Living The American Dream!

Good Morning one and all, 

With the packing finally done and all chores completed, it seems I am finally here! Nine months in the making and I have arrived in the land of dreams and in the city that is known for all that is sinful. Ahh Yes, Las Vegas! As I sit here in the sweltering heat of the Nevada Desert, albeit slightly shaded in the resident Starbucks inside my hotel at Planet Hollywood, I am reflective of my time here so far. As I look around me at screaming winners and mournful looser's in the casino beyond my coffee table I ponder across my holiday so far and to think there is still so much to do and so little time. Seventy-Two hours I will be home in my own flat with my own bed and bathroom and no luxurious benefits of Pizza Parlours and Casinos at the bottom of my stairs! Just a front door and a shed load of mail. And whilst it will be nice to get back to civilisation, work and the boyfriend I will be sad to let go of my carefree frolics in the beating sun!

After a gruelling ten-and-something hour long flight, Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee's Momma and Pappa and Brother and Miss Tweedle-Dee's Brother's friend arrived finally in Sin City. Ready and eager not to spend another minute on the plane we hurried to get out and through customs. Only problem was when we got to customs we had to await Miss Tweedle-Dumb. One minute she was by my side and the next she was being thrust into a interrogation room for questioning. Soon enough though they released her free to roam America as she so pleased. 

Cramming all seven of us into a Limousine, luggage and all we made it to our hotel in good time, planning a quick flutter and then back to the room for some much needed sleep. Overwhelmed by the view as Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I stepped into the room however and that was that - Wide awake again! Gazing out at a priceless view we all marvelled at the twinkling lights of the Las Vegas Strip. As we watched the landmarks and city sights, as if by magic the world famous Bellagio Fountains erupted into life springing from the lake like hot springs, only to come crashing down moments later in a thunderous roar. It is a sight I still look at every night and every morning and at any opportunity I can get. It is truly stunning and something I will certainly never forget. 

Our plans for an early night were scuppered at that point and our night ended with an American McDonald's, closely followed by some peanut butter goodies from the corner shop, Walgreens and a few episodes of 'Friends' before drifting off to the land of nod. Awaking in the morning however at the crack of dawn Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I headed out into the twenty-two degree heat wave sweeping the strip to begin our holiday. Las vegas is incredible. So far I and the girls have gone to Caesars Palace, Excalibur, MGM, Luxor, Stratosphere and more as well as our own hotel many a time, Planet Hollywood. 

Thursday was our first full day there and to celebrate, in between gambling and hemorrhaging money like its no-body's business we found out that British born DJ Calvin Harris was opening a new nightclub in town. With nothing else better to do we all grabbed s free wrist band from a club rep and headed back home to freshen up. Upon entering the nightclub though we were told not to sit down unless we paid for a booth and that our buddy 'Cal' wouldn't be on until midnight to 1am. With the prospect of four-hours waiting before the party got going my two best-friends decided to head back to the hotel. Disappointed but unwilling to compromise of such a night out I stayed behind and awaited the banging tunes to start. Soon enough I got a glimpse of the star and whilst the tickets in were free and atmosphere for the most part was OK, knowing that the girls really didn't want to stay and were not by my side for our first official night in paradise was saddening to say the least. I really wanted them to come out and live life as a party. I think maybe I need to realise that my friends whilst only a few months younger than me are certainly not the party animal I am. Sadly that's something I will just have to accept me thinks. 

On Friday, after a day of gambling and exploring the Las Vegas Strip, Miss Tweedle-Dee had booked a gig for Miss Tweedle-Dumb and I to go and see with her. The music was good, but with the venue being in the roughest part of Downtown Las Vegas and the support band being screaming Yetis (Literally!) I doubted it could get much worse. Until a little spark of an argument dawned and I my temporary hatred for them brewed to the surface of my scowling face. Although we had a lame argument, I knew that it would happen. We can't seem to have a holiday together, all three of us, without fighting over something. Whether it be a handbag someone didn't come with me to buy or the bus fare I did not have we always seem to laugh off the silly, petty niggles we all have about each other. I think we are simply all as bad as the other. 

Saturday was the night to be out and about, at least for myself and Miss Tweedle-Dumb anyway as Miss Tweedle-Dee was poorly. As we approached the tallest skyscraper on the Western coast of America I realised I had made a grave mistake in saying I would go on the rides at the top of The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. And so as Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee's brother, his friend and I hopped into the lift to the top we were giddy in the anticipation not only for the rides but also for the views of the night time strip. Exiting the elevator, all five of our party were aghast as we looked out over the City Lights of Las Vegas. And we were not even at the top yet. Settling into seats on rides such as the terrifying 'X-Scream', a teeter-totter that races a roller-coaster car off the edge of the Stratosphere tower and then suspends you there over the edge with only hydraulics and brakes to prevent your death by falling). Horrific stomach-turning ride 'Big Shot', a sword spiking out of the top of the Stratosphere tower observation deck which rockets you into the air, higher than the helicopters I might add and then plummeting you back down a further four or five times making you stomach fall out of your ass quicker than you can scream funeral directors. Last ride wasn't so bad and once you get over the initial shock of being dangled out over the edge of the tower, but even so 'Insanity' was not something to be sniffed at, especially not at over two-thousand feet in the air above Sin City. 

Yesterday was our day out and after a long, long journey Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I arrived at the seventh wonder of the world, The Grand Canyon. Whilst in all respects it was and is just a simple hole in the ground and some rather large cracks it was unbelievable and incredible to look at. On the odd occasion that we stopped for photo's the urge to pretend to slip or scream was too much to handle and we teased each other with the act of pretending to fall off the edge. As the girls allowed me to sit on a ledge and dangle my little chunky thighs off the edge I felt a sense of peace and was glad that I could now say I have done it and seen it for myself. 

Today I have gone to an exhibition about the Titanic which I am a massive fan girl of (If you can even be a fan-girl of something so heartbreakingly tragic) and whilst emotional and saddening it was also a good insight into a few little tiny things I did not already know, even if I knew most of what the post cards and billboards were saying. Room after room filled with artifacts, cutlery, plates, bowls, shoes, glasses and more all belonging to someone whom boarded the Titanic on that fateful day, April 15th 1912. Suffice to say I welled up on more than one occasion but was able to hold it together even when standing at the bottom of the iconic mahogany stair case featured in James Cameron's 1997 film starring the young Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet. 

Tonight Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I will celebrate our last few nights in style with dinner at The Bellagio (Pronounced Bell-ahh-geo; because I am posh apparently) and after a show including magic and hypnosis. And so I say farewell for next time I shall be writing to you all I will be back home in probably a very wet and cold Blighty with a epidemic case of Holiday Blues. in the mean time you can check out my photo's from my trip so far on my Facebook profile!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx