Anyway, here is a selection of photos from Vegas and today's journey from Vegas to Mammoth!
I don't think so!!
Well!
Friday, 20 July 2012
Las Vegas and the Route to Mammoth!
Vegas - entertainment capital of the world! But try getting free wifi in your room! They want to charge you or everything!
Anyway, here is a selection of photos from Vegas and today's journey from Vegas to Mammoth!
So, what do you think? Two show girls or are either ofthem a guy?
I don't think so!!
Caesar's Palace! A little OTT. Surely not!
Ok? Did I win? Of course it! Nobody wins!
Caesar's Palace was vast!
L in the hotel lobby of The Pallazo!
Oi! I wanted taken by the lady pirates ship!
Anyone for a gondola ride? This is The Venitian.
Vegas.....gone....we are now in Mammoth near Yosemite!
This is BEAR country! Visiting the relatives!
Looking out at The Sierra Nevada mountains.
A real grizzly! No....he's taking the photo! Here we are having lunch at Tonopah Station.
Looking at the mountains near Mammoth!
Anyway, here is a selection of photos from Vegas and today's journey from Vegas to Mammoth!
I don't think so!!
Posted with Blogsy
Thursday, 19 July 2012
Day 9: Las Vegas and Hoover Dam and The Legends!
Today was going to be one of A's highlights! A visit to the Hoover Dam! The dam is the one major reason why man has been able to establish such a presence in the middle of the Mohave Desert which spreads across 5 states! The Colorado River winds it's way through the desert and it is amazing that such a major river still exists in such inhospitable conditions! The majority of the water stems from the mountains that dominate this region of the states. The snow melt from the winter provides much of the water and even during the dry season it still powers its way through the dry, dusty lands,
Although a spring had been discovered in Las Vegas in the 1800's by explorers trying to get a route to the west coast. Las Vegas means 'The Meadow' and the water supply had been kept secret he Native Americans. However, this discovery opened the area to human exploration! Although the water supply was not enough to allow the numbers of people who live in the area now it was enough to establish a settlement.
As time went on it became more and more important for a solution to be found to allow industry, people and towns and farmers to harness a supply of water to mean they could exist in the area despite the over powering heat experienced there all year! Thus, in the 1920s during the Great Depression, a plan was hatched to harness the power of the Colorado River instead of it controlling the people! President Hoover gave he go ahead for plans to be made to Sam the river at the best point possible! After a great deal of surveying the perfect place was found. A huge dam would be built across a deep gorge and a vast man made lake would spread back into the valley covering hundreds of square miles. The lake, Lake Mead, has over 500 miles of coast!
Before work could commence a settlement had to be built! Boulder City started to spring up and a railway line was built! Boulder City was built to ensure the workforce of over 3500, working on the dam alone, was kept away from them temptations of Vegas and the gambling and loose women that even existed then! Nevada was one of the few states at that time to have legalised gambling!
They were picked up at 7.45am at the bus drop off point. They were going in one of the 'Pink Jeep Tour' SUV's and there would only be 10 people on the tour! John picked us up and we were soon strapped in the plane style seats and heading off into the desert. John gave a running commentary and told them all about the rise of Vegas, the plans for the dam and how it changed the area for ever. Even at 8am it was already extremely hot. As the bus neared the dam we could see some of the lake stretching in to the distance.
We left the freeway and headed up the lad to the dam and soon we were looking across at the huge new bridge that has been built across the mountains that surround the dam and then the dam below. Again the first time you see it your breath is taken away. The structure is amazing and considering it was constructed over 5 years in the 1930's you can see why it is recognised as one of the most amazing engineering projects since the pyramids were built in Egypt thousands of years ago.
We are stopped by homeland security - which amounts to two guys looking in the back of the truck. Just as well they Did of look under the seats!! We're cleared to proceed and we make our way across the dam in the jeep following the original road that was located on the dam. We park at the far side and get out! The view is amazing. The first sight is of the overspill area where water would go if the lake was to rise beyond its limits. Runnng out of this is a 400foot tunnel which is 50 feet in diameter which would take the water to the bottom of the dam to be released in the river. A similar overspill area is located on the other side also. However, only twice since 1930 has the lake been full to its maximum level! This can be seen by the discolouration of the rocks round the lake side. The water has chemicals in it that bleaches the rock and so you can see a distinct line round the rocky sides of the lake where the water has risen too. They had thought of everything!
We now make it on to the dam and walk round the curved structure in searing heat. The lake is used for recreational purposes and boats sail on it, water skiers use it and people fish in it! At the lower side of the dam groups raft down the river on trips through the gorge. 21 of the bus tour company were doing that today and they would see the dam from the bottom of the vast wall. At both sides buoys mark the points where users of the lake or river cannot pass due to safety issues and because of security. Anyone getting closer would soon be picked up by homeland security officials and questioned. This is a prime terrorist target and even before getting in to the centre we go through airport style security.
Before the dam could be built the river had to be diverted to allow the workers to dig down to Thebes rock of the valley hundreds of feel below. Two tunnels were drilled through the mountains to divert the water and this took two years before they could actually start work on the dam.
Stretching out of the water on the dam side of the water were four huge columns. These are the columns where thousands and thousands of gallons daily are sucked into the power station turbines to create electricity before the water is released once more on its way down the river. The dam not only provides water for much of the surrounding towns and cities round the neighbouring states it supplies vast amount of electricity into the national grid. Very little of this goes to Vegas and over half of it goes to LA to help powers the vast metropolis there.
They take photos as John shares stories and information about the dam and I get a few photos take . I must admit I was not overly happy about being perched on the top of a 700 foot high concrete dam to get my photo taken! One puff of wind and that was it - chow!
A'the other side of the dam we saw the various memorials that have been erected over the years since its opening! Of the many deaths that happened during the construction the first and last was a father and son! The father had died while surveying the area in the planning stages and his son died at the end of the construction period which is an amazing story.
We then make it to the official tour area. We descend tote entrance and John gets our tickets. We queue for a refund as the part of the tour to the power plant cannot go ahead due to technical problems. We get to see the information film of the dams history and look round the exhibit before making our way to ...you guessed it the shop! Then it was time to meet John and head back to Vegas!
The four hours of the trip had flashed past and the experience will remain with us for a long, long time. The sheer size of the dam and the construction of it in a time when there was little in the way of mechanical tools and everything was done by man really let's you see why this is such an amazing construction project. The new road that now passes above the dam to Vegas and the vast arched bridge that now spans the valley is another engineering marvel. No one that visits the dam will come away without being affect in some way! Although different to the Grand Canyon it is equally impressive in its own way.
What a great trip - a true highlight of the trip.
They make it back to Vegas by about noon. They go to the room and plan what they will do now. L soon has a list of the things they want to see! So, they are off to get tickets for a show tonight, to see the Eiffel Tower, the fountains at the Aria hotel and the flower displays and chocolate fountain at The Bellagio Hotel
The heat outside is once again stifling. As they go they dip in and out of the hotel lobbies and casinos to make use of the air conditioning to cool them down! After a short walk they make to the tickets booth at The Flamingo Hotel. This is the hotel where Donny and Marie are performing at present! They have to queue for around an hour and it is so hot A is worried that L may pass out! But eventually they make it to the head of the queue, despite many in the VIP lane getting in before them because they had paid a surcharge to get in quicker! They get tickets for 'The Legends' show which happens to be in their hotel. But they can not pay by card as they have no photo ID! If they had been told this they would have taken it with them! They could pay cash but would still need to present photo ID at the theatre before being admitted!
After this they really needed some food! They went in to the next hotel, The Paris Las Vegas, and entered another huge casino, shopping mall and a myriad of food outlets. At last they went too French, surprise surprise, cafe to get a sandwich!
After this it was off to the Aria to see the fountains. This was a bit of a disappointment and perhaps they didn't get to the right place! But again it was an amazing structure and was full of more high end designer stores. So, they move on to The Bellagio. This is perhaps one of the fanciest hotels and when you enter it you are blown away by the architecture, interior design and the flowers! The hotel is vast, surprise surprise, and it is really one of the nicest we have seen. It is stylish and spectacular and does not go for the 'knock them out with bling' approach! It is more subtle but very impressive. The flower displays are hanged around 5 times a year according to the season. The lobby is vast and the roof is covered in large glass flowers that look like something from the set of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Then through into the main part of the hotel the 'gardens' are a spectacular vision of colour with each part having its own theme or style. The flowers are used to create figures and animals and are a sight to behold. We continue into the hotel looking for the famous chocolate fountain. Apparently it is the largest chocolate fountain in the world. It is located in a very stylish chocolate shop/cafe and the chocolate pours out from the roof into a vast array of glass petals that over flow on to other ones below before disappearing under the floor no double to be pumped up again to start its journey once more! Dark, milk and white chocolate flow constantly and you want to be able to stretch your paw out and interrupt the flow to have a taste. Better not or we may be shown the door!
After all this excitement it is back to the hotel at about 4pm for a rest. It has been a long day and we still have the show to look forward to at 9.30pm. The Legends is a show featuring many of the great legends of music including Tina Turner, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Elvis! Should be good! I hope I get to go to! I can peep out of the bag and enjoy the music!
Will update with photos soon!
Ted!
Just back from 'The Legends' show! Went out for a light snack as they were not overly hungry! They went to The Venetian and found a little French cafe, note the theme today, and had a fruit salad and a cake! They then went for a wander round Venice again before heading back to 'The Harrahs' for their show! The theatre was up on the second floor and was very quaint! There were the VIP seats at the front and then booths and tables at the back of the theatre! While the audience came in a photographer went round a took photos that you could buy on the way out! Four different photos were taken - typical Facebook photos with your cheeks (face!!) pressed together and one with a kiss and one with the lady on her own! So...did they buy......did they heck as like! The helicopter photo was different but this was not quite the same!
However, it was a good show! We were not sure who would be on and it seems that the line up was slightly different to the night before! Donna Summer was on first, followed by Tom Jones (who really looked like he had been tango'd!!) and then Lady Gaga! Then The Blues Brothers made an appearance and the show was rounded off by The King! All the performances were very good and they even looked like the acts and sounded great! The accompanying band was excellent and they made all the difference! Oh....and the dancers ...they were excellent! Some very interesting costumes!
The show was over in what seemed a short time and it was just a pity that there was not a full audience there! But they enjoyed it and they can say they saw a show in Vegas!
Tomorrow is going to be a quiet day! For the first time on the holiday they, and I, will get a long lie! No early Morning calls, no early bag pick ups and no early start! It will be great!
Will update soon!
Although a spring had been discovered in Las Vegas in the 1800's by explorers trying to get a route to the west coast. Las Vegas means 'The Meadow' and the water supply had been kept secret he Native Americans. However, this discovery opened the area to human exploration! Although the water supply was not enough to allow the numbers of people who live in the area now it was enough to establish a settlement.
As time went on it became more and more important for a solution to be found to allow industry, people and towns and farmers to harness a supply of water to mean they could exist in the area despite the over powering heat experienced there all year! Thus, in the 1920s during the Great Depression, a plan was hatched to harness the power of the Colorado River instead of it controlling the people! President Hoover gave he go ahead for plans to be made to Sam the river at the best point possible! After a great deal of surveying the perfect place was found. A huge dam would be built across a deep gorge and a vast man made lake would spread back into the valley covering hundreds of square miles. The lake, Lake Mead, has over 500 miles of coast!
Before work could commence a settlement had to be built! Boulder City started to spring up and a railway line was built! Boulder City was built to ensure the workforce of over 3500, working on the dam alone, was kept away from them temptations of Vegas and the gambling and loose women that even existed then! Nevada was one of the few states at that time to have legalised gambling!
They were picked up at 7.45am at the bus drop off point. They were going in one of the 'Pink Jeep Tour' SUV's and there would only be 10 people on the tour! John picked us up and we were soon strapped in the plane style seats and heading off into the desert. John gave a running commentary and told them all about the rise of Vegas, the plans for the dam and how it changed the area for ever. Even at 8am it was already extremely hot. As the bus neared the dam we could see some of the lake stretching in to the distance.
We left the freeway and headed up the lad to the dam and soon we were looking across at the huge new bridge that has been built across the mountains that surround the dam and then the dam below. Again the first time you see it your breath is taken away. The structure is amazing and considering it was constructed over 5 years in the 1930's you can see why it is recognised as one of the most amazing engineering projects since the pyramids were built in Egypt thousands of years ago.
We are stopped by homeland security - which amounts to two guys looking in the back of the truck. Just as well they Did of look under the seats!! We're cleared to proceed and we make our way across the dam in the jeep following the original road that was located on the dam. We park at the far side and get out! The view is amazing. The first sight is of the overspill area where water would go if the lake was to rise beyond its limits. Runnng out of this is a 400foot tunnel which is 50 feet in diameter which would take the water to the bottom of the dam to be released in the river. A similar overspill area is located on the other side also. However, only twice since 1930 has the lake been full to its maximum level! This can be seen by the discolouration of the rocks round the lake side. The water has chemicals in it that bleaches the rock and so you can see a distinct line round the rocky sides of the lake where the water has risen too. They had thought of everything!
We now make it on to the dam and walk round the curved structure in searing heat. The lake is used for recreational purposes and boats sail on it, water skiers use it and people fish in it! At the lower side of the dam groups raft down the river on trips through the gorge. 21 of the bus tour company were doing that today and they would see the dam from the bottom of the vast wall. At both sides buoys mark the points where users of the lake or river cannot pass due to safety issues and because of security. Anyone getting closer would soon be picked up by homeland security officials and questioned. This is a prime terrorist target and even before getting in to the centre we go through airport style security.
Before the dam could be built the river had to be diverted to allow the workers to dig down to Thebes rock of the valley hundreds of feel below. Two tunnels were drilled through the mountains to divert the water and this took two years before they could actually start work on the dam.
Stretching out of the water on the dam side of the water were four huge columns. These are the columns where thousands and thousands of gallons daily are sucked into the power station turbines to create electricity before the water is released once more on its way down the river. The dam not only provides water for much of the surrounding towns and cities round the neighbouring states it supplies vast amount of electricity into the national grid. Very little of this goes to Vegas and over half of it goes to LA to help powers the vast metropolis there.
They take photos as John shares stories and information about the dam and I get a few photos take . I must admit I was not overly happy about being perched on the top of a 700 foot high concrete dam to get my photo taken! One puff of wind and that was it - chow!
A'the other side of the dam we saw the various memorials that have been erected over the years since its opening! Of the many deaths that happened during the construction the first and last was a father and son! The father had died while surveying the area in the planning stages and his son died at the end of the construction period which is an amazing story.
We then make it to the official tour area. We descend tote entrance and John gets our tickets. We queue for a refund as the part of the tour to the power plant cannot go ahead due to technical problems. We get to see the information film of the dams history and look round the exhibit before making our way to ...you guessed it the shop! Then it was time to meet John and head back to Vegas!
The four hours of the trip had flashed past and the experience will remain with us for a long, long time. The sheer size of the dam and the construction of it in a time when there was little in the way of mechanical tools and everything was done by man really let's you see why this is such an amazing construction project. The new road that now passes above the dam to Vegas and the vast arched bridge that now spans the valley is another engineering marvel. No one that visits the dam will come away without being affect in some way! Although different to the Grand Canyon it is equally impressive in its own way.
What a great trip - a true highlight of the trip.
They make it back to Vegas by about noon. They go to the room and plan what they will do now. L soon has a list of the things they want to see! So, they are off to get tickets for a show tonight, to see the Eiffel Tower, the fountains at the Aria hotel and the flower displays and chocolate fountain at The Bellagio Hotel
The heat outside is once again stifling. As they go they dip in and out of the hotel lobbies and casinos to make use of the air conditioning to cool them down! After a short walk they make to the tickets booth at The Flamingo Hotel. This is the hotel where Donny and Marie are performing at present! They have to queue for around an hour and it is so hot A is worried that L may pass out! But eventually they make it to the head of the queue, despite many in the VIP lane getting in before them because they had paid a surcharge to get in quicker! They get tickets for 'The Legends' show which happens to be in their hotel. But they can not pay by card as they have no photo ID! If they had been told this they would have taken it with them! They could pay cash but would still need to present photo ID at the theatre before being admitted!
After this they really needed some food! They went in to the next hotel, The Paris Las Vegas, and entered another huge casino, shopping mall and a myriad of food outlets. At last they went too French, surprise surprise, cafe to get a sandwich!
After this it was off to the Aria to see the fountains. This was a bit of a disappointment and perhaps they didn't get to the right place! But again it was an amazing structure and was full of more high end designer stores. So, they move on to The Bellagio. This is perhaps one of the fanciest hotels and when you enter it you are blown away by the architecture, interior design and the flowers! The hotel is vast, surprise surprise, and it is really one of the nicest we have seen. It is stylish and spectacular and does not go for the 'knock them out with bling' approach! It is more subtle but very impressive. The flower displays are hanged around 5 times a year according to the season. The lobby is vast and the roof is covered in large glass flowers that look like something from the set of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Then through into the main part of the hotel the 'gardens' are a spectacular vision of colour with each part having its own theme or style. The flowers are used to create figures and animals and are a sight to behold. We continue into the hotel looking for the famous chocolate fountain. Apparently it is the largest chocolate fountain in the world. It is located in a very stylish chocolate shop/cafe and the chocolate pours out from the roof into a vast array of glass petals that over flow on to other ones below before disappearing under the floor no double to be pumped up again to start its journey once more! Dark, milk and white chocolate flow constantly and you want to be able to stretch your paw out and interrupt the flow to have a taste. Better not or we may be shown the door!
After all this excitement it is back to the hotel at about 4pm for a rest. It has been a long day and we still have the show to look forward to at 9.30pm. The Legends is a show featuring many of the great legends of music including Tina Turner, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Elvis! Should be good! I hope I get to go to! I can peep out of the bag and enjoy the music!
Will update with photos soon!
Ted!
Just back from 'The Legends' show! Went out for a light snack as they were not overly hungry! They went to The Venetian and found a little French cafe, note the theme today, and had a fruit salad and a cake! They then went for a wander round Venice again before heading back to 'The Harrahs' for their show! The theatre was up on the second floor and was very quaint! There were the VIP seats at the front and then booths and tables at the back of the theatre! While the audience came in a photographer went round a took photos that you could buy on the way out! Four different photos were taken - typical Facebook photos with your cheeks (face!!) pressed together and one with a kiss and one with the lady on her own! So...did they buy......did they heck as like! The helicopter photo was different but this was not quite the same!
However, it was a good show! We were not sure who would be on and it seems that the line up was slightly different to the night before! Donna Summer was on first, followed by Tom Jones (who really looked like he had been tango'd!!) and then Lady Gaga! Then The Blues Brothers made an appearance and the show was rounded off by The King! All the performances were very good and they even looked like the acts and sounded great! The accompanying band was excellent and they made all the difference! Oh....and the dancers ...they were excellent! Some very interesting costumes!
The show was over in what seemed a short time and it was just a pity that there was not a full audience there! But they enjoyed it and they can say they saw a show in Vegas!
Tomorrow is going to be a quiet day! For the first time on the holiday they, and I, will get a long lie! No early Morning calls, no early bag pick ups and no early start! It will be great!
Will update soon!
Day 8: Flagstaff to Las Vegas
Well, today was a real day of contrasts! The day started in Flagstaff and then we dropped in on Seligman, Kingman and finally Vegas! read on and you will see how the contrast is quite wide!
Cases were picked up at 8am and departure was 9am. Breakfast was included in the 'deal' and so they ate downstairs! They had time for a quick walk before heading off. Today was predominantly a driving day! Two stops were planned during the day but these were really food stops or rest stops!
Flagstaff was a nice location - from what we saw of it! But our fist stop was at Seligman! Seligman is stuck in a time warp! It is a blast from the past - a town that is stuck in the 1950's! It is on the original Route 66 and survives today by attracting bus tours to come in and stop to see what 'old America' was like! The whole town was like something from Grease or Happy Days! There were quite a number of shops vying for trade but they were directed to 'The Rusty Bolt'! I are not sure whether the tour guides have deals set up but they all followed the advice and poured in to the shop! Now, the shop was very interesting! First of all, the outside was decorated with a large amount of 50's memorabilia ranging from cars, wax models of people dressed in the clothes of the period and signs from the period! Inside the shop had obviously not had an upgrade since it originally opened! They sold a wide range of Route 66 souvenirs, Arizona souvenirs and a large selection of biker gear!
Apart from just being a shop they offered a range of extras to entice the bus tourers in! You could get a free coffee from the little booth at the back of the shop! You could also use their 'restrooms'! However, they were quite progressive in that the toilets were unisex.....you just all queued in the shop! However, the toilets were missing one thing - doors! Each toilet had a curtain! Now, I would not like to be using that if I had an upset tummy! Anyway, the queue was ever constant and added to the charm of the place!
An old guy was sitting outside and was playing his guitar and signing! This was next to the large Route 66 sign you could take your photo with and the 1950's car which had its very own Elvis and Marylyn standing beside it at the back! You could sit in between them and have your picture taken! I had my photo taken there and beside the sign to prove I had been on Route 66! In fact, it was my second time on the famous route! We had visited the end of the route when we had been to Santa Monica a few days ago! I also had a rather compromising photo taken there...not of my doing....but I seemed to moon the camera! I blame Steve who was supposed to be helping me reach the top of the sign! Anyway, let's move on!
The one thing we did wonder was whether Billy Connolly had visited here on his journey along Route 66 for his TV series! We will need to check when home!
So, they were off once again! This time they were heading for Kingman! Our guide, who is constantly sharing information about the places we visit, asked if we had the Jerry Springer Show on TV at home? He said that when we visited Kingman we would meet some of the potential audiences and participants on the show here! This stop was purely a lunch stop! He went over a few possible options for lunch, but most seemed happy to visit one of the fast food chains there or go to one of the supermarkets which had small food outlets! They could go to Smiths or Walmart!! He pushed Smiths, just because it was American and not supplied by Chinese products like Walmart!
A number of us went to Smiths and had sandwiches and a drink! A had a bit of a fight with a bottle of coke and it seems to win! Just as well he was dressed in black!
After lunch they bought some supplies for Vegas and looked for a small thing of washing powder! No luck there so they went to Walmart!
Walmart.....was HUGE! Now, Kingman is a small place! But, the retail park we were in was vast and the number of food outlets was quite staggering! Also, to of the outlets offered a drive through facility! Now, this is not unusual I hear you say! But these were Drive Thru PHARMACY's!! Yes, they really are that lazy! Instead of parking and going to the shop they will just drive up and pass their prescription through the window!
Anyway, the Walmart was VAST! Imagine TESCO in Inverurie....but probably three or four times the size! It sold everything, and I mean everything! However, they succeeded in finding a small pack of detergent, but failed in their quest of finding the one aisle they wanted to find! Now, what are shops in the UK lacking? You know, the things you need to pick up at the shop when you are out! Well, next to the toy aisle is the GUN aisle and bullet aisle! Yes, you can go to the supermarket in Arizona and buy a gun and stock up on bullets! No wonder there is a gun problem! However, why not just go the whole way and have a Drive Thru Gun section?
So, they had gone back in time to the 50's and had tried to buy a gun for their holiday safety. How could you top this?
Well, just come to Las Vegas and it will top everything! Words just will not be successful at describing what Vegas is like! It is the craziest place they have ever been too! I have been lucky to visit a number of great and interesting places while away with A and L - but nothing has compared to Vegas! It is truly remarkable! It is amazing and awful at the same time!
The bus eventually crossed in to Nevada from Arizona around the time they passed the Hoover Dam! They got a brief sighting of it on our run in - and I am looking forward to going there tomorrow! As the. Bus headed in to Vegas you could easily see the 'strip' from quite a distance away! The hotels and accompanying buildings rose out from the desert and you could easily see the start and end of the strip. However, the first thing you notice is how close the airport is to the centre of the city. You literally could land at the airport and walk in to the centre of the city!
The bus drove down the strip and Craig had gone over the different hotels on The Strip before we hit the city! Nothing prepares you for arriving on the boulevard! If big is best....then what does gigantic make it? The first hotel we passed was the Luxor - the Egyptian themed hotel which boasts its very own pyramid! The pyramid, built out of glass, is as tall as NINE jumbo jets stacked up on top of each other! After that each hotel appeared to be trying to out do the one next to it! Bigger, taller, flashier, more statues and attractions in the lot or just more eye catching seems to be the order of the day!
After some driving about due to roadworks they arrived at the hotel. The bus drop off is at the back of the hotel. They got off the bus and entered the hotel through the rear entrance! Nothing could have prepared them for what met them! The hotel was decked out in gold and looked like something from the Liberace School of Interior Decorating! Craig got the tickets as usual and they were soon on their way up to the 11th floor! A was disappointed they did not get to the 35th floor?
The room is very much like some of the Others they have had. The room has two large, double beds and a large bathroom. The cases arrived quite quickly and they unpacked them for the first time in over a week. With three nights there they will be able to repack so they can split the clean and dirty clothes!
Anyway, they were soon ready to go off exploring! Again, NOTHING could have prepared them for what they would find - and that was Justin their OWN hotel! They are in 'Harrah's' and is right in the centre of the strip - an ideal location!
So, they set off down to the lobby for coffee! After a bit of a mix up being overcharged at Starbucks they were ready to explore! The hotel lobby is full of large shops selling all sorts of expensive goods? They pushed on and then hit the casino area! Well. This was the first major eye opener! They did not really know what to expect! The hotel suddenly just merged into the casino! The slot machines were first and as they continued to walk and walk they passed bank after bank of slot machines! The noise was incredible and the number of people sitting there a'the machines was incredible! Each machine had a large, comfortable chair and the majority of the people looked like they were ensconced there for the duration! Many were drinking while others had obviously come prepared with food and drink! They obviously did not want to waste time by heading off to get food and rink incase their machine paid out in the meantime!
Then the pontoon tables came next! The tables were crowded with people playing pontoon and gambling on each hand with the dealer! Some tried to look cool while others, who like us, knew nothing about gambling were ready to loose their money! The came the 'craps' tables with people betting on the throw of two dice!
The spectacle was amazing! It was exciting! There was a hustle and bustle that they had never experienced before! But there was also a feeling of despair a out it! Here they were in the middle of the desert, in a city that looks like no other city on earth and all these people were sitting inside in dark rooms, with. No windows and no clocks sitting there slowly, or not in some cases, losing a packet in games of chance that statistically they have little chance of winning! The thought of coming here for a fortnights holiday and dong this filled A and L with despair!
Having walked about the length of two football fields they discovered that they could go round at the top end of the room and come back down the other side! More crap tables, more slot machines and more card tables! Then there were the restaurants, 11 in all I think, and the shops and people everywhere! They had not even left the hotel yet and they were just incredulous!
So, they decided to venture out! As soon as you leave a building the heat just HITS you! They are so glad that it is actually cool at the moment! Unusually it is only in the 90's - early 100's and so it is just bearable! Ha!
The whole idea is that each hotel has a range of attractions to lure you in in the hope you will go to the casino! We walked to TheVenetian first! It is based on Venice, as if you hadn't guessed, and they wanted to see the gondolas! They bumped in to one of the families coming out and they said you have to keep going until you get to St Marks Square! So....we headed in. We took the walkway up into the hotel and as soon as you enter it is like being transported to Venice! The hotel lobby and foyer is like Tesco's in Inverurie! The cavernous room is done out in Rennaiceance European style and the roof, which is vast, is a huge fresco that would not look out of place in the L'ouvre! They walk about taking everything in! They conti ue through the hotel and casino. It is more like a huge shopping centre than a hotel! Shop after shop, most of which are high end designer, stretch ahead and are all decorated to suit the theme of the hotel! Then they discover the gondola canal! You can take a gondola through the canals inside the hotel and out into the huge plaza out the front of the hotel! The whole indoor area is decked out like Venice and right the way through the roof is painted as if the sky is above you! If you did not know you were inside you would be none the wiser!
They continue on, walking for what seemed ages, and eventually come out in St Marks Square! This other vast space looks like a square from the middle of Venice and once again the roof is painted to be like the sky! Restaurants and shops surround the square and gondolas float through! It really is just crazy!
Now, this is where the fun begins! How do you get out - how do you escape? They retraced their steps and spent the next 30-40 minutes trying together out! They really don't want you to escape...they want your money! Eventually they made it out and actually ended up coming out of another hotel!
How could things get any better?
On the continued and they went to 'Fashion World' another vast shopping centre on the strip! (They have lost count so far how many HUGE shopping centres there are!) they were looking for the Tickets booth to get tickets for a show! However, it was closed and so that would be the fun for tomorrow!
They had tea in a huge Food Hall and L went for a Panda Express while A went for a wrap!
So...on again! Evening and night time is when Vegas comes alive! Their aim was totake in a few of the shows at the hotels as the evening went on!
First was the Pirate Show at the Treasure Island Hotel! This show is put on a few times every night and is free to all the passers by who wish to watch!the show was spectacular! In the lake in from of the hotel two pirate ships were heading for each other! One is crewed by a crew of scantily clad females who had captured one of the male pirates! The second boat, full of the dashing male pirates, was coming to rescue their crew mate! Singing, dancing and acrobatics ensue from both ships! Some of the crew mates dive off the top of the masts or slide down the ropes from the top of the masts to the deck? Canon fire rings out and masts are destroyed and huge plumes of smoke and fire shoot into the air during the battle! This is all going on as thousands of people passing by stop to view and take photos! If you get caught in the middle you just have to wait! It was stunning but at least they did not have to spend much on the costumes as the rest of the set would have cost a fortune! At ne point the male pirates ship sinks before your eyes and the pirates scramble for safety!
Again, how could this be topped?
Next along the strip was The Mirage which is almost directly across from their hotel, Harrahs! The showers is a volcano erupting in a mix of smoke, fountains, fire and fireworks! The volcano starts to come to life and lights appear from the lake surrounding it! Then huge blasts of flames shoot out from the water! Then the volcano comes to life and smoke, light, jets of water and huge bursts of flame (which create a real surge of heat for those viewing) shoot into the air from the volcano! Again, another spectacular show - justto try and outdo their competition and get people in to their casino!
On they go again! Now there is a track up The Bellagio which is world famous for its water display in the vast lake that is located at the front of the hotel. They get there and people are waiting for the next show! They go every 15 or 30 minutes through the evening and into the night! They get a good spot but luckily some people decide to move on and they get right up to the wall surrounding the lake! A perfect spot to view and take photos!
The music starts up and then the water fountains and lights kick in and are choreographed perfectly to fit in with the music. The water dances and the night sky and the back drop of all the lights make it a magical experience! Again it is a shore display but one you would not want to miss!
So, after all this excitement it was time to make their way back to the hotel. It was late, and dark and the city had come to life in a blaze of neon lights! The heat was still oppressive and eventually they made it through the crowds to the hotel! Still, as with the other hotels, the casinos were still humming with the sound of music, chatter and the glare of the lights as people, many of them old ladies, conti used to gamble in to the night!
As for them it was off to bed! A nearly start tomorrow as they were off to The Hoover Dam for a tour they were really looking forward to!
More pics coming soon when I can get wifi!
Ted
Cases were picked up at 8am and departure was 9am. Breakfast was included in the 'deal' and so they ate downstairs! They had time for a quick walk before heading off. Today was predominantly a driving day! Two stops were planned during the day but these were really food stops or rest stops!
Flagstaff was a nice location - from what we saw of it! But our fist stop was at Seligman! Seligman is stuck in a time warp! It is a blast from the past - a town that is stuck in the 1950's! It is on the original Route 66 and survives today by attracting bus tours to come in and stop to see what 'old America' was like! The whole town was like something from Grease or Happy Days! There were quite a number of shops vying for trade but they were directed to 'The Rusty Bolt'! I are not sure whether the tour guides have deals set up but they all followed the advice and poured in to the shop! Now, the shop was very interesting! First of all, the outside was decorated with a large amount of 50's memorabilia ranging from cars, wax models of people dressed in the clothes of the period and signs from the period! Inside the shop had obviously not had an upgrade since it originally opened! They sold a wide range of Route 66 souvenirs, Arizona souvenirs and a large selection of biker gear!
Apart from just being a shop they offered a range of extras to entice the bus tourers in! You could get a free coffee from the little booth at the back of the shop! You could also use their 'restrooms'! However, they were quite progressive in that the toilets were unisex.....you just all queued in the shop! However, the toilets were missing one thing - doors! Each toilet had a curtain! Now, I would not like to be using that if I had an upset tummy! Anyway, the queue was ever constant and added to the charm of the place!
An old guy was sitting outside and was playing his guitar and signing! This was next to the large Route 66 sign you could take your photo with and the 1950's car which had its very own Elvis and Marylyn standing beside it at the back! You could sit in between them and have your picture taken! I had my photo taken there and beside the sign to prove I had been on Route 66! In fact, it was my second time on the famous route! We had visited the end of the route when we had been to Santa Monica a few days ago! I also had a rather compromising photo taken there...not of my doing....but I seemed to moon the camera! I blame Steve who was supposed to be helping me reach the top of the sign! Anyway, let's move on!
The one thing we did wonder was whether Billy Connolly had visited here on his journey along Route 66 for his TV series! We will need to check when home!
So, they were off once again! This time they were heading for Kingman! Our guide, who is constantly sharing information about the places we visit, asked if we had the Jerry Springer Show on TV at home? He said that when we visited Kingman we would meet some of the potential audiences and participants on the show here! This stop was purely a lunch stop! He went over a few possible options for lunch, but most seemed happy to visit one of the fast food chains there or go to one of the supermarkets which had small food outlets! They could go to Smiths or Walmart!! He pushed Smiths, just because it was American and not supplied by Chinese products like Walmart!
A number of us went to Smiths and had sandwiches and a drink! A had a bit of a fight with a bottle of coke and it seems to win! Just as well he was dressed in black!
After lunch they bought some supplies for Vegas and looked for a small thing of washing powder! No luck there so they went to Walmart!
Walmart.....was HUGE! Now, Kingman is a small place! But, the retail park we were in was vast and the number of food outlets was quite staggering! Also, to of the outlets offered a drive through facility! Now, this is not unusual I hear you say! But these were Drive Thru PHARMACY's!! Yes, they really are that lazy! Instead of parking and going to the shop they will just drive up and pass their prescription through the window!
Anyway, the Walmart was VAST! Imagine TESCO in Inverurie....but probably three or four times the size! It sold everything, and I mean everything! However, they succeeded in finding a small pack of detergent, but failed in their quest of finding the one aisle they wanted to find! Now, what are shops in the UK lacking? You know, the things you need to pick up at the shop when you are out! Well, next to the toy aisle is the GUN aisle and bullet aisle! Yes, you can go to the supermarket in Arizona and buy a gun and stock up on bullets! No wonder there is a gun problem! However, why not just go the whole way and have a Drive Thru Gun section?
So, they had gone back in time to the 50's and had tried to buy a gun for their holiday safety. How could you top this?
Well, just come to Las Vegas and it will top everything! Words just will not be successful at describing what Vegas is like! It is the craziest place they have ever been too! I have been lucky to visit a number of great and interesting places while away with A and L - but nothing has compared to Vegas! It is truly remarkable! It is amazing and awful at the same time!
The bus eventually crossed in to Nevada from Arizona around the time they passed the Hoover Dam! They got a brief sighting of it on our run in - and I am looking forward to going there tomorrow! As the. Bus headed in to Vegas you could easily see the 'strip' from quite a distance away! The hotels and accompanying buildings rose out from the desert and you could easily see the start and end of the strip. However, the first thing you notice is how close the airport is to the centre of the city. You literally could land at the airport and walk in to the centre of the city!
The bus drove down the strip and Craig had gone over the different hotels on The Strip before we hit the city! Nothing prepares you for arriving on the boulevard! If big is best....then what does gigantic make it? The first hotel we passed was the Luxor - the Egyptian themed hotel which boasts its very own pyramid! The pyramid, built out of glass, is as tall as NINE jumbo jets stacked up on top of each other! After that each hotel appeared to be trying to out do the one next to it! Bigger, taller, flashier, more statues and attractions in the lot or just more eye catching seems to be the order of the day!
After some driving about due to roadworks they arrived at the hotel. The bus drop off is at the back of the hotel. They got off the bus and entered the hotel through the rear entrance! Nothing could have prepared them for what met them! The hotel was decked out in gold and looked like something from the Liberace School of Interior Decorating! Craig got the tickets as usual and they were soon on their way up to the 11th floor! A was disappointed they did not get to the 35th floor?
The room is very much like some of the Others they have had. The room has two large, double beds and a large bathroom. The cases arrived quite quickly and they unpacked them for the first time in over a week. With three nights there they will be able to repack so they can split the clean and dirty clothes!
Anyway, they were soon ready to go off exploring! Again, NOTHING could have prepared them for what they would find - and that was Justin their OWN hotel! They are in 'Harrah's' and is right in the centre of the strip - an ideal location!
So, they set off down to the lobby for coffee! After a bit of a mix up being overcharged at Starbucks they were ready to explore! The hotel lobby is full of large shops selling all sorts of expensive goods? They pushed on and then hit the casino area! Well. This was the first major eye opener! They did not really know what to expect! The hotel suddenly just merged into the casino! The slot machines were first and as they continued to walk and walk they passed bank after bank of slot machines! The noise was incredible and the number of people sitting there a'the machines was incredible! Each machine had a large, comfortable chair and the majority of the people looked like they were ensconced there for the duration! Many were drinking while others had obviously come prepared with food and drink! They obviously did not want to waste time by heading off to get food and rink incase their machine paid out in the meantime!
Then the pontoon tables came next! The tables were crowded with people playing pontoon and gambling on each hand with the dealer! Some tried to look cool while others, who like us, knew nothing about gambling were ready to loose their money! The came the 'craps' tables with people betting on the throw of two dice!
The spectacle was amazing! It was exciting! There was a hustle and bustle that they had never experienced before! But there was also a feeling of despair a out it! Here they were in the middle of the desert, in a city that looks like no other city on earth and all these people were sitting inside in dark rooms, with. No windows and no clocks sitting there slowly, or not in some cases, losing a packet in games of chance that statistically they have little chance of winning! The thought of coming here for a fortnights holiday and dong this filled A and L with despair!
Having walked about the length of two football fields they discovered that they could go round at the top end of the room and come back down the other side! More crap tables, more slot machines and more card tables! Then there were the restaurants, 11 in all I think, and the shops and people everywhere! They had not even left the hotel yet and they were just incredulous!
So, they decided to venture out! As soon as you leave a building the heat just HITS you! They are so glad that it is actually cool at the moment! Unusually it is only in the 90's - early 100's and so it is just bearable! Ha!
The whole idea is that each hotel has a range of attractions to lure you in in the hope you will go to the casino! We walked to TheVenetian first! It is based on Venice, as if you hadn't guessed, and they wanted to see the gondolas! They bumped in to one of the families coming out and they said you have to keep going until you get to St Marks Square! So....we headed in. We took the walkway up into the hotel and as soon as you enter it is like being transported to Venice! The hotel lobby and foyer is like Tesco's in Inverurie! The cavernous room is done out in Rennaiceance European style and the roof, which is vast, is a huge fresco that would not look out of place in the L'ouvre! They walk about taking everything in! They conti ue through the hotel and casino. It is more like a huge shopping centre than a hotel! Shop after shop, most of which are high end designer, stretch ahead and are all decorated to suit the theme of the hotel! Then they discover the gondola canal! You can take a gondola through the canals inside the hotel and out into the huge plaza out the front of the hotel! The whole indoor area is decked out like Venice and right the way through the roof is painted as if the sky is above you! If you did not know you were inside you would be none the wiser!
They continue on, walking for what seemed ages, and eventually come out in St Marks Square! This other vast space looks like a square from the middle of Venice and once again the roof is painted to be like the sky! Restaurants and shops surround the square and gondolas float through! It really is just crazy!
Now, this is where the fun begins! How do you get out - how do you escape? They retraced their steps and spent the next 30-40 minutes trying together out! They really don't want you to escape...they want your money! Eventually they made it out and actually ended up coming out of another hotel!
How could things get any better?
On the continued and they went to 'Fashion World' another vast shopping centre on the strip! (They have lost count so far how many HUGE shopping centres there are!) they were looking for the Tickets booth to get tickets for a show! However, it was closed and so that would be the fun for tomorrow!
They had tea in a huge Food Hall and L went for a Panda Express while A went for a wrap!
So...on again! Evening and night time is when Vegas comes alive! Their aim was totake in a few of the shows at the hotels as the evening went on!
First was the Pirate Show at the Treasure Island Hotel! This show is put on a few times every night and is free to all the passers by who wish to watch!the show was spectacular! In the lake in from of the hotel two pirate ships were heading for each other! One is crewed by a crew of scantily clad females who had captured one of the male pirates! The second boat, full of the dashing male pirates, was coming to rescue their crew mate! Singing, dancing and acrobatics ensue from both ships! Some of the crew mates dive off the top of the masts or slide down the ropes from the top of the masts to the deck? Canon fire rings out and masts are destroyed and huge plumes of smoke and fire shoot into the air during the battle! This is all going on as thousands of people passing by stop to view and take photos! If you get caught in the middle you just have to wait! It was stunning but at least they did not have to spend much on the costumes as the rest of the set would have cost a fortune! At ne point the male pirates ship sinks before your eyes and the pirates scramble for safety!
Again, how could this be topped?
Next along the strip was The Mirage which is almost directly across from their hotel, Harrahs! The showers is a volcano erupting in a mix of smoke, fountains, fire and fireworks! The volcano starts to come to life and lights appear from the lake surrounding it! Then huge blasts of flames shoot out from the water! Then the volcano comes to life and smoke, light, jets of water and huge bursts of flame (which create a real surge of heat for those viewing) shoot into the air from the volcano! Again, another spectacular show - justto try and outdo their competition and get people in to their casino!
On they go again! Now there is a track up The Bellagio which is world famous for its water display in the vast lake that is located at the front of the hotel. They get there and people are waiting for the next show! They go every 15 or 30 minutes through the evening and into the night! They get a good spot but luckily some people decide to move on and they get right up to the wall surrounding the lake! A perfect spot to view and take photos!
The music starts up and then the water fountains and lights kick in and are choreographed perfectly to fit in with the music. The water dances and the night sky and the back drop of all the lights make it a magical experience! Again it is a shore display but one you would not want to miss!
So, after all this excitement it was time to make their way back to the hotel. It was late, and dark and the city had come to life in a blaze of neon lights! The heat was still oppressive and eventually they made it through the crowds to the hotel! Still, as with the other hotels, the casinos were still humming with the sound of music, chatter and the glare of the lights as people, many of them old ladies, conti used to gamble in to the night!
As for them it was off to bed! A nearly start tomorrow as they were off to The Hoover Dam for a tour they were really looking forward to!
More pics coming soon when I can get wifi!
Ted
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Monday, 16 July 2012
Day 7: Scottsdale to The Grand Canon to Flagstaff
Today was one of the days they were looking forward too! And so was I, I never thought I'd get the chance to go to the Grand Canyon!
The hotel in Scottsdale had been great but it was an early morning again! The bags had to be outside the doors by 7am and departure was 8am. They had been told that we should go for the late breakfast option again instead of having breakfast at the hotel! So, the cases were ready and they were up and in the showers by 7am. This meant they could go and get a coffee and some fruit before setting off. The rest of the bus passengers were all ready early and so they were off once again!
We had a short drive to our first stop! They were going to get photos of cacti! The desert area round Scottsdale is real cactus country and a variety of kinds were there! They basically pulled off the freeway and parked up in a bit of waste ground and walked into the desert round us to take photos! Craig assured us that this was a place that only he and the driver knew about! So, theft that there were three other buses there soon dispelled this!!
I got my photo take with a cactus...but I was very wary as we had been told not to venture into the surrounding bush areas due to the possibility of encountering scorpions or rattle snakes! That was enough for L and she was soon for getting back on the bus!
We then continued on heading for Sedona. This was quite close to Flagstaff where we would be staying tonight. The bus soon started to climb as we headed for Sedona. Sedona is at an altitude of about 4000 feet, the same as Ben Nevis, and as we climbed we had some great scenery of the small canyons and towering mountains in that area! The road was very scenic and the rock formations and the sheer steepness of the canyon was very impressive! At one point the bus started to zig zag up the side of the canyon as we climbed ever higher! Once at the top of the canyon we headed on towards Sedona. The scenery just kept getting better and better! The mountains started to soar above us and when we arrived in Sedona everyone on the bus could not believe the scenery. Sedona must be one of the most idyllic places in the world! The town itself is stunning but with the backdrop of the mountains circling round it it made it almost perfect!
http://www.visitsedona.com/
They had around 90 minutes here. So again it was a look around and a visit to some of the shops before grabbing brunch again! Again the food and the service in the restaurant was great - and despite it being a popular place for bus parties we had a great meal sitting on the outdoor patio with the most amazing view! It was like Switzerland but with no snow!
The bus was soon off once more and there was an air of excitement from everyone as they knew our next stop was at the Grand Canyon! They actually had to go through Flagstaff to get on to the road that would take them to the GC! We had a drive of about 90 minutes to go! Craig, the tour guide, explained that there would be three drop offs! 21 would be dropped at 'Papillions Grand Canyon Helicopters'!
http://www.papillon.com/?gclid=CJ_Iutzzn7ECFQoZQgodqRk8Wg
Another 7 were being dropped at another helicopter tour company while the remainder of the group would be taken straight to the Canyon to spend a little longer at the rim!
So, our group was to be dropped first! Then the bombshell came! You could take a camera with you - but no bags and extra items! It dawned on me that that meant ME! I had been looking forward to this all the way along on the trip and now I was being told that I could not go! What a bummer!
So, A and L left with the others and I had to go on the bus with the others!
On arrival at the 'heliport' we had to be checked in! No passport, but we all had to be weighed! The people going on each flight would have to be matched according to their weights! There were 6 passengers in each helicopter! Craig said he could not guarantee that everyone would be on the same flight. Luckily, we were but because of the balance required across the passengers it meant L was in the front and A was in the back!
After the big weigh in we saw a safety video and then had to wait for our flight! After a few moments we were called! Their copter was first! They went out and had their photo taken first! It was obviously exit by the gift shop and buy your souvenir photo! Then according to the number on their ticket they entered the copter! They put on headphones, buckled up their seatbelts and waited!
Before the knew it the copter had taken off and was soon hovering above the heliport! After a little hesitation it suddenly lurched forward and was soon soaring above the tree tops! They were told that it would take around 7 minutes to get to the canyon! The journey was a lot bumpier than A expected and he was soon feeling a little query! However, despite that he was juggling his camera and video to make sure he recorded the experience for evermore!
They continued on and they could see the canyon spread out before them! It was a cloudy day and further along the canyon you could see that the rain was falling hard! They kept well away from dodgy weather and suddenly they were there! The ground under us in suddenly fell away and all you could see was the gigantic cavernous expanse of canyon below us! The helicopter really gave you the opportunity to appreciate the sheer size of the Grand Canyon! The tiny helicopter must have been dwarfed compared to the canyon! The rugged scenery spread before us and everywhere you looked you saw another amazing view!
Suddenly you are faced with the dilemma! To film or take photos or just sit back and enjoy the view! This really is a once in a lifetime experience! You had to take in as much as you could, but you had to film and photograph it! The only problem was the reflections from the glass in the video and photos!
The copter flew along the canyon and followed a number of different areas of the it! Each was different but your eyes were trying to take in as much as you can.
The Grand Canyon is well named! It truly was a great experience! Seeing it from above gives you a totally different perspective to just seeing it from the rim! Despite A feeling decidedly 'iffy' on his return he really enjoyed it! L loved it and felt it was quite an emotional trip. All through the trip you either listened to an accompanying commenttary or listened to music to help lull you into a dreamlike state!
Before we knew it the copter had left the canyon and was making its way back to the heliport! Everyone sat. In silence, contemplating what they had seen and experienced! On landing they were led back into the building to visit the gift shop and see the photo of each family or couple outside their helicopter!
They waited for the bus to pick them up and then they too were taken to the rim of the canyon to spend some time there seeing the canyon from the. Ground level!
They had around 90 minutes before the bus would have to start the return journey to Flagstaff! So, I managed to get out at last to see the canyon! Walking up to the rim of the canyon was quite exhilarating and when you are suddenly faced by the spectacular sight of the rock formations it takes your breath away. They stood and looked for a few minutes! The whole area was buzzing with tourists and countless photos were being taken! They then went for a walk along the rim stopping every now and then to take yet more photos! I managed to get a few pics taken too and was worried I might fall in to the canyon....and that would have been it! This was not going to be my 'Thelma and Louise' moment!
I must admit I really enjoyed seeing the canyon. Nothing can really prepare you for the experience! It is easy to see why this is one of the 'Wonders of the World'! I don't know what the rest of the holiday will be able to offer to compete with this...and I did not even make it to the helicopter!
After a rushed visit to the gift shop, as always, they had a 90 minute journey back to Flagstaff! Again, the journey back was a quiet one as people contemplated what they had seen!
They had to be back by 7am to ensure they made it for the end of Happy Hour! If they made it by 7pm they would get free drinks and a free complimentary dinner! Well, they made it in time and over dinner everyone shared their experiences once again!
Another great hotel! However, the excitement continues as tomorrow it is LAS VEGAS!
More soon! Hopefully the Vegas hotel will have wifi!
Ted
The hotel in Scottsdale had been great but it was an early morning again! The bags had to be outside the doors by 7am and departure was 8am. They had been told that we should go for the late breakfast option again instead of having breakfast at the hotel! So, the cases were ready and they were up and in the showers by 7am. This meant they could go and get a coffee and some fruit before setting off. The rest of the bus passengers were all ready early and so they were off once again!
We had a short drive to our first stop! They were going to get photos of cacti! The desert area round Scottsdale is real cactus country and a variety of kinds were there! They basically pulled off the freeway and parked up in a bit of waste ground and walked into the desert round us to take photos! Craig assured us that this was a place that only he and the driver knew about! So, theft that there were three other buses there soon dispelled this!!
I got my photo take with a cactus...but I was very wary as we had been told not to venture into the surrounding bush areas due to the possibility of encountering scorpions or rattle snakes! That was enough for L and she was soon for getting back on the bus!
We then continued on heading for Sedona. This was quite close to Flagstaff where we would be staying tonight. The bus soon started to climb as we headed for Sedona. Sedona is at an altitude of about 4000 feet, the same as Ben Nevis, and as we climbed we had some great scenery of the small canyons and towering mountains in that area! The road was very scenic and the rock formations and the sheer steepness of the canyon was very impressive! At one point the bus started to zig zag up the side of the canyon as we climbed ever higher! Once at the top of the canyon we headed on towards Sedona. The scenery just kept getting better and better! The mountains started to soar above us and when we arrived in Sedona everyone on the bus could not believe the scenery. Sedona must be one of the most idyllic places in the world! The town itself is stunning but with the backdrop of the mountains circling round it it made it almost perfect!
http://www.visitsedona.com/
They had around 90 minutes here. So again it was a look around and a visit to some of the shops before grabbing brunch again! Again the food and the service in the restaurant was great - and despite it being a popular place for bus parties we had a great meal sitting on the outdoor patio with the most amazing view! It was like Switzerland but with no snow!
The bus was soon off once more and there was an air of excitement from everyone as they knew our next stop was at the Grand Canyon! They actually had to go through Flagstaff to get on to the road that would take them to the GC! We had a drive of about 90 minutes to go! Craig, the tour guide, explained that there would be three drop offs! 21 would be dropped at 'Papillions Grand Canyon Helicopters'!
http://www.papillon.com/?gclid=CJ_Iutzzn7ECFQoZQgodqRk8Wg
Another 7 were being dropped at another helicopter tour company while the remainder of the group would be taken straight to the Canyon to spend a little longer at the rim!
So, our group was to be dropped first! Then the bombshell came! You could take a camera with you - but no bags and extra items! It dawned on me that that meant ME! I had been looking forward to this all the way along on the trip and now I was being told that I could not go! What a bummer!
So, A and L left with the others and I had to go on the bus with the others!
On arrival at the 'heliport' we had to be checked in! No passport, but we all had to be weighed! The people going on each flight would have to be matched according to their weights! There were 6 passengers in each helicopter! Craig said he could not guarantee that everyone would be on the same flight. Luckily, we were but because of the balance required across the passengers it meant L was in the front and A was in the back!
After the big weigh in we saw a safety video and then had to wait for our flight! After a few moments we were called! Their copter was first! They went out and had their photo taken first! It was obviously exit by the gift shop and buy your souvenir photo! Then according to the number on their ticket they entered the copter! They put on headphones, buckled up their seatbelts and waited!
Before the knew it the copter had taken off and was soon hovering above the heliport! After a little hesitation it suddenly lurched forward and was soon soaring above the tree tops! They were told that it would take around 7 minutes to get to the canyon! The journey was a lot bumpier than A expected and he was soon feeling a little query! However, despite that he was juggling his camera and video to make sure he recorded the experience for evermore!
They continued on and they could see the canyon spread out before them! It was a cloudy day and further along the canyon you could see that the rain was falling hard! They kept well away from dodgy weather and suddenly they were there! The ground under us in suddenly fell away and all you could see was the gigantic cavernous expanse of canyon below us! The helicopter really gave you the opportunity to appreciate the sheer size of the Grand Canyon! The tiny helicopter must have been dwarfed compared to the canyon! The rugged scenery spread before us and everywhere you looked you saw another amazing view!
Suddenly you are faced with the dilemma! To film or take photos or just sit back and enjoy the view! This really is a once in a lifetime experience! You had to take in as much as you could, but you had to film and photograph it! The only problem was the reflections from the glass in the video and photos!
The copter flew along the canyon and followed a number of different areas of the it! Each was different but your eyes were trying to take in as much as you can.
The Grand Canyon is well named! It truly was a great experience! Seeing it from above gives you a totally different perspective to just seeing it from the rim! Despite A feeling decidedly 'iffy' on his return he really enjoyed it! L loved it and felt it was quite an emotional trip. All through the trip you either listened to an accompanying commenttary or listened to music to help lull you into a dreamlike state!
Before we knew it the copter had left the canyon and was making its way back to the heliport! Everyone sat. In silence, contemplating what they had seen and experienced! On landing they were led back into the building to visit the gift shop and see the photo of each family or couple outside their helicopter!
They waited for the bus to pick them up and then they too were taken to the rim of the canyon to spend some time there seeing the canyon from the. Ground level!
They had around 90 minutes before the bus would have to start the return journey to Flagstaff! So, I managed to get out at last to see the canyon! Walking up to the rim of the canyon was quite exhilarating and when you are suddenly faced by the spectacular sight of the rock formations it takes your breath away. They stood and looked for a few minutes! The whole area was buzzing with tourists and countless photos were being taken! They then went for a walk along the rim stopping every now and then to take yet more photos! I managed to get a few pics taken too and was worried I might fall in to the canyon....and that would have been it! This was not going to be my 'Thelma and Louise' moment!
I must admit I really enjoyed seeing the canyon. Nothing can really prepare you for the experience! It is easy to see why this is one of the 'Wonders of the World'! I don't know what the rest of the holiday will be able to offer to compete with this...and I did not even make it to the helicopter!
After a rushed visit to the gift shop, as always, they had a 90 minute journey back to Flagstaff! Again, the journey back was a quiet one as people contemplated what they had seen!
They had to be back by 7am to ensure they made it for the end of Happy Hour! If they made it by 7pm they would get free drinks and a free complimentary dinner! Well, they made it in time and over dinner everyone shared their experiences once again!
Another great hotel! However, the excitement continues as tomorrow it is LAS VEGAS!
More soon! Hopefully the Vegas hotel will have wifi!
Ted
Spectacular Sedona!
Sedona!
On the patio having brunch in Sedona!
The Grand Canyon!
Ok...not too close and watch out for the scorpions and snakes!
Me at the canyon!
So....I don't get to go? Oh no!
A getting out of the copter!
I love the Grand Canyon!
What a day! Spectacular!
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