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Up with the birds again, packed and on the road by 9am - not bad for the Plummer-Ewing roadshow - heading west out of Flagstaff towards Las Vegas. After a while we left the concrete slab of interstate and took a detour on the old Route 66 (of the 'get your kicks' fame) that took us into barren back country through windswept, rusting one road towns. We stopped at the Grand Canyon Caves - OK but expensive for what they are - and then had lunch in a real old style American diner where the low-fat revolution has yet to leave its mark.
After lunch the landscape became more like desert and the temperature rose as we reached the impressive Hoover dam on the Arizona - Nevada border and continued onto Las Vegas. The first sight of Vegas is quite stunning as it emerges out of the desert shimmering in the sun. We had already booked a room through a bureau - a cheap midweek deal of $39 - and we were impressed by the luxury of the hotel and its proximity to the "strip". Taking advantage of the facilities we tarted ourselves up and headed out into the desert heat for a night on the town.
Seeing Vegas through the eyes of an adult is quite different from seeing it through the eyes of a child. The last time Claire was here Vegas seemed like a wonderful fantasy land. This time although able to appreciate the amazing buildings and atmosphere, I was also aware of the tackyness and falseness of the place that is built on dreams. Having said this we still had an enjoyable evening, visiting a few of the theme casinos - Paris and Caesars Palace - and losing our money on the slot machines, drinking far too pricey drinks and watching other people win and loose. Even winning just a few $ on the 5 cent machines we got a small taste of the thrill of gambling but don't think we could ever bet a lot of money. Will did well, winning $25 at one point, only to loose it all later. By midnight we had lost all the money we had set aside and left the strip for the comfort of our king-sized bed.
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