“Viva Las Vegas with you neon flashing And your one armed bandits crashing All those hopes down the drain Viva Las Vegas, turning day into nighttime Turning night into daytime If you see it once You’ll never be the same again
I’m gonna keep on the run, I’m gonna have me some fun If it costs me my very last dime If I wind up broke, oh well, I’ll always remember That I had a swinging time
I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got Lady luck please let the dice stay hot Let me shoot a seven with every shot Viva Las Vegas Viva Las Vegas Viva Las Vegas Viva, Viva Las Vegas”. Elvis Presley, 1964
You’re just as likely to see Elvis Presley live in Las Vegas as you are to see Michael Jackson live. In all cases when visiting this city established by the mob, it’s important to read the fine print. Lol.
After leaving Quartzsite, Betty & I are finally heading north, back to Canada. As usual, we are not driving too fast, starting with a brief visit to Emerald Canyon Golf Club, just north of Parker, Az.
I have driven here before, but with golf balls on the driving range again, not the Smart or motorhome.Unlike the Quartzsite course, this one is lush and green. Even the tee boxes are immaculate.The putting greens are real grass, so I used my real putter on this one.After our time in the desert, it is always an adjustment to experience this oasis on the banks of the Colorado River.Our first night’s stop after leaving Quartzsite was at mile marker 195, a free BLM spot just north of Lake Havasu City.Our home on wheels hadn’t had a wash since SPI, so I was happy to pull into a full-service wash in Kingman, Az. It’s sparkling again. Yeah!The Interstate north had lots of ups and downs. While it was overcast, fortunately there was no rain until after we had stopped for the night.The last pic showed one of the many downs. This one shows one of the many ups.As we crossed from Arizona to Nevada, over the Colorado River, the Hoover Dam was just the other side of this guardrail. We didn’t stop to get a better pic… BTW, due to recent droughts ,one can see how much lower the river is from normal levels.Entering a state Betty & I have never visited before – Nevada.Betty was finally able to add state #46 to our sticker map. It has been over 5 months since we added a new state. Two more to go on this trip – fingers crossed.Maybe appropriately, our first night in Nevada was spent in the parking lot of the Railroad Pass Casino. (for free.)We are now in the Boulder Beach campground, a short drive from Hoover Dam and Las Vegas. (site 9, loop A, $20./night.)Our site overlooks Lake Mead, and a rainbow appeared (far right) soon after we arrived. A good sign for a pot of gold at the casinos? Betty says “No”.As we took the Smart on the Interstate into Las Vegas, the famous Strip came into view in the background.The Luxor Hotel & Casino is the pyramid in the centre of this pic, taken from the highway. The two of us dined in their food court for $90. Ouch!Las Vegas is one of the most popular entertainment destinations in North America. But as mentioned, Betty & I have never been here before. So much to see with a deja vu effect – given the number of movies and television shows filmed here.Who knew that you didn’t need to go to New York to see the Statue of Liberty?Or to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower?Or to Egypt to see the pyramids?All this and more can be seen just by driving down the Las Vegas Strip. BTW, we didn’t get out of the Smart on the Strip, so the pics might not be as cropped as well as they could be.We drove past block after block of impressive hotels, including the Bellagio, with its fountains appropriately choreographed to Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas“. The huge Caesar’s Palace is on the right.Betty & I wondered if this driverless vehicle would have been able to keep up with our Smart in Boise, Idaho. lolNo trip down the Las Vegas Strip is complete without noting the dozens of wedding chapels. Apparently, Elvis was singing at this one.Betty & I didn’t feel a trip to Las Vegas was complete without taking in one of the many shows. Cirque Du Soleil was too expensive for us, so we chose the Blue Man Group in the Luxor Hotel & Casino, as advertised on this sign outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel. BTW, the promotional screens up and down the Strip rival Times Square, with an increasing level of depth and clarity.The Blue Man group was a high energy, unique, interactive performance. The percussion, using a wide range of instruments – including drain pipes – was amazing!Bright screens and strobe lights added to the sensory overload. But it was all fun…As we left Las Vegas we hoped to follow the warning to drive carefully. Whether we come back soon is another matter…
“I’m gonna keep on the run, I’m gonna have me some fun If it costs me my very last dime If I wind up broke, oh well, I’ll always remember That I had a swinging time…
Viva, Viva Las Vegas”
While Betty & I didn’t gamble while here, we hope you can take a chance to have a swinging time somewhere, without losing your last dime. lol.
