Las Vegas

Our trip to Sin City began with a 7am pick up to the airport with Emma and J. We were on the road again cruising over the Atlantic Ocean for a 10 hour flight to Las Vegas. Our excitement was bubbling over and couldn't be contained. The plane was filled with young and fit people, many on stag and hen do's. We were all on hottie patrol and had a sense that a wild weekend lay ahead of us. When we landed we were whisked away by private transfer to the Cosmopolitan which is aptly named the 'sexy' hotel. It's the new kid on the block and is very hip, trendy and modern. The mood was electric and we couldn't wait to get this party started. Nestled between the Bellagio and the Aria on the 59th floor, our view of the strip below was fantastic and the massive balcony was a nice touch. Our rooms were upgraded so now we had 800 square foot of luxury to enjoy, as well as a deep bathtub with a view of the world outside. Feeling like kids in a toy store and after a quick change we ventured out into the night to immerse ourselves in the crazy pulsating vibe of Las Vegas. Our evening began with some bubbles and an amazing dinner at Scarpetta. Keen to show Emma and J another side to this crazy city we hopped into a cab to downtown Las Vegas to watch the light and sound show at the Fremont Experience. It is the old Vegas, with old school hotels and casinos and a covered pedestrian mall featuring 12.5 million LED display lights. There was definitely no shortage of energy coursing through the streets. People of all walks of life and varying degrees of undress filled the streets, enjoying the music and the vibrant mood. Drinks were flowing and the bar tenders didn't feel that measuring quantities was a high priority, so intoxication was easily achieved. If you didn't feel too queasy you could also zip line through the complex. It looked like a lot of fun and could be something to do on our next visit. Ready to get our groove on, we made our way to the MGM Grand for a session with Steve Aoki at Hakkasan nightclub. The club was filled to capacity and we danced until our feet ached and we could dance no more. At 3am we dragged our tired limbs back to our hotel and after an ill advised 45 minute walk we finally fell into bed for some much needed sleep.
After about 4 hours sleep we met up for a hearty breakfast and then it was time to commence Emma's birthday with a jam packed itinerary of sightseeing on an open top tour bus followed by some retail therapy at the North Premium outlet. The allure of sales and countless shops was overwhelming and soon enough our wallets were close to empty and our arms were heavily laden with designer goods. After a successful shopping trip we made our way to the Venetian hotel for a taste of Italy and on the hunt for pearls for Emma's birthday present. At this stage we were all exhausted so after a rather comatose dinner at our hotel we all had a two hour power nap to re-charge our batteries. At 1am we walked to Caesars Palace for another dance session at the brand spanking new Omnia nightclub. Armin van Buuren supplied the tunes and we supplied the moves. The club is huge and had three dance floors to explore. Emma and J were drawn to the smooth hip hop room and once we were all suitably hot and sweaty we escaped to the outdoor terrace to cool down and enjoy the view of the bright lights surrounding us. We boogied until the night sky had changed to a light blue. I don't know where our energy was coming from but somehow we were not ready to call it a night. In fits of giggles we approached random strangers who could possibly point us in the direction of the nearest classiest strip club. Before we knew it we were boarding a party bus, trying our hand on the strippers pole and showing the two farm lads from Iowa what girl power is all about. We arrived at Sapphire's with nervous excitement but eager to spend some dollars. The club was filled with men who probably shouldn't be there as well as a handful of women watching there partners like Hawks, while scantily clad women worked the room. It felt a little voyeuristic at first but once the ladies showed off their skills on the podium, we were completely mesmerised. Oh, if only our parents could see us now! With a new found understanding and appreciation we left the club and headed for Bedfordshire, whilst regaling the bemused cab driver with our early morning escapade. By 8 am we were all in bed looking forward to at least 3 hours sleep, before we began part three.
We had a late start to the morning and met up for brunch at 11. Our minds were awake however, our bodies were begging for more sleep. Unfortunately there is no rest for the wicked, so pushing our tiredness aside, we planned the day ahead. Tanya and I hadn't yet managed to cure our shopping addiction so we headed off to Macy's for another spree while Emma and J went to the pool party at the Marquee for a bit of fun in the sun. We were planning to meet up there if time was on our side. Four hours later and with a new suitcase in tow, we got back to the hotel for a half hour nap before we got ready for the evening ahead. After a few tequilas we were good to go and ready for our dinner at DOCG in the Cosmo. The next stop on this crazy ride was Le Reve at the Wynn. It was such a great show and our seats were amazing. The stage is set around a pool of water and we were transfixed by all the acrobatics taking place in the dream like setting. Emma and J even managed to catch some zzzz's and much to their dismay, we have photographic evidence to prove it. Oh well, the show is called "The Dream" after all. While on the casino floor we decided to have a little flutter on the slot machines. It was fun and no we didn't win big but it's easy to see how addictive it can be. We have one more night of partying but with all this sensory overload we needed to sit down and have a drink. Nursing our hot lemon and honey tea's, we had a good laugh at how rock and roll we were. There's no shame in appearing to be sensible. After what felt like an eternity standing in the queue we finally made it into XS and allowed Avicii to play host to our final jamming session. The music and the energy of the crowd consumed us and we shook our booties until closing time. So much for an early night! At last it was time for bed and we were happily taken to the land of slumber until a knock on the door reminded us that is was time to check out.
After a chaotic start to the morning, consisting of throwing clothes into suitcases, we crossed our fingers and hoped nothing was left behind. Our journey to the airport was subdued and very sad but we vowed to come back and do it all again. We did Vegas proud. We had style, class, incredible stamina and proved ourselves to be true party animals and we did it all in the company of an amazing group of friends.