From One Extreme to the other - Grand Canyon to Las Vegas today.

Woke to cloudless blue skies and bright sunshine; just the sort of weather for my birthday. 

We went back up to the Canyon this morning to check out a couple of the other view points that are still open, and for a bit of a bush walk. We’ve been spending most of the day sitting in a car for just over a week now so a good old leg stretch was very welcome. Mind you, the car has enabled us to get around all over the place and do loads of stuff.

We spent about and hour and a half wandering around up there, and saw just two people in that time. The silence was incredible; the air was still and the weather was perfect. A really good way to spend a Sunday.

After the Canyon, it was back in the car for the long boring haul to Las Vegas. More scrabby desert stuff but it had to be done........then we spied Las Vegas, looming up out of nowhere from the middle of nothing. And what’s even weirder, is that as you get closer, you see world famous landmarks from different countries, all clustered together where they don’t belong.

And they are all muddled in with massive trophy buildings - like Trump Tower which is encased in 24 carat gold and shines like a beacon right across the city. 

Even Mcdonalds has a tarted up act.

This place is probably the oddest and most tacky place I’ve ever been too yet its strangely alluring. Its very different from what I would usually choose to do, and the gambling/party/ plastic thing is not really my thing but its still something to see and experience, so it was a good call to come here.

We wandered around The Strip last night - the central bit where most of the big stuff is. We’re staying right on it too - in a Travelodge for just $30.00 each per night the same price as they charge anywhere else and not hiked up because its in central LV. Big room, breakfast, wifi and about 100 m from the main drag. It seems that the priority is getting people here, so food and accommodation are very affordable. Then once you’re here, other stuff is what you pay for - drinks, entertainment, gambling etc. That’s how they make their money, and thats what people come for, this being the party capital of the world. But if you’re like us and just here to see what there is to see, then its very do-able.

So the mission today is to go out and see as much as we can see but spend as little money as possible. Wandering in and out of the big hotels and exhibition places is top of the list as are the fast food buffet bars for food. What is really good is that they just want people here - there is no pretence or dress code or anything poncy like that. You can go anywhere, regardless of whether you’re wearing shorts and a teeshirt, or a ball gown and trainers.