Hoover Dam and La Sonora Mantencera

After waking up at about 9 with no police help, we drove the 17 miles to the Hoover Dam, named for president Hoover (not J. Edgar). We arrived to find the usual security checkpoint where the guard barely glanced in the car before letting us through. Once we reached the Dam we were instantly impressed with this remarkable feat of engineering. After driving to the top of the hill where parking was free, as oppose to 100 yards further down where it was $7 we got out and started to walk round looking both sides and seeing the obvious difference in water level. You could clearly see where the water on the dammed side reaches up to when its not drought season by the white rock forming a perfect line round the cliffs as at high tide. We spent an hour or so taking pictures and trying to work out what different bits of the dam structure were for (we could have found out in the Visitor Centre but they wanted $8 each just to go in!) before having a look round the blissfully cool gift shop then taking the lift to the top of yet another carpark for a birds eye view of the dam and bridge. We then made our way back to the car and decided although it was still early, only about 2pm, we'd had enough for one day, it being one of the hottest days since we've been away and headed back to Vegas to check in to the hostel we'd booked for a couple of nights. After dumping our stuff in the rather pleasant room with the Jamaica Flag on the door we jumped straight into the deserted pool for a cool, refreshing swim. Then it was into the (not too hot) hot tub to relax until we went wrinkly and then a bit more! It was so nice just to sit amongst the bubbles without roasting or driving or having to think where we were going to sleep that night. Eventually we progressed to the sun loungers and after drying off in the sun moved to ones in the shade to read our books for a good hour or so before getting ready to go out. We'd found on the internet that there is somewhere to dance pretty much every night in Vegas (Awesome!!) and tonight at the Gold Coast Casino not only was there dancing until 3.30 but they also had a live band!! We parked up in the free car park (practically everywhere is free if you dont use valet!!) after driving through the 'Strip' and marvelling at the audacious, the tacky and the flamboyant casinos and hotels along the way. We were a bit early as the ballroom didnt open until 10pm so we went for a wander around the rest of the Gold Coast to pass the time where we found about a million different slot machines as well as hundreds of card and roulette tables, mostly populated it seemed by japanese gamblers. We also discovered the biggest bowling alley ive ever seen with at least 40 lanes upstairs practically taking up an entire floor! Soon it was time to join the now formed queue to get into the ballroom for 'Noches Caliente con La Senora Mantencera', it was only a $10 cover and as some of the 1st people in we got a good table right by the dancefloor for easy access! The $10 cover also included a free drink so after finding that they didnt do Mojitos we settled for a Margarita each instead which turned out to be quite strong! We had a quick dance to warm up before the band came on and watched unhappily as people danced cha cha On1...I determined to refuse any offers to dance cha cha that night as I find it almost impossible or at least very uncomfortable to try and follow it On1, it just doesnt fit the music and feels so wrong, yet all over America (even in New York where they dance On2) most people seem to dance it this way! Soon enough we were put out of our misery as the band came on, after a couple of technical difficulties with microphones they started playing and we started dancing! I was quite pleased that even after 2 weeks with no dancing at all ( :-( ) I was able to move quite well in my heels on what was really a lovely dancefloor, if a tad slippy and was enjoying myself immensely. We had a few dances with each other and a couple of other people before the band finished their first set and we sat down for a breather. I was surprised and very flattered when a lady came across to talk to me and said how well I danced, that her and her friends had been watching me and loved the way I styled!! Was a really lovely comment and made me think that maybe I have improved a bit since we've been away...its hard to tell when you dont dance with the same people again. After some music from the DJ the band were back on and the place really started to fill up, what was a very spacious dancefloor soon became quite crowded but there was no bumping or being stepped on which was great! We both had some nice dances but before long the lack of dancing over the past few weeks caught up with me and I was getting more and more exhausted after each dance to the point where I was starting to feel ill. As it was just after 1.30 and I really wasnt feeling great we decided to call it a night and made our way back to the hostel for a good nights sleep.