Day 29. 1.5.16. Las Vegas to Los Angeles to Melbourne.

Nothing doing today, it is departure day. We met for breaky at 9.00 and decided to catch the ‘tram’ over to Caesars for a look. 

The tram track between Caesars and Treasure Island.

Glenda and Suzie on the Tram.

We wandered around their indoor gardens (the Casino is much lighter and brighter than TI) and ended up at the pool area – OMG so many sunbakers at 11am, so many lounge chairs too. Snuck a peak at the Siegfried and Roy gardens, with Dolphins and then wandered home.

Gardens and Gaming.

The pool area. so many people lolling about on their lounges.

There were so many people and lounges jam packed in there.

Row upon row upon row.

Guards, didn't look too engaged.

We grabbed our luggage and headed to the airport in the hope of accessing the lounge as Keith has booked us first class for the short flight to LA, only to be disappointed to learn Virgin America don’t have a lounge at Vegas, it’s too small! We found a place for a cuppa and waited.

Farewell Vegas.

Back past Harrah's Casino.

Hooroo TI.

Hard Rock Cafe and a plane taking off.

The newspaper stands.

Seems the planes take off really sharply. I reckon its a short runway.

Last view of The Strip.

Mc Garrans Airport.

Suzie's luggage weighed in at 51.5lbs, which meant a 'heavy' sticker was required.

Mine right on 50lbs. I just made it without a heavy label.

It was a very quick and comfy flight to LA, hardly  even had the time to figure out the gadgets that made the seats recline and lift footrests etc.

Our luggage eventually arrived and we walked over to Tom Bradley International Terminal, which was close by, we were too early to check in for our Qantas flight home and had another 2 hours to kill in an airport with nowhere decent to sit on this side of customs. We found a spot to wait, Suzie went for a walk to find some wi-fi and spotted some staff at Qantas check in desk and asked about early check in, which we could do. Through TSA and security check all OK, we have finally figured the system out – take everything off and stick it in the handbag, get shoes ready, and don’t forget the laptop, then it all goes smoothly.

We attempted to get us all into the One World lounge, Suzie could take one friend, and they rejected  my complimentary Qantas ticket, as it is only good in Qantas lounge. I sat out in a nearby Japanese restaurant – Lucky Fish, ordered some food and ate, drank and blogged quite happily. Suzie came and joined me, while Glenda shopped, it was lighter out than it was in the lounge. Right now I am sitting charging devices with a nice cup of green tea and minding Suzie’s luggage while does yet more last minute shopping. Thankfully LA airport is much more comfortable once you are through security.

It’s 7.30 and we fly at 10.15, so not too long to go now. Let’s hope I can sleep a fair bit of the 15 hours. Boarded about 10.05, seems I have a spar seat next door – pretty stoked about that, I have never had that luxury on an international leg before – no one needs to crawl over me to the loo! And some space for stuff.

Almost gaffed and left my ‘on board’ bag in the gate lounge, I had to run back from the air bridge and get it – lucky the flight attendant let me back out to do grab it AND it was still there, with computer/adaptors/kindle etc – major oops!

Pulling back from the gate at 10.28pm (3.28am Melb time), not quite 15 minutes late. Suzie is upstairs in business and Glenda is a few rows back.

Had a great flight, did a bit of typing till dinner came, then asleep before they took the tray away, slept soundly for 7 hours I reckon, then had a wander, grabbed a Kit Kat and some more water. Watched some Big Bang Theory episodes, then slept a bit more, before watching the Movie Brooklyn and a bit more typing, before breakfast arrived and we were landing in Melbourne at about 6.30/7.00ish.

Through customs, they weren’t interested in my declared ‘cigar.’ We grabbed a cuppa to let some traffic dissipate – enjoyed a cappuccino and first coffee since Cuba. We said our goodbyes to Glenda and we taxied back to St Kilda, arriving around 9.00am. Time to sort and share our photos. Off to Priscilla Jones to see Bron and have some lunch, then to Telstra to replace Suzie’s lost SIM card and home to finish photos, watch Tim Minchin’s Matilda and Me, which Suzie had recorded. A quick visit from Jeannie (who had brought me some Sri Lankan tea) and then off to catch the 4.16 train home, it started to rain as we left St Kilda and was cold and wet and miserable all the way home.

Home about 6.30, thanks to Anne and Ian who picked me up and returned me home, where they had left my car in the carport. Time to unpack, soak and wash clothes, a quick toasted cheese sanga for tea, then off to bed about 9.00pm.

Tis all done for another trip and blog. Huge thanks to Suzie for all the planning and arrangements, everything worked very well and we have certainly racked up another set of amazing experiences.

Day 28. 30.4.16. Las Vegas, USA.

A much needed sleep in today. Awoke at 5.30, but bac to sleep till 8.45 – heaven! We got organised and down for breaky, I’d had a muesli bar, so was only in need of a cuppa tea. They actually do a nice ‘hot tea’ here – a two mug pot, with two teabags, honey and lemon on the side – all for $4 USD.  There was no ‘half n half’ UHT milk on the table, so I asked for some, they were busy and I got a large glass of milk delivered to the table , despite my protest, the server indicated to use it, which was tricky and made a mess.  Had to subsequently ask for the $4.95 charge for milk to be removed! 

We met Suzie at 11ish, in readiness to be picked up by her friends Lisa and Tony, who Suzie and Keith had met some 20 years ago when they were all working in Perth. They collected us in their very nice Black BMW 700 Series and took us out of The Strip to their local casino the JW Marriott Rampart Casino and Resort near their suburb of Summerlin.  It was a pretty casual affair, they certainly weren’t dressed up for the occasion and we enjoyed the ‘buffet’ which has pretty much everything you could imagine, from breakfast to lunch including salad and dessert bar, with Chinese options, gefilte fish, roasts etc. I enjoyed a really tasty Chinese meatball soup with some other Chinese tidbits, a salad plate and some brisket (mainly ‘cos they always talk about Mrs Wolowitz’s brisket on Big Bang!.) We taste tested a range of desserts as well, my favourite was the ‘wedding biscuits.’

Lisa and Tony delivered us back to TI about 3.30. It was interesting to hear about Vegas life from a local. They had some strong views re political race, and believe that Hilary will be indicted before the election.

Lisa and Tony foster birds prior to them finding their ‘forever’ home. Some exotic birds including Macaws, Parrots and some others who I had never heard of.  They are often pets who are surrendered, legal pets, but no longer able to be cared for, or outliving their owners etc.                                               

Once home we had some daylight to kill before our night time activities. We found the ‘Mob Museum’ located out near Fremont Street, we caught a cab and spent a most interesting 4 hours in there. It was a really well set out and curated exhibition that told the history of the Mafia across America. It looked pretty new and subsequent research shows that it opened on 14 February 2014, a date which commemorated the 1929 Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago, which saw several members of Bugsy Moran’s gang were lined up against a wall and shot by members of Al Capone’s gang. The  museum actually houses the Chicago wall, which has been rebuilt brick by brick, with bullet holes.

Really enjoyed the time at Mob Museum. Learnt a lot.

The reconstructed ACTUAL brick wall against which the gang members were shot in the Valentine's Day Massacre.

There is a good story to these tins. I thought is was a good take off of Andy Warhol's Soup cans...but see the next pic for full details.

Tinned tomatoes, take on a whole new meaning.

We had heard there was a Mafia connection, when we visited the Hotel Nacional in Cuba, Here it was all over again.

The 'Cuba Connection' explained.

We left just on 8.00 and hotfooted it to Fremont Street to see the lightshow, we caught the end of the 8.00 show. 

Fremont Street Experience. The sound and light show.

Fremont Street Experience. The sound and light show.

Fremont Street Experience. The sound and light show.

Fremont Street.

One of the original Casino's the Golden Nugget.

And another of the oldies - Binion's.

Next we took a cab to the Stratosphere to view the lights of Vegas, there was a $22 cost to go to the observation deck, so we inquired about a meal at the revolving restaurant, we got a booking and enjoyed great 360 degree views of the Vegas lights as we revolved around during our meal of the most delicious asparagus soup with a peach daiquiri. Then we took a quick trip to the outdoor observation deck. It is ‘prom’ season, as there was a bunch of kids have their prom party as a private function, they were up on the observation deck all dressed up to the nines and going on the various ‘rides’ that are up there. During dinner I briefly saw a few bodies fly by the windows, there is some ‘skyjump’ where people are dropped over the side…not for me that’s for sure! NB: there was also a prom function taking place at the Mob Museum as we left.

View over Vegas. that light pointing into the sky, comes out the top of the Luxor Pyramid.

Lights of Vegas.

Looking down The Strip.

The Strip.

We then headed back to The Strip, to watch the Bellagio Fountains. We saw a couple of small ‘shows’ then a Japanese inspired special “Kabuki” light and sound show.

Bellagio Fountains in action.

Bellagio Fountains in action.

Paris and Eiffel Tower.

Looking towards 'home'

More Fountains.

Squiggly water. All in time to music.

More fountains.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show. - Commercialisation is everywhere.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

The Koi show.

The Koi show.

The Koi show.

View by night.

Finally walked home, as the cab line at Bellagio was enormous.  Everything is miles away on The Strip, as the hotels/casino properties are just so huge. Home about midnight having ticked off the list.

Sorted some photos, which I haven’t touched for about four days and caught up on some journal, which is 2 days behind as well.

Bed was good, yet again.