Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I.

Day 39 - 31st May - Las Vegas

Blast. I fuelled the car somewhere on Highway 50 back on Thursday (I think) and thought I had judged it perfectly to ensure the car was as good as out of fuel when I take it back to the Dollar people on Wednesday.  Today we drove to Las Vegas with a short stop in St George on the way. It’s amazing how the second half of a fuel tank seems to go down faster than the first. We arrived in Vegas with the fuel light on and still two days of local driving to go. Guess I will put $10 in the car. Dollar charge you for a full tank of fuel when you pick it up and then say bring it back empty. This seems a bit of a rip off to me and being the stubborn person I am I wanted the car to be as close to empty as I can make it.

Poor Amy worries that after so much fun and excitement with friends in other parts of the USA that we may be bored in Cedar City. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have had a great time relaxing and chatting and catching up with some movies.

We left at 10:00am this morning and it takes an hour of scenic driving to get to St George. There was stops at Roberts, a Sports Store (firearms anyone?), Wal-Mart and Subway and we were then on our way. It is 200 kilometres from St George to Las Vegas on I15. A few miles out of St G you are into Arizona and through the Rockies in an impressive downhill drop with mountains all around. After 45 kilometres of Arizona you are in Nevada and back to sea level. Normal breathing at last!

The last 150 K’s are pretty ordinary until you see Vegas in the distance around 30 K’s out. Traffic was light all the way into the hotel and here we are for the last 2 nights of our trip back into the Bellagio and watching the fountain show again.

After a couple of hours rest we headed out down the strip in a southerly section. I put that $10 of fuel in the car and we ended up at an outlet mall, where I managed a bargain on a couple of pairs of shorts. Just after 6pm we had dinner at an IHop, poor choice and bad dinner.

We were back at the hotel around 7:30pm and we watched some fountain shows before heading out again at 9pm.

We checked out the incredible show of flowers and water features in the lobby area of the hotel before we walked outside and checked a fountain show from ground level. Then across the road to the Miracle Mile Mall where we window shopped before coming back out onto the strip where we walked some more almost to the MGM before crossing the road and heading back.

As mentioned earlier on this trip, Las Vegas is tough going for walkers. Narrow areas of pavement, then up and down stairs to get over areas where there is no pavement. Not very disabled friendly and I sure struggled tonight.

We got back to the hotel in time to watch the 11:15 fountain show before we headed back up stairs to our 12th floor room to watch the last 3 shows. The midnight and last fountain show for the day is always done to the national anthem. Being the Memorial Day long weekend they played Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to Be an American” numerous times today.

OK day today, we miss Cedar City. Look forward to going back soon. Tomorrow is our last full day in the USA on this trip.

Day 40 - 1st June - Las Vegas

Today is our last full day in the USA on this trip. Had a great time but very ready to go home - own bed, own shower, own dog. Went to a pet shop today, some nice puppies there - Jack Russell's like Hunter and Dachshund's like our previous dog Jesse. Lucky our bags are full otherwise a puppy might have been placed into one of them!!! Be nice to see Ryan and Scott as well.

10:00am this morning we headed to the 50% off Show Booking Kiosk, there is many of these along the Strip. Got in line but there was really no show that popped up at us. We were leaning towards Human Nature an Aussie band performing at the Imperial. They were not on the list of discounted shows so after 20 minutes in line we thought we would head to the Imperial and see about tickets for Human Nature. The original cost for this band was not that bad so we thought we would just take the chance. 20 minute walk to the Imperial - asked a Security Guard where the Box Office was and he told me that 'it was just over there where the Box Office sign is'. OK.

The Box Office clerk tells us that Human nature finished up last night for a week - they are on vacation, I responded that they were Aussies so it would be holidays!!

So off we go and low and behold there is a Show Discount kiosk just outside the Imperial and no line! The clerk gave us a list of shows and we picked Donny and Marie which is at the Flamingo just over the road from our hotel. This is an expensive show with great discounts and we got a really good price so we are going there. Maybe we have spent to much time in Utah. I remember the Osmonds from the Sixties on the Andy Williams Show so am OK to go to this show for a night out. Reviews are excellent.

We then walked back to the hotel and retrieved the car and headed out for a very late breakfast, probably more a lunch. We went to the suburb of Henderson and checked out some shops, couldn't buy much, no room - not even for puppies.

92F today here, pretty warm.

Thanks to Jim for his comment below, we have had great times with friends on this trip. Driving next to the Wal-Mart truck was fun but not really a highlight, Jim knows that!!!! Highlights were many but the time with Jim and Bette and the things we saw along the way were great. I will pass on your best wishes to Hunter.

Watching one of our last fountain shows. This is a popular one and I have to say I like it too - very patriotically American - Proud to be American by someone called Lee Greenwood - good song. Similar to I Am Australian by The seekers, that sort of song.

Later now, the Donny and Marie show was pretty good. There was lots of fun and memories. Those two are in their early 50’s now and still looking pretty good. 

After the show we came back to the hotel, would have been close to 10:00pm and checked the weight of our bags. This weight check has been done many times since we were with Amy in Utah. Three bags are set, weight is close to 49 pound, the smallest of the three seems much heavier but would scales lie?

Took the bags downstairs through the Casino and to the car where they have been stored for the time being. We then went for a drive, hadn’t had dinner yet. We ended up at an Applebee’s where we each had a light meal. Afterwards we drove back to the hotel via the long way. Through the downtown Fremont Street area before heading back down the strip and to the hotel.

We got back to our room just in time to see the last two fountain shows for the night.

Tomorrow we have a slowish morning – only half an hour left in packing. Our friend Amy is in heading down from Utah so we will meet up with her around lunch time. She is staying the night in Vegas  before flying to  Boston on Thursday to see her daughter.

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