Vegas
He looked at my ticket, and then at me.
‘Sin City, Miss?’
I slid my passport across the check in desk, and smiled.
‘Hope not,’ I said.
He studied my details for a moment, and then handed my papers back with a wink.
‘That’s Vegas, my dear.’
I’m not sure about all that, but since we arrived we’ve had the best time!
This city is unlike any other I’ve visited. So much energy and colour, with the tallest hotels I think I’ve ever seen. And so many! It was one of the first things I noticed coming from the airport, waiting at the traffic lights and staring up at these towering buildings. Seventeen of the tallest in the world all in this city, I heard. Such a stunning picture all lit up at night!
So many impressions from such a short time, it’s hard to pick a few. From the stories of an ex-sex therapist cabbie, to the old musician guy we met who gambles as a way of supporting his art. ‘One day I needed to make $1500,’ he told us. ‘Did you make it?’ I asked. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I lost twice that.’ It worked out better other times he told us.
We wandered up The Strip one day and this roller coaster shot out from a building above us and did a corkscrew right over our heads. On the street. It’s like this place really is one big party.
We saw the casinos and the wedding chapels just like in the movies, we saw the little recreations of Paris and Venice and New York, fantastically kitsch, I thought, we even saw the most incredible show I’ve been to, Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ. The acrobatics defied gravity at times, incredible. The stage was not a stage at all in the usual sense, it revolved and swivelled and literally became vertical at times with the performers working at every angle! It was mind blowing! There was even a fireworks display inside the theatre!
But of everything, the highlight for me has been the Grand Canyon. We flew from Las Vegas into the canyon by helicopter, and it was one of those once in a lifetime things for me. Part of it was the helicopter ride itself, which is something I’ve always been curious to try. It is such an adrenalising thing as the rotors pick up speed overhead, and you lift off, hovering above the ground. It felt like being in a little dragon fly. A kind of precarious feeling at times, especially if the wind picked up! Exciting moments there, ha, ha.
We flew over the city and over the Hoover Dam and over the infinite desert.
The views were breathtaking. Especially as we descended inside the canyon itself. The landscape is rugged. Beautiful. I was overcome by the size of it all.
We landed inside on a rocky plane, with a view to a river below. They served us champagne and cinnamon pastries, and I climbed down deeper into the gorge (mindful of the rattlesnakes) (!!) and found a kind of terrace of rock which jutted out over the water.
I sat there for awhile and it was amazing. I could imagine being there alone with that silence and that sense of majesty there.
I am so thankful to know God in moments like this, because where would I go otherwise filled up with awe at what I am seeing.
I used the word majesty before, because that is the feeling I had there, in the depths of this canyon with formations of rock high above, its size so overwhelming.
And my heart turned to God with the thought, as majestic as this is, it is only a far echo of Yours. All of this is the work of Your hand, and in Your presence the ‘mountain’ melts like wax, in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth Psalm 97:5.
We are headed north on our journey here in America, and are having an amazing time. I’ve taken a million photos so far and hope to put a slide show together when we’re home, as well as a few along the way :)
So glad you took the helicopter and very jealous that we couldn’t be there to enjoy it with you! I want to see ALL the pics when you get back!
x
Interesting that Vegas has 17 of the tallest hotels in the world – and that these were impressive, but not nearly as amazing as the Grand Canyon. It’s always reassuring to know that we humans can create some pretty fabulous things – but they pale in significance next to God’s handywork!Enjoy the rest of the trip!
Warren and I did the same, except in a single engine plane. The sheer majesty of the area is something else. Bennett and I camped on the edge of the canyon in a pup-tent – that was an experience! Las Vegas is America – all over the top and action. It is somewhere everyone should go once in their lifetime to experience and ‘let go’. The shows and buildings are bigger than life and were such fun to enjoy. It’s like an adult’s disneyland.
I will look forward to the photos when you get home! Have a wonderful trip!
Oh you are in the States!!! How fabulous! Your traveling blogs are always so much fun to read. Thanks for keeping us up to date. Wow. Enjoy!
The ride in the helicopter was great Sands, so fun! Will show you the pics when we get home :) lots of love xo
***
Hi Charls :) Yeah the hotels really did make an impression. On the way back in the chopper, the pilot flew over The Strip with an amazing birds-eye view of many of them! Hope you and Simon and Olivia are well xo
***
Hi Aunty Lorraine – wow, you slept in a tent at the canyon, that would have been an amazing experience! Just being able to spend time taking in the beauty and awe of the place.
We had such a fun time in Vegas! Talk soon, lots of love xo
***
Hi Tawny, I’m so looking forward to putting a few together in slideshow, we’re having such a great time :)
***
Hi @ngie, YAY, yes!! We are having a wonderful time, and have seen so much so far :) I hope to post a few more photos soon, even one of our road trip – hope you enjoy that one as I know how much you love the journey theme ;) xo
Wow, wow, wow :D
So cool! I loved the stories of all the weird and wonderful things! Looking forward to more pics!
Have the best time:)
Oh, wow!
You are seeing a part of my country I’ve never seen before. (Well, I have seen the Grand Canyon from the Southern Ridge but have never been to Vegas or further North.) Wow! What a great way to see the canyon. I can’t imagine it. And then, champagne with pastries to boot!!
Very cool. That is the way to vacation!
Hope you enjoy my country.
God’s magnificent work in the West. He is truly majestic!
Great pictures B! Can’t wait to see the rest. I hope you’re enjoying the rest of your trip. I love yah XO
Hi Rain :) That’s so great,I’m so looking forward to posting more pics soon. I think I’ve driven poor Michael nuts stopping to take a million photos wherever we’ve visited ;) Hope you are well xo
***
Hi Michelle, your country is beautiful! We are having the best time :D
The canyon is so vast isn’t it? So you saw it from the Sounthern Ridge, we came from the West, I think. Such an incredible place. The helicopter ride with the treats in the middle was definitely a highlight :) xo
***
Hi G :) so glad you got to see them, we’re having so much fun! Hope you’re well, love you too friend xo