LAS VEGAS

The drive from Kingman to the Hoover Dam was a dead straight road, which almost caused me to nod off once or twice. We stopped at a place called Rosie’s Den for a break and found a queue about a mile long. We were there for about 10 minutes before we realized we were in the queue for the Powerball, and that there was no queue for the food (which in itself was a bit of cause for concern).

We crossed the state border into Nevada at the impressive Hoover Dam.

The Hoover Dam was so impressive, even Derwent (Karen's teddy bear) got out of the truck to pose for a picture

In Vegas, we stayed at The Stratosphere casino, and had the best time. We let the girls off their leashes during the days, and they went off by themselves and walked The Strip, visiting the multitude of casinos and shops along the way. During the evenings they were confined to The Stratosphere, which had a huge amount of shops and restaurants to amuse them.

As part of our hotel deal we also scored free tickets for the rides at the top of the Stratosphere Tower, and against my beliefs they actually went up there at night and rode the rides, one of which jettisoned them off the edge of the tower. I wouldn’t have believed them had they not come back to our room with the pictures of their ride.

Vegas is the playground of the world. Every minute there was fun, with so much to do and see, and the place has an energy which is found nowhere else in the world. It pumps 24/7, and most establishments never close. Four nights there was never going to be long enough, but we all packed in the most we could.

The pics here are of Vegas as seen through the camera lens of Chloe and Chanelle:-

Chanelle the star




Inside the Venetian Casino shops. This picture was taken around midnight, but in Vegas false skies are created to give people the illusion it is daytime

A part of the old Downtown Las Vegas, where it all began when the famous Strip was still cow paddocks. Although the casinos in the Downtown area are older and less glitzy, they retain a charm from a different era

Another shot of Downtown in the Freemont Street Experience

The Strip seen from the top of The Stratosphere Tower

Day view of the above

The half-scale Eiffel Tower at The Paris casino

Another interior view of the Venetian Casino shops

A view of the Strip from an overpass. The Venetian is on the left and the famous Caesar's Palace is about 25mm in from the right

The Bellagio - probably the most opulent of all the casinos

The Sahara casino

The famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign

Another view of 'old Vegas'

The Stratopshere has a 50's style diner, where the staff frequently burst into a karaoke routine of some famous 50's or 60's hit. Here Chloe is being charmed by one of the waiters

From the Stratosphere Tower

Karen and Chanelle at The Venetian