DAY 5 Part 3 - SIN CITY

the wind made us feel like we were in southern alberta - crazy!

loved IN-N-OUT burger, ate there both days we were in Vegas

Happy to see palm trees again

our world tour began in New York

(darn wind kept the roller coaster from running)

first building we entered - face to face with the filth and corruption.   We had to walk thru the casino to get to the roller coaster, which was closed.  Happy to say that none of us were even slightly interested in what goes on in there.  The girls couldn't stand the smoke, and didn't care for the atmosphere either.

atrium flower and bug garden display in the Bellagio.  Sadly, the beautiful fountain show we really wanted to see couldn't run due to the high winds too.  (If you ever go to Vegas, make sure it isn't windy - the best stuff won't be working)

Volcano eruption at the Mirage

couldn't go for a gondola ride either (wind)

M&M World

No trip to Vegas would be complete without an Elvis sighting

the Excalibur

just a little worn out after our 5 mile (or 8 km)  hike up and down 'the strip'.  (they all slept well that night)

We slept at the Holiday Inn Express about a mile or two south west of the strip - we were happy with the choice.

Final opinion of Vegas:  none of us liked it.  It was fine to see once, but I doubt any of us would return without a really good reason - so, what happens in Vegas, can stay in Vegas for all we care.

DAY 5 Part 2 - HOOVER DAM

as seen from the Arizona side

the old water line on the resevoir

the new bypass highway

the tunnel tour

the generators/turbines

looking down

the power plant

looking downstream

info

DAY 5 - Part 1 ROUTE 66

Not much to see...

the inspiration for "Mater"  (from the movie Cars)

We watched "Cars" as preparation for this leg of the trip, and in the special features they show clips from the town of Seligman and talk about doing research for the movie here.  This shop and truck were in Seligman.

Roadkill Cafe... sounds yummy?!

Forgot to mention a humorous story about Arizona.  When we checked into the hotel at the Grand canyon there was some confusion as to what time it was, the clock on the wall didn't match the one on my watch.  Turns out we had switched time zones (I had thought they were in the same zone as us).  I asked the clerk at the desk what time zone they were in (before I figured this out, obviously), and she replied "oh, we don't have a time zone". What?????  "we don't have a time zone" she repeated.  I really had a hard time not cracking up laughing in her face.  Turns out that what she really meant was that they don't observe daylight savings time.  So in the winter, Arizona is in the same time zone as us, but in the summer, they match up with California instead.  Weird, huh?

DAY 4 Part 2 - THE GRAND CANYON!

Not sure why, but the colors really wash out when uploading to the blog - go figure.

It was pretty hazy at the canyon today, not sure why.  We even waited til late in the day when they say lighting is best - but everything was still muted.  It was slightly overcast.....

In any event, it was still spectacular to see!  Stunning!

This was the first view of the canyon out the car window

Canyon with the Colorado river in the background, Erica, Jenna and Marissa (nervous about getting too close to the edge)

Inside the Watchtower.  The one and only time we have been brave enough to let someone else touch the camera.  Luckily he was trustworthy.

Not having a good hair day, but, oh well...

Sleeping at the Holiday Inn Express in Tusayan (town just south of the south rim).  Nice but very small room (only because we are squishing two extras in here).  Small, dark pool area, and super crowded.  No vacancy.  But it's clean, and that's what really matters.  Good night.  See you tomorrow.