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Leaving the Grand Canyon today it was a fairly long bus ride to the most anticipated location. Las Vegas Baby! Honestly you have not seen 43 grown adults literally jumping out of their skin with excitement on a bus for 7hrs. Was quite funny.
As you see and believe it is pretty accurate. Your literally driving through the desert. Then slowly you come across some rural properties, then you hit the surrounding suburbs then, bang your in the middle of this giant overwhelming aura that is the heart of Vegas. We drove straight to our Motel, which was in walking distance to 'the strip' but was definitely on the ghetto side of the road. There was no Mandalay Bay penthouse suits here.. it was more your seedy pay by the hour motel if you get the picture. Luckily we would be spending the least amount of time here out of any of our accommodation.
So firstly we had approx 2-3 hrs of free time to ourselves before our first group engagement. Everyone headed straight to the strip to explore. My group was luered by the grandeur of New York New York hotel/casino. As its name implies the entire complex is themed on the city of New York. I mean there are huge replicas of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan Bridge out front. All the hotel buildings are themed as New York skyline, empire state building etc. Inside there is new york themed food outlets, entire blocks of recreated new york streets and buildings. Just crazy ridiculous. But the mother of all that we just had to go on. Was the rollercoaster that Runs on the top of the Casino building. I have photos for you to understand. But just crazy hammering along on this rollercoaster on top of a casino overlooking the vegas strip. Great way to kick start our first night in Vegas.
Back to the hotel it's a frenzy as everyone gets all dressed up for our big planned night on the town. We all load onto the bus and head out to an Italian restaurant for group dinner. Probably not the best group dinner we have had, but nice basic food, and good to be together as a group. Back on the bus we headed down the strip for our city tour. Which way to look, the glitz the glam, the lights the spectacle. Just when you think you have seen the biggest and the best, the next one out does it.
I have to say, Blake our Tour Manager is awesome at the city tours. For a 24yr old he is a wealth of knowledge. Just knew everything about every hotel/casino just every fact you could want or imagine. Fascinating, the extravagance the size the money.
So many of the Casinos are themed like you wouldn't imagine. New York New York, Monte Carlo, Ceasars Palace, Luxor (pyramid), Paris Paris the list goes on. Just ridiculous in size and extravagance. Eg; Paris Paris has huge replicas of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triump… got some good photos, but you really gotta see them to believe them. Once almost down the end ofthe srip we jumped out at Freemont Street to watch the light show. Which was a street covered with a dome canopy that stretch 150ish metres. And they project this whole light and sound show onto the roof. As everything in vegas…was just completely crazy. Very cool. Back on the bus and heading to what we thought was the Night Club, it was time for our Contiki Surprise activity, which you guess it was a Vegas Shotgun Wedding complete with Elvis singing and dancing. The funniest 15mins the group had on the whole trip I reckon. Was 2 Random people from the bus, but don't stress it was just a mock up, no legal union.
With everyone now completely buzzed we headed to the newest and largest hotel/casino called Encore by Wynn. This guy Wynn was like the tycoon of the Vegas strip. Had previously built and owned 3 other Hotel/Casino on the strip each one getting bigger and better. This time he had just gone for all out class. No themes not ridiculous lights or anything. Just a beautiful classy establishment. Complete with Ferrari dealership inside to give you an idea. Our arranged nightspot inside the hotel was Club XS, arguable the biggest nightclub in the world currently. Walking in your just blown away it is amazing. But as for the 'Biggest' tag. Totally deceiving. It is centered by a huge pool area and gardens, surrounded by a balcony vip style area that in total gives it its biggest title. But of course all that area was roped off. Still a sight to be seen, and the club/bar part that we were in was still huge. By far the biggest and best night of the trip. Between the 2 buses there would have been 60 of the Contiki Crew, and we straight owned that Dance Floor. Literally 6hrs of Contiki tearing up that dance floor. Was awesome, the VIP locals in their suits, throwing around their flash and money loved it. Of course being such an exclusive club, drink pricess were ridiculous. Like $15 for a basic spirit. But with the help of the American 'free pour' and exotic shots and the vegas hype, everyone got pretty buzzed to just rock it out all night! Many many great photos J
As unfortunately seems to be a reacurring theme there is always some Drama at the end of the night that puts a dampner on things. Not sure if I mentioned this earlier. But we have had guys in cuffs and a slip of the tounge away from jail. We had a girl dislocate her shoulder riding the mechanical bull. And of course your inter relationship domestics and the usual he kissed her and me and him all in the one night amongst the singles. Tonights was probably the most scary though. One of the girls in my close group was actually drugged by some dog act rich boy American. To the point of paramedics and being rushed to hospital. Talking to her after the event, she was a prisoner in her own body. She had all her senses and could see and hear, but her body was paralized. Hell scary, so 3am-6am was a very nervous wait back at the hotel for word on her condition. Thankfully she was safely returned to us and no lasting affects. That aside a great night for all, many stories and very minimal if any sleep.
But that's Vegas right, Sin City, Anything goes, once in a lifetime. Let it all hang out!
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