Easter in Las Vegas...

... isn't like in any other place...

It started when we were walking back to the hotel on Saturday night when several police cars went screeching by with their sirens wailing. Then as we got nearer we saw a police helicopter circling. But then we realised it was circling our hotel!

Must admit to being rather wary. But as we got nearer, the helicopter wheeled away and shone its search beam elsewhere. Phew! Or at least I thought it was Phew... We went to bed and I read for a while, but when I turned off the light, I could see flashing lights. There were several police cars parked in the car park at the back of the hotel and then the helicopter returned. I eventually fell asleep, but I was still uneasy.

The next thing I knew there was someone banging on the room door. Being the coward that I am, I woke Brian up. It was 6 o'clock. He answered the door to two policemen! They said they'd had a report of a disturbance and was he OK. Brian assured them that he was. So then they asked if his family was OK.

We never found out what it was all about, but it was worrying for a while.


THEN, on Sunday morning, I looked out of the window to find a jet plane writing in the sky! The writing was done with the jet stream. Goodness knows how high up it was - I couldn't see the plane when the stream was turned off. I didn't get a very good picture... but eventually the message said, Jesus 'heart' U.

On Sunday, our original plan was to go to the Grand Canyon. However when we put it into the Sat Nav, she said it would take four and a half hours each way. Given that we were going to do a very long drive on Monday, we decided to miss it. So, it remains top of my 'Places I want to go to' list where it has been for a very long time. However we did fly over it when we were going from Denver to LA, so here it is from 30,000 feet!!
So instead we went to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. And it was a great trip. Here's the Dam taken from the Lake.
One of the best things for me was that the boat we took on the lake was paddlesteamer. I've always wanted to go on a steamer. When Mum and I came to America about 20 years ago we tried to go on one on the Mississippi, but the river was frozen and the boats frozen into it! So, this was a dream come true for me.

Here's the view of the lake from the dam. There's a long long traffic jam to cross the dam. So they are building a new road and a bridge...
... I'm kinda glad we visited before they finished it. Yikes!!
OK, that's got you up to Sunday. I'll try and catch you up a couple more days tomorrow.

Take care, all.

Much love
xx

Bright lights and sore feet

OK, we're now in Las Vegas... after a long, long drive through the desert from Los Angeles. This shot is of the New York, New York hotel. You can just about see the huge rollercoaster that runs around the hotel - even through the casino - and reaches up to 65 mph. And no, I won't be trying it!
Lovely metalwork.

The hotel on the left that looks like it's made of Lego is the Excalibur. We've not been in there yet.

This is the front of the Paris Hotel - and a half size replica of the Eiffel Tower.
The attention to detail in these themed hotels is just amazing - like this replica of the Arc d'Triumph at the Paris Hotel. And just look at all the detail in the metalwork of the canopy.

We were taking a breather on some benches here. We've walked MILES and MILES! My feet are so sore...
The reception of the Paris Hotel. The whole place just twinkled and twinkled.
If you thought the Paris Hotel was something, you should see the Venetian... all the sights of Venice boiled down to the front of the hotel. I took the photograph from a great replica of the Doge's Palace. Inside the hotel the shopping mall has a false sky... And there are more gondolas and gondaliers inside too.

This shot is for my brother. He just loved American trucks when he was younger. They are all so well looked after, the chrome has a polish that I'd be pleased to get on my jewellery!

There'll be more pics of Vegas soon... as long as my feet recover!

Hope all well with all of you.

Much love
xx