We waited for our tour bus to the Hoover Dam with me sending Carly chasing back to the room at the last minute to grab our big coats as it had got quite cold...and it was raining...did I mention that? She sprinted back to the room in admirable style and made it back just as our mini bus arrived and our name was called. We had a great driver/guide called Gary who was very informative as he drove us out to the Hoover Dam - he had a very endearing habit of saying "ladies and gentlemen" about a thousand times - but did a great job. He even stopped at the famous sign so we could get a better photo lol.
It took about an hour to drive to the dam which has an amazing history of how it was built during the depression. We did a most informative tour that took us 53 storeys down into the bowels of the dam structure where we saw the massive electric turbines. Lots of stats on how massive a job it was to build the dam, how much concrete was used etc.
Back on top of the dam we checked out the fantastic views - Carly from somewhat of a distance from he edge - I walked out onto the dam wall, we grabbed some (Lipton!) tea, and then it was back on the bus. Unfortunately one of the other passengers took a tumble getting on the bus and twisted her ankle quite badly. It reminded me to be careful - that would be a disaster on a trip!
Our next stop was Lake Mead, created by the damming of the Colarado River.
It was then on to Boulder, the town created when 5000 workers arrived to build the dam, where we spotted some long horned wild sheep. There are thousands of these in the neighbouring mountains and they wander down into the town park at this time of year to feed on the grass...quite a spectacle.
Then it was time to go to the chocolate factory - yay chocolate!!! There was also a great cactus botanical garden there, all set up for Christmas lights, which would be cool at night.
After arriving back in Vegas at 2:30 we spent the afternoon checking out some nearby casinos, shopping, and then it was onto our evening entertainment - The Tournament of Kings. It was quite funny - lots of horses, jousting, we got to eat our meal with our fingers, lots of yelling out etc. lots of shouting Hazzah, cheering and booing.
A bit more browsing about afterwards in some other casinos and then back to the room by 9:00 for a somewhat early night of packing, ready to farewell Vegas tomorrow for our next stop, San Francisco.
No comments:
Post a Comment