20th July 7.05 pm. What a day and a night. We spent yesterday hopping between ornate hotels and the blasting hot sun. The pic above is the exterior to the Luxor. When we first checked in we thought nothing could top it splendid vulgarity but it proved restrained compared the excesses of others. We had breakfast in a hotel which boasted its own artificial surf beach. We loved the grand, colourful, child-like gardens of the Bellagio. The day was a roller coaster ride of heat and air conditioning. The main clientel seems to be family groups - which seems a bit odd. We ended our day with a wonderful dinner at the Mirage and loved Cirque du Soleil's Beatle's Love. Very nostalgic and so emotional. Today started really early. It is Tom's birthday. He turns 66 as we start our Route 66 trip.
As it is nearly dinner time I will just note activities: Breakfast in a casino surrounded by pokies, Hoover Dam, Chloride - the oldest mining town in Arizona, Tom's gold mine, rocky stark terrain and finally arriving at red Feather Lodge outside Grand Canyon National Park.
What a stark contrast between Las Vegas!
Today's highlight: meeting Judy and Paul who took us up towards Tom's gold mine in their four wheel drive and then walking around abandoned nines and cottages in 101 degree heat.