More Vegas

Trip Start Dec 06, 2009

Trip End Feb 05, 2010

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Where I stayed

Bellagio Las Vegas

Flag of United States Las Vegas, Nevada
Sunday, December 13, 2009

Well our second day in Vegas was just as full on. We got up at 5 so that we could make the Grand Canyon helicopter ride. After sitting around at the airport for an hour we were told that the weather was too bad. All that missed sleep for nothing! We rescheduled for later in the day and went and stuffed ourselves with crepes for breakfast. We grabbed a bit more sleep then out to the airport again. By then the weather had cleared and perfect for flying. As we drove out on to the tarmac the driver pointed out over 20 planes all belonging to the casinos. These ranged in size from small jets to 747s and airbuses. All had been fitted out with luxury suites and people who could afford to lost $5 million or more would get picked up from anywhere and taken to Vegas. Sometimes a 747 would fly around the world to pick up one person!

The helicopter experience was great especially the takeoff which involved the pilot going in just about every direction at once. We had great visibility and you really feel like you are in a bubble floating through the air. The Grand Canyon was well quite grand and then we landed at a working ranch in Arizona. We were treated to a home cooked country style meal with chicken and corn bread with a cowboy singing us songs throughout.

It was a bit touristy but layed back and interesting to see and chat with the ranch cowboys. They really still live like cowboys out there with no mains power or running water. Food is delivered once a week and facilities are very basic. It can get over 40 degrees in summer and under -20 degrees in winter. I dressed up like a cowboy and looked like a try hard. Hard to look like an authentic cowboy when your ripcurl surf watch appears in every picture!

Then it was back to Vegas where we flew over the strip and saw all the amazing casino lights and billboards advertising just about everything.

Next stop was the Fashion show mall for some more retail therapy or as Ly likes to call it, retail research. The department stores there really stock some high end luxy brands. They go all out for Christmas with people everywhere wearing Santa hats and terrible knitted christmas jumpers. We didn�t really buy anything as I don�t really need a Louis Vuitton handbag and Ly didn�t need Ferragamo shoes.

Then on Brian�s recommendation we went to perhaps the best buffet in Vegas at the stylish and opulant Wynn hotel. The speciality was their alaskan crab legs which were already cracked open. Never had crab meat so east to eat! The desert buffet kept us busy for some time with more than a dozen deserts to choose from including a crepe station where Ly could get her fill of Crepes again. Completely full we had to take a taxi back to the hotel but not before losing our days budget on the slot machines. Just needed that next big win and we could have won it all back!

While Ly relaxed in the tub in peace and quiet with her fashion magazines I met another friend in Vegas Greg who took me out for drinks. We went to an amazing club in the Palms casino with incredible views of the strip and a roof that could completely open. Then off to a local beer place with over 150 beers on tap. It was man heaven! Great to catch up with Greg whom I haven�t seen for around 3 years. We crawled into bed after 3 sometime. These late nights were killing us!

More to come! Off to grab a cerveza.

Dan