Las Vegas and Death Valley

July 2, 2007
family/fun!/my so-called life

Tuesday morning, we had breakfast at the hotel and then left for Las Vegas around 11 a.m. Having driven through the desert for a couple of hours, we felt that Las Vegas was a strong and colorful contrast. We stayed at the “Paris, Paris” and had to drive down the Strip to get there, so we already had the chance to gaze at some of the amazing hotels along the street.

After we had checked into the hotel, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at the Las Vegas Outlet Center :) Basti had been looking forward to the Outlets since the beginning of the trip and he and my Dad shopped quite a bit, while my Mom and I enjoyed just browsing the stores.

We got back to the hotel at around 9 p.m. and had dinner at the “Le Village” – a dinner buffet within our hotel complex. There was a salad bar, different appetizers, entrées and side dishes and delicious desserts [I had an apple crêpe :) yum!].

Afterwards we went for a little walk along the Strip to enjoy “Las Vegas at night” with its colorful light effects and the light hows and performances of each hotel.

 

Wednesday morning, we had a great breakfast buffet and then headed off to see the hotels from the inside. You really have to experience it at least once. Every hotel has a different theme and special interior design. Some of them, especially the newer ones like the “Paris, Paris” and the “Venetian” are exceptionally beautifully designed. The ceilings look like “sky and clouds” and the lighting makes you think that you’re actually outside. It’s amazing!

The funny thing was that the hotels are so well-air-conditioned that it’s pretty cool inside while it’s still about 90 degrees outside. What a crazy world!

In the afternoon we spent a few hours at the beautiful hotel pool, which was located on the third floor above the buzzing noises of the Strip. It was really relaxing :) We had dinner at a little “French Café” and then strolled along the Strip again for a lasting impression of Las Vegas.

Thursday morning, we left Las Vegas to drive back to Los Angeles, but of course we had to stop in Death Valley [which is only about a 1,5-hour drive from Las Vegas].
First stop was at Zabriskie point, a vista point with a breathtaking view of the desert.

 

When we got out off the car, a hot wind slapped us in the face and we didn’t realize HOW hot it was until we got back into the air-conditioned car and instantly started to sweat. It’s a very surreal experience to be in hot temperatures and not even notice that you are sweating, because the sweat immediately evaporates on the skin.

Then we stopped at the “Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch” – an accommodation in Death Valley that I remembered from my Geology Trip in 1998. We had stayed there for one night and even at night temperatures didn’t drop below 90 degrees. I remember not being able to sleep and staying up all night with a few other people bathing our feet in the pool :)

Te most interesting place in Death Valley is “Badwater”, a basin which is noted to be the lowest point in North America with an elevation of 282 feet [= 85.5 m] below sea level. There is a small spring-fed pool of water next to the road, but because of the accumulated salts of the surrounding basin the water is undrinkable, thus the name “Badwater”.

We made it back to LA at around 8 p.m. and pretty much went to bed right away.

  1. kim

    July 2, 2007 at 9:29 am

    can we do all of the things you do now when i’m there in november?
    it sounds so amazing! let’s cross fingers tightly that we find a flight soon and book. you know how impatient i am and i would love to update my countdown! *smooches*

  2. Janet

    July 2, 2007 at 10:20 am

    beautiful pics! I was just at Paris Las Vegas 21-24 June!

  3. silke

    July 2, 2007 at 10:27 am

    That trip sounds so great! :)
    Enjoy the rest of the time with your family! ;)

  4. Maribeth

    July 2, 2007 at 12:42 pm

    It looks like fun, but oh, so hot! Glad you and your family are having a great time!

  5. Symone

    July 2, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    I love Vegas and the desert!!!!! I think I never get enough of it. Loved the pictures.

  6. Antje

    July 2, 2007 at 12:51 pm

    It all sounds just so wonderful!

  7. infineon

    July 2, 2007 at 4:33 pm

    i have a question: what DIDNT you see? whats next? you and your family are all over the place!! :-)

  8. Maren

    July 2, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    The pictures are amazing. I love the one of you and your parents in Vegas. Too cute.

  9. Tanja

    July 3, 2007 at 2:52 am

    What a cool, cool trip. Just for the next trip to the west coast…we have a lot of outlets here in OR with all the big, well-known brands. ;-) And we don’t have “Mehrwertsteuern”….no taxes. That trip in what, one week? Wow…I wanna go now, too.

  10. Susi

    July 3, 2007 at 6:14 am

    Honey, I am so glad that you enjoy your time with your parents so much. I am so happy for you!

    Miss you very much

  11. Sanna

    July 4, 2007 at 4:03 am

    Oh so much fun!!! You look gorgeous in that green top, girlie! What did the boys buy at the outlets?
    Enjoy the rest of the time with your family! I’m sure after a nice trip like that they can’t wait to visit you again soon!!
    smooch

  12. ute

    July 4, 2007 at 7:19 am

    amazing! i need all the information from you when we are going to vegas! that looks amazing. so glad you are enjoying yourself, was jon there? i couldnt see him on the pictures but maybe he was taking them? ;) love ya girl, sanna is right you look damn sexy!!

  13. ilka

    July 5, 2007 at 3:28 am

    wow, those pics look amazing. i agree that once in your life you gotta see vegas. not that i have been there so far. the photo of the desert looks so beautiful. awesome. great that you guys have such a great time. enjoy!

  14. san

    July 5, 2007 at 8:40 am

    infinion… we have a whole trip planned and will see a lot more soon ;)

    sanna … the boys bought shoes, t-shirts and pants ;)

    ute… no, jon didn’t come along. he wanted me to have time with my family and he said that he had to be in the studio anyways.

    thanks all for you comments!

  15. Hemlock

    July 5, 2007 at 4:20 pm

    Looks like a fabulous trip so far!! Great photos!

Comments are closed.

You May Also Like

2004-2024 © THEINBETWEENISMINE