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.