sept 27th: Hop on the LOVE BUS for the Hoover Dam, Route 66 and the Grand Canyon

Second night in row that we didnt wake up at 3 am!
Got out of bed early and were picked up by shuttle van that took us to the Grand Canyon tourbus! we were the last ones to get in so we had to sit in the back, behind a large group of people that turned to be Irish.
As soon as we got out on the road, the driver introduced himself. His name was Derek, and it became very clear that he was a special kind of special. The whole bus went hysterical but I thought „OMG guys its just 7am, I cant handle this“ also as it turned out the Irish were kinda „special“ too (I’ll be never embarred about Dutch people abroad anymore!) Anyway first thing Derek said that we were NOT allowed to complain about the airco. I was slowly turning into an icerock and thought, how am I ever going to survive this day??
„no complaining today!" he said „this is the Love Bus!"

forget the Love Boat, here's the LOVE BUS!

First stop on the tour was Hoover Dam, and before there it became clear to me that Derek was not only hysterical funny, but also a very well skilled guide that knew a lot about the things we passed, like the water shortage (the lakes are getting dry!)and the town of Boulder, Nevada, that was build for the workers of the Hoover Dam back in the 1930‚s and how gamblin and alcohol were not allowed here. also told about his first experiences here and how he saw the town change and how a bunch of hotshots now live in the hills. I loved how he mixed facts with feelings while telling about the things we passed. Oh yeah and silly stories too ofcourse. During the day I started wondering if he might have missed his calling as stand up comedian :-) He was having conversaties with himself and with „people that werent there“ in weird voices to explain things to us. (did work!)
While explaining the rules of the bus and the trip, like that you have to be back at the bus in time, and that you were only alowed to pee in the bus’ restroom „liquids only people! LIQUIDS ONLY“ and that we had to look out to get back in the right bus, but he put a „love bus“ sign on it so we would recognize it :-)
anyway without going on too long about him, he was worth the admission of the trip himself :-)

Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge/highway 93. Pat Tillman was a professional American football player who gave up his carrier to join the army and got killed by friendly fire.....

Hoover Dam was amazing and impressing! so was the bridge over the Colorado River. We made a quick photo stop (and for me; a mad dash to the souvenirstand for a magnet first :-D )
we all made sure to be back at the Love Bus on time, but a mom and her 2 teens werent and they looked horrible embarresed (and they were back as first during the rest of the day - lession learned!)
Turns out Hoover Dam is the state border with Arizona, how cool is that. we did get very confused by the two clocks though. (some one please explain in very simple words).
At least the icy airco was turned to normal, phew.
Robert asked Derek „can you say all that stuff in French maybe? We’re from Belgium“ (-most americans assume everyone in Belgium speak french)
Derek  „hmmm I cant i’m afraid“
Robert „oh good, because we wouldnt understand it“
Derek „I have to keep a good eye on you today, am I right“
hahaha!!

the dam and the Colorado river... the white markings on the rocks show how high the river used to  be!

Colorado river on the other side of the dam

is there life on Maaaaaars? (yes! and a highway!)

Arizona desert

On our way to Kingman Arizona now, for a quick rest stop for food or restroom, where we were handed lunch.
the scenery changed here to desert with a few single mountains. In the distance we saw cities with lots of small houses.

Robert and Betty Lou at the Kingman, AZ, truckstop.

Roberts Americana lunch

Next stop was the infamous Seligman, Arizona.
You might know that the movie „Cars“ was more or less based on this little town.
I got this from Wiki:
„The Seligman was on the original U.S. Route 66 from 1926 through 1978, when Interstate 40 bypassed it a couple miles south. Seligman experienced its real heyday after World War II, when returning veterans and other motorists hit the road and made the Southwest a popular tourist destination. The Seligman Commercial Historic District protects the historical central area's early 20th century commercial buildings along Historic Route 66, a revived popular tourist destination. Historic district contributing properties include the include Pitts General Merchandise Store and the U.S. Post Office from 1903, the Pioneer Hall and Theatre and the Seligman Garage from 1905, and the Seligman Pool Hall from 1923.

In 1987 Seligman gained its name “Birthplace of Historic Route 66” due to the efforts of Seligman residents, who convinced the State of Arizona to dedicate Route 66 a historic highway. Seligman is the first stop heading west on the longest uninterrupted stretch of historic Route 66, running around 160 miles (260 km) to Topock on the east side of the Colorado River.“

in the bus we saw a documentairy about Angel Delgadillo, the towns barber, and his work to make Route 66 an historic highway and to preserve the road.

When we entered from interstate 40 it is clear how the new interstate cuts off the town! A big freight train just passed but when we stopped it was gone unfortunately.
We had only 15 minutes, parked in front of the barber shop and everybody ran out. We were greeted by some friendly locals who invited us (our bus, and some other hoards of tourists) in for free coffee. I took a quick look but no specific Seligman magnets so i dedicated the short time to look at all the old cars that were everywhere. (didnt find a green/white 1975 Suburban though :-D) It would have been fun to look around a bit longer, though everything is very touristic, but still cool. (we saw a sign saying „food & stuff“ that cracked us up)

crowd in front of Angels barbershop (good for them to have some people visiting the village again)

People were standing on the middle of the road to have their picture taken.
Robert and I always unintentially end up on Route 66, many times in Chicago and LA, and a few times in between too, and we were only here becuase the bus was, but still cool, and ofcourse this will add to the Route 66 memories when Dr Feelgood plays the song.
Back in the bus i found Robert and Betty Lou, and she had bought me an awesome Route 66 purse, how sweet of her!
Though it was the most touristic thing I ever did,(only thing missing was Derek with an folded umbrella to show us the way)  it was still fun.

food & stuff and standing in the middle of The Road

Robert and me on Route 66

Now we were really on our way to The Grand Canyon. I was getting nervous, I never really had the Grand Canyon on my bucketlist, and first thing I always said was „isnt Bryce much cooler?“ I expected not to be impressed by it and considered it just as a touristic „must see“ as Seligman. A few red rocks with lines on it.
To my surprise, Derek said that when he told his friends he was going to do Grand Canyon tours, they all went hysterical and his reaction was „what ever“
Just like me he said „it was never on my bucket list and I’m not into national parks“
Then he told us how much it hit him the first time he was there, and it even made him cry, being overwhelmed by the beauty, and that he saw a lot of grown men cry, during the years.
I thought „hm, whatever“

He dealed out a sheet with stickers with the name of the company and the telephonenr in case we would get lost. He stood there saying „put the sticker over here“ and pointed at his chest. While we all knodded understandingly and went „yes sir“ one of the Irish yelled „What, on YOU?“Everyone exploded in laughter and it was the only time I saw him lost for words. I think he wont easily forget those Irish.
Getting nearer to the South Rim he explained the options and the rules. We would be there for 3 hrs, we could do what we want, he would wait for 15 minutes and then LEAVE, no matter if we were all back or not. The ones that didnt make it back in time had either to spend the night in one of the lodges, or book a different bus back.
He gave some options on what we could do, and we trusted on Betty Lou who had done this trip before and we did the „scenic walk from Mathers point to the Bright Angel Lodge“
As he was making things clear, he kept repeating „Bright Angel Lodge“ so we wouldnt forget it. I think he said it at least 25 times in 3 mintes (at least, he promised to do so)
In the end the Irish were all yelling „Derek where we going?“ and „I forgot the name!“ by then I wouldnt mind them to shut up, and when Derek told them there was a pub in the lodge, we feared the worst.
Did we have any more questions, about ANYTHING that wasnt clear? yes ofcourse the Irish had: „Derek, I have this weird spot on my back that worries me, can you please look at it?"

 ***

 

He said „Mathers point“ would be „a bit crowded“ but when we felt out of the bus I was stunned by the amount of other tourists I saw. Crowds and crowds and crowds of people getting in eachothers way to take a picture and to block the view (yes, yes, I blocked others peoples view too, to take pictures)
Behind that, in a light haze, the Grand Canyon, as seen from  the South Rim.
Even though there were more people around me than on the Strip on a saturday night (I might not be exaggerating) I couldnt not NOT be impressed by what i saw.
Red mountains with stripes, yes, but as soon as I saw it I understood why so many people come here.

Words nor pictures discribe the beauty of the Grand Canyon. I didnt cry, but I quietly stared at the immense beauty of nature in front of me. Some of the rocks were lit by sun that came between the clouds. Red rocks as far as the eye could see, and white rocks with funny shapes...

The massive crowd of people got a bit in my way though, and felt a bit dissapointed at that, but then again, I was one of them.
While staring at the view, a man pointed out the trash that has been trown over the edge and shook his head. How disgusting! What a disrespect! I have never done that ever in my whole life, and especially cant imagine doing it on a place like this!

(if you look close you see the idiots who climbed all the way up there)

we had 3 hours to do the 3 mile/4,8 km walk. Now normally you can do at least 9 miles in 3 hrs, but not when you walk the South Rim of the Grand Canyon going all „lalaladeedah and clickclickclick“ as Derek put it.
Luckly, the massive crowd stayed put at Mathers Point and slowly the trail we were walking (going very „lalaladeedah and clickclickclick“ ) got a bit less crowded.
we heard all kind of languages around us and looked at the idiots that climbed over the rail to take pictures of them on tips of rocks.

one of my favorite pictures

Probably took a 1000 pictures that walk.... though I understood my view was impossible to capture.
I just never ever saw something like it. It wasnt hysterical special, I didnt cry, but it was very easy to get lost staring at it. I cant imagine what it will be like IN the canyon instead of looking at it and I wouldnt mind going back to find out. That IS on my bucket list now! There were some signs along the trail, we werent worried about getting lost, but we didnt know how far we still had to go.
The further we got, less people were around, and the more impressive it became. Especially the second part of the trail where we were „alone“ a big part of the time, or in companion of quiet hikers, really really hit me.

we found a rock that looked like a steak :-D

It was not just silent, but the silence seemed to be a thing of its own, coming from the canyon, sensible, touchible, hearable, undiscribable, almost oppressive.
By now the some weird shaped rocks had shown up, and on the left side there was a forest with small trees.
We’ve already seen squirrels, but were told not to aproachh them as they are apparently evil and vicious. We saw one eating a gummy worm (winegum) and tried to talk him out of it but he was just sitting there going nom nom nom with the elastic blue gummy worm in his little hands :-P

on our way to the Canyon we found out that theres a trainstation (!!!!!) Robert asked about it at home, and I got hysterical with the thought that there would be a train going there, but there is! It stops right at the lodges near Bright Angel Lodge. When we arrived we saw them, one of those with scenic glass roofs, very cool!
we also HEARD them, while walking the trail, and as you understand that made my day :-)

Other that trains and squirrels, we saw chipmunks that look very cute (they were very skittish unlike the squirels) a condor!! deer and elk!
The elk just stared at us from under the bushes. Apperantly they can be pretty nasty too if they attack you so glad they stayed there. I loved how the hikers carefully waved at eachother to inform them and whispered and were quiet and respectfull.

As the canyon is millions of years old, a part of the trail was dedicated to the different types of rocks they are made of. very informative. And very time consuming, as they invite you to touch all the sliced in half rocks. Some were extremely beautifull and one looked like a gigantic steak :-D

we started to worry about the time. I dug up the map and noticed we were not quiet as far as we thought and told the others „no more lalaladeedah and clickclickclick!“ we have to move fast a bit now!!
managed to walk fast untill the next turn in the road provided us with another stunning view and we had to leave the trail to the (designated) viewing point to stare and gasp.
Along the way were many rocks to sit on and stare, I tried one and immedeatlly understand how easy it would be to sit here all day and stare at this piece of mother nature. I can understand people find god in places like this.

quiet & humbled, staring, listening to the silence

spot the elk!

bizarre melted tree

another look at the map caused some panic, so we had to run the last part, but then arrived Bright Angel Lodge just early enough to get a souvenir.
Derek showed up with the Love Bus and everyone thanked him for his suggestion of doing the walk along the South Rim.
we were relieved that the Irish were not drunk and crashed in our seats for the long way back home. There were two movies to watch; Martian and Mall Cop, but I decided to look outside, even though the dessert was „just“ dessert, it was more interesting. (though Martian provided the earworm "Starman" by Bowie) We drove through Kaibab national forest and then the desert.
the Irish were getting too corny „what you call three trees? a small forest“ ba-dum-dishhh“
We passed Seligman on the 1 40 and got out in Kingman for a short break.
By then we were all pretty tired, it had been a very long and impressive day.
Got back in Vegas around 10pm and got a tour to a few hotels to drop off people and then it was our turn. we thanked him from the bottom of our hearts and I said he was at least half of the fun and he went „you’re my favorite person on the bus!“ but he just said that to Betty Lou so I said „do you mind if I dont believe you!“ haha!
extremely tired but just as happy we felt of the bus.
Robert and Betty Lou went straight up to the swimmingpool but I decided to stay in the suite and enjoy some alone time.

***

Pictures by Robert and me

sept 26th: trek to the West: s.Decatur Blvd, and bubble bath fun.

 monday

South Decatur Boulevard is not some hip hot shopping area/place to be like Melrose Avenue in LA or Haight/Ashbury in San Francisco. It just was strange coincidence that the shops that Robert and I really wanted to see, were all located here. But that made it automatically our favorite street in Las Vegas.

I slept untill Robert woke me up at 8! Unbelievable!
First breakfast at home, I made scrambled eggs on the big stove with view on the Strip and the ferrishwheel that still didnt move.
We decided to walk a bit in the right direction first and then take a cab. It was superconfusing to walk because the foothpath on the Strip leads through casinos and shops and its not always easy to find the street back. Annoying.

doing the Strip parcours

the Bellagio. we waved at Brian but not sure if he saw us

 As we were 15 minutes outside we changed our plan: we were NOW getting a cab, because it was way to hot to walk far.
we tried to stop a cab on the street but that didnt work so we went to an hotel and got one there quick. We broke down the cab while getting in. Sorry, we’re European! we also broke down the cab when we got out. Sorry, we’re stupid!

First stop was the famous Wax Trax who had a very cute guarding dog called Charley. Robert stayed for a while and Betty Lou and I had long conversations in the shade outside, and went inside to say bye when Robert was going to leave. There was a nice old jukebox and when I looked at it the owner said „go ahead and try it“
I replied „no i’m a bit scared to touch anything, we just broke down a cab“
„broke down a cab? how thats possible“
„we’re European“ :-D

famous Wax Trax

with Charley the guard dog

After saying goodbye and not breaking down the jukebox we walked towards Zia records. It was okay-ish to walk but still hot.
It is actually a pretty boring street to walk if you dont count the Americana feeling: lots of boring appartements, officebuildings, car related stuff. All spread out because theres enough room to spread out. Everything surrounded by parkinglots. Lots of palm trees (cool!) and excotic bushes. Every now and then a small mall or on intersections with bigger streets, a bigger mall.
We noticed the other pedestrians we met didnt look very wealthy. I think the only reason to walk here is if you dont have a car or come/go to a bus, but at least theres a sidewalk everywhere.
We even saw two bicyclists pass.

Looking for restrooms we went inside a supermarket called „Savers" that turned out to be a gigantic thriftshop where I found a nice dress and a bikini!! ugly bottoms but worked and cheap! And my credit card works <3

Savers: thriftshop the size of an arena!! <3

Went to Starbucks for a break and had a coffee I didnt need (cos BL Europenized the coffee)
I started to notice that none of the Starbuckseses I saw this far, had the „trenta" 800ml size coffee cups and wondered if it was maybe a hoax.
Tried the next door Chase bank: debetcard (pinnen) works too!!

Robert went to Zia, we crossed a 25 lane street (Sahara blvd) to another trhiftshop across the road where I found a cute vest that I only took off next two weeks to sleep and for a quick wash. great find!

When Robert came back Betty Lou took us to two shops I’ve never been too:TJ Max and Dress for Less, that were on the way. Interesting outlet kind of stores. Betty Lou was looking for a new backpack and we invented the word „fleather" for faux leather.
I’m not gonna bore you with all the details, but when we’re together with Betty Lou its always almost nonstop laugh attacks :-D
It was very hot outside now. We did bring enough water with us, learned that lession in a prior visit to this desert town: dont leave without enough water! We passed the Trader Joes that we were going to visit as last.  Been there a few times before and it feels familiar by now.
We just missed the bus up Decatur to my craftshop so we walked. It was ok but hot. Have to keep an eye on eachother to see if everyone is really ok. By then I started to regret that we didnt have a car.
(we all have a tan right now but not as much as the german lobster we later met at the pool    :-D ) It was only 1 km/ not even 0.75 mile and actually the only distance of the day that wasnt as far (or further) as it had looked on the map.

The Fantastik Swap Meet was also on Decatur but closed on mondays....

Micheaels craftshop was nice but not hysterical. It turned out to be very expensive apart from some things on special sale. Also they didnt have much that I couldnt get here in Europe/NL/B apart from some bigger items like storage etc that I couldnt take with me.
But I’m glad I saw it. Rather see it and dont like it, than dont see it and wonder forever what it would have been like :-) Also glad Robert and Betty Lou had a seat and that they didnt complain.

We were next door to Wal Mart Supercenter and hungry so went inside for a small snack. I’m not really a fan of Wal Mart as a business, but I have to say they had an enormous produce/fresh department. They also sell huge sandwiches.... seriously not footlong but leg-long! Managed to find a small snack somewhere and thought while I’m here might as well buy chamommile tea. On my way to the tea I passed a couple that were discussing the contents of a box of cereals in Flemish :-) Also got a night shirt because I forgot to bring mine and that was one of the smart desecions of the week. The rest of the trip I felt cosy and at home walking around in my night shirt around the apartement in the morning and evening!
couldnt pass the beef jerky without bringing some (ultimate tour/road snack).
With 50 plastic bags we teamed up at the Mac Donalds were Robert managed to score french fries with mayonaise. They did have to get it in the back for him.

after the rest and the snack we all felt capable to walk back to the Trader Joe’s.

<3 <3 !!

I can write pages and pages and pages about Trader Joe’s but I wont. I love it. Its my favorite supermarket, or even shop,in the US. They have fantastic ready to go meals and salads, delicious sushi, weird snacks and crazy snacks. And speculoospasta :-D Lots of things they sell are organic but not all. They are owned by Aldi!! In European Aldi’s you can find nuts and dried fruits of the „Trader Joe’s“ brand but it doesnt have anything to do with the style of the American shop.
Trader Joe’s staff is young and depending on the location, weird, and always friendly. In other supermarkets you might not get the job with visuable tattoos or piercings, here you might not get the job if you DONT have that :-) Pricetags look like they’re handpainted and the walls of the supermarket have cool paintings with local scenery on it. So thats what it looks like.
Its not cheap, but I just love to roam through the aisles and study everything they have.
Again, gratefull that Betty Lou and Robert let me.

 

"yeah in Europe we always put the basket in the cart so we dont have to carry it"

 I had an actuall shopping list! Really wanted fresh ginger cause I’m on a bit of a gingertrip these days (its superhealthy!! check it out!) and it tastes great. Also great to have when traveling and not always feeling very well. The main reason i wanted to have it was that I was going to have my periods started on wednesday! TIMING!! I can get really sick, and I didnt wanna spend half the day or the night with my head in a toilet somewhere. Good strong cup of gingertea will sort it all out :-)
Though I knew better, I checked the cereals to find ordinary oatmeal without sugar. Nope. I still cant believe it. Just normal plain oatmeal flakes! nowhere to be find in the US. Cant be true.
I did find something based on sugar free oatmeal so I got that and it was delicious. Also got lots of snacks, crazy snacks (dried brocolli flowers anyone? They were horrible) but managed to leave the sweets and the cookies where they were.
Robert walked in and said he „felt like having a bit of chips“ and the only one he thought he would like was a 450grams pack :-D (edit: it took him 2 weeks to eat it)

dont fall for this trap! also, shame on me, I should know by now that "European style" doesnt mean what it looks like that it means :-)

Satisfied we went to the checkout. Earlier I used to be sad that there are not TJ’s in Europe, or even Belgium, or Hasselt, but I know by now that it wont be as special anymore when you have one near. Also it would be totally different.

One thing thats almost always the same at TJ’s is... The Awkward Checkout.
Guy didnt say anything and threw all the groceries on a big pile. Robert and I looked at eachother. Were *we* suppose to bag them ourself? if not, why was he turning it into such a big chaos? When the stuff was about to fall on the floor we grabbed our Delhaize Durable Shoppingbag and started bagging ourself. I saw a real cool cotton TJ’s shopper (have a small collection of TJ’s bags at home) and handed it to him.
„also this please“
silence.
silence.
silence.
I felt totally uncomfortable by now. I must admit that if its always like this, I wouldnt go shopping here!
I wanted to pay with creditcard and said „you gotta help me out here a bit, I’m European“
Apparently those were the magic words. The guy all of a sudden bloomed up and smiled, and showed me how to use the device (new devices almost everywhere by the way, easy to use and work like „pin“ at home) and said „oh and thanks man, for bagging the groceries for me“
ehhh....
we said goodbye and left.
maybe a few days later I would have told him „we had to because they were about to fall on the floor“ but the first day in the US  i didnt wanna be too rude or smart yet.

 

breakfast for the rest of the week settled. I took the European Style yoghurt because it was sugarfree and fatfree, and it was very good. (the empty bucket is a pencil holder now)

 

 We asked the welcome desk (if thats a word) to call us a cab and it was no problem, said it would take 10 mins so we waited outside.
Ofcourse it didnt take long:
„can you please call us a cab?“
„sure. you’re a cab!!“  
By the time the cab showed up BL and I were super slaphappy and couldnt stop laughing anymore all the way back to the hotel, bringing up crazy memories like „do you remember when we lost Lisa’s cat?’ or driving around California with 5 adults in a Ford Mustang using a superlarge piece of underwear as sunscreen. (or, trying to explain it to John Fogerty later that day, who looked at me with the biggest puzzled look I ever saw) Or, that time we saw a palmtree riding around in Costco. Anyway. We’re tired and supersilly.
(disclaimer: the cat wasnt really lost but totally fine)

The cabdriver took the I-15 interstate west for a few minutes to avoid the Strip’s traffic and then it hit me and I realised that if we kept on driving we would end in Los Angeles, and that felt superweird. we were really in America! Las Vegas is a bit of a planet of its own! But we’re near my favorite state; California!
Long before we reached the state border the driver left the highway and took us to the hotel.

Betty Lou went straight to the hot tub and Robert and me decided to check out the small restaurants in front of the hotel for a cheap meal. Well. The Chinese restaurant was closed. The Indian restaurant was over crowded. The Taco stand was too weird. The italian stand didnt have salads nor pinaple pizza. Aaaahh!!
I gave up and went inside Wal Greens for a salad (horrible choice) Robert got a hamburger (from the Mexican stand, not from Wal Greens) and we went back to our suite. I was pissed off because the salad was so bad and ate the bowl of guacemole I just bought at Trader Joe’s, while looking at the neonlights and the Strip. We stared at the ferriswheel and it didnt move.

after that it was hot tub time! it was our first day here so I forgot that you just easily can dress in your bikini, wrap a towel around you and take the elevator to the pool. Instead we dressed up nicely :-D

Betty Lou was chatting in the hot tub with 3 guys who turned out to be German. One of them was sunburned to a whole new level. red as a firetruck, and also drunk enough to jump in the swimmingpool thats only 3 feet/90cm deep, so he hurt his knees.
Other than that, they were really friendly! they shared all their beer with us!
Slowly more people joined us and before we kow it we had a super fun pool „party“ having drinks and chatting, people from all around! we met two Canadian girls that were also going to Fogerty, and a couple from San Francisco, and two people from Scotland. (someone asked them howcome their english was so good)  Also a couple from Seatle. She was very chatty, they were very nice but he was either drunk or just chaotic and kept mixing up all the info he got. He thought it was amazing that we came all the way from Germany and Belgium and Canada to see John Fogerty. Hey, sir, thats not really how it is. Its coincidence that these candadian girls go to Fogerty, and we just met the Germans and they’re not going to John Fogerty.
Doesnt matter. It kept getting weirder :-D
it was way too hot for me so I climbed out. I was tired and wanted to go back, but at the same time I didnt wanna leave this awesome pool happening. On my right Robert and a german guy were chatting in German about the green polution sticker for your car.
The other German guy was chatting with the Seattle couple because they had lived in Germany.
Others were sharing roadtrip stories or talking about their kids or their jobs.
Everybody was talking to someone else, no one was left out!
8 total strangers in a hot tub in Las Vegas having a super fun evening. Everything was just perfect.
I was sitting on the edge in my bikini with a towel wrapped around my waist and a warm desert town breeze on my shoulders. Perfect.

I was the first one to leave though because I was really tired and wanted to have a tea before bedtime. I said bye and left. Bit with a sore heart, to be honest, but the chamomile tea was waiting!
Unfortunately there was no kettle. I wondered if I could use the coffee maker, and then noticed this HUGE monster behind me; the maxi-microwave.
Our microwave has an on and off button and a timer. This thing had more buttons than an aircrafts cockpit. Puzzled I started trying them out. Not sure how I managed but I ended up with hot water in the end, and enjoyed a nice tea while looking out on the Strip, the neonlights and the ferrishwheel that didnt move.

Robert and Betty Lou came back just after midnight because the pool closes at 12. we all agreed that it was a perfect ending for the day.