This morning didn't start so well. We had parked the same area as the previous day and that was fine but we got caught in some soft dry mud. When I looked at the front of the car I noticed that one of the wheels was in the air. For a front wheel drive car, this is problematic. After about an hour of trying to dig ourselves out, I decided that it would be more efficient to try and find some help so I ran the half mile or so back to the main road. Apparently I am an awesome damsel in distress because the first car I tried to flag down stopped and although they didn't have a chain, it was a 4 wheel drive and were able to push us out.
Fun conversation with our good Samaritans. After me getting in the car with them
Them (husband wife and child): You know, you should be careful on who you flag down
Me: Oh I know, but I was getting pretty desperate there
Them: You're not going to lure us down here to our doom are you?
Me: Nah, I'm an Australian, we don't hurt anyone
Them: Oh that's good to hear, we're parole evaders.
Everyone's a comedian.
Everything went smoothly after that, except when I was running out to get help I twisted my ankle pretty badly which sucked somewhat.
Anyway we caught up with our host Chad in vegas who some of you may know- if you watched "Fry in America" he was in the Vegas episode and was the fellow who was excommunicated from the Mormon church for making these sexy Mormon calenders (much like the fireman ones we get at home), and since the uni he went to was also owned by the Mormons, they revoked his degree as well. Nice. Chad was a lovely guy and played doctor and bandaged up my ankle and gave me some anti inflammatory which was great. He also had a lovely dog called ranger (about the same size as me!) and his housemate had a rather old and crusty (but adorable) pug, so we were in good company. His house was also incredibly - Vegas is currently going through a massive housing bust at present so you can get fancy things for a reasonable amount.
Anyway we went out with Chad and some of his friends (all of whom are flamboyantly gay) to this amazing sushi restaurant, wandered around a funny little car park carnival that opened outside and then hit the strip. The strip is ridiculous, pure and simple insanity. We went to two key areas, the first was the Bellagio casino which had this ridiculous indoor garden and an amazing water fountain display outside (I would have preferred it if it hadn't been choreographed to the most patriotic song I've ever heard. I can't remember the title but went "I'm proud to be an American, 'cause at least I know I'm free". Vomit). I don't even want to think about the money that was spent constructing this, or any other casino (one casino called New York, New York is a building in the shape of the city). Or about the money that is dropped there on a daily basis. Casinos, even though these were quite incredible always make me feel a little dirty. The insides are full of twinkly lights, clocks are absent and if you're sitting on high roller tables, drinks are free. The lengths they go to encourage you to part with you cash (and to do it happily) is just horrifying. Apparently there are heaps of councilors who provide support for gambling addiction but, unlike the bankruptcy lawyers, the "1800-get-thin" lap band surgery advertisement and more, information about these guys is not constantly in your face.
The second area we headed to was in "old vegas" - the vegas of the Rat Pack era, and I got the feeling that that was where people ended up when they couldn't stop themselves. Unlike the well dressed people of the main strip, people here were obviously poorer, with minimal self control. We would have done more but it was after midnight by the stage and I was pretty much dead on my feet.
The hoover dam was also great, but this entry is already far too long
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