Arrived at Los Angeles around lunchtime after a very long combined flight from Melbourne. So, after spending about 22 hours in the air, I arrived at LAX to discover that my connecting flight to Vegas was delayed. Even after allowing a comfortable 4-5 hours between my scheduled arrival and the Vegas flight, I had a further hour or so to hang around the airport. To help kill a bit of time, I sat at a bar within the domestic terminal and ordered a Heinekin. That was around 3:30pm or so - or to put it another way, at the same time as Southern California experienced a 7.2 earthquake! I thought at first I was still feeling a bit of turbulence (hey, I said turbulence not flatulance) as nobody around me seemed to be taking any notice. I could feel the airport terminal swaying slightly and moving very gently up and down - one Heinekin too many after such a long journey seemed to be the popular but fleeting theory. Next thing, the TV at the bar (which was showing a basketball game - yuk!) posted a News Flash! Earthquake tremor at Baja close to the mexican border!
Anyway, enough of the earthquake already (see I am starting to fit in). I mentioned waistlines earlier - there are some seriously huge people here (but then we already knew that, didn't we?). I swear I saw a guy out the front of the airport carrying a bottle of water! Nothing unusual about that I hear you say - except the bottle was the size of a jerrycan. It was the same size container that we use for petrol. Since then, I have also seen some teenagers with what look like specimen jars full of some alcoholic drink. Strange sights aplenty.
Anyway, eventually reached my first stop (Las Vegas) and checked into a very swanky room at the almost brand new Planet Hollywood Towers (there is only one though - seems the GFC has caused a rethink amongst the financiers).My room is amazing though. A luxurious bed that could sleep 12 and which requires some high jumping skills to mount! In the same room is a double spa bath and there is an ensuite toilet, shower and vanity area. Then there is the lounge, with a kitchen set-up.
And both the bedroom and the lounge have full length floor to ceiling windows looking out over Paris (well the pretend Eifel Tower and Arc De Triumphe to be more precise!). All very imposing and no doubt accurately recreated - but still full of hotel rooms and all manner of ways to lose your
money. Not mine though (am managing to resist the urge to splurge).Did manage to walk the length of the Strip on Monday afternoon (didn't get up until lunchtime!) and saw some interesting sights. I definitely needed to stretch my legs and take in some fresh air.
The Strip was buzzing alright - plenty of ammo for anyone with a sense of humour (or is that humor?). It's funny what tickles your fancy, so to speak.... Here are a few of the things that caught my eye and appealled to my sense of humour:
Today, I took to the air again (must be mad after the journey here I expect you're thinking). Except that this was a short flight to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. All I will say is WOW! And WOW again. Such a massive and impressive sight. Truly awesome - and then some.
Just some of today's pics from the Grand Canyon tour...
Tomorrow I might go shopping! Until next time - missing you already!
(PS: if you want to sample my journey to the Grand Canyon, just click on this video I created from the many photos that I took during the day. The photos appear in order as best as i can recall but the clip can take a while to load so please be patient. My music choice whilst travelling is limited but I hope you like it - that is if you can hear it because I can't!)
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