This was my first visit to Las Vegas and to see the strip. It was everything I expected it to be. It was BIG, it was bright and it was busy. Going on Christmas Eve was pretty crazy and needles to say…Read More

This was my first visit to Las Vegas and to see the strip. It was everything I expected it to be. It was BIG, it was bright and it was busy. Going on Christmas Eve was pretty crazy and needles to say in the middle of the desert it was cold. The weather for the 2 days we were there was cold, around 50-55, and very windy. Making some things not as much fun and walking not always an option with a 3-year old.

However we were able to see a lot of the strip and even experience a variety of different things. We got to see the whole strip from the north end to the south end and Freemont Street, which is in downtown at night and during the day. Both views were quite amazing. The first thing I remember driving into Vegas from the East side was all the lights. When you come out of the mountains around the Hoover Dam, you can see Vegas, which at that point is 20 miles away, as if it were 2 miles away. For as long and as far as you can see it is just all lights. As you drive closer and closer all the lights get brighter and everything begins to get bigger.

The first thing I remember seeing was the MGM Grand. It was so big and so bright. Of Course then you turn down Las Vegas Boulevard and then begin to see hotel after hotel. Big and bright. After driving down we decided to park and walk around a little. During the day the sight is just as amazing because each hotel holds its won theme and detailed decoration. From afar the hotels do not look that big but when you are stopped right in front of them and look up you realize how big there really are. The hotels have so much detail and are so beautifully designed in there very own way.

Driving out of the strip you head towards downtown where you will pass several wedding chapels and eventually run into Freemont Street. I believe this was formally part of the strip where you will find the 4 queens and the Golden Nugget, Two of the oldest hotels on the strip. Freemont Street has been closed of and covered for tourists to enjoy shopping and sightseeing.
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Cheesy as it sounds, a Las Vegas wedding can be romantic and all a woman can hope for on her special day! Given this would be a second marriage for each of us; we didn’t want to go the church route. David and…Read More

Cheesy as it sounds, a Las Vegas wedding can be romantic and all a woman can hope for on her special day! Given this would be a second marriage for each of us; we didn’t want to go the church route. David and I had been planning a summer wedding, in Las Vegas, but we had to accelerate our date due to other mitigating circumstances (and no, I wasn’t pregnant!). I spent days and days looking at websites of all the Las Vegas chapels checking out the prices, services, and even the live web-cam on one of them. Want to have some fun, just watch live video of people getting married in Vegas. We saw people dressed in everything from formal wear, tuxes, and the like...to shorts and tank tops.

We chose A Hollywood Wedding Chapel (http://www.ahollywoodweddingchapel.com/) on Las Vegas Blvd. The price was right (around $150 including all gratuities) and the package perfect for what we wanted. For the $150, we were picked up at our hotel, the Excalibur Casino & Hotel in a nice limo. For the wedding ceremony itself, we received the services of a wedding celebrant, photographer who took one 24 roll of 35mm photographs, a video of the entire ceremony, my wedding bouquet, boutonniere for David and a bottle of decent champagne. Like I said, for $150 we got everything we wanted and needed.

The wedding chapel was beautifully decorated with yellow and white flowers. There were several rows of chairs for those who have family and friends sharing in their special day. For us, it was just David and me along with the photographer (who also served as our witness).

The photographer not only took photos during the ceremony, she also did the pre and post ceremony shots around the wedding chapel. They also had a nice wedding cake photo op location as well as other traditional wedding photo set-ups. They give you the roll of film and you get it developed at your convenience. Of course, we had ours done the next day at a local drugstore in Vegas. We couldn’t have been happier with our wedding pictures as they were gorgeous!!

I should say that if you are planning a trip to Las Vegas to get married, you will need to go to the Clark County Courthouse for your marriage certificate. It will cost around $50. After your ceremony, the wedding chapel will file the completed license with the courthouse.Close

On every vacation, there is always a pinnacle day. When all the other memories of your trip fade away, this one day will forever be etched in your memory. For me, no other day was as special, as the day I spent hiking…Read More

On every vacation, there is always a pinnacle day. When all the other memories of your trip fade away, this one day will forever be etched in your memory. For me, no other day was as special, as the day I spent hiking at the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area.

Located just 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas, Spring Mountain is a nature lover’s 316,000-acre dream. As the car carried my husband and I through winding mountain roads the temperature soon turned a pleasant seventy-two degrees. It seems a bit odd once you arrive at the top of the mountain. Here you are staring at rising snowcapped mountains in a place known for its desert beauty. We stopped at the visitor’s center, where the staff could not have been more pleasant and helpful. We grabbed the entire stack of hiking maps and set off to take some pictures. We stopped at several scenic points to admire the vast expanse of pine and aspen trees as various birds flew happily between the branches. During the winter months the mountains are used for skiing and it is amazing to see the amount of devastation inflicted to the trees caused by various avalanches.

After much deliberation, we decided on a hiking trail. The great part about Spring Mountain’s hiking maps, is that they give you the accurate amount of miles for each hike. Also listed is the difficulty of the path and the approximate length of time it will take you. This was extremely helpful as we are only novice hikers and need as much information as possible. We decided on the Fletcher Canyon Trail. It was listed as “moderate,” which seemed doable, and it also promised an interesting water feature at the end.

The beginning of Fletcher Canyon is very similar to most nature trails. Clear paths lead the way through lush green pine trees, filling your lungs with the scent of Christmas. I must admit we were disappointed at first. The map had promised water all along the trail, but all we saw were dried up rock beds. Finally about half way through the trail we heard the faintest trickling of what sounded like water. It was so exciting, almost like finding a treasure. The rest of our hike was accompanied by the sound of water splashing playfully over rocks. After a very mild walk, you are finally thrust into the rock bed itself, where you must scramble on top of precariously slippery rocks. This is where it is essential to have good footwear. You would be incapacitated if you wore flip-flops or some other impractical shoe. I also found it helpful to walk sideways, as it seemed to provide better balance and prevented me from slipping head first into the rocks.

Once past the rock bed, you find yourself immersed in a limestone canyon. The walls loom above at almost two hundred feet. It was slightly eerie as each walked upon stone sent up a resounding echo. For a while I thought someone was behind us as I kept hearing a sort of scrunching noise. Finally I realized that it was the echo of the water bottles and twizzlers bouncing around in my backpack. You feel a strange sense of isolation and abrupt quite seems to make you move more slowly, feeling that somehow you are disturbing someone or something. In certain places where the water still flowed, tiny wild flowers bloomed. Compared to the stark white gray walls and floor, their colors of yellow, pink and purple radiated with ferocious brightness. We didn’t even talk, but walked on slowly immersed in our own solitude.

Our secludedness was finally broken by the sound of loud rushing water. We hurried our pace until we came to the object that will forever be implanted in my mind. It was a chute of water or I guess a waterfall if you could even call it that, lovingly carved out of a limestone rock by fresh spring water. When we were showing our vacation pictures to others one person commented, “that’s it.” I had to bite my tongue. I guess they were not there to see the clear spring water running freely down a smooth carved limestone chute. To think of how long it has taken the water just to carve out the stone and how it will continue to work carving and eroding long after I have seen it. It was nature and science at its best.

Whenever I am very stressed, I take my mind back to that day with the silence and seclusion of the limestone canyon and the bright vibrant flowers. I imagine that I am at the end of the canyon and the only sound I hear is the rushing of cool spring water through limestone. I think these experiences are what vacations are all about. The memories and experiences we take with us to help us through the mundane everyday part of our lives. I know that I will always take Spring Mountain with me and I hope you will consider experiencing it for yourself.
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Iowans love to comment that Nebraska is a Native American word meaning “ a long way across”. We suspect that Nebraskans say the same thing about Wyoming. The first day covered the lush green of Iowa and Eastern Nebraska. We watched farmers planting fields, pretty…Read More

Iowans love to comment that Nebraska is a Native American word meaning “ a long way across”. We suspect that Nebraskans say the same thing about Wyoming. The first day covered the lush green of Iowa and Eastern Nebraska. We watched farmers planting fields, pretty farms, and small towns. The second day’s drive from North Platte, NB to Rock Springs, WY found towns further apart, fields were home to irrigation equipment, and then an occasional oil well. The color green was replaced with beige, and whole communities were surrounded by bleak barren hills. Dust devils could be seen as well as plumes of dust rising behind speeding pick-ups. Seeing an occasional antelope proved there was life out there. By Day 3 we began to angle down to Utah and the scenery started to get interesting again.

At Park City we were rewarded with good food, too. At the Silver Summit Café I had a wood-oven pizza that was superb. My husband claims his grilled ham and cheese sandwich was pretty good, too. This café proudly proclaimed it was the 2004 winner of “the best truck stop grub”. Lunch for two was under $15. Park City was the site of some of the Winter Olympics events in 2002. Remaining buildings and event sites could be seen from the highway.

The drive from Heber City to Provo follows Provo River, first along a wide valley fenced in by snow-capped peaks, then into the dramatic Provo Canyon and out into a lovely area with small ranches. We saw fisherman in waders casting in the lovely river. Mares with newborn colts frolicked on the ranches.

From Provo to Cedar City we enjoyed the beauty of the mountains on the east and the desert on the west. Cedar City proved to be a lovely college town with extraordinary beauty to the east and south. It is the gateway to several National Parks and Monuments.

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On one of the day trips out of Vegas, my friend and I decided to visit the Hoover Dam. I think it had to be the hottest day ever known to man. The reports on the radio stated it was about 113 degrees. As we…Read More

On one of the day trips out of Vegas, my friend and I decided to visit the Hoover Dam. I think it had to be the hottest day ever known to man. The reports on the radio stated it was about 113 degrees.

As we drove we saw breathtaking views of Lake Mead and the Colorado River. We pulled off several times to take photos of these bodies of water. When we arrived at the dam we found a massive parking garage structure. There was a charge for parking, but it was under $10. This made parking no problem at all. The Hoover Dam also offers a tour; however, my friend and I didn't take it. If I were to do the experience again, I would definitely take the tour.

After leaving the car, we walked on part of the dam and grabbed some great photos. We went back to the gift shop and grabbed some ice-cream. I'm telling you, it was so hot it was hard to breathe. I think most of my ice-cream was melted before I took my first bite.

After finishing our ice-cream we grabbed the car and drove across the Arizona/Nevada state line.

All in all, it was a fun way to spend an afternoon. I don't think that the dam by itself would be a full day trip.

To get to the Hoover Dam from Vegas go southeast on I-515. It will turn into US-93. Just continue on 93 till you get to the dam. Unlike the Valley of Fire State Park, the Hoover Dam was a breeze to find.

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The Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most beautiful sites that I have ever visited. With its gorgeous red rock structures naturally eroded by winds and brilliant blue skies, it was unreal. There is even a natural arch here along with beehive-like…Read More

The Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most beautiful sites that I have ever visited. With its gorgeous red rock structures naturally eroded by winds and brilliant blue skies, it was unreal. There is even a natural arch here along with beehive-like structures. It is like visiting somewhere out of a dream or from another planet. There are numerous trails and hiking opportunities here.

The Valley of Fire is located in the Mojave Desert. I can not stress how absolutely breathtaking this place was. With admission to the park being under $10, it was a great way to spend a day.

The Valley of Fire is located about an hour outside of Las Vegas. To get there take I-15 northeast, then take Nevada Route 169 at Crystal south to the park. Please be aware that some of the signs might not be clearly marked. The first day we attempted to go to the Valley of Fire we ended up lost and landed at Lake Mead. While Lake Mead was a great excursion, it wasn't the one we had planned. The second time around we asked our hotel and they gave us much better instructions.

When we went we ate a late breakfast and skipped lunch, just make sure that you bring plenty of water with you. We were extremely parched by the time we returned to Vegas. Also don't forget your sunscreen.

We probably only saw about two other cars out in the park the day we were there. This made the excursion feel very special and private. It was as if all the natural beauty was a secret or hidden treasure we had discovered. More than any of the other things we did in Vegas, this was my absolute favorite outing.

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Desert Passage at Aladdin:Be whisked away as you stroll the streets of a Moroccan outdoor market. A few times an hour there is a “thunderstorm” that occurs. More or less, water falls from the ceiling into a pool below. There are some sound effects and…Read More

Desert Passage at Aladdin:
Be whisked away as you stroll the streets of a Moroccan outdoor market. A few times an hour there is a “thunderstorm” that occurs. More or less, water falls from the ceiling into a pool below. There are some sound effects and flashing lights and smoke to make the effect of an actual storm more realistic. If you’re already there it’s worth seeing. It’s even better with some really good gelato you can purchase in the Desert Passage.

Caesars Forum Shops:
At the Forum shops statues come to life and converse to each other while producing a laser light show. This was very cheesy. The sound was bad, and you could barely hear what was being said. The lasers appeared to be no more than glorified laser pens. If you happen to stumble upon it stop and look. Other than that don’t waist your time.

Flamingo:
In the Flamingo is a courtyard and wildlife habitat. We went here at night and it was very romantic. Swaying Palm trees, splashing waterfalls and flamingos gracefully nestled in the lush green grass. It is an oasis from the obnoxious noise and clamor of the strip. You can also view penguins, turtles and massive koi. I had no idea that there were African penguins that didn’t need to live in the cold, so I learned something too. This is worth the trip, especially at night when there is an air of mystery and romance to it all.

Mirage:
Every hour in the evening the Mirage Volcano explodes. It was horribly crowded although we were there early enough to get a spot at the railing. I think more interesting than seeing the volcano explode, was the burning heat you feel during the show. We felt really bad for a real live mouse that was scampering around the bottom of the volcano in petrified fear. He should probably find a better place to set up his home. You should see the volcano because it is something to see, but nothing more. Once is good enough.

Bellagio:
The Botanical conservatory is definitely worth the trip. The theme, which changes frequently, was Philadelphia and independence. There was a giant liberty bell illuminated by the massive skylight overhead. There were also depictions of children made of flowers engaging in summer fun activities. My favorite part however was the display of miniature fountains that danced, jumped and splashed to various tunes. It was beautiful, comical and entertaining all at the same time. You could spend at least an hour hear admiring the colorful flowers and plants.

In front of the Bellagio is their famous fountain show. It is both emotional and grand, as the music appears to direct the powerful water into a magnificent dance. I would not recommend going on a weekend night. We went on a Saturday and there was an obnoxious evangelist on his actual soapbox yelling at the top of his lungs at the crowd waiting to experience the fountains. People begged him to just be quiet while the fountains were going, but he yelled that they were more concerned with watching a silly show and that their souls were all destined for hell and they didn’t care. He ruined the whole experience for everyone. He must not work during the week however, because every night we were able to stop, watch and enjoy the fountains undisturbed.

MGM:
If you’re waiting for diner seating or for someone to finish playing star wars slots take a walk around the lion habitat. The habitat itself with waterfalls and streams and two stories is actually more interesting than the lions themselves. The lions themselves seemed rather bored.
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One of the many things you can do is go inside one of the many themed hotels. It is free to check them out, and some have interesting things to do inside and out. If you get tired from walking, take a tram…Read More

One of the many things you can do is go inside one of the many themed hotels. It is free to check them out, and some have interesting things to do inside and out. If you get tired from walking, take a tram which connects some of the hotels or sit by a slot and try to win some change.

In the VENETIAN HOTEL, the inside of the hotel is made to look like streets in Venice, even the ceiling is painted with a sky and clouds. There is a gondola ride within the hotel, as well as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. A favorite activity is to go to the gift shop of the wax museum and try on the costumes.
Address: 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Try also passing by the BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS at night; the dancing fountains follow the beat of the music. Remember Oceans 11? Check out the website for the fountains' schedule.
Address: 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Phone:(888) 987-3456
Website: http://www.Bellagio.com

The MIRAGE hotel has a volcano in front of it with spewing lava. The lava show occurs at different times during the day, so check their website for the schedule.
Address: 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Phone: (702) 791-7111
Website: http://www.themirage.com/pages/attrac_volcano.asp

The outside of the MGM Grand Hotel is certainly grand and impressive. Check out the live lion inside. Address: 3799 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
Phone: 702-891-1111

In front of the New York/New York hotel, you may ask, when did the French have time to build another statue for Vegas?? Check out the New York/New York's roller coaster, which wraps around the hotel for a thrill ride. This hotel always reminds me of that episode of CSI.

Some other hotels to visit are the Excalibur hotel, which has a medieval theme and a Tournament of Kings. The Circus Circus Hotel has circus acts occuring at varying times in the day. The Luxor has a great Egyptian theme, while the Aladdin has a cool Indian theme. At the far end of the strip, the Las Vegas Hilton has the Star Trek experience and Borg 3D ride. A short walk from here is the Stratosphere, which has a great view and a roller coaster at the top of the hotel. These are just a few of the hotels on the new Vegas Strip.

For better deals and slots with better returns, try the hotels on the old Vegas Strip. Here you can see the Fremont Steet Experience.

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Once again, the creative artist of many of the chic China Grilles, several other NYC trendy restaurants, major real estate projects—the list goes on and on—has done it again with the incredible sensory defying and hot Las Vegas nightclub RUM JUNGLE. Internationally acclaimed design…Read More

Once again, the creative artist of many of the chic China Grilles, several other NYC trendy restaurants, major real estate projects—the list goes on and on—has done it again with the incredible sensory defying and hot Las Vegas nightclub RUM JUNGLE. Internationally acclaimed design artist Jeffrey Beer’s career and achievements are constantly covered in the newspapers, as well as in design, fashion, culinary, and in-flight magazines. The New York Times, Interior Design, Food Arts, House & Garden, Hospitality Design, Departures, and Vogue have all paid homage to the graduate of the renowned Rhode Island School of Design. Earning a Fulbright Fellowship, this scholar apprenticed with none other than Dale Chihuly , studying the art of blowing glass, where he also attained an incomparable ingeniousness utilizing glass as a light design element. Rum Jungle delivers a sensual depth of textures, light, and form reflecting one of this contemporary master's more seductive projects to date.

The senses are immediately overwhelmed as you enter the restaurant-by-day, club-by-night oasis of hedonism. Adjust your eyes to towers of shimmering lights, and what slowly comes into focus is a 30-foot-wide, 110-foot-long, 22-foot-high structure known as the Mountain of Rum. The iridescent glow of thousands of multicolored shimmering liquor bottles, climbing two stories into the air and enhanced by a fiber optic extravaganza, greets you as you step foot through the entrance’s velvet ropes.

Hypnotic rhythms of African conga drums—or are they bongos, or both?—beckon you in. All remaining inhibitions are ripped away when you notice the lithe and beautiful (even wives, dates, and significant others admit to being as entranced as any man) professional dancing women wearing an array of erotically minimal spandex. These dancers grind away, some suspended in birdlike cages and others along a catwalk above the bar. Cirque de Soleil influences are invoked by other exotic women on trapezes doing acrobatics and high-speed twirls suspended only by a ponytail of hair high above the drinking crowds, while another uses a 30-foot silken drape suspended from the ceiling, performing stunts that seem to defy gravity.

The clear water-toned acrylic bar—an Amazon River of libations—runs the length of the restaurant and is lined with over six dozen hand-carved stools from Bali. Flanked by waterfalls that seem to float suspended in the air and a wall of fire torches (which, by some mischance, I seemed to miss—watch out for the vanilla-infused rum!), the balance of water and fire create a sensational harmonic when combined with the earth element, a terrazzo and onyx floor. Its smooth surface is easy on Capezios when the restaurant morphs, at 10pm on weekend nights and 11pm during the week, into the hottest dance club in Sin City. An eclectic mix of reggae, hip-hop, ‘70s disco, Latin, and top pop music flows from the raised DJ booth towering below the ruby-red ceiling.

Good DJ’s may be hard to find, yet three of the top DJ’s on the circuit, DJ Toast, DJ Randy, and DJ Creativity, deliver music magic from above while the hot and hip spin, twist and bump most provocatively to it below.

Rum Jungle’s display of visually pleasing aesthetics doesn’t seem to stop. Flanking the bar and set above the main eating areas are four "rain chandeliers" composed of wire and hundreds of small tubes. They are bottom lit from a rim that is a about a ten-foot circle suspended from the ceiling. Huge dueling congas hydraulically lift up and down through out the night as heated testosterone-induced percussion battles spontaneously take place. They are set in front of and frame the Fire Pit, an open kitchen at the back of the restaurant/club. Flaming skewers are held in serving staff fists, broad-sword style, as they make their way to the many tables ordering from the Rodizio menu.

Elegant-casual is the dress code, and it assures more than just architecturally pleasing sights and sounds. Rum Jungle attracts a very good-looking and multi-dimensional crowd, providing a comfortable and safe feel to its environment. Collared shirts and/or blazers for men in jeans will cut it easily enough, but forget about T-shirts, shorts, sandals, and work boots, and there are absolutely no hats allowed.

There are controversial schools of thought on clubs offering a restaurant venue. There is the inverse question of whether or not a restaurant can deliver a great club experience. Such is the dilemma others may have, but Rum Jungle does not seem to be phased with such a challenge. The menu (posted in a picture below) is a culinary fusion of Caribbean, Latin, Cuban, Polynesian, and Asian fare. For the less exotically inclined, there is a great steak—albeit you may have to have them hold the sugarcane butter sauce and Habanero demi-glaze on the filet mignon!

There are several ways to attack the menu. Try any of the following depending on your appetite. There are two categories that will fit the lighter-fare demand. Small plates and appetizers are plentiful enough that an assortment of three orders plus a salad seems to satisfactorily sate for two. Recommendations include
Ahi Tuna Mango Poke Spring Rolls, which open your taste buds. It is a very fresh and very spicy sushi-style tuna tartar rolled in a soft wrap. Served with pineapple and avocado salsa and dressed with a wasabi Crème-Fraiche, it costs about $18.
Coconut Shrimp with a Coconut-Curry Dipping Sauce are crispy and sweet, with a tropical taste that lingers and lingers (perfectly complemented by the vanilla-infused rum on the rocks, about $20).
Jamaican Spiced Chicken Skewers complemented with chipotle-guava sauce and grilled pineapple completes your European-style meal. At $10, it comes in at the lower end of the menu’s price range.
Finish off, or start with, a Peruvian Chopped Salad, a toss of onions, corn, roasted peppers, feta cheese, and radishes in a mint vinaigrette at approximately $9. You won’t be hungry and won’t feel stuffed. Guilt over the coconut shrimp is at your own discretion.

The Rodizio Fire Pit is what this restaurant is famous for. Imagine skewer after flaming skewer being brought to your table, as the menu states, in "unlimited quantities" bearing:
Rosemary, Chili, and Garlic Marinated Angus Beef with caramelized onions
Mango-Rum Marinated Ahi Tuna with a Jalapeño-peach and Passionfruit Glaze
Roast Garlic and Sage Marinated Turkey Breast in a Mango-Habanero Glaze
Slow Roasted Pulled Pork
Jerk Spiced Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
Huli-Huli Rotisserie Chicken in Pineapple Rum
Hot Smoked Salmon
And what would any fire-pit be without the Roasted Spanish Chorizo Sausage!

Accompaniments include a cinnamon "Dirty Rice," drunken pinto beans, Cuban black beans, caramelized fried ripe plantains, and pineapple-coconut Basmati rice. At $40 per person, this all-you-can-eat, delivered-to-your-table tropical buffet will test the mettle of any appetite.

SUGGESTIONS: Reservations are highly recommended, if not required, for Friday and Saturday. Make them as far in advance as possible online.
The price will run between $30 to $40 per person in most cases, while drinks and desserts may push it a bit higher. Drinks run between $5 and $12.
Night Club Entry: Dinner reservations assure you a re-entry stamp for the dance debauchery later on and saves $20 to $25 per person. The lines get long, and the wait to get in even longer. Guests at the hotel have a preferential line, and re-entry after dinner avoids it almost altogether.
Night Club Seating will run you the cost of a bottle of rum or other beverage, which are $250 and over $600 per table (four people). Considering the dancing you will do and the amount of space that becomes available at the bar during the ebb and flow of the evening, we did not find it necessary. It is available if you do not wish to give up your table post-dessert.

The last seating on Friday and Saturday is 8pm, but that is, depending on your host or VIP status and prior reservation, somewhat flexible.

Rum Jungle—Highly Recommended
3950 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Mandalay Bay Hotel
702/632-7408

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Wednesday 21 May 2003 Touched down in San Francisco and bought the obligatory key ring and then onto the internal flight to Las Vegas. We were taken to Treasure Island by a wonderful driver who was extremely proud of his hometown and gave us lots of tips for things…Read More

Wednesday 21 May 2003

Touched down in San Francisco and bought the obligatory key ring and then onto the internal flight to Las Vegas.

We were taken to Treasure Island by a wonderful driver who was extremely proud of his hometown and gave us lots of tips for things to do. NDL had booked us in and arranged for our baggage to be taken to our rooms. We stayed in room 23089, 23 being the floor number and those ending in even numbers from approximately 78 to 110 have the view at the back eg, some roofs below plus the Fashion Show Mall (Bloomingdales, Macys, Saks, Neiman Marcus) a maid was kind enough to let me look out the window of the odd numbers and WOW, what a view. It brought tears to my eyes, so beautiful, the whole of the south strip, almost seemed to be laid out just for this particular window!!!

Thursday 22 May 2003

I woke at 5am but Chris wanted to sleep on so I sat working on a schedule. Managed to drag his touché out of bed at 7:30am and we went down for breakfast, which had a selection of fruit, cheese, waffles, French toast, sausages, bacon, egg, potato, etc.

Took a $7 taxi to the Hilton to see the Star Trek Experience (http://www.startrekexp.com/), where Chris had his picture taken then it was placed into a photograph of the Next Generation he loves it. I found out later that Elvis Presley spent his last seven years performing at the Hilton. We took the glass elevator up to the top for a great view of the stratosphere and decided to walk over. Enroute we stopped at the Sahara, had a look around and gambled some nickels, and won 300 of them. Celebrated with an ice tea at MacDonalds then continued on to the Stratosphere where you can go to the top of the tower for $8.

Got a taxi back to the Mirage and saw the gigantic tropical fish tank behind reception then onto the rainforest, the tigers, and the waterfalls. It was a short tram ride back to TI to get ready for our evening at the MGM Diva Concert.

Back at TI we went to see the pirate battle. It was amazing. We stood on the walkway next to the pirate ship, wish we knew what was coming because my eyebrows were nearly singed by the heat of the explosions, soooo cool can't believe the British lost the battle though. What's that all about? There are plans to change it shortly to include sirens so it was good to see it in its current format--maybe the Brits will win next time!

Went for our evening meal at 10:30pm, however, I think the staff was tired. I had asked to see the menu at the front desk prior to coming in, when I asked for non-smoking the guy waved me in the direction of a side so I sat down, a waitress started getting upset because she said that section was closed. On the menu it said there was prime rib so when I went to get some, it wasn't there. I commented that it was on the menu, this was met with a blank look and denial. The rest of the selection was bland, non descript with a guy with a security uniform on standing behind the food counter chatting up the server whilst leering across at my chest as I tried desperately to get the only piece of meat on the tray which happened to be positioned at the back. We sat down to eat and another lady came out and said they were shutting up soon and if we wanted anything else, especially the dessert, to get it now! So much for the town that never sleeps!

Friday 23 May 2003

Went for breakfast the next morning then onto BELZ Factory Outlet World (www.belz.com) which was having a Memorial Day Sidewalk Sale. As usual the jeans and trainers were a fantastic purchase for us Brits. Took a taxi along the strip $14 (back via the freeway because the cabbie said it was quicker $16.50!)

At the Stratosphere we had seen an oxygen bar. We asked for information and went away to think about it. Oxygen Bar Urban spa where customers inhale pure oxygen under the premise that doing so will regenerate cells, clean the system of toxins, increase energy and stamina, and reduce stress. We had been told that there was one in the Kuanaville so we went along. For $16 you get 15 minutes of oxygen which is infused with aromatherapy fragrances each with differing properties, a massage with Nukkles, and a love shot. Loved the Nukkles so much we bought some (http://www.nukkles.com).

We went to elvisrama.com to look at the museum. I loved the letter that he sent to his girlfriend Anna when he was over in Europe. It really did give an insight to Elvis's vulnerability. To catch a concert also the cost was $22 each--the tribute singer also paid tribute to veterans, which was really touching.

Took the free shuttle bus to the Mirage and caught the volcano erupting and into their buffet, which was fantastic. It had a bar where you could choose your raw selection then take it along to the chef who would cook it in front of you. Also the fish selection was fresh and succulent. There was such a wide selection throughout.

To end the day we took the city lights tour that took us up to the Bellagio for the water which is choreographed to music, the tour bus took us up to the steps and those that had seen the show before said that it looked so much better from that angle. We went in to see the ceiling and also the beautifully scented flowers surrounding butterflies.

We turned back down the strip, passing the Aladdin, which is the only hotel that, after being knocked down and rebuilt, still has its original name (another piece of info I picked up was that Elvis and Priscilla married there) passing Ethel M's M&M store, which is next door to the Coca Cola Store where you can get half price tickets to see shows on the same day obviously this is great savings BUT doesn't guarantee great seats, if at all! Continuing on back passed the TI, leaving Clark County where the strip actually officially turns into Las Vegas downtown, we arrived at Freemont street at 10:40pm and the street was jam-packed with party people. There were flamenco dancers handing out Mardi Gra beads--now here was a real party atmosphere.

Saturday 24 May 2003

Got up and went to the Venetian, which is so calm and elegant. Returned to pack our bags and then went to the Secret Gardens we returned to TI and had a cocktail at the bar because then we got to bring home the scull and mermaid glasses, onto our champagne brunch and ready to get a great sleep to beat the jet lag on the long return flight home.

It was a wonderful experience and yes, we did gamble. Only as little league though. We joined the Players club at TI the system works out at one point for each $1 spent/won and reused in play. Some wins paid out with a ticket that you can cash, others paid out in coins. Unfortunately we never won big enough for it to be paid out by an attendant, however I did witness a lady being paid out $2100 by an attendant which was nice to see.

We started out with $1 bets but became a bit despondent after no wins and decided to join the real little league with the nickel machines. We got our cups filled with the little token things and had loads of fun deciding on whether to do 1-9 lines with 1-9 games in play, although it took ages to keep putting them in (+ my hands were black from the coins--other casinos had little hand wipes next to the machines which I didn't see at the TI) rather than feed $10 into the machine, it felt like more of a game and less of a gamble and it sounded so sweet when the winnings came chugging out.

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