Leaving Las Vegas

Up early to do some shoping before I check out of my hotel. I'm gonna miss the view.

 

5 1/2 hour journey to Los Angeles so its camera out and ipod on. Leaving Las Vegas on repeat seems like a good choice.

 

Best way to describe journey would be show you some of the pictures.

 

 

As we arrive in LA and drive down to down town i couldn't resist putting Downtown on the ipod. Cheesy I know.

 

I get a taxi from the bus drop off point to my hotel. Room is OK but the view make up for it.

 

 

Exploring LA tomorrow and have a Lakers game to go to. Should be fun.

 



Last day in Vegas

Still 33 degrees here so started by last day in Vegas by the pool.

It was then onto Hooters for my dinner. You would think with a name like Hooters you may find yourself looking at the chest area of the staff, but you find yourself watching backsides. Maybe its the short bright orange hotpants they all walk around in.

 After lunch and it was time to have a lie down to recover from all that excitement.

I'm gonna miss these great Vegas views.

By the time I knew it it was time to hit the show "Fantasy".

I'm not sure why I booked it.

It had lots of singing and dancing even had a stand up doing a comedy act. Favorite moment was Jessica Rabbit (for those of you who have seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit) bit. Is it getting hot in here.

I am now trying to work out how to get my signed calendar home without it getting damaged.

Bus ride to LA tomorrow. So long Vegas. I'll be back.

Fremont Experience

Had a bit of a chill daytime today after staying up till 4:30am watching Croc Dundee 1 & 2 (classic films).

I dont know why but I always seem to get creative after little sleep.

Having spent the day not doing alot it was time to get to Fremont St.

Fremont St is a street in downtown Las Vegas that a friend recomended I visit when I was in the process of planning my trip. I glad I took his advise.

The most basic way to describe it is a street with casino's running down each side with a covered roof that plays video. My pictures don't do it justice.

They also have a number of stages with live bands.

Before I did some exploring it was time to get some food. I have to say that the BBQ ribs cooked in a Jameson BBQ sauce from Hennesey's was as good as it sounds.

Although there was a party atmosphere there was the odd emotional moment. Its hard not to get all emotional when as part of one of the hourly shows on the roof screen they play Don McCleans American Pie and what felt like everyone (god only knows how many people) all sing along.

They also did a Queen medley that went down a storm. Freddie Rules!!!!

Someone has to remind me to thank the people from Lynx when I get home. The adverts are true.

Angels do fall from the sky and tell you how good you smell.

Its a good job there was no wedding chapel near by or those blue eyes may have got me in trouble. lol

For those of you paying attention Elvis is alive and well.

Still have that smile on my face now.

Day by the pool tomorrow followed by Food at Hooters and the show Fantasy (Showgirls galore) back at the Luxor.

I dont think the smile will be going anywhere soon. lol

The Pyramid

Pizza was really good and perked me right up so got out of my room. First it was time to do soe people watching over a few beers in the slot bar. A few people playing beer pong and a OAP from Canada on his trip south in his RV for the winter kept me entertained until it was time to send some documentation through to the UK (long story).

As the casino was quier I decided that as I was in Vegas I should at least try a little gambling (within reason). I'm glad I did as the $10 I had put aside for this adventure managed to pay for my food and drink for the evening. Thank you Wheel of Fortune slot machine. Money in pocket I set off for my room only to be drawn to one of the other bars. The barman was throwing bottles about (cocktail shaking) and the long bar had a person at every seat exept one (must be fate for me to sit down). Got chatting with a few of the gang and was a nice end to the night.

Checked out of my room at 11am and had a few hours to kill before check in at the new hotel. Had a walk around the and got some more good pics of the Stratophere Casino.

Then it was time to check in at my new hotel the Luxor.

It looks really impressive from the outside and just as impressive on the inside. If you look really closely you can probably see the door to my room on the 22nd floor.

This is the view from my door.

My room with a view.

I think i'm gonna be spending alot of time in my room taking in the views.

I got some great shots fo the outside at night too.

 Had a few beers in a few of the hotel bars to get my bearings and a feel for the place then spent the last hour or so staring out the window of my room at the views. Think its time i went to bed.

Jet lag

For the last few days i've been feeling the effects of jet lag.

Up at 6am and out to Rock & Ritas for breakfast. Service and food was really was really good.

Then went back to bed for a couple of hours before having a lazy day round the pool. It was then of for a wander up to the other end of the strip.

 

Just ordered a pizza to be delivered to my room while I watch sunday night (American) football then going have a soak in the bath and may go to the big top to catch one of the circus acts.

I'm moving to the Luxor which is a little more central tomorrow for 3 nights so may catch a few shows. Will have to see what cheap tickets are available.

Vegas

After a restfull nights sleep it was time to explore Vegas and meet up with Shaun.

My hotel till Monday then time to move on.

A few of the other hotels on the strip

The Wynn

The Mirage

New York New York

Planet Hollywood

The Venetian

Me outside Ceasars Palace

At 2pm I was feeling the effects of my traveling so went back to my hotel for a few hour sleep.

After some food it was then time to meet up with Shaun to go on a organised tour of a few of the bars. Got to meet some great people but felt my age when I got up in the morning.

Big travel day

Up at 6:30 to get the train to the airport. 3 flights and a loan of hanging around in airports to do today. Doh!!!!

First flight is on New Zealand Air. From the moment the in flight safety video starts I know i'm gonna love NZ Air. As the film the Hobbit (mostly filmed in NZ) is due for release NZ Air have made a speacial Lord of the Rings saftey video (including director Peter jackson). Its the first inflight safety video that actually has the airplane laughing. If you get the chance its worth a watch. I'm sure it will be on youtube.

Flight to Auckland was just under 4 hours.

Picture from Auckland Airport.

Auckland Airport is a lovely place and manage to find a quiet spot to recharged my batteries. Its about a 6 hour stop over but the time goes by really quickly. I feel like i've got the whole airport to myself.

Its then time for my flight to LA. Just over 11 hours in total so plenty of time to get some movie watching in. Batman is first on which has a plane crash at the start of the film just as we are taking off. Not one of my best ideas. Flight is broken up with meal times and have to assist young lady climb over seats as the person next to her has fallen asleep.

LA is not my favorite airport. For one of the busiest airports in the world it feels small and unorganised. A few hours to waste before my flight to Vegas so its time to play a variation of my people watching game. I call this one Gambler, Pole dancer, Rock star where I try to guess who on my flight fits into the one of the categories. Not many rock stars or pole dancers on this flight unfortunately.

Flight to Vegas takes 42mins (a fact which i am thankful off). We get a great view of the strip as we come into land at night. We land at the new Vegas airport which the taxi driver tells me has just been opened this year . This is what I expected the LA Airport to be like. I book in with Teresa at my hotel Circus Circus (not one of the newest hotels but at the top of the strip).

A picture of my small room. lol

Yes it does have two king size beds in it before you ask.

As ive missed the cut off time to get a Pizza delivered to my room its a quick walk to McDonalds for a snack before bed.

Gonna catch up with Shaun in the morning.