Up early to get packed and ready to leave for Vegas.
After being run around by our friends at Hertz in San Francisco, we weren't taking any chances this time... We have booked and confirmed a Mustang for our trip to Las Vegas !
Dumping our Nissan (we haven't named it as we didn't seem to bond...) at the airport, we collected our nice shiny silver Mustang, "Eleanor" (obvious, I know)..
After Brad took a few moments to familiarise himself with the controls, he set about showing Dad how everything operated.. Connecting his Ipod to the stereo, disabling the in car GPS (its a Neverlost ******** system) in favour of Gertrude (at least we know when she's telling us porky pies) and generally opening, closing, prodding every gadget, we were off...
Advice from a staff member at Hertz was to go out the exit, make a left and then onto Interstate 105 and 15 all the way to Vegas... Gertrude wanted us to go out the exit and turn RIGHT !
It was on again.... Do we trust the lady at Hertz that spoke so damn fast we could hardly keep up, or do we trust the ever unreliable Gertrude... Deciding we had come from the East of LA and we wanted to go East to get to Vegas, we headed East... Gertrude picked us up on Highway 60 and said keep going, you have 5.5 hours to go... After about 45 minutes of driving and having time to ponder the Interstate routes we were passing, I said, Hmmm, Brad that seems like a long time to travel, are you sure you put in the correct address I gave you ? Yes Dad, Las Vegas boulevard, Las Vegas Arizona...
Can anyone see the problem with that ??
If not, you're in need a little geography lesson like Adam.... Las Vegas is in Nevada...
Humbly apologising to Brad and Gertrude (she came close to going out that window), we made a U turn at the next highway exit and doubled back to Interstate 15... We were on our way again... :)
About 280 miles into the Nevada desert, Las Vegas was originally a fort and a water stop for the train (steam Train) to California, that would explain why you would put this place in the middle of the desert..
Arriving mid afternoon, we are staying at Caesars Palace, right on the strip. My Lord, this place is huge. It takes up a complete block and has 3960 rooms (not a typo) + entertaining, gambling and conference areas!
Originally deciding to self park, we walked for ages and then came across part of the casino that eventually led us to the hotel reception... Mind boggling !
Resisting the $95.00 steak at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, we found a pizza and beer place on the strip. Fed and watered, we headed back to our room for a good night sleep in our huge beds!