Well, I see it's a week since I posted, but internet has been scarce around here. Most of the hotels don't have it free, and to buy it, is a waste of time as you buy it in 24 hours increments, and we don't get much use out of it. I'd like to make use of free wi-fi, but when we head out for the day, it's usually for the whole day, and I don't feel like lugging the laptop around all day. (and to use internet on the boat was $24........ not for 24 hours, that was $24 for just 1 hour)
Anyway, on a couple of our nights in Vegas we walked the strip, to see the shows that the various hotels put on, and saw lots of cool things. We also saw the 'V' (variety show), which was just the best value for money, absolutely recommend it if you can! The
gentleman in the photo was the 'mc' for the night, he is just the best. He has been on America's Got Talent (which I think is where they get a lot of their talent for the show)
The pirate below, and the guy with the parrots are a 'breed of buskers'....... the parrot guy especially, gets you hooked into his routine, you are enthralled with his parrots, he lets you hold them, and then when you are fully sucked in, he says 'ok, here's the deal, 2 photos with the family, 1 with the parents, and 1 with the kids, I'll do it for $X dollars', LOL. Nearly stood our ground, and denied him, so we haggled him down, but we were so pleased with the photos, (taken on the little point and shoot) we gave him the full amount, happy to pay out money to someone doing something instead of just begging!!!!
We then headed up to the Grand Canyon, but it was very late, as we didn't leave Vegas till 3pm (had to visit the Outlet Mall on the way out of town). We were supposed to leave the Canyon the next day, and drive to LA, but after being late the day before we knew it was going to be at least lunchtime before we left the Canyon, and then 8 hours travelling was not a good idea. We ended up going to the Canyon, then calling into this drive thru animal park (those Americans do everything drive thru, LOL)
... before driving back to Vegas for a night stop over........ and then headed back to LA, as that broke up the 8 hour trip into 2 4 hour trips, much easier.
We then checked in at the Port for our cruise........ realising we hadn't had lunch, we were pleasantly surprised to find lunch being served already, Yay!
We probably didn't really take full advantage of the amenities on the ship, but it was nice to relax and chill out. The boys were old enough to check themselves in and out of the kids club, so between meals they spent time up there.
We caught a couple of comedy shows, and spent Saturday afternoon in Mexico, on a tour out to a 'blowhole'. At first we weren't too impressed, it was nothing on Punakiki, but then it started, and we got soaked. We then winded our way up the street to the bus, which happened to be the markets. We were warned when we got there that they were hard out, but we did well, just forged on ahead, and managed to bargain ourselves some good deals.
Our day at sea was a bit murky, and we woke in Long Beach this morning, to depart our ship, to a very miserable day.
