The US has many wonderful places to visit and the Grand Canyon was on the 'must see' list since forever. We decided to fly to LA and stay in Hollywood - do the touristy stuff and head by car to The Grand Canyon via Las Vegas.
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| Hollywood walk of fame |
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| The Chinese Theatre |
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| Santa Monica Boulavard |
After visiting some friends in the hills outside LA at Callabasas, we set off on the 700 KM drive to Vegas. The scenery was hot and dry in northern California and during a short stop for coffee, we thought our eyes were deceiving us from the relentless sun, when we spotted dozens of tanks and war memorabilia. The fact that it was also Memorial Day in the US, the day when all soldiers who lost their lives serving their country were celebrated, made this scene all the more bizarre. General Patten's Memorial Museum stand where hundreds of thousands of soldiers were sent to train for desert warfare in WW2.
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| General Patton War Museum |
Seven hours later we arrived in the hot, dry and windy desert city. Las Vegas is an experience. A huge eye-popping over-the-top indulgence where anything goes. Hotels with thousands of rooms - endless one armed bandits and flashing advertising bombard the senses. Accommodation is cheap to entice you to stay!
Caesar's Palace, Bellagio and zip lining on the Strip. Indoor pool complete with sharks - Las Vegas has everything and more....
Moving on from the madness of Vegas, our next stop was the massive Hoover Dam. Las Vegas consumes vast quantities of water as does many surrounding towns and cities. Creating the massive dam and Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US, on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona ensured that this desert region would have a plentiful supply of water.
Next Stop - The Grand Canyon. Nothing can compare for the incredible views of the first sight of the Canyon. A spiritual place for millennia much revered by native Americans.
Next stop Phoenix Arizona. A long drive took us to the luxurious Scottsdale for a few days R&R. The hot dry Arizona desert was a stunning backdrop for the last stop on our mega-trip. Painted wagons and cactus plants decorated our accommodation.
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| Phoenix Arizona |
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| Scottsdale Arizona |
And so back to Long Beach, California before our return home. The last day trip to the Mission San Juan Capistrano with relatives finished off a memorable and happy holiday that will rank among the top 10 places to see.
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| On the road - Route 66 |
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| Queen Mary Long Beach |
Caesar's Palace, Bellagio and zip lining on the Strip. Indoor pool complete with sharks - Las Vegas has everything and more.... 
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