The Longest Day started with us checking out of Trump Tower. However our flight wasn't until eight o'clock-ish that night so we had to leave our bags with the bell-boys. By this point I'd completely abandoned any stylish "Stealth Tip" manoeuvres and was going straight for the: "See this money in my hand? It is for you. Place your hand in front of mine and we shall do the exchange." It worked out much better for me that way.

We couldn't leave Vegas without having sampled an all-you-can-eat-buffet, so we headed for potentially the poshest (and Muirhead recommended) Bellagio. Although it clearly wasn't even lunch time yet it seemed you could choose from any course from any time of day. And there was a huge range on offer from carvery roasts to smoked salmons to stir frys ... although I don't remember seeing much in the way of fruit and veg, but maybe I was just too distracted by the artfuly created desserts?!

After a few trips to fill our plates we left entirely satisfied and met Thomas and Hannah in the extravagent Bellagio lobby which was decorated for Halloween. Hannah told me she saw the flowers in the displays being replaced on a daily basis. All for me? Gee shucks. We went outside to catch the famous Bellagio fountains but an announcement informed us the first show wouldn't be until 3pm which gave us a few hours to waste. We really couldn't think of anywhere better to time waste in Vegas than the four storey M&M World! We should probably have taken out a store card, 'cause the discount would have been worth it ...

We got back to the Bellagio fountains in time to find a decent spot off to the left where it wasn't too crowded. We were all filled with excited anticipation when the large pond in front of the casino started stirring - the water jets were being readied! What could they possibly be playing for us? Elvis? Classical? ... hopefully not Celine Dion! It was worse than that. It was the American national anthem. It might have been a little bit more special if I hadn't just been beaten about the head by stars and stripes for the last few weeks. But America has a habit of continually reminding you where you are, and it was starting to get a little tiring.

We took our photos, said our "oows" and "aahs" and were trying to decide where to head for next when, what's this? We're getting another performance! Straight off the back of the national anthem the Bellagio were kind enough to launch into a mesmerising display set to "Time To Say Goodbye". It was a magical few minutes, the air was tingling, and it was a truly fitting bookend to our holiday in the States.

As we leaned on the stone wall with our backs to the pond, enjoying the sun, our eyes were drawn to a little bistro over the road, attached to the Paris casino. What was it called? "Sugar Factory"? Well then, we'll just have to give that place a go then! There isn't really much to tell. It did exactly what you would expect - and then added more sugar - milkshakes, pancakes, muffins, crepes ... We thought we'd better stock up on sugar in case we never saw a tablet bar again. You never know!

We knew our time in Vegas, and America, was drawing to a close so we had a slow walk around the cobbled streets and shops of Paris with the Muirheads before heading to Trump Tower to pick up our bags and get to the airport. Our taxi driver was a vibrant eastern european guy and it was refreshing to find someone that might actually have had a claim to some kind of Scottish heritage. He was definitely the closest of anyone in the country claiming to be of Scottish descent. Although he was doing the opposite of Americans and was playing it down.

The airport was baren. The section we were in was closing down for the night (there was a flight to Canada, then us and that was it). Newsagents and eateries were closing, the slot machines didn't accept the 25 cent coins we'd been accumlating since our last laundry visit. There was nothing to do but sit and consider how long it would be between getting up that morning and getting to bed the following night. To try and help with sleeping on the plane Ailsa bought some ingenious eyemasks with stickers to place on the outside to inform cabin crew "Wake for food" or the more necessary "Don't wake for anything". I was disappointed there wasn't a "Wake me when it all goes a little bit Airplane" sticker.

Our plane boarded and we said our goodbyes to our friends, Las Vegas and America as we climbed above and along the full length of the Strip. Our trip that started with the sun setting off the Califorian coast was coming to an end with the twinkling of a thousands coloured stars way down below.

Time to snuggle up and make best use of those eyemasks.

--Colin