Left the Grand Canyon and drove the infamous Route 66 down to Vegas. Stopped off in a tiny town entirely dedicated to tourist visitors as Route 66 no longer really serves as a main road West. Took array of tacky pics and went to grab the greatest ice cream of all time at the Snow Cap, a hilarious little Shack run by the American equivalent of my dad. Endless puns and “dad” jokes whilst we ordered, “one hot fudge sundae please…..sure madam, male or female? I’m sorry? Nuts or no nuts?!”……can I have a spoon please, *hands me half a spoon* erm do you have a whole. one please…..sure:

Continued the journey and arrived in Vegas after another long ol’ drive. Anticipation was building in the van as to what adventures would unfold.

Drove down the strip to marvel at the hotels, the shops and all the people blind drunk at 2 o’clock in the afternoon!!! My kindve town!

Unfortunately the glamour of the trek meant we were staying in Old town Vegas, down at Freeman Street aka, bloody miles away from everything. Really bizarre considering how many hotels there are on the strip and how reasonable they are. Granted my choice would’ve been a suite at the Venetian, but we could’ve managed a compromise I’m sure!! All the more reason to come back I guess.

We stopped off at our rooms via some time at the casino and had time to chill before dinner and our party bus down the strip. Dinner was an amazing meal at an Hibachi grill, never been to one before and didn’t disappoint. King scallops and real life vegetables (something I’ve not seen much of in the US!) Nice glass of chilled Californian chardonnay and a man setting things of fire are always good components of a meal out! So very Vegas.

Had a big girly getting ready sesh accompanied by some well earned G&Ts and our “out out” playlist before meeting the others for drinking games pre party bus. In hindsight this might have been the point things started to go wrong! Party bus was actual carnage. Too much gin and dancing in a moving vehicle is not a good combo!

Stopped by the sign for poorly lit tacky pics and all back on board for more red cups en route back to the Bellagio. All hopped out to see the iconic water fountain show and some silly dancing!

Jordan had wangled us in to Hyde, the  boutique club at the Bellagio. If idve chosen I would’ve been on Friday night at Omnia to see Calvin Harris, is true Vegas style, girls were $100 cheaper than blokes at a giveaway £25 a ticket,  unbelievably only a couple seemed interested (snore!!!) so we all headed to Hyde instead. Turns out by boutique they mean “tiny and full of exclusive VIP wankers”. Lucky for me I’d already drunk all of the gin in Vegas so didn’t care or notice too much. Half the group left at midnight  (!?!?!) so there were half of the hard-core ones left enjoying the music!

I had somehow been engratiated into VIP without really noticing and lost the others so just made new best friends to hang out with, most notably one half of 80s heartthrob brother duo Bros; Mr Matt Goss. He has a show at Ceasers here in Vegas and was a top bloke. He kept telling me I had a “wonderful aura about me” which was pretty weird, but assides from that him and his friends were great company and we had a fun night dancing into the early hours
Consequence of previous nights actions was an entire day feeling like death! It was our opportunity of a free day to explore and I decided to veto a chilled one at the hotel in favour of wandering the strip and soaking up some more sin city scenery.  Days on my larry have been very few and far between these past 3 months and though Vegas doesn’t lend itself to a lonesome wander I had an awesome day. Shopping, sights, great food, being a high roller spending $10 whole on the slots (won $8 so just played it again as I was bored, lost it, house always wins!). Trying convince group to come and witness one of the famous shows in Vegas was again like blood out of a stone so decided I’d treat myself and top off my day on my own with a ticket to see the one and only Mr Lionel Richie!

One of the few classics left on the list I haven’t seen live, which given what a shocker 2016 has been for musicians dropping like flies, important I got in whilst I had the chance. The show was a greatest hits, and it was banger after banger. We were on our feet for nearly the whole thing dancing away with new friends I’d made celebrating a 50th alongside me. He’s an awesome performer, flawless vocals and for a 60 year old guy, damn has he still got the moves. What a hero.

Perfect way to cap off a great but full on couple of days here in Vegas and has certainly left me wanting to return with my girls as soon  as we can! We’d do things in serious style, 2017, who’s in?! Xx