THEMED HOTELS IN VEGAS

Well to walk down the strip in las vegas and walk into the hotels that line this road is really something else,most of the hotels are themed such as Paris,this hotel features a scaled down version of the eiffel tower, at the side of it is a replica of the arc de triomphe and all inside are various bistros,cafes,boutiques and french restaurants.It really is tastefully done,but the first thing that hits you with all the hotels as you open their front doors are the slot machines,card tables,roulette wheels and anything else that relates to gambling,and regardless of the time of day or night there are people playing something.Now bearing in mind these hotels are usually four to five thousand room buildings and the floor space dedicated to the gamling is always the ground floor and they are huge.We did venture on to the slot machines today and needless to say we lost(that now means we have lost a euro in the casino in monte carlo and a dollar in the bellagio in las vegas )i hope they are not counting on our money.The Venetian hotel is obviously themed on venice ,it has it`s own st marks square and a little canal system complete with gondolas and little bridges crossing the canal,there is an abundance of designer shops in this hotel.We went back to the Belaggio for our lunch ,now this is a beautiful hotel and their buffet is to die for you can find anything you want be it hot or cold and it is waitress service for any drinks.To sum it up it is a playground for adults with everything in excess,you could really over indulge here .Paula you would do really well here with slimming world class. In fact Paula betty is sleeping her lunch off as i am writing the blog.Well we collected our tickets from the Flamingo hotel earlier on for tonights show with Donny and Marie Osmond and are looking forward to that,we will try and take a few photos if allowed.We are taking a flight to San Francisco tomorrow so will try and post when we get there.Thanks Rob for the photo of rubery!.

Day 1 in Vegas

Good morning feel so much better today. Well we took Chris`s advice and went to Bellagios for a buffet breakfast and we were starving. There was everything you could imagine so thanks Chris. We then made our way down the strip. Every hotel had a different theme The shops were fantastic in fact each hotel must have been as big as Merryhill! I couldn't`t find my way round still don`t know where I am! We were missing our curry so found a lovely Indian Restaurant tonight and then back at Ballys we had live entertainment sort of a Fleet wood Mac sound, Talking of entertainment the strip was full of advertisements for girls who could be with you in half an hour????? was that to do the cleaning? Well it`s 11 15 and Brian is snoring! are we getting old! I think everyone else is just going out. Will give a better report tomorrow goodnight bet x x

Good morning

LAST NIGHT NEW ORLEANS FLIIGHT TO LAS VEGAS

Well hello again sorry we missed a night that was due to no connection at Ballys. Anyway, where were we ,I think it was sat night and we went back to the garden district and had a great meal and then found our way back on the trolley bus to Fritzels where our favourite band where playing and that was brilliant. Next day we were packed and ready for the next leg which was Vegas. This was a flight to Dallas and then on to Vegas. Well the first flight went according to plan but there was a two hour delay on the next one We were so shattered when we arrived there was about 50 people queuing for taxi`s and then when we got to the hotel another 50 people waiting to book in! well there was no way we were going out we just couldn't`t wait to get into bed. The room was massive with two king size beds, a computer table and coffee table so comfy I`d be quite happy to stay in the room The entrance of the hotel must have had a hundred fruit machines and it was so busy. Goodnight bet x x

LAST FULL DAY IN NEW ORLEANS

Hello, it`s Betty again and it`s time to fill you in on the days events. Well I`ll start with last night which after the lift experience we had our usual wine, olives and crisps. Got out down the stairs(not using that lift again!) and across to Bourbon St. Oh my god if you think of Ibiza and times it by 10! Everyone is drinking on the balcony's and you have to dodge what they are throwing down! The girls are out working and it`s packed. We were looking for a bar called Fritzels and we eventually found it. There was a Jazz Band playing and they were brilliant so we got 2 seats at the bar and settled in. We want to go back tonight after we`ve eaten and bri wants to take a video,fingers crossed. Off home to look at our emails,, thanks again it`s great to get news and gossip.

Up at 6.30 this morning and got the trolley bus to the garden district. Now that was beautiful. The houses with their pretty balcony's and gardens are just typical of what you`d expect.

It`s great here you get everyones life story whether you want it or not! The trolley bus is the best, oh today a chap got on and said hello to everyone on the entire bus and then looked at us and asked where we were from . When we said England he produced a name and phone number from his wallet and asked if we knew this lady, well we did think for a minute and said sorry but no. He then asked if we would say hello to the queen! We got off at the park and the weather was getting very hot. There was a large lake and the joggers were out ,oh and a lady on her bike towing her two children in a carriage on the back. Thought that was a great idea. Had lunch and back on the bus to do the tour of the cemeteries. Sorry Bri is rushing me now so must be quick.

Back on bus to the riverside and shops. I love this place lots of jazz and people sitting outside, great place to people watch. Speak soon Betty x x

THE BIG EASY AND STUCK IN A LIFT

Ok we actually slept in this morning and got up at 6 am.slowly getting back in to a normal pattern.I made the tea and we listened to the archers. Brian started to look through the hotel handbook when he noticed there was a swimming pool on the 6th floor. He said it would be good exercises for my arm! what makes him think he knows best. Anyway I reluctantly looked for my swimsuit and what a stroke of luck the 6th floor was the roof and the only thing in it was bird sh....t thank you god! After breakfast we thought we`d have a good look round,the weather was lovely and we soon had to come back and get rid of our big coats and boots. We then bought a day pass on the trolley bus and that took us to the edge of the Mississippi river. This is a great place with entertainers and cafe`s. We wanted to book the dinner on the Mississippi steamer but it was sold out so will try somewhere else tomorrow. Then it was lunch so decided to go to Olivers,it was a place we`d seen last night but couldn't`t get in. Very tasty a local dish called shrimp creole Needed to walk it off (anyone going away with bri will know we don`t get a rest!)So off we went round the french quarter. I loved the houses and we sort of got lost well eventually we found our way back to the lovely shopping centre i found a great pair of jeans but have only had them on 5 mins and the button has popped off! must be that lunch.

Time is getting on so we made our way back to the hotel when we got in the lift there were a crowd ok youngsters in there, anyway we got in and you`ve guessed it broke down! they were drinking and one lad was the joker,do we know somebody like that? the one girl was really scared,i suppose we were in there for half an hour. Good kids really all local we had a sing song. Oh and one lad was a fireman and he was scared! he said he`d never been to a broken lift they hadn`t got any where he lived. Perhaps he lived in one of those one horse towns we passed on the way here. Finally they got us out so were now having a glass of wine and our olives. Later were going to a place at the bottom end of Bourbon St called Fritzels where they have live music. It`s not the sleezy end (pete garner you would love it!) and thats scary we were there last night and there are some wierd characters about! It is scary at night but in the day it is lovely. Must say goodnight it takes a long time to get ready these days love bet x x x

LAST NIGHT IN MEMPHIS,TRAIN TO NEW ORLEANS,HOTEL ROOM