stronger than the ones that I make at home. When in Rome!

We got a taxi back and got ready quickly as time was moving on and we only had 30 minutes of Happy Hour left at our favourite bar where they all know us now. We walked across the road to the Venetian where our show was on but all the traffic seemed to be stopped other than a convoy of trucks all blowing their horns. It must be for the Nascar race that is on here over the weekend so it was a good job we came home when we did, it was bedlam out there. All I will say about the two shows that we spent 4 or 5 hours at the timeshare to get cheap is that we came out early from both of them; I will leave Claire to explain why.

I couldn’t leave Las Vegas without getting a couple of pictures of the water show outside the Bellagio first so made the long walk there while Claire came back for an early night. Trouble is, when it’s dark and too far away for the flash you need a long exposure and then the water has gone before the photo is taken.

Summing up, I don’t really think that Vegas is our cup of tea; we both are not real keen on Cities and Vegas is probably the craziest and noisiest that you will find. I loved it when I was here for two nights 30 years ago when I was 25 but both Vegas and I have changed since then. In some ways, I remember it as being far more spectacular then than it is now; I guess that I was young and in those days expectations weren’t so high. Walking along the strip at Las Vegas at night reminds me of the scene from “Total Recall” when Arnold first gets to Mars!