Las Vegas 16th June 2011

Today we caught the monorail to the other end of the strip. Here we visited the Venetian so we could go on a Gondola ride but the canals were empty for repair. We did go to Madame Tussuad's which was amazing. We all got excited to be standing next to some of our idols. You can touch them and take as many photos as you like. We walked along the strip to Treasure Island, The Mirage and Caesars Palace. Then headed to the Imperial Palace where we went to the auto collection. Danny was very excited to see a car like his in the collection.

Las Vegas 15th JUne 2011

This morning Gemma & I caught a taxi to Mandalay Bay Hotel to select our seats for the Lion King show. We then walked over to the Luxor and had a look around. Caught the tram back to our hotel. The afternoon was relaxation time. The girls and I went to the pool and sun baked and we got a tube to float around the river pool. It was great as it was another hot day. Returned to our room in time to dress and head off to our shows. Gemma & I to Lion King and Jessie & Danny to "Ka". Our show lived up to Gemma's expectations as this is her favorite show of all time. Danny and Jessie also said theirs was spectacular it included fireworks and all.

Las Vegas 14th June 2011

This morning got up early to organise Lion King tickets for Gemma & I. Danny & Jessie are going to" Ka" Cirque de Solie. As we have so much washing built up and no one has facilities for laundry we are heading down to the laundry mat a few miles from here to do some washing. Then we head of to the Outlet stores. These are all in an air conditioned complex which is great as it is over 40 deg. Once again we all do a bit of retail therapy. How everyone is going to fit everything is a concern. The weight is not the problem but car space to cart it around is. After a long day we finally make a stop for me. This is my first true quilt shop stop. It is amazing. It is huge and beautiful. The classroom (one of two) has a horn sewing cabinet with a sewing machine and lap top for every class member. It is amazing. The displays are beautiful and samples are lovely. The staff aren't as friendly as Craft Haven. Ha! Ha! Even Danny and the kids are impressed.

Las Vegas 13th June 2011

Downstairs in the lobby is a lion habitat, this morning they had 2 little cubs in there playing. Gemma loves this bit and we always have to stop when we are walking past. The lions change during the day and different lions visit during the week so each one only comes once or twice a week for a 5 hour stint. The girls and I head down the strip to take in the sights. There are several places selling different receptacles in which to drink alcohol. Everyone walks around the streets drinking. It is killing Jessie as she is not 21 yet. We stop along the way to shop and visit different hotels which have different things on display. There are also plenty of people dressed up in different costumes that are wiling to pose with you for a photo at a cost. As Danny wasn't with us I thought I would pose with the girls. We did a little stop at Tiffany's which delighted the girls.

Las Vegas 12th June 2011

Today we leave Yosemite and head down SE to Las Vegas approx 8 1/2 hours away. We drive through raisin country where all you see are acres of vines. We did do a stop at Walmart and did a little shopping. Danny and Jessie topped up the jewellery. Again as we travelled further down to see desert. Not exactly as how I had imagined it. It wasn't red sand and cactus it was small shrubbery and trees that looked a bit like our yucca's. We arrive before dark. We unload and head downstairs to walk along the strip. Everything is bright, loud and amazing. There is a building dedicated to M & M's (4 stories)where you can buy any colored M&M you can think of. Then a coke shop, again several levels with everything to do with coke, from drinks to collectibles to clothing etc. The list goes on. There are several strange people walking along the strip. Your eyes have so much to feast on that you don't know where to look first.

YOSEMITE June 11th 2011

Well Jessie's love for Yosemite hits rock bottom by the end of the day. It all started with her waking up with tonsillitis. We had to drive 1/2 hour to the nearest doctor. To get into a regular doctor there is a 4 1/2 week wait so we had to go to the community clinic which is attached to a hospital. To get a script for antibiotics at home walk into a 24hr bulk bill clinic and pay nothing and be out the door in 20-30mins. Well over here we had to fill in all this paperwork then wait. Finally a triage nurse takes you in asks all the questions and takes your blood pressure then takes you to a bed in a waiting area. Here you wait to see a doctor. Nearly 3 1/2hours after we arrive a doctor comes in checks her, asks several questions then finally agrees that she has tonsillitis and needs antibiotics. We then go to the front counter sign more paperwork and get a lovely bill of $625- and we can leave. We then head off to the Yosemite valley to see the waterfalls. This is about a 45minute drive but being a weekend the road is gridlock as we near the park. Travelling at 5km per hour we finally find a car park after about 1 hour. Jessie's view of the "hole" is growing by the day. We finally get to see the Yosemite fall which is spectacular. We then catch a shuttle bus to mirror lake but get caught in gridlock that after nearly an hour we decide to hop off and walk back to the car and skip mirror lake. We head back down the mountain to the glacier point road to go to the point where they say the views are spectacular. As it is late in the day Danny decides we will still go up before it gets dark. Along the way we see a black bear and some deer. By the time we hit the top, Jessie is so car sick and feeling physically ill that she is in tears. She gets out just so she can sit and breathe in the fresh air and waits for her stomach to settle . She totally is out of it and does not enjoy the absolutely breathe taking scenes at the top. When she is able to travel we starting descending only to see the sun setting and adding to more spectacular scenery. For three of us the trip up to Glacier Point was the highlight of the day. For Jessie seeing the back of Yosemite was going to be her highlight tomorrow morning.

Yosemite 10th JUne 2011

Today we left San Francisco and headed to Yosemite. On arrival I saw a beautiful green hillside with white lounges and beautiful white veranda homesteads. Jessie saw the same view and thought we had arrived at a retirement village. Our room was old and a little smelly it had character but again Jessie thought it was a hole!! After we were settled we caught the shuttle bus up to the Sequoia Grove. Here some of the trees are up to 1,800 years old.