4hours, 6000 feet and 60 degrees. and no room????

Day 4: Tuesday, July 20, 2010... 4hours, 6000 feet and 60 degrees.  and no room????

Okay so we got up packed up all of our stuff and had breakfast in the Tropical Breeze Cafe in the Flamingo.  Then we went to the UPS store in the hotel and miracle of miracles, hubby's CPAP (breathing machine) arrived!!! yay.  He'll be able to sleep and breath!!!!  We packed up the car and headed out toward the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  When we left Las Vegas, temperature was 118 degrees.  The trip was fantabulous.  Different scenery the whole way.  We never knew what was around the next corner.  We went via the Valley of Fire State Park in through the south entrance, out through the north entrance.  Beautiful scenery.  Our route took us briefly through the state of Utah.  Finally we entered the Kabib National Forest... but there were no trees... How can there be a forest with no trees?  Just lots of rocks.  

Wait... We went around another curve in the road and poof... trees!!! Okay now we were in a forest and getting close to the Grand Canyon North Rim.  

We finally reached the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim.  We still a little bit of driving left before reaching the lodge.  Lovely scenery.  lots of trees and meadows (and signs warning people not to drive in the meadows, must be a problem).  As we were driving, we came across a herd of Bison in a meadow.  Magnificent animals.  We stopped and took pictures.  We reached the North Rim and the Grand Canyon lodge and guess what the temperature was??? 58 degrees.  Yup.  We dropped 60 degrees in just 4 hours between Las Vegas and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon which has an elevation of the North Rim is over 8000 feet above sea level compared to the 2028 feet above sea level of Las Vegas. so we went 4 hours, 6000 feet up and dropped 60 degrees....Cool!!! (literally) We tried to check into the lodge. They had no record of our reservation.  I had a copy of the reservation, but they still didn't have a room for us in the motel where we were planning on staying.  They did have a nice cabin with a view of the rim (and was really close to the main lodge building) so we took that. Good thing they had something, because, they are the only place to stay on the north rim, and that wouldn't have been good.  We would have been sleeping in our car.  So we made a dinner reservation in the main dining room and gathered up our stuff out of the car and got settled in to our cabin.  We then went to the lodge and walked around taking in the view of the rim.  The lodge has paths and over looks of the canyon.  Beautiful and there were rainbows over the canyon.  We then went to a ranger talk in the lodge about bats.  It was very interesting it was time for dinner.  We ate at the lodge dining room very good. We were next to the window overlooking the canyon, but it was dark, so it didn't matter anyway. The food was delicious.  Then back to the cabin No tv and no internet, not a single luxury, like Robinson Caruso... wait that's Gilligan's Island.  We did have a gas fireplace and hot water.  It was rustic, but really nice. Early to bed.  

Freedom and Red (hot as fire) Rocks

Day 3: Monday July 19, 2010  Freedom and Red (hot as fire) Rocks
We dropped off my darling son at the airport for his flight home.  Then... freedom!!! We had breakfast at an Atlanta Bread Co. near the airport.  We drove out to Red Rock.  I think they are red because it is as hot as FIRE out there.  The ranger said no hiking, too hot.  Darn, I so wanted to hike out into the desert and die of heat exhaustion...  We toured the exhibit area, which was really nicely put together, very informative.  It's a fairly new exhibit with lookouts over the desert and red rocks.  Then we took the drive through the red rocks.  It was a nice drive through the desert.  We then headed back to Las Vegas and more touristy sightseeing. Lunch at the Mandalay Bay buffet.  Not as large as some of the other buffets, but the food was very good. After lunch we took the monorail and went to Luxor (pyramid shaped) and then to Excalbur.  It was very interesting walking through these hotels.  We then took the shuttle back to the Mandalay Bay where our car was parked. We went back to our hotel and went to the famous Flamingo hotel pool.  It's a pool and it's famous and we did swim in it.  After our refreshing swim we washed up and went down to the Venetian.  We walked through the mall area and had dinner at a quaint, family run Italian restaurant.  Very nice.  We then walked around the Venetian some more and then went to Walgreens... Oooh, Walgreens... bought a couple of things we needed and 1 souvenir.  Oooh, souvenir!!!  Then we walked across the bridge over Las Vegas Blvd.  We could see the Treasure Island show from the bridge and the Mirage volcano a little from the bridge.  We walked down to the Mirage and walked through the hotel.  We tried to find the volcano, but couldn't (no, I don't know how we could have missed a volcano, but we did) and we were too tired to keep looking.  We walked back to the Flamingo and that is the end of day 3.  Oh, by the way.  If you are wondering if we gambled. Yes we did.  When we were tired, we would look for some place to sit.  But, Las Vegas has no place to sit.  So we would sit at the penny slots and play for a little while and rest and cool off.  We didn't win anything.   We didn't spend too much money on our "sit and cool off fee"  People have told me that they bring you free drinks when you sit at the slots, but I was never offered any and didn't see anyone else get one either.  I guess we didn't sit and play long enough in one spot to partake of the free drinks.

Summer Trip: Day 2: Day of Sun(day) and heat

Day 2: Sunday, July 18, 2010 Day of Sun(day) and heat

We did your typical sightseeing in Las Vegas.  Have I mentioned that Las Vegas is VERY HOT?  Dry heat they say.. I don't care, dry, wet 118 is hot and yes I did sweat (I was told you don't sweat).  We carried our own water bottles but there were people everywhere selling cold bottled water for $1.  They seemed to be selling a lot.  We bought our water for $3 for 24 bottles.  If they bought their bottles at a similar price, they can make over 80% profit on each bottle.  I kept wondering what they sell during the winter months??? hot chocolate???  Okay, back to our vacation. After breakfast at Margaritaville, we traveled the strip visiting many of the famous hotels. (and look pictures!!!)

We took the monorail and rode it to the end where we saw the Stratosphere and the Sahara.

 We got back on the monorail and went to the Imperial Palace and Harrahs stop and walked through. Then we crossed the street and  went to the Caesars Palace Forum shops. This mall is very interesting and beautiful.  We walked through to Caesars Palace.

 

Next, we went to the Bellagio. We saw the glass designs and the magnificent conservatory.

We went outside and spent some time watching the fountains dance.







We returned to our hotel and cooled off for a while. We went to see the famous Las Vegas sign. It's a sign and it's famous and we did stop and park and take pictures with the sign.
 



We then went to dinner at the Rio hotel.  We waited in a really long line for a while to get in to what is the larges buffet in Las Vegas, the Carnival buffet. It was very good, lots of variety.

After dinner we drove around, went out toward Nellis air force base. We dropped my son's friend off and drove back via Las Vegas Blvd.  This gave us an opportunity to see some of the older hotels and the famous wedding chappels north of the strip.  Then back to the hotel for relaxing evening.

Join me next time for Day 3: Freedom and Red (hot as fire) rocks

Summer Trip: Day 1: "Snacks on a Plane"

Okay, so here I am starting my blog about our trip to Hades (Las Vegas) where temperatures were around 120 during the day and 90's at midnight... and then Grand Canyon.   I have to figure out the best way to add or link photos. But first.  Let's talk about the trip.  On Saturday, July 17, 2010, we woke up at 3am Eastern time for our 7am flight. We made it to the airport and checked in without any difficulty.  Our flight left at about 7am and we arrived about 9am Las Vegas time.  I brought snacks "Snacks on a Plane!"  We took the bus to the car rental place.  All the car rental agencies are housed in the same off site building.  We got our car (we got to pick out our own car, which we have never had the opportunity to do on any of our other trips) We found our way out of the car lot and made our way to some apartments that son wanted to see. Not impressed with apts.  We then tried to find someplace to get distilled water for hubby's CPAP machine.  Found a CVS and bought the distilled water and some drinking water bottles. While we were checking out some guys were talking about how someone was killed near by.  "Great" I thought.  Then I thought, "Great, they don't seem too surprised by the news"  Okay, so checked out and headed to the strip and to MGM to eat lunch at rainforest cafe and to meet Jason's friend.  Lunch was only so-so.  If you are in Las Vegas, skip the restaurant, it's a chain and you can probably find one near your home.  I'll review the places we ate as we go. We left MGM and traveled to Flamingo hotel and tried to check in, but it was too early.  We were able to pre-check in and we had to wait for our key.  By this time we have come to realize that Las Vegas has no place to sit except at slot machines and games in the casinos.  I'm sure that is planned so people will sit and play.  We managed to find a place to sit and wait about 1 hour.  Then I went to wait on the line to get my key (yes they do have a special line for keys) And there was this really drunk guy and I'm thinking "this guy is going to fall down" and sure enough, he falls down.  Then he asks me to help him up.  Right... I told him I have a bad back and can't help him.  Somehow he managed to get himself up and stumbled away.  I got my room key and we went up to the room. 9th floor. Nice enough room with an ok view.  We could see the flamingoes from our room.  We relaxed and we ate at the Flamingo buffet.  It was very good.  We then took the monorail to the MGM for the concert of the year: James Taylor and Carole King.  A fantastic concert!!!!  Once in a lifetime event.  We then returned to our hotel room and crashed.  By this time we had been awake over 24 hours!  This actually helped with jet lag because we were awake so long that by the next morning we were on Las Vegas time.  Unfortunately, we also found out over night that hubby's CPAP machine was broken.  Oh no!!! How to get a replacement, stay tuned for Day 2. Day of Sun and Heat....

Hi ho, Hi ho, off to college we go...

Took my baby to college over the weekend.  Interesting events, lots of Murphy's Law moments. I packed stuff in my car in the afternoon and then we packed both cars Thursday night. I put the hand cart in my car and it took up most of the back seat so I couldn't fit as much in there as I wanted. Hubby kept saying he wanted the small "filler" type stuff for his trunk because he had small empty spaces.  I told him they were "filling" the small empty spaces in my trunk and what use would moving them be.  We did move around stuff in my car and rearranged some of the small spaces into a bigger space for a box.  The drive was uneventful, except the last stretch which is really boring and sleep inducing. Maybe I should record it and play it back the next time I can't sleep.   Had to stop and stretch my legs and wake up.  We made it to Tallahassee.  Weather was great all the way, that is until 1 block before the dorm and then the heavens opened up.  Decided the best place to park was in the parking garage, which, fortunately, the dorm allows anyone to park in during the week when kids are being dropped off.  I got a fairly good spot near the covered walkway from the garage to the dorm.  We took the rolling suitcases and away we went to check in.  Check in went ok, except they didn't have keys to the room, so we had to wait for them to make a set of keys.  Roommate was in room, so we went up to drop off suitcases.  Met roommate and her parents.  Found out air conditioner wasn't working and it was stuck on 61, brrrrrrr.  Roomate's parents already put in maintenance request.  We went and got a cart, not just any cart, but the huge 3 tiered cart to bring our stuff.  We managed to get everything from the car onto the cart (didn't need the hand cart, oh well).  Brought the stuff into the room.  Found out that the dorm no longer allows the beds to be raised to highest level due to insurance.  So the drawer bins that we bought and had already filled wouldn't fit under the bed.  Found out we could use bed risers. So put bed risers on list of things to buy.  Then we went to Walmart, where they were having the back to school maddness sale (or something of that nature) public schools up there started Monday also.  Managed to get everything we needed except bed risers, because nobody who worked at Walmart ever heard of them. Went to check in at hotel.  Gave us a room on 2nd floor (no elevator), schlepped all stuff up stairs to find out room not fit for occupancy, trash, no tv, dirty etc.  Called down stairs (after banging on broken phone) they said to come back to office.  Left my baby with the stuff and went to office.  they gave me another room across the street and up stairs.  I said, let me think about this.  After much trouble canceling reservation (had to have hubby call since reservation was in his name, which wasn't easy since hubby was driving), then they said they would upgrade room for same cost, had to have hubby call back and make new reservation before we could get the room.  Room across the street but on bottom floor.  The parking lot was only partially paved.  Very interesting.  Got stuff in room and went to dinner.  Dinner went well (surprise!).  Dropped baby off at dorm and went to "BED, BATH AND BEYOND" (using my buzz lightyear voice).  Found bed risers... woo hoo.  Went back to hotel and then hubby arrived and it was late, we went to sleep.
Day 2:  Got up and had breakfast.  Squeezed into car loaded with stuff.  Headed to dorm, texted daughter and woke her up, roommate still asleep as they were up until 3am... Hubby and I headed to Walmart.  Thought about taking daughter, but, unless we strap her on the roof, no room in car for her.  Made it to walmart and bought a few things.  Different walmart from day before, they had lots of bed risers... go figure, but "BED, BATH AND BEYOND" was cheaper.. Yay.  Hubby in a rush, didn't want stuff in car to be stolen.   Forgot stuff... oh well.  Daughter called.  roommate awake.  we headed back her way.  Parked in garage.  Hubby hates the garage, tight corners.  Got mega cart from dorm and loaded that and hand cart (which somehow we managed to fit into hubby's car from my car) and made 1 trip to dorm room.  Spent rest of morning setting up stuff (bed risers worked!).  air still not fixed.  brrrrr.  went out for lunch, brought hand cart back to car.  Hey did you know the hand cart comes apart for easy storage??? we do now!!! takes up much less room!!! oh well... we still managed to fit everything into the car.. well everything except for the box we forgot... yes we forgot a box at home. Not to worry, the missing box has been found and shipped to dorm. More unpacking and setting up dorm room.  Then we went to dinner to Ghengis Grill.  It's a mongolian grill.  You put your meat, veggies etc. in a bowl, pick spices, pick sauce and then they grill it for you.  Darling daughter didn't want to go.  But, we went anyway.  During dinner she tweeted that Ghengis grill was awesome..  and she didn't want to go....  after dinner dropped daughter, who now love Ghengis grill back at dorm and hubby and I went to hotel to relax.
Day 3: Stopped by dorm to say good bye to my baby.  Baby is hungry, got to take baby out for breakfast.  Hubby said goodbye and went on his way.  By the time we decided where to go, it was 11:30 and we ended up having lunch at golden corral.  After breakfast I was going to take baby back to dorm, she asked if we could go to the college and see where her classes will be.  Hubby didn't believe that it was daughter's idea.. "stop mother henning"  he said.  I put daughter on phone who reassured hubby that it was her idea.  We went to school and scoped out location of all her classes.  Started heading back to dorm to drop baby off.  She didn't want to go back to the dorm.  Ok, so we couldn't just drive around all day, so I suggested mall.  She picked Governer's Square Mall.  So off to the mall we went.  Walked around for a while, and hubby would be proud, we didn't buy anything!!!!  Then I dropped my baby off at the dorm and waved goodbye and started the long journey home.  When I got home I found the missing box, and told my husband "I'll be back, I'm just going to go drop off this box at the dorm"  He laughed.  Somehow he didn't believe me...  Okay, so I fought the urge to jump in the car and deliver the box in person.  Box mailed out Monday.  Daughter texts me all the time and we webcamed last night (is that a word? "webcammed", it is now). The marvels of technology.  Well I'm sure I forgot some interesting point that I'll have to revisit.  Oh yes, by the way, the air conditioner was fixed yesterday (Tuesday).  Daughter and roommate are now properly defrosted. 

Until next time,

BBUMH

PS:  one of these days I really will sit down and record the Hades/Grand Canyon adventure.

Yo Quiero

Funny story.  A while back my hubby went to get tacos.  Since I don't eat meat I had him order tacos with no meat and no beans.  I was expecting tacos with lettuce, cheese, tomato etc. like a salad.  I opened the taco package to find empty taco shells.  Yes, empty taco shells.  So, my wonderful hubby took the empty taco shells back.  They told him they were a little confused by the order.  So instead of asking hubby what exactly I wanted, they just gave me empty shells.  Yo Quiero (I want) something in my shells, Please.

BBUMH's New Blog

Here it is, my new blog, a place where I can share all the stuff floating around in my head.  Fun, fun, fun.  Like our summer trip, you never know what's around the corner.  Speaking of our summer trip, one of these days I will dedicate a blog to our trip to Hades (AKA Las Vegas) and the Grand Canyon.  There is so much to tell.  But I think I will wait until I have at least 1 person following me before I delve into that.

Take Care,

BBUMH