Viva! Las Vegas!

Las Vegas - sin city. It sure is easy to see why it is called that, and while we didn't sin, we were a little naughty by our standards.

We started the day at a small city called Barstow in an RV park called Shady Lane. It was nothing special, but the old guys who ran it were. They had such old fashioned honest qualities about them that I want to go back just to see them again - if they're still alive (I did say they were old!)

Sunrise at Barstow - a sign of the heat to come.

 Edwards Air Force Base is located out in the sticks and we guessed this is where a bunch of helicopters came from. As to where they were going....???

In all 6 of these big Chinook helicopters flew next to us for a while as we drove along the highway.

 Only in America would you find signs like this, and maybe Croatia or Poland where vowels cost more.

How do you pronounce this roads name?

 The day was heating up and so was our car - so visiting Death Valley for it's renowned heat was not an option.


As close as we wanted to get as it was hot enough.

  As with all American cities, Vegas had its fair share of freeways and flyovers - all busy.

One freeway next in Las Vegas.


 Within a few kilometres of the city, the countryside is not much lived in.


The countryside near Vegas.

  This beautiful lone mountain sits close to the edges of Las Vegas and always seems to catch the sun.


Sunset Mountain next to Vegas.

 Now that we have covered the mundane parts of Las Vegas, its time to see what the city is all about.


Along one street, most buildings were wedding chapels.



Why waste time? Just drive in and get married!



Some big casino.



Even the general store has to light up to get your attention.



This only shows about two thirds of Cesar's Palace.



Downtown Las Vegas.



Monte Carlo casino.



Luxor casino (I think)



The casino next to our RV park.



The Venetian casino attraction.



Enjoying the night lights,



Waiting for the fountains at Bellagio.

 

Fountains at Cesar's Palace.



Front of The Forum shops.

The Mirage Casino.



Treasure Island ship.



Treasure Island frontage.

And now for some of our naughty bits.



Even Megan can shoot a gun in Las Vegas!




The bigger the better!



Ash loved it - no surprises.



The kids each shot two guns.



I shot an MP40 machine gun.

I shot a Thompson machine gun.



Jill shot a pistol.



Jill managed to stop a kidnapper and a zombie!



Yes it is still hard to believe after days have passed that we actually went to a gun range AND allowed the kids to shoot some guns! It was my big idea - I just couldn't resist the idea of getting to shoot machine guns and World War II versions at that. The MP40 was very easy to shoot with little kick back due to a slow rate of fire. The Thompson kicked quite a bit and needed to be held down. The 1911 .45 pistol that I also shot - kicked hugely and i struggled to aim consistently. I still think it was the most bizarre thing that we have done - but it seemed so right to do it in Las Vegas.

The next naughty thing was actually quite tame in comparison, but out of the norm for us too. We spent over $400 for a show and stayed out until 12 midnight looking at the lights after the show.  The show was by Cirque de Soliel called Mystere.

The show lasted for 90 minutes and was spectacular from start to end. There were many, "How do they do THAT!?" moments during the show. The act came into the audience and selected people to interact with at times and one performer sat on the rails just in front of us and blew kisses for Paige!

Our Vegas show.



We managed to squeeze in a visit to the Hoover Dam too. Security there was interesting - car searches and our top box had to be opened for viewing, signs that prohibit any bags over a certain size (a small handbag) and police stationed in cars at each of the wall. Despite all this security we were allowed to wander fairly freely along the dam wall and nearby, a curious contradiction.

The gang at Hoover.

 



The hoover cooling towers.

My little posers.



On the dam wall.




The family at a lookout above the wall.



New bride behind Ash.

On the wall looking out.

The Hoover dam from the new bridge.

Looking down from the bridge.



This bridge was built in 2010.

 As we were leaving Las Vegas, a radio announcer noted, "What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas...but do it anyway! That sounded like good advice to me.