It will be early to bed as we are being picked up at 4.30 for our transfer to Las Vegas airport for our flight to Vancouver. We then have a day to ourselves before we begin the next tour. If it is half as good as our time in America it will be sensational.
Tuesday 30 June 2015
America - Our last day
Today we were able to sleep in as we have the whole day to ourselves. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before catching a cab to the outlet mall for a few bargains.
A very GRAND day!
I love the question, "When was the last time you did something for the first time?" Well let's say that we really nailed the first time stuff today! It is a bit hard to decide what was the highlight of the day......the flight in an eight seater fixed wing plane out over the Mojave Desert, Hoover Dam, Mead Lake, Colorado River and the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon itself or the Grand Canyon Skywalk at Eagle Point. We (meaning me) conquered our fears and we really enjoyed every experience. The plane flight was awesome. The Hoover Dam is an engineering feat, Mead Lake an incredible aqua in colour, the Mojave is just so barren and dry and the Canyon jaw dropping in its size and scale.
Once we landed we caught a shuttle to Eagle Point. As you walk towards the Skywalk you begin to realise that it cantilevers well out over the Canyon. While at first I hugged the edge where the floor is opaque after a little while I was able to walk on the clear glass sections. We even did it twice so that I could really take in the view the second time around. We explored a little more of the point before hopping back on the shuttle to Guano Point.
At Guano Point we enjoyed a barbecue lunch before walking around the rim taking in the view on all sides. Just spectacular and really, really hot!!!
It was then time to head back to the airport for our return flight which was in a larger plane (a whole 19 seats this time.) This flight was a bit more challenging. The wind was up and we flipped and flopped a bit. Even the very brave Stephen felt a little uncomfortable a couple of times when we dipped and did a bit of a sideways shimmy. Eventually we were back at Boulder airport. Boulder is a town in the middle of the Mojave that was established for the workers building the Hoover Dam. It is now the gateway to the Grand Canyon. It is quite amazing to see this little town sitting in the middle of the inhospitable desert - beautiful green golf course and all.
Once we were back at the Bellagio it was a quick shower and change ready for an early dinner before going to Cirque du Soleil 'O'. The show is performed in a huge pool. It is impossible to describe exactly what we saw, except to say it was stunning, daring and very entertaining.
Monday 29 June 2015
A couple of videos to watch.....
The first link shows an excerpt from the Mickey Mouse Sound Sensation parade at Disneyland -
The second link is of the sound and light water fountain display at the Bellagio. It runs every half hour, day and night -
Las Vegas
The drive over the San Gabriel mountains and through the Mojave desert was interesting. It is an extremely harsh and sparse area with an 8 lane highway carved through it to cater for the never ending stream of cars making their way to and from Las Vegas. We made a couple of stops during what was a big day in the bus. At the first stop the temperature was 42 and the second 45. A very dry but sapping heat. We finally arrived in Vegas to be greeted by a temperature of 45 degree and a cityscape that is so bold and bright that it is hard to decide where to look. And then there are the crowds. Oh my goodness.....it is almost overwhelming! Our room at the Bellagio is palatial but it is the lobby area that has to be seen to be believed. The Chihuly glass ceiling is magnificent and then there is the underwater themed display and the chocolate fountain and the water fountain show and the pool area and the full sized theatre and......you get the idea. I am sure we will enjoy our three nights here.
Tomorrow we fly out to the west rim of the Grand Canyon. I am nervous and excited at the same time.
Sunday 28 June 2015
The Happiest Place on Earth - Part II
We were up at 5.30am for a 6.00am breakfast before boarding the bus at 7.15am. We travelled out to Anaheim and after a bit of fiddling around finally walked through the gates and onto Main Street just on 9.00am. We were being picked up at 8.00pm so that gave us quite a bit of time to see as much as we could of Disneyland. The big question was, "Just how sore were our feet going to be by the end of the day?"
As you walk along Main Street the magical castle comes into view. There is a beautiful bronze statue of Walt and Mickey just before the castle that makes for a wonderful photo opportunity. Once you are through the gates you are in Fantasyland. We rode the Carousel, the Dumbo ride, Casey Jr's train and the Teacups, along with all the little kids. Great fun!!!
We visited each 'land' and had a few rides but by mid morning the queues were starting to really lengthen so we did a few more touristy things like browse the shops and ride the monorail and park train. There really is a lot to see and do.
After a late lunch we found a good vantage point for the Mickey Sound Sensation Parade. It was awesome and brought back, not only so many wonderful memories of Cam and Lach growing up, but of our own childhoods as well.
It was then time for a few last rides and a last look in the many shops before heading back to the bus stop. Fortunately we had a direct shuttle on the way home so it only took 45 minutes.
My lasting impression of Disneyland will be the fact that it is a place for fun and family. To see many of the children walking around dressed as their favorite Disney character made you smile and to see the looks of sheer delight on their faces and to hear their squeals of excitement when they spotted a character they loved was just wonderful. But the big kids are there to enjoy themselves as well. Many family groups came dressed in matching t-shirts and every second person, large and small, was sporting either a Disney t-shirt or Mickey ears.....and let me tell you, there are literally hundreds of different ears from which to choose.
We have loved our time in Santa Monica. In fact another day or two would have been sensational, however, tomorrow we are off to Las Vegas.
Saturday 27 June 2015
The Happiest Place on Earth
Just got home from our 14 hour trip to Disneyland. We had the best time but are exhausted. Time for bed. Will catch up with blog tomorrow. But the link below will show us riding on the Teacups. Yes, I did it.....twice!!!
Friday 26 June 2015
Santa Barbara to Santa Monica
A more leisurely start saw us pull away from the Santa Barbara Hilton at 10.00am. We travelled along the Pacific Coast Highway past the famous beach suburbs of Ventura and Malibu just to name a couple. It really is quiet fascinating how the mountains meet the sea and a narrow road is carved out between the two. In some areas there are also houses built on and over the beach. Some of the houses are built so close to the road that occupants would need to be careful stepping out their front door. Unlike Australia if you own one of these beachside homes you also own the beach in front of your home. Perhaps Mr. Lindsey Fox should buy a house here.
We arrived in Santa Monica just on midday. The bus dropped us off at the famous pier and we spent some time exploring the area. The noise, the colour, the crowds, etc make it a very exciting place to visit.
It was then back on the bus for a tour of Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Los Angeles is a city of more than 10,000,000 people however they have limited public transport so the roads are absolutely choked all day every day. We were told that most people in Los Angeles have a daily commute of two hours each way. Unbelievable!!! We drove passed and along all the famous roads, drives and boulevards - Hollywood, Santa Monica, Wiltshire, Rodeo, Sunset, etc. Hollywood is tacky and Beverly Hills is stunning. The tree lined streets are so carefully manicured, the houses beautiful and the cars parked out the front.....very expensive.
Dinner tonight was at Bubba Gump (made famous in the movie Forrest Gump) on the pier. The shrimps (prawns) were fresh and very tasty. A great end to another terrific day.
Tomorrow we are off to Disneyland. It is a 13 hour day so we could be a little tired tomorrow night.
Thursday 25 June 2015
Monterey to Santa Barbara
Reluctantly we had to leave beautiful Monterey and the palatial Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. We are now heading to Santa Barbara via Hearst Castle. William Randolph Hearst and his family spent endless time living on their massive property on the San Simeon coast. He became sick of camping there and drawing inspiration from his childhood visit to Europe engaged an architect to build a residence that reminded him of the grandeur of the many castles and churches he had seen as a child. The castle is enormous and has many Gothic and Renaissance artworks scattered throughout. It took about 20 years to complete and was the visiting place of all people of importance. Movie stars, presidents, prime ministers business men of influence were all invited to stay over the years. Many flew into the property via the airstrip while others travelled to the isolated area and arrived at the hilltop to witness the most magnificent view. On his land surrounding the castle he had herds of wild and exotic animals and we saw a herd of zebra running amongst the cattle today. He also had the most exotic animals in a personal zoo, but in the 1930s when the economy was bad he donated many of the exotic stock to a number of zoos.
We then continued onto Santa Barbara where we will spend the night before driving onto Santa Monica for a two night stay.
The first link show the magnificent Assembly room where people would meet before dinner. The second show the incredible dining room with its gothic ceiling and silk flags. And the last link shows the opulence of the indoor swimming pool.
Yosemite to Monterey
Today was BIG! We travelled down out of the mountains and back across the flatlands to the coast to the seaside town of Monterey, where we stopped for lunch in the famous area of Cannery Row, which was originally a large sardine fishing and canning area.
Our hotel for the night is situated at one end of the row but after lunch we were back on the bus for a meander along the winding and very picturesque 17 mile drive to Carmel by the Sea. The scenery was breathtaking and along the way we passed houses owned by the very rich and famous with price tags that would make your eyes water and views to absolutely die for. We were lucky enough to make a stop at the magnificent Pebble Beach Golf Club. Stephen was so excited he was literally like a child in a lolly shop.
This link will take you to a short video of Pebble Beach Golf Club - a glimpse through the trees.....
Next stop was Carmel. Oh my goodness.....what a beautiful place. We could have spent hours there but unfortunately it was back on the bus and back to the hotel, and what a hotel it was.....my favourite so far!!! But to be honest they have all been my favourite. The Monterey Plaza and Spa is right on the water. In fact part of it is built over the water. The views were spectacular and the furnishings exquisite.
Dinner was at The Big Fish Grill right on the end of Fisherman's Wharf. Sensational!!! Can tomorrow top today.....we will have to wait to see.
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