Category: Travel

Were all finished with Vegas, and I’m sitting on the bed in our room in LA. Items of note so far and my highlights in Vegas. We got 2 double beds in the rooms. We were expecting tripple rooms (3 single beds or a double and 2 singles). Its been fine so far though. Bed is only a place to lay our heads. The first night we were all wrecked, especailly me. I was buzzing when we got to the hotel and pushing to head out, but once we got out and were having a bite to eat it all hit me. A good nights sleep later and we were all set up for the first full day. Myself and Tony were pushing to see the Irish game as well as wanting to head on the helicopter tour.

Tony said there was an Irish bar at the golden nugget, so we checked at the front desk as to when and where we could do the chopper tour. There was one going later that day, so we set a pickup for the golden nugget. After just getting a taxi, Tony realised that the golden nugget was not the place where the Irish bar was, and when we got to the irish bar, we were told a German bar shows football, and then when we got to the German bar, they only showed the Hungary, Denmark game. We watched it anyway as there was nothing better to do till the chopper pickup. A text home at half time told us Ireland won and that the game was over.

The chopper ride over the canyon was amazing. Videos and pictures are available. Tony will get round to posting links to the videos. It was a real highlight of the holiday so far.

After the chopper ride, the first post applies, but we did head out on the night. It was some night that included me betting $100 on one game of roulette and winning. Then blowing it all 🙂

Next morning was hangover central for me, but a swim really woke me up. We headed to hooters for breakfast, a fine upstanding diner based on owls. I have to say that I was disappointed in the owls on display, but the girls were very pretty. The final evening in Vegas was spent, going to the Mandalay Bay hotel and the aquarium thats in the hotel. The hotel is that big it can hold a massive aquarium with shops etc. For dinner we headed to the Tournament of Kings show. We were sat in a section that cheered on the Irish king. He lost every game but got the best cheers. It was a fun night, especailly booing the French king. The whole section joined in. The actor even found it amusing. Then we headed down the strip to see the Balagio fountain show which was amazing, videos to follow, and finally into the Venitian, which was one of the most amazing hotels here. Once you got to their shopping area, it looked like daylight inside. They also had a river and gondala ride.

Hightlights:
The luxor is a sight to behold (especially the lighting at night)
The height we were up on our floor looking out over the floor
The entire grand canyon flight
Putting $100 down on one bet and winning
Doing a Matador and walking down the hotel corridor in an irish hat, sunglasses and my underwear
The Mandalay Bay hotel, the hotel is huge inside, and the aquarium is class too
The Balagio fountain show
The inside of the Venitian
The drive to LA.

Darren

As I write this we’re about half way between Las Vegas and LA. We picked up the rental car from the airport this morning after checking out of the Luxor. We thought we were going to have an issue with having myself on the insurance but apparently it’s grand. It’s much better having the option of a third driver anyway. We’re covering a hell of a lot of miles on this trip.

I suppose I should give my thoughts on Vegas overall. The undoubted highlight was the helicopter trip out to the Grand Canyon. That was phenomenal. You really don’t get a sense of scale by seeing it on the TV or in the cinema. Coming in to land in the basin by the Colorado River took my breath away. Proving that you can’t go anywhere Highly recommended.

Last night for dinner we booked tickets for the Tournament of Kings in Excalibur. At first I wasn’t too sure what to think of it to be honest. The seating around the arena is split into different countries and each country has a knight. We happened to be seated in Ireland. 🙂 It was quite funny when our knight was “eliminated” from the tournament and we proceeded to berate his slayer, the evil knight from France, for the rest of the evening.

After dinner We took a walk up the Strip hoping to catch the Bellagio fountains and the Venetian. I’ll upload a video when Youtube fixes itself. Afterwards we headed up to the Venetian. It was about midnight by the time we reached there so the gondolas had finished up. The canals are actually on the second level above the casino suprisingly. It really is one of the most impressive hotels you can see in Vegas. We’re approaching LA now so I’m gonna finish this off. More updates soon.

Back dating this particular post so it fits chronologically. This was taken in the Grand Canyon when our helicopter trip stopped off for a picnic by the Colorado River.

Taken Friday night at the Luxor:

Our photos so far are here

So we were all back from the chopper experience. I decided to leave my glasses somewhere in the chopper area. Thankfully a quick call and they were willing to drop them back to the hotel. I have to say, I was bricking it for a while there. Sure while waiting on them to bring them to me, we decided to hit the bar and have a drink or two. I only had prescription sunglasses on, and they came in handy. Especially as the buxom waitress waited on tables. That girl had no shame. 😉
So it was only the one pint, before we headed for a siesta, Tony worked on the blog photos, and myself and Paddy hit the sack.

1:24AM as it is now typing this, tells us the alarm was set wrong and we have not headed out. a few quick showers, a check on hooters opening hours (its closed 🙁 ) and we are off looking for some soakage before hitting the LAX nightclub.

We were supposed to post before this, but sorting out the multitude of photos is a bit of a chore. Expect the first set and intro blog to go live first thing tomorrow.

Darren X