Las Vegas Fun

Trip Days Twenty Eight and Twenty Nine

The next day we enjoyed a lazy morning and then went to play in the hotel pools and lazy river for an hour or so before going out on the strip but this time in the opposite direction. I braved a a roller coaster ride around New York and then we hopped on the monorail to Mandalay Bay and a nice lunch at the Noodle Shop. Coming back we stopped off in Egypt and visited the Sphinx and the Pyramid of Luxor. Back to our hotel for a hour or so before we were collected for the short ride to the heliport and our night flight over the city.

Lazy River, Monte Carlo Hotel, Las Vegas

Roller Coaster around Manhattan, Las Vegas

New York sights, Las Vegas

Lunch at the Noodle Shop, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

The Sphinx at Luxor, Las Vegas

Inside the Pyramid of Luxor, Las Vegas

Rows and rows of slot machines in the hotels, Las Vegas

We had booked the earliest flight at 20.00 hrs and GC was really excited so no problems trying to keep her awake. We joined another family of three and were escorted out to our helicopter by the pilot. Six 'copters were taking off tonight. They were all very close to the buildings and one by one they lifted off the ground a few feet and then slowly moved down a predetermined route for a couple of minutes before turning and then heading for the skies.

It was incredible. There were private planes moving around on the apron near us and big transatlantic passenger jets landing and taking off not too far away. Very impressed with the amount of control these pilots had on what was quite a blustery day. We all had a headset and mic' which meant we could talk to each other and ask questions of the pilot. This was a mixed blessing though as the little boy of the other family just kept squawking "mama" repeatedly. The parents did nothing to quieten him and eventually the pilot had to ask them to move the voice activated mic' away from his mouth.

Las Vegas at night from the air was spectacular and we got to fly down the strip round the Stratosphere and back again - a ride of twenty minutes or so. The three were up in the front and GC sat next to the pilot. She loved it all. After the flight we asked to be dropped off at the Bellagio for a fountain display before getting a late supper and then taking a very tired little girl back to the hotel.

High as a kite waiting for the helicopter ride

The view from our helicopter, Las Vegas

We packed while GC slept. We had a 04.45 hrs alarm call for the morning as our flight went at 08.05 hrs. Nothing direct to Orlando during the day so we had a couple of hours to Dallas Fort Worth, an hour or so transfer and two and a half hours to Orlando. Everything went smoothly and GC caught up on some sleep on the plane. Picked a hire car and then in just under an hour we were at my cousin's place in Sandford.

Time for a week of family fun in Florida!

Catching up on some sleep on the way to Orlando