Day 98 - Las Vegas - Death Valley, California, USA

Day 98 – 14th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

Today I spent the day in a Sauna, well actually in Death Valley which is practically a Sauna. It is known as the hottest place on earth and reaches temperatures of up to 57 C/ 135 F. So we checked out of the Imperial Palace at 10:30am.


My Las Vegas Casino Chips

We drove North on highway 95 to Death Valley National Park. We stopped at the Entrance to the National Park and had a photo with the sign and paid our $10 park entry fee.


Welcome to Death Valley

We then stopped at Furnace Creek Ranch and looked around the museum and visitor centre. We saw a 12 minute film on the national park and the amazing sites. We also got warned not to touch Rattlesnakes, Scorpions or Black Widow spiders. (Shame as we had every intention on grabbing some of those) It is so hot due to it being 200ft below sea level. The area is also covered in salt as the water contains over 6% salt and when it flows from the mountains it has nowhere to drain so it evaporates and the salt is left. Over millions of years it has created salt beds. We had lunch at the Furnace Creek Ranch then drove onto Salt Creek Trail where we walked over to the dried out lake bed along a wooden boardwalk.





We then drove to Stovepipe Wells which has huge sand dunes around it.



Then we went a bit off road and took the Wild Rose Road which is a slow windy road through the mountains then the pave road ends and we have a gravel track.





We left the national park around 5pm and drove south to Ridgecrest. Where we checked into a motel and proceeded to do out laundry. We spent the rest of the night watching TV.

Day 97 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Day 97 – 13th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

After another lazy morning we went to the Pizza Palace at the Imperial Palace for lunch and had their lunchtime special which included two huge slices of Pizza. I then went and visited the Classic Car Collection which is the largest collection in the world, had a free voucher from the hotel. Here they had Steve McQueen’s motorbike and a car belonging to Nicolas Cage and one that was Johnny Carson’s. They had countless Rolls Royce and Ferrari’s and even a few Maybachs. The highlight for me was the Jaguar XJ220 and the 1999 Shelby. All the cars here are for sale and while I was there the guy next to me bought 3 cars totaling 4.6 Million dollars.
It’s alright for some.




Maybach


A Custom Rolls Royce


Jaguar XJ220


1999 Shelby



I then went and had a swim then lay by the pool and read my book as Jill and Reece were out shopping again. I then had a quick game of Pai Gow and a game of craps before meeting up with Jill again. We then went to the hotel bar for a drink and I played a little blackjack and a go on the slots before heading out to The Flammigo for Dinner and more beer.

Day 96 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Day 96 – 12th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

Got up late like mid day and went for lunch at the Imperial Palace Buffet as we had free vouchers. After lunch we walked over to Caesars Palace and Reece and Jill went shopping whilst I played Blackjack. As you can probably tell by now my plan was to bet $100 at Blackjack at every casino in Las Vegas. So I won $301 in 30 minutes whilst at Caesars and then we walked over to the Bellagio.


The Bellagio

Here I lost $99 so it was time to move on, We walked through the new wing of the Bellagio and they had a large mockup of the Liberty Bell which we looked at.


Bellagio's Liberty Bell

Then the chocolate shop has the largest chocolate fountain in the world which is 17 story’s high.


Bellagio Chocolate Fountain

We caught the monorail over to the Monte Carlo and yet again I proceeded in playing Blackjack whilst Jill and Reece settled in the bar, which serves there own brand beer as they have a micro brewery on site in the pub. Anyway I won $158 so joined Jill and Reece in the bar for a quick drink. Jill was tempted by the 167 Oz pitcher with it’s own tap on the bottom but I thought she would not be able to walk after the 10 ½ pint monstrosity.


Monte Carlo

We then walked back to the Imperial Palace and took photo’s on the way. We then drove down to the Stratosphere and went up the tower to 966ft to watch the sunset over Las Vegas.


Jill and I at the top of The Stratosphere


Sunset over Las Vegas


Sunset over Las Vegas


Las Vegas at night

We spent an hour up there and watched all the thrill rides that dangle you over the edge of the tower for fun.


X-Scream


Insanity

After the sun had set I had a quick game of Blackjack here and won $151.50. We then drove downtown and watched the Fremont Street Experience, which is a street covered in a type of netting containing millions of LED’s and every hour they show a short video clip that races down the street over the 300 hundred metres of LEDS.


Fremont Street


Reece and Jill in Fremont Street


Fremont Street Experience


Fremont Street Experience


The Golden Nugget


Binions


Glitter Gultch

I then took a quick visit to the Blackjack tables of the golden nugget and won $200 within 5 minutes. We then drove back to the hotel and Reece and I went to Casino Royal for a few beers and a game of Blackjack switch, this time I did lose $140 but overall a good profitable day.

Day 95 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Day 95 – 11th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

Drove over to the Hard Rock Casino, and looked around at all the Music collectable, They have a great collection of Spice Girls Dolls and New Kids on the Block stuff, as well as all the classic Elvis memorabilia and all the Hard Rock Guitars and clothing. We ate at the Restaurant and then Reece and I lost all our money at Blackjack, we lost 13 hands in a row. We then drove across to The Palms and spent an hour looking around before driving to Circus Circus for another quick game of Blackjack. We then headed back to our hotel.


Our Hotel - The Imperial Palace

I played Let It Ride for a couple of hours before heading back out to Treasure Island and another fabulous dinner at Kahunaville.


The White Tigers at The Mirage


The Strip


The Venetian


Jill outside The Mirage

We then went to Casino Royale for the $1 beer and a few hours of Blackjack switch. I left with $215 so a pretty good night.

Day 94 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Day 94 – 10th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

Woke up very early so went back to Casino Royal and played more Blackjack switch for 3 hours. Then headed back to our hotel The Imperial Palace and meet up with Jill and Reece, We went to the hotel buffet as we had free meal vouchers and then we then visited the outlet mall a couple of miles south of Las Vegas. We spent a couple of hours there and Jill bought several items of clothing. We then drove to Mandalay Bay and walked around, I played Blackjack and then we looked around the Luxor


The Luxor


Inside The Luxor

Then onto Excalibur’s


Excaliber's by day


Excalibers by Night

then into New York New York where we waited for a table for dinner at the Irish Pub. After a 30 minute wait we got a table and I had some good old fashioned Fish and Chips. We then drove back to our hotel for the evening. I went and played craps ad roulette for a while then Reece joined me and we headed to Casino Royal for a bit of Blackjack switch. Went back to the hotel around 1:30am.

Day 93 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Day 93 – 9th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

Woke up early again so visited O’Shea’s and The Flamingo and Barbary Coast playing Blackjack at each.


O'Shea's Casino


The Flamingo



Barbary Coast Casino

Then went back to the hotel to meet Jill and Reece, we all then walked down and through the Venetian


The Venetian


St Marks square in The Venetian

to the Fashion Show Mall where we had dinner. Reece and Jill shopped and I visited The Wynn. I played Blackjack for about an 2 hours and then meet up with Jill again and we went back to the hotel.


The Wynn

In the evening we went to the Chinese restaurant in the hotel for dinner, then Reece and I went out to The Mirage and Treasure Island. We watched the Volcano erupt outside the Mirage and then went into Casino Royal. Got beer for 50c and played Blackjack Switch (similar to Blackjack but you get two hands and you can switch your cards around). Headed back to the hotel just after 1am.

Day 92 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Day 92 – 8th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

Woke up early so walked over to the Mirage and played Blackjack.


The Mirage

Next I visited Harrahs and played a little more. Went back to the room and Jill and Reece came out so we walked around Caesars Palace and the Forum shops. Then we went to Harrahs and had ate at the Buffet. We then walked through Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas


Ballys


Paris Las Vegas


Jill Outside Paris Las Vegas

Then onto Aladdin, where Jill and Reece shopped and I played Blackjack.


The Aladdin

Then onto the MGM Grand where we stopped for a cocktail at the Rain Forest Café, They serve the best Chocolate Banana Blast cocktails.


MGM Grand by day


MGM Grand by Night

We then went over to New York New York and I played some more Blackjack. Then we walked back and watched the fountains of the Bellagio.


The Fountains at The Bellagio

We got back to the hotel and ordered room service. I then went back onto the casino floor and played a little Let It Ride before calling it a night.