Saturday 31 December 2011

New Year is approaching

30 December 2011 - quiet day - found a laundromat - huuuuuuge and just explored the neighbourhood. I have to admit I get very nervous when I pass someone just hanging out on the street. The news broadcasts are proving that maybe I chose the wrong area to stay. I need to overcome my fears - at least 12 times I have talked myself out of going to Times Square for NYE but I know if I don't go I'll be a bloody idiot because I'll never get the chance again. Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber will be singing....lol.....another reason to stay away. hehehehe

31 December 2011 - OK - decided I definitely will go tonight. Points to ponder....

  •  News broadcasts keep saying there is no "specific" terrorist threat.  (a) do I need to know this? (b) is there a "non specific" terrorist threat.
  •  Also they say there will be a million people there...I always wanted to be one in a million and now's my chance :)
  • They are saying there will be no toilets available...a million people and no toilets WTF?
  • No cars and no back packs allowed - fair enough.
  • They keep showing on TV how NOT to get pick pocketed...Doh!...too little too late
  • Will need to use the subway.....hmmm.......not looking forward to that after midnight. Chances of getting a cab will be slim
  • This is the third December on record  in NY that there has been no snow (others were 1877 and 2006). Snow has continued to elude me no matter where I go (a few random flakes in Aspen DO NOT constitute a snow storm *!*
Oh well...will try and catch a few zzzzzz's this afternoon so that I can stay awake during the festivities...despite any trepidation I feel I AM looking forward to crossing another thing off my bucket list :)

Thursday 29 December 2011

Dotting the i's and crossing the t's

29 December 2011 - after getting bumped from my Little Rock flight because I hadn't actually reserved a seat on the plane - even though my booking was confirmed  - I thought I better avoid this problem for future flights I have booked

  • Confirmed flight to Iceland Jan 11
  • Confirmed flight to London Jan13 - hmm flying on Friday 13th - not happy Jan
  • Booked accommodation in Iceland
  • Booked accommodation in London
  • Booked a Visitor Pass to go to Ground Zero Museum in New York on Jan 2 (couldn't get in to this part when we were in New York before)
I think I have it all covered. When I went to Iceland Air site it said there was no record of the booking I made in May 2011 so I checked with Expedia and it said my booking had been deleted. Spent an hour on the phone till they finally found my booking and confirmed it - time consuming and tiresome.....sigh!!


    Wednesday 28 December 2011

    A chilly day in New York

    28 December 2011 - had a nice sleep in and got a few more outstanding jobs done. The sky cleared about lunch time so I thought I might go to the local hairdresser and get a long overdue haircut.....look like a Yeti on steroids.
    Before my haircut :)

     As soon as I stepped out I wished I rugged up some more....bloody freezing and the wind cut right through me.    3 degrees C at the moment...with the wind chill factored in they say it will be minus 12 C tomorrow...I wonder of that's the max or min. hmmm.

    Anyway...back to the haircut...always nervous going to a new hairdresser and this shop looked fairly basic. The lady inside didn't speak much English so I mimed what I wanted lol. When I sat down she got out the biggest pair of scissors I ever saw in a hairdressing salon. She started snipping at a 100 mph...a bit of the old Edward Scissorhands style......and I was too terrified to move as I might lose an ear...or a nose. WTF!!    Well....when she finished I took a look in the mirror expecting to see a bowling ball looking back at me and I was amazed....she had done exactly what i wanted...perfectly!!!!  And....it cost a whole $18.00!!!

    The NBC news was full of doom and gloom with warnings about muggers and crooks and threats regarding Times Square on New Years Eve and a dude in Brooklyn (where I am) who's attacking women at night as they come out of the subway. I have to say..I am so sick and tired of being on my guard every minute and scared someone is going to steal my stuff or worse.  I think the two thefts so far have left me a bit emotionally scarred. :(

    Tuesday 27 December 2011

    New York!! New York!!

    27 December 2011 - Finally got on a plane at Little Rock at 5 pm yesterday. Was very small and pretty old so I was not convinced I would see the night out lol but arrived at Atlanta safely despite the pouring rain. Atlanta Airport is mind blowing - never seen anything that big before. When we got off the plane we got a bus to the terminal then walked for what seemed like miles (and probably was) through the terminal and then got a fast train that was INSIDE the terminal out to the concourse for the flight to New York - this took 35 minutes and didn't leave much time to get to the connecting plane. The plane to New York was much larger but made some disconcerting noises as it took off so as I was sitting next to the wing I kept and eye on it all the way to make sure it didn't fall off  hehehe.   I guess you could say I'm not keen on flying...it's unnatural.  When I got to New Yorl and retrieved my bag I noticed the zips weren't as I left them and there was a notice inside saying the bag had been searched (I have those padlocks that Security can also open). I don't mind them looking just wish they put things back as they found it.
    I kept my eye on this engine lol


    Arrived in New York at 10.30 pm and got the sky train into Penn Station and caught a cab to the hotel in Brooklyn. It seems I'm not staying in the safest area in the city but it's hard to find a place that does get a safety thumbs up so I will just take care. The taxi driver offered to turn off the meter and take me to the hotel for $40 cash....I declined and said to use the meter....cost $25. I'm learning!

    Hotel is pretty good......king size bed.......big TV...what more do I need?

    Bugs#1484

    Ang

    Kae

    Ang's Ribs - I love da ribs :)
    Sitting around the fire pit in Arkansas

    Monday 26 December 2011

    On the move....albeit slowly :(

    25 December 2011 - We "did" Christmas on Christmas Eve and I was so full of food my stomach ached.....and I think it kept expanding for several hours  after :) .......tried undoing my belt...then  my zip....then resorted to trackie daks....ah joy!!!  Thank you to the no#1 Chef - Angie - you are a superb cook - and thank you Kae and Ang for having me in your home for Christmas....we'll overlook the lack of snow for the time being.

    Turkey, chicken, mashed potato, creamed corn like you never tasted before, sweet potato pie, green beans with a pecan topping, macaroni cheese, rolls, magic pie, and stuff I cant even remember and I tried them all ....twice!!!!  Oh and pumpkin pie and cranberry cake. Groan :)

    Early afternoon on the 25th Kae and Angie drove me in to Little Rock as I was to fly to New York on the morning of the 26th. I stayed the night at the Little Rock Hampton Inn - what a great hotel!!  The trouble started the next morning when my taxi didn't show up - the desk clerk forgot to order it. No problem ...soon got another and booked my baggage in at the airport at 10 am only to find they overbooked the flight and I probably wouldn't get on. Was pretty pissed at that as I'd booked on line but because I didn't select a seat I wasn't confirmed. Ah well you live and you learn. They were offering $500 vouchers and a later flight to anyone who wanted to  change their flight and a couple of people did that and freed up some seats. However......I still couldn't get on and was worried about my connecting flight - was supposed to fly Little Rock to Charlotte then Charlotte to New York. AND I have hotel bookings in NY  :(  I even offered to upgrade to First Class (an extra $100) but the dopey airline lady forgot and the plane went without me grrrrrrrr.   They gave me a free flight voucher and have booked me on another flight with Delta Airlines - doesn't leave till 5 pm -  stopover in Atlanta - so I wont get to NY till after 11 pm. Not happy but what can I do? It's now 12.10 pm on Boxing Day and I am sitting in Starbucks at the Airport catching up with "stuff" on the puter and drinking coffee. It's raining outside so I can't really go anywhere so I'll just sit here and sulk for a while lol

    Never mind - have my computer and my kindle so the time will fly - a lot faster than me it seems hehehe


    Bugs # 1484

    Saturday 24 December 2011

    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!! Xxxxx

    24 December 2011 - Well it's Christmas Eve and I woke to -5 degrees C - a bit cooler than Australia.,....just a smidge. :) No snow but the ground is white and the cars covered in a heavy frost so I'll have to wait till New York to get snow maybe.

    We are having Christmas dinner today as all the other families are meeting up tomorrow - Christmas Day really needs to be 48 hours long. I'm missing my family - especially after reading all the posts on Facebook but I'm with good friends and there's going to be amazing food so all is good :)

    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE - STAY SAFE AND ENJOY xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Thursday 22 December 2011

    Making Travel Arrangements

    20 December 2011- Christmas shopping done :)   Had a scare when I couldn't find my Travel cash Card....found it in my Passport where I left it after booking in to the motel in Little Rock the other day...twas very late and I was tired when I booked in so I had just stuck them altogether. Will it never end (*cringe  *blush)

    21 December 2011 - went for another run - someone must have gone out during the night and made that damn hill steeper - was tougher than yesterday lol   

    Got on the internet and have booked to fly from Little Rock to New York on December 26. I will be there for 16 days till I fly to Iceland on January 12. Will get to see the New Year in  in Times Square   ...hmmmm.... may leave my purse and Passport at the hotel lol I have booked in to a hotel that's only 25 minutes on public transport to get to Times Square so will save time and money commuting this time.  I want to revisit Central Park - hoping it snows - and go on the Statten Island ferry. Maybe I can catch another show too.

    Monday 19 December 2011

    Lazy days

    19 December 2011 - caught up on some more sleep. I'm getting very used to this lazy life although I did go for another run. Up the hill and down twice and a fleeting thought of doing it three times....maybe tomorrow lol

    The weather is unusually warm for this time of the year apparently so the chances of getting a white Christmas are as about as likely as snow in Alice Springs in December hehehehe   When I head north after Christmas I will almost certainly see some snow and of course I will expect to see heaps of it in Iceland and London in January. If not I'll want to know why!!!!

    Lee left Hawaii today to return to Adelaide and I feel even sadder than I did when she left LA to go to Hawaii...it seems more the end of something. She sky dived again in Hawaii so that's 3 times she has done it. I'll have to do it again now in UK and then back in Oz so I'll have done it on 3 continents and to catch up with her!!

    Sunday 18 December 2011

    San Diego to Arkansas

    15 December to 18 December 2011 - Well!! What can I say - the train trip was very very long - 55 hours and sleep was in short supply due train announcements, stops, starts etc etc.  The actual seating was excellent - lots of leg room and comfortable seats. The train is called the Texas Eagle and most of the travel was through Arizona and New Mexico and Texas which means a lot of flat empty land - made me homesick for Australia lol but saw no kangaroos.  I saw the Border Patrol at work in one area - helicoptors and lots of cars and flashing lights. They must have caught up with some illegals crossing the border. 

    I also met some lovely people - Dawn and Kassidy - from Arizona. They were on the way to Chicago to spend Christmas with Dawn's folks.  I felt for them - I got off the train at 11.30 at night on Friday and they still had to travel till 2 pm the next day. Like I said - it is such a long trip.

    I was lucky that Paul Slater had put some movies on a portable hard drive for me and I set my computer up and watched about a dozen movies. Kept me out of trouble and helped pass the time away.

    I will admit to having another purse "incident" but this time it turned out much better and it was returned to me. I think if I hadn't got it back I would have thought three times and you're out and would have caught the next plane back to Oz.  :(  It leaves such a sick feeling in your stomach when you realise it isn't where it should be.

    After arriving in Little Rock on Friday night I got a cab to my motel. The taxi driver was a friend of Bill Clinton's and showed me some photos on his phone of the two of them together. He also stated "he never had sex with that woman either" lol  It was about 1.30 by the time I was in bed and the next thing I knew it was light outside and someone was knocking at my door. I was cranky thinking "why is someone waking me up so damn early" - it was housekeeping and it was 11 am hehehe....I had been in such a deep sleep too...at least I caught up with the last 3 or 4 nights sleep.

    Kae and Ang picked me up about midday (YAY!!!) and we went to the  Dixie Cafe for lunch- great food and so nice to be back with Kae and Ang.

    Got up today and actually went for a run - it felt so good after so long cooped up in the car getting fatter by the minute :)  I was very slow but it was a cold crisp morning and it felt wonderful - I was  very tired after :)  If I'm not in pain tomorrow I'll go again.

    Ang outdid himself today and cooked ribs - so yummy - had seconds which I shouldn't have but couldn't resist!! Life is good.

    Wednesday 14 December 2011

    OK......So we have a change of plan.....

    14 December 2011- after communicating with Kae & Angie last night re "getting my ass to Arkansas" for Christmas and "getting my stocking stuffed" I figured I better book my train trip leaving San Diego on Friday 16 th after doing the zoo today. HOWEVER - when I got on line it seemed I left my run too late. Everything was booked up from Friday onward that could get me to Arkansas before Christmas - best I could get was arriving in Little Rock at midnight Christmas night :(

    I tried bringing the trip forwards a day but no luck. Similar problem with the airlines - the only flights cost around $800 one way with a stop over. I then tried the train again for today and managed to get a booking - 10.40 am to LA (2 hrs 45 mins)  then change trains to Little Rock leaving at 3 pm today gets in Friday at 11.30 pm (54 hrs).

    It will be a long trip but it will be worth it - I have my kindle and lap top so all will be fine. I double checked an hour later and there were no bookings left at all - I must have got the last one...phew!!

    Gordon and I went out for dinner - Irish Pub - and had a magnificent Shepherds Pie followed by hot apple pie and custard - ate way to much - again - but it was scrumptious.

    Gordon enjoyed his pint

    I also found another couple of businesses I liked the names of and everything looked pretty with the fairy lights. I was obviously in party avenue because there was a lot of revelling going on most of the night and this combined with the fact I'm reading a REALLY good book stopped me from getting much sleep. I'll soon catch that up in the next few days on the train though. There was a lot of yelling at one stage and even though it was only 8 degrees Centigrade there was this dude naked from the waist up pushing a shopping trolley filled with his worldly goods and with a giant American flag flying above it screaming his lungs out. I couldn't make out what he was saying but the Police eventually came. Come to think of it there was a lot of police sirens and cars most of the night. Must ahve been a good party :)
    Market St

    Love it

    Tuesday 13 December 2011

    ♫♫♫ It never rains in southern California ♫♫♫....Oh yes it does!!

    12 December 2011 -  Spent today getting ready to move on from LA. Walked a couple of kms in the pouring rain carrying a  big bag of laundry. I used the laundry at the hostel once and the clothes came out smelling worse than when they went in :( so had to use the big one on Santa Monica. The song mentioned in the title of this post was playing in the laundromat so had a bit of a giggle about that. Carried it all back - still in the rain - to the hostel. Then had to get rid of all the food and drinks etc that we had been carrying around in the van which I obviously couldn't fit in my back pack. I left it all in the kitchen of the hostel with a sign saying Help Yourself and by the time I went upstairs to get my cup for a coffee and got back down it was all gone lol.

    I packed another box to be posted back to Australia full of clothes  and bits and pieces I wont be needing. It weighed 15 kgs and I had to carry that a couple of kms in the OTHER direction to the Post Office - still in the rain that never falls in southern California.  By the end of the day I was over walking, carrying and rain!!

    13 December 2011 - GOODBYE LA!!!!  I got up early today as I wanted to be at Union Station as early as possible to avoid any timing disasters. All went smoothly. Everything fitted in my backpacks (just) and one large carry bag....the taxi got me to the station in plenty of time.....my large pack came in under the 50 lb  allowed (just).  I decided to travel business class as it was only $15 more. As it was, I got about $15 worth of free food, drinks and a newspaper so it was well worth it for the comfortable seat and WiFi. The trip was great  with the line running parallel to the coast with some wonderful views.
    There was also a Navy ship and some helicopters doing some manoeuvres - couldn't quite make out what was hanging from the bottom of the choppers.
    San Diego obviously prides itself on the names it gives its businesses...some real corkers. Walked around the city for an hour and a half and am looking forward to going to the San Diego Zoo - hopefully tomorrow

    Bugs#1465



    Sunday 11 December 2011

    Killing time in Los Angeles

    10 December & 11 December 2011 - Well I Googled "Sights to see in Los Angeles" to fill in a few days I have left here. It seems, however, that I have already seen everything of note. I'm sure there must be more but I can't find anything. Yesterday and today I just went for major walks - miles and miles - and confirmed in my mind that LA is not in my top 5 cities....in fact not even in the top 10. Adelaide you look beautiful, clean and well organised and are user friendly compared to LA. I haven't felt threatened in Adelaide but I can't say the same for LA.  The other day - just down the street on Santa Monica and Vine - a gunman just opened fire on motorists and pedestrians because he wanted to die. Suicide by cop. Why wouldn't he just go take something instead of shooting innocent people just out doing their Saturday shopping. I don't know...just a different mind set here.

    Today I walked all up way past Santa Monica Bvd to Sunset Bvd and beyond. Being Sunday all the Porsches and Maseratis were out on display. It was a nice day - bit cooler than forecast and apparently we have a big storm coming in tonight.   The smog this morning was pretty bad too - see the photo below/


    Nice clean air lol
    Bugs #1263

    Friday 9 December 2011

    Making Plans

    9 December 2011 - I have shaken myself out of my lethargy (almost) and have booked accommodation in San Diego for Tuesday through Friday next week and now that I've made the move I am anxious to get out of LA.  LA doesn't grab me but I will try to get out and see a few more places before I leave.

    I've booked to travel down by Amtrak train and am looking forward to that - I love trains.

    At San Diego I plan to visit Susanne and her little baby Madison :) and also the San Diego Zoo. May venture into Tijuana but not real sure on that one as I have been advised it isn't safe. Will investigate further.

    Thursday 8 December 2011

    Star Spotting!!!

    8 December 2011 - went to The Grove shopping precinct to post Lee's parcels and did a bit of star spotting.

    Dermot Mulroney is more beautiful in real life than in the movies HOWEVER he is a little on the short side for my liking. HOWEVER it is something I would overlook in this case. :)
    Dermot Mulroney

    Also saw Cheryl Burke (Dancing with the Stars)

    Bugs # 1231

    Alone in LA...strange

    7 December to 8 December 2011 - Lee left today (7/12) to fly to Hawaii. It was strange - we both felt quite ambivalent about continuing our respective journeys. We  felt like getting on the next plane and just returning to Australia. Maybe it was just that this marked the end of our original trip or maybe we just know we won't see each other again for God knows how long - we've been in each others pockets for the best part of a year now. Anyway - although I still feel like going home - I will continue on - just feel a bit lost at the moment.
    Never been this far from home.....alone.

    Went to the Post Office yesterday and posted off a box of summer clothing back to Australia - won't need them for quite some time and need to be able to pack all that is left into my back pack now that the van has gone back. Cost $158 fercryingoutloud!!!  Still better than throwing them out I guess and re buying later. I will need to send another box before I leave but it will be much lighter - just odds and ends. Haven't actually worked out where to go from here - just having a couple of days catching up on a few jobs. I have booked in to the Hostel till Tuesday so will get on the net later and work on a plan of attack.

    Need to go back to Post Office today and post off Lee's stuff, follow up on a credit card that still hasn't been replaced since the Great New York Robbery of 2011 hehehe - also colour my hair (look like Richard Gere now) and sort out some more of my stuff.

    Beautiful sunny autumn day here - maybe it's winter - not sure exactly when that starts.

    Tuesday 6 December 2011

    Doctor Phil - You're lovely

    6 December 2011 - Went to a taping of the Doctor Phil show today. "Gripes, Grudges and Grievances"  He is every bit as lovely as he appears and really has a great sense of humour - as has his wife Robin.

    Walked home after - took an hour - and am feeling exhausted again. Really think I'm coming down with something.


    Bugs #1224  OLD$$$ 23.00

    Monday 5 December 2011

    Exploring Los Angeles

    3 December to 5 December 2011 - have felt really tired the last few days and have slept a LOT. Ventured out a few times - particularly to a shopping precinct called The Grove. Very nice - has all the big stores and great restaurants and is all very Christmassy at the moment. . Today I went on a tour of LA with the hotel. There was only me and another couple (from Newcastle Australia lol) so it was extra good. Saw movie star homes and places where different movies were shot. Also went to Santa Monica Beach (great) - Venice Beach (Kinky) - Rodeo Drive (Ridiculously expensive) - Sunset Strip (colourful)
     Below is the building where Richard Gere "rescues" Julia Roberts at the end of "Pretty Woman"
    Below is the toilet outside the Beverley Hills Hotel that George Michael got busted at lol
    Below on Rodeo Drive is a beautiful Bugatti

    Rodeo Drive bargains - a jacket for $60,000 and a mink tablecloth (WTF) for $150,000
    Below is Lucille Ball's house
    Below are the front gates to the Playboy Mansion - Unfortunately they dont let wrinkly 60 year old women in - no matter how much I begged. Pity the same doesn't go for Hugh Heffner lol
    Below is the house where Michael Jackson died :(

    Below is Rydell High School !! Actually Venice Beach high School in real life
    Bugs #1217   OLD $$$23.00

    Friday 2 December 2011

    Completing the Circle - LA to LA :)

    29 November to 2 December 2011 -  Arrived in LA on Tuesday after going to Palm Springs and having lunch (nice place) and finally completed our circuit of America!!!! All 48 mainland states and 4 provinces of Canada.  Am very proud of our achievement. Thank you Lee for your navigation and tour planning. Today we handed in the van and I have to say that I won't miss it and am pretty well over the driving. Lee doesn't drive so I have driven nearly 25,000 miles myself - on the wrong side of the road - and am looking forward to going on trains and buses :)   and enjoying the scenery.
    I am also proud of the fact that I did all those miles without getting arrested...or even getting a speeding ticket or parking ticket. I wish I did that well in Australia lol.
    Completing the circle - LA to LA

    I have to recommend Escape rentals. After the early problems we had with the first van where we lost two weeks waiting on parts and repairs Escape was great - they paid for all our accommodation and hire cars during that period. Today when we handed the van in I was supposed to pay about $2500 in excess miles and they waived that cost as compensation for the early problems. What a magnificent gesture. Robert and Shawn - you are the absolute best - thank you for everything.

    Currently we are staying at a hotel in West Hollywood and have really done nothing since we got here except rest and have sleep-ins and watch TV.  It's a nice change - a holiday after our holiday. The plans are that Lee is here till December 7 and then she's off to Hawaii for 2 weeks and then back to Oz for Christmas. I'm in LA for 2 weeks and then will go back and visit Kae and Ang in Arkansas. Will probably go by train. I also want to go to the San Diego zoo before I leave LA and to visit Susanne and also get back and see Karen & Robbie in Omaha. I leave the USA from New York on January 12 to go to Iceland and then on to UK.  I plan on staying in London for two weeks then visit the rellies. Not sure after that. Anyway - that's the plan.

    Miles on last day on the road 422.6 (680 kms)              Bugs#1175       OLD  SSS23

    Monday 28 November 2011

    The Grand Canyon...YES!!!! Bigger than big

    28 November 2011 -  Finally found our way to the REAL Grand Canyon and I was absolutely gob smacked...I knew it was big, but it was huger than big. Perfect day with brilliant blue skies and cool sunny weather.  The day was really another long period of driving - first to get to the Canyon and then to continue on our journey. We are actually on the last leg of the Camper Van part of the trip and I am soooooo sick of driving...I am looking forward to getting to Los Angeles and handing it back in on December 3.
    7000 feet deep - parachute jump was 15000 - a drop in the ocean hehehe
    Big hole in the ground!
    Interesting concept!
    Arizona's landscape is so varied - flat and cactus one minute - the Grand Canyon the next and then winding roads up through a mountain range and down the other side. At the bottom is Peeples Valley ...beautiful grazing land filled with horses.....the whole area there looked manicured.
    Miles 254.8 (410 kms)      Bug# 1159    OLD  $28.00

    Sunday 27 November 2011

    The Grand Canyon...maybe....maybe not!!

    27 November 2011 - Took off this morning aiming to get to the Sky Walk at the Grand Canyon. Travelled for a couple of hours on bitumen roads and then 10 miles on a dirt road full of corrugations and pot holes and rocks and dust and arrived at the car park where we were told we couldn't go further unless we bought a coach trip the rest of the way.  Also if we went on the Sky Walk we couldn't take our cameras or mobile phones. The West rim of the Canyon is under ownership of the traditional land holders and to my mind they make it very difficult to enjoy the location. We were so cheesed off we left and travelled another couple hundred miles and we are currently at Williams Arizona which is the Gateway to the Grand Canyon. We will go tomorrow and investigate the south rim which is supposed to be better than the west rim anyway. Seems to take a long time trying to find the biggest hole in the world lol The drive itself was quite boring - especially since it was a double back - long straight roads - flat countryside.

    We did see a wolf standing on the road - not doing anything - just standing...looking. Also we saw some quite outstanding flat topped hills. It gets dark by about 5 pm here so really no point going any further tonight. Hopefully tomorrow will be more successful.               Miles # 301.3  (484 kms )   Bugs # 1149   OLD$23

    Saturday 26 November 2011

    I can Fly.............wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

    24 & 25 November 2011 - Spent a couple of days enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of Las Vegas. Lost some $$$$'s on the pokies and met a few people. Stayed at Caesar's Palace the first two night and Bellagio's the third night. We hadn't planned to stay the third night but we were late back FROM SKY DIVING - YES YOU HEARD ME - SKY DIVING - so we decided what the hell!  Bellagio's is expensive but very very very very robes-in-the-cupboard and electric-curtains nice.


    Bellagio's
    Bellagio's
    Bellagio's

    Back to the SKY DIVING!!! YAY!!! Was very scared and had shaky hands and stomach cramps - and that was just in the waiting room. However - when the time came I was very calm and got suited up and got in the plane strapped to a lovely man called Leonard. We were first on the plane and last off and while I was waiting to go it was time and suddenly it was  all ok and then we were out the door and falling. Wind rushing by but the last thing I thought about was danger. Then the shute opened and we were floating through the air enjoying the sights way way below (We jumped from 15,000 feet) We had a perfect landing and I was quite reluctant to let Leonard unbuckle me. :)  The actual act of leaving the plane was the thing that I thought would be the hardest and the part that scared me the most and I am so hyped that I could do it.
    Absolutely Awesome!!
    26 November 2011 - Stayed at the Bellagio till the very last minute then headed for Death Valley. Nice drive and remarkable scenery. Skydiving was something to cross off my Bucket List and today I ran in Death Valley - another thing on my list now gone :).
    Beautiful scenery
    Death Valley - like a moonscape
    We are now in Kingman Arizona and tomorrow will head off to the Grand Canyon

    Miles 322.6 (519.4 kms)      Bugs #1147   OLD $23

    Thursday 24 November 2011

    ♫♫♫ Viva Las Vegas...♫♫♫ and state number 48!!

    23 November 2011 A huge drive today from Grand Junction Colorado to Las Vegas. 515 miles (828 kms). Great roads - beautiful cool sunny day - no dramas. We travelled through Utah which has phenomenal scenery - for those of us who were brought up on John Wayne and cowboy movies this is where it's at. We also drove through the top of Arizona which means we have visited 48 of the 48 mainland states. Yay!!! We will revisit Arizona when we go to the Grand Canyon. We also gained an hour as we moved finally back into Pacific Time
    Utah



    As we approached Las Vegas it was just  a haze. I don't know if it was smoke, mist, fog. cloud or pollution but there were just tall building in the desert shrouded in this haze. It was not a pretty sight as we entered the outskirts and we looked around for cheap hotel and decided that the areas we were looking at were way to shady to feel comfortable in. We decided to check out the strip and it is amazing. We made one turn and we were in the most incredible fairy tale area with all the Casinos we've all seen on TV and in the movies. We went to Caesar's Palace and got a room for $90 per night so we were sold!! The hotel is amazing - so big and busy - and yes I'm being very careful with purse and papers :)   We were pretty tired by the time we got settled so haven't yet been out exploring. I won some $$$$'s on the pokies and then lost it and won it again and lost it again lol.    It's now Thursday morning - Thanksgiving Day - and we are watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade sitting up in bed waiting for our room service breakfast to arrive. Ah! Well. You have to spoil yourself sometime.
    From our window at Caesar's Palace
    The commitment has now been made - we are being picked up at noon tomorrow to go skydiving. I have nothing to say...yet.  I have managed to put it in some little secret part of my mind and I refuse to think about it...yet!