On our last day in Vegas, we were awoken at 4am when the car hire company finally got around to responding to my queries, doubts and questions. This is the day that we are meant to be picking up the car. After completing the booking online and then reading some reviews, I was freaked out that we were going to get screwed on the insurance, that was apparently included and that we would get a clapped out, old fuel guzzler, instead of what we booked.
Turns out it was all fine! We will need to pay a bit extra as we are only going one way, but that's standard and would apply to any of the others companies anyway.
Our car is rad.
The trip from Vegas to San Clemente took about 5 hours and was pretty cruisy with the GPS - a complete life saver. The freeways here are pretty complicated. We were glad to have working air con this time too...
The trip was fascinating, really mountainous, even though here I don't think they credit them as mountains. It's not the Sierra Nevada so whatever.
We were still impressed. Our cold-filled ears, however...
There were lots of retro signs and zany, middle-of-nowhere towns.
Right on!
Welcome to...
How's the vista?!
We got to San Clemente in great time and found our motel with only minimal 'creative driving'. Dana, who runs the place is so nice and the rooms are decked out in a cool, retro style. (This was on the 16th and we're back here again tonight as I type, it's tops!)
We headed down to the pier for dinner. It is so lovely here. All the people are super friendly. Even to each other, not just the zany tourists with unidentifiable accents. Strangers will chat in the street and help each other out. It's been really warm with blue skies and cool nights.
So pretty.
San Clemente Pier. You can sea dolphins, sea lions and grey whales from here.
We had a ridiculous amount of Italian for $30. The entrees were huge and then the mains arrived. We managed.
The restaurant we decided on had the best waiter ever. He was right out of Point Break. He sounded like a Teenage mutant ninja turtle. We're finding a lot of America is like that, just like the movies. Except the people are for real.
Wow, what a birthday! We had such a big day, jam packed full of awesomeness. It all started with a delicious breakfast... fresh, crispy Belgian waffles with berry compote, thick vanilla cream and maple syrup, dusted with icing sugar and garnished with fresh berries. I had to force that down, obviously. Along with some freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, I was armed with a cheesy grin and large poodge overhanging my shorts.
Because we didn't have enough waffles in Europe...
OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM!!!
We have been so stoked to be able to drink real coffee again. Europe has terrible coffee, due largely to their strange aversion to milk. In Vegas you can get whatever you want. Deliciously fresh brewed pots of coffee, smooth shots of espresso, or a latte venti, which is the biggest friggin' coffee on Earth. Seriously, these things are like a litre of coffee. Ok, USA!
We were in the tower on the right, about halfway up.
Staying in the Signature at the MGM Grand means full access to the MGM Grand facilities, such as their 5 pools including the Backlot River pool. This was basically a mile long circuit that somehow has a current generated, so it blasts you around in your little inflatable tube (or 'toooob' as they're known here).
So, 10:00am saw us waiting for the gates to open, and then launching ourselves into the river. Huzzah!!
TOOB PRO
Then you blast around trying to smash little kids and your spouse with your tube.
Very Mae West...
Here we are toobin':
Amazing how much fun you have in a car tyre in a swimming pool, even when you're nearly 30...
Yes, very cool.
Some have the gift. Others...
It's written right there on the front
No one spins as fast as me! With my dainty legs...
Cruising the Backlot River!!
I'm a bit special, really...
We had such a great time, couple of cheeky buggers that we are. After we had well and truly exhausted ourselves, and clocked enough kids in the face with our mad tubing skills, it was time for my birthday present. A trip over the Grand Canyon in a microscopic plane, powered by a giant rubber band and our Cap'ns, James and Jeff!
Flying sardine can
We jumped in a bus out to the "airport" in Boulder City, about 30 minutes out of Vegas. Upon arrival we jumped into our tiny plane, and held our breaths, assured by the pilot calmly proclaiming "Ho boy, she's gon' be a bumpy ride!" You stick little headphones on for the guided tour.
Very calmly shitting my pants.
The Grand Canyon is awesome. 4 billion years old or something, the Canyon is biggest damned hole in the ground you've ever seen, an absolute geographic treasure. The range of colours and texture is endless, and you're really blown away by the sheer depth.
Apparently enough to propel a plane full of people through the sky
They damned the Colorado River too, with the Hoover Dam, creating a MASSIVE lake which is now used for recreation, as well as a major water source for the region. It's really pretty, a stunning landscape of azure.
At certain times of the year you can raft down this sucker.
The Hoover Damn.
Named after the US President, J. Edgar Hoover, the dam is as thick at the bottom as it is high.
It was interesting to hear that some Native American tribes still live in the depths of the gorge.
Lake Mead, giant man made lake
After a particularly....BRIEF landing, requiring a second change of underwear, we finished our tour. I was so stoked, what an awesome experience. It's not just a hole in the ground, it really is an amazing place. It was pretty scary in the plane which got buffeted around like crazy due to updrafts and what not, but still so worthwhile.
So, back to Vegas to shower and shave, and then we headed off to the next thing on the list. We got AWESOME tickets to see the stage production of the Lion King over at the Mandalay Bay, which we enjoyed. So awesome at the start, they get these African singers to blast out the opening song...tingles up your spine. Typically, I wanted to shoot the child actor playing young Simba, but once he got replaced with the older version, it was pretty rad.
Our own Lion King at the MGM Grand
Awesome.
So, the plan was then to walk the strip and drop some money on Blackjack, but we were both just so knackered that we cabbed it straight back to the hotel, and hit the hay. What an awesome, awesome way to turn 29. I had such a great day. Vegas is a great place, not anything near as seedy as I thought it would be, and very friendly. Thanks Han for sorting it all out!!
We went discount shopping yesterday and got some actual bargains. New pair of Birkenstocks for $60!
Plus James got new Arnette sunglasses for $100. Quicksilver boardies for $30 and some roxy t-shirts for $10.
We are both still feeling quite average, unfortunately. Sore throats and colds that won't die. We won't bring them back with us, don't worry. So no gambling yet, but soon!!!
Last night we went to the Crazy Horse, Paris show. Burlesque cabaret.
The hotel/casino complex is so huge. We are in tower 2 so it is a 10 minute walk to the casino floor through indoor walkways. There's shops, restaurants, a food hall, a billion pokeys and tables, more restaurants, day spa, fitness centre... it just goes on and on. We're off to check out the poolS after brekkie this morn.
I got the best birthday present today!! Walking through the hotel in Vegas about half an hour ago, I met UFC mixed martial arts fighter Jon Fitch!! I was as giddy as a school girl as I asked for a quick photograph. He very nicely acquiesced, and he didn't even kick the bajeezus out of me when I put my arm around him for the photo.
So apparently he's a bit bigger than I am...
Not very exciting for most people, but for me it was like meeting a famous Hollywood celebrity. So stoked!!!!
Confirmed! We've paid our deposit, and are rip-roaring and ready to blast off into our (partial) world trip! It's still a long, LONG way off, but I'll definitely be looking forward to it every day until we're there.
SO, for those to whom we have not already discussed our trip ad nauseum, here is the (very) rough itinerary:
Late June: Gnaraloo (approx 10 days) July 11: Greece/Greek Isles (10 days) Jul-August: South of France (2 weeks) August: Spain (1 week) Mid August: Las Vegas (couple of days including my birthday) August: Californian coast, all the way up through Los Angeles to San Francisco (couple of weeks) August/Sept: Hawaii (about 4 or 5 days or so) September: Home!
There is, of course, a fairly obvious focus on the trip... Whilst we're starting with a relaxing ferry tour of the Greek Isles, Biarritz in France will be our home for 2 weeks of, hopefully, great surfing! Probably not much surf in Spain or Vegas (wave pool? Hmm...), but Cali-forn-i-'A'-frame-peaks will be a highlight. Top it off with a chill out session in Waikiki, Hawaii... splendid.
The plan will be to update whenever we have access to the Internet... could be intermittent. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!
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