Viva Las Vegas

Hi there! Well we got here in the wee hours due to a very long train ride, from Chicago.....Anyway so here we, and WOW!!! This place is large, flat, and over the top with lights and power usage. Have done the strip in the day and at night, of course the nocturnal time is best. The fountain at the Bellagio Hotel, the Volcano show at the Treasure Island Hotel and video screen at the Aria....all with the WOW factor, and then there was Caesars Palace...DOUBLE WOW!!!!! You walked into this casino and the opulence and decor the MONEY spent on this place, then you walk into the restaurant and shopping malls....it's been done to look like your walking in the evening in the piazzas of Italy the ceilings are painted with clouds and its dimmed, unbe-bloody believable..... Its hot here, which makes it great for us, as its meant to be summer, as for Chicago it was cooler. The Stratosphere Hotel is lovely, we're on the 14th floor looking out at the tower with the bungee jumping rope from the top of the tower, the rides that over shoot the top (see pics). The view from the top at night was also breath taking (see pics) Tomorrow we pick the car up?!?! And start our road trip across to Hoover Dam and then the Grand Canyon, so watch this space. PnD xx

Chicago

Howdy folks, Derek and I have arrived, it was fun on the train but sleeping was a little uncomfortable for Derek he's taller, there's plenty of room between seating but stretched out the poor bugger was not able to get his position right! I of course was fine...... Arrived and thought i go to Amtrak office at Chicago Union Station and upgrade for sleepers well 2 things.....an extra $405US errrrr no thanks, then I checked our next leg of the train trip, Chicago to Las Vegas WELL lucky I checked, as I had booked to go to Las Vegas New Mexico NOT Nevada. No where on the receipt email I got from Amtrak back in sept 12 did it say New Mexico. The lady agreed it was poor of Amtrak cause all it says is Las Vegas union station. Anyway we're here and all is well. Lovely city and amazing to see Lake Michigan as a coast so HUGE it really looks like the ocean. Have walked around, done their underground went to 'Boystown' went to a bar and sat and chatted to locals. Today we went to the Willis Tower formerly the Sears Tower, and went to the 103rd floor viewing floor, oh boy, wow, and holy shit.....best describes the view and me taking the step out on the glass deck, see the pics and you'll know why! Day 2 & 3 we walked all over the city took in their Millennium Park, gardens and more shops!! Yes we bought more shoes.... Here are some pics of Chicago. PnD xx