We'd planned to go to the Grand Canyon today but decided to drive to Vegas instead. So Dan, Nic, Madisson and I set off this morning and got to there about 1pm. We valet parked the car at New York, New York and set off to discover Sin City. Well, I did, even little Madisson has been there before! It was about 110 degrees so pretty intense. The first thing I noticed about Vegas was how big it is. True, most of the gamblin/hotel action - everything you've heard of - is on 'the strip' (Las Vegas Boulevard) but everything is huge and it takes ages to walk between each place. I've seen it all before, on movies, photos, Grandad's cine films etc, but nothing quite prepares you for the visual overload you encounter on that road. We walked down to the Bellagio and into the casino and shops (Chanel, Prada etc) then to the Mirage and went to see Siefried & Roy's Secret Garden. Supposedly for Madisson but really for Nic! Madisson loved watching the dolphins, we could watch them underwater; they're so elegant and fascinating. Mad was very excited, about them and the leopard and lion. Walked down to a fashion mall place then to Treasure Island and across to Wynn, where we were turned away because of the pram, Nic was fuming. The Venetian was defintely the most eye-popping place. They have a replica of the bell tower and doge's palace in St Mark's Square, and the bridge of sighs in Venice. Inside on the shopping mall level, canals with gondolas and restaurants boasting tables overlooking the 'Grand Canal'!!! Insane. Having been to Venice I was fascinated and kind of repulsed by it. But I think the sheer brashness and unapologetic way its been done defies any criticism or snobbery and you have to go along with it and laugh. When we left there it was dark, which was kind of wierd as the ceiling over the 'grand canal' is painted to look like a day sky. We walked up the strip and now it was VEGAS. Neon flashing, people everywhere, heat, noise, craziness. Dan spotted a premiership player, we watched some of the world bartender championship finals and finally got to the car about 11pm. Absolutely worn out. I have to agree with the famous sign; Las Vegas, in its own way, is fabulous!