Mon 2 July – 17814 steps 7 flights
We went on a guided tour of Hoover dam in a Hummer that was adorned with red, white and blue stars and stripes. It was a very comfortable ride. The guide, Tom, was an ex US military with the gift of the gab, useful in his profession. He gave us a lot of information all tinged with his personal take. He was entertaining and knowledgeable, but not unbiased nor humble. Surprisingly, his wife of 20 something years was Chinese.
There was another couple on tour with us. I think they were from Charlston, let’s call them Hank and Betty-Lou. My immediate reaction was to class them as Rednecks, but then I did some research into the history and meaning of the word. It was very confusing as it has changed over the years! So rather than labelling them, let’s just say they were God-fearing, hard-working Americans who are tired of the social benefits and freebies given by the government to refugees and others who don’t work, smoke pot all day, have babies to get baby grants etc. They agreed with Tom that the Clintons were corrupt and criminal, Obama was useless and weak and that Trump is doing a great job and will save the day. I did make a small suggestion that perhaps the economical boom they are experiencing now was as a result of things Obama had put in place, but that was shot down. I got quieter and shut up completely when someone made a suggestion that SA had got it right before 1994. David was tjoepstil throughout – wise man.
The tour of the Hoover Dam was excellent and well worth the trip and being out in the heat. We went through the little town of Boulder where the construction people were originally housed. It is a far cry from “Legoland” in Piggs Peak where we were housed when Maguga Dam was built. There was a lot of controversy about building the dam, but thanks to the wisdom and perseverance of a few, in particular Herbert Hoover then Secretary of Commerce, it went ahead. What a vision and what an achievement, especially given that it was thought of almost 100 years ago. Construction started in 1931 and it changed the landscape forever.
When we got back to our RV, we just had time to shower and change. While we waited for the free shuttle to The Vegas Strip, we walked around the casino and I put a dollar into a slot machine and won on my first go. I cashed out. Now I can truly say I am one of an elite few – the winners in Vegas.
We were taken into the back entrance of a hotel called Harrahs. We found the food court, had delicious Chinese food and found the venue for “the Tenors of Rock” which was fantastic. They consist of 5 tenors from UK who sing their versions of rock ballads. It was so good, I bought their CD to play in the RV. I did have to meet them afterwards, what can I say, we all know I am a total groupie.
Then we walked out the front of the hotel and onto the strip. It is an experience that blasts all your senses. First is the hot dry wind and the throngs of tourists brushing past you, neon lights that dazzle, music that blares from different casinos and tourists from around the world, but mostly Asia, talking loudly, inviting smells of food as you walk past the restaurants and the occasional whiff when you get too close to the sewers and the taste of delicious frozen margaritas!
Achievement of the day: Keeping my mouth shut, well almost, in the Hummer.
What I learnt: In 1931, in the depth of the Great Depression, a group of brave people with incredible foresight and vision saved the fate of Nevada which was apparently about to be cut up and absorbed by surrounding states. They decided to legalise gambling and allow people to get a divorce if they stayed in Nevada for 6 weeks. At the time, a divorce would take up to a year, so many people, especially from Hollywood, were able to check into a hotel for 6 weeks and leave as a single person. They needed to be entertained during their stay and Las Vegas bloomed in the desert. To this day, they continue to adapt rules to keep ahead of the game.
Kim's journey 