Please send money...Stacey gambled it all away...HELP!!
Just Kidding! Well we finally found a computer so thought we better reassure you all that yes we are alive and well, and although we didn't gamble our life savings aways, we are equally disappointed to report that nor did we win up big despite high hopes and shattered dreams!
We are having an awesome time so far, can't believe how quickly time has flown already. Our first impressions of the US have been all good, we have been blown away by firstly how big everything is..... big freeways, massive cars that the freeways are home to, huge meals and huge prices to go with it!
Unlike the last blog of Croatia - this one has no photos of food...partly because of what it is but predominantly because the cable to connect the camera to the computer is...well...still at minnamurra! So, until we get a new cable at our next Walmart stop there will be no photos at all and you are stuck with our written descriptions. To be fair the food has generally been good and we would recommend a Spanish Tapas bar in Vegas to anyone visiting. The Pho at the Casino also passed...the burger last night didn't (well not yet...)
Have become accustomed to driving on the "right" side of the road, and the car remains intact. We hit Route 66 today - most of it has gone in the name of Progress....and driving out of LAX after a 13 hr flight with 2 hrs sleep was a challenge....we finally got to Vegas and started our stay with watching a tacky free show out the front of our Casino...we got free "VIP" tickets (which means we were the ones that got splashed on when they jumped in the pool in front of us!
Vegas = travelling the world in 3 miles...Paris,Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Asia, New York and Venice - Canal and all...all they need is a Big Ben Casino...the place was offbeat in places, seedy in others (one can't walk down the Boulevarde without having business cards for "Hot babes direct to you" being flashed in your face! Our favourite place was the Venetian and it's fake sky roof and the canal...no need to go to the conference in the real Venice Jo (to those who don't know she's my 40 yr old sister:)) - you can come here!
Vegas equals light wallets, long walks, expensive everything (unless you want seedy) and Croupiers dressed up as entertainers (apparently the Michael jackson interpreter has just retired - he wanted to reinvent himself)...we had janet as our Croupier as the Blues brothers played. We won cash at that seedy place (same place human nature are playing - they think they're good or something??) We also saw a great show - Defending the Caveman...recommended. Vegas is also home to heaven on earth - a GIANT store that is a shrine to that black goodness known as coca cola!!!!
Today we spent most of the day driving West, Route 66 and the Interstate...punctuated with a stop at hoover Dam - that place (and not to mention the bridge they're building to bypass it) is quite impressive. We passed a cool town called Williams (cool by name and therefore must be by nature) and have now reached the Grand Canyon. Spent the afternoon watching the sunset and the everchanging hues created by the retreating sunlight. We took many photos but alas you can't see them. One of the most spectactular views I think you could ever see
We ate at a place tonight called "Spaghetti Western" and we thought that meant it was a take on the old films of the same name - italian food in the West...alas it just meant overpriced and crap - kinda like the films! Not to worry, we made up for having to pay an exorbitant amount by souveniring a "county fair drinking jar" (think jam jar with a handle)...good for beer. But we thought our experience was bad until we saw the poor English family at the table next to us complain that the lasgne was frozen (same meal that stace had) only to have the posters on the wall fall down on their heads!!
We better be off to bed now - up early for a helicopter ride through the Canyon, followed by a Digital photography tour of the Canyon (free - Thanks Canon) and a walk into the Canyon itself....and a 4 hour drive!! Told you this place was Big!
Keep the comments coming.
In reply:
Mum/Dad - Yes we are well
Chris - read above - we had nothing in Vegas - it's all yours
Rob - Oh well if they don't let us back in we won't have to work again - I hear we can get permanent residency in Zimbabwe pretty easily....
Deb - Here's the update - sorry it's late and has no photos...and as for Brett...well you get that...it's tough coming back from leave. By the way - have photos of Trailer Parks
Jowen - Great news - would much rather be near the tower than out at Heaffrow...if you need anything let us know (as for ca$h - read Vegas comments)..
Catch yas.
