The rise and fall of the Holy Roman Empire

Busy Wednesday. Meetings with Clay, Russell, Nick re 'Nature Red in Tooth and Claw' all looking good. Also had a lovely meeting with Autumn. Would be great to work with her on cycle three. Will see what happens.

Then off to the airport to pick up Julia - yeeehaaaaaaaaaa! She arrived on time - fabulous to see her.

Up early the next morning and headed off to Vegas alongwith half of the US!

Hours through the desert and then hit the sprawling mass of Los Vegas. It was like entering a city designed by a town planner on acid. Crowded as hell with the weirdest architecture you can find. One moment New York city is in front of you the next Venice, then Paris, then a Graeco Roman monstrosity. It's neon, advertising, fast food and noise pollution. The latter is phenomenal. Everywhere there are loudspeakers playing music, its incessant and non-stop.

Stayed at the MGM Grand in their quieter and more exclusive offshoot the Signature. 15th floor suite with panoramic views over the Los Vegas car parks!




Vegas is weird. Lions housed in greenhouses next to acres of slot machines. It's so sad, as voracious tourists gawk at the poor animals.




In the evening we started off with supper at the 'tournament of kings' a medieval knights show. Julia was ecstatic! I lie so badly. She so wished that the tickets had sold out, alas no. So when she arrived she insisted on ordering a stiff drink to get through the ordeal. Supper for the Lords and Ladies was a mug of ye olde coca cola and a platter of roast chicken and soggy potatoe wedges! It actually was a great laugh with the audience having to cheer for their respective knights during the tournament. We provided a large hurrah for the Irish Knight!




Afterwards we then went to a 'Crazy Horse' burlesque show. Was fantastic. Stunning six foot naked women all very tasteful and stylish.



Day time in Vegas is weird and not that much fun. It turns into one giant shopping mall. We did stop by the Guggenheim gallery at the Venetian. Must confess it wasn't drawing a major crowd like Celine Dion or the Cirque De Soleil.



In the evening we donned our glad rags and headed off for supper at the Picasso which as the name implies was covered in orginal art work by Picasso. An extravagance of an evening with a final bill of US$350 for supper for the two of us!




Checked out of the hotel and headed off to the Hoover Dam. Massive tail backk of traffic, so we were lured off the road by the opportuity of having a helicopter trip over the dam. Was short and sweet and Julia's first time in a helicopter. Breathtaking views of the dam.





Then a long slog back through the desert to LA. The desert itself was lovely and one of the highlights of the trip. Unfortunately we were soon stuck in traffic as the millions flew out of Vegas and back into the concrete of LA.

All in all an interesting couple of days. Not a big fan of Vegas - gambling, shopping, shoes, alcohol and prostitution not really my thing! Have to say it felt at times difficult to see the good sides of human nature as people hedonistically threw money around in this adults playground. In the end came home feeling slightly hollow. An experience. Looking forward to our next holiday when we aim to get away from the cities and visit the national parks.