Vegas baby!

So it's the final part of our trip... and after over 2 weeks of city hopping and sight seeing in USA, it's going to be lovely just chilling out and doing nothing but relaxing...

Oh wait- we're in Vegas! Damn I didn't think about that...

First things first, when we arrived after just a 40 min flight from L.A, we only had to put our bags down in our lush room before my sister, her boyfriend and his whole family arrived too! Joy of joys... there shall be no relaxing on this holiday now!

The hotel we stayed in was called The Aria, and was apparently one of the newest hotels on the strip (we are talking controls that open and close your curtains!) We were on the 8th floor (just high enough for me) with a great view over Vegas and the mountain ranges behind....

Straight away we set about exploring the well known hotels... And first up was the Bellagio! (The one from Ocean's 11 with the fabulous fountains!) 

Inside there was a full room dedicated to autumn (sorry I mean fall...) and halloween with talking trees, scarecrows and gorgeous glass flower displays suspended from the air. They really go all out here (of course they do- it's Vegas!) But all I kept thinking was my God imagine what it would be like at Christmas...

It was great getting to spend some time with my sister again, she's off to live in Dublin in a couple of weeks so we've been soaking up all the time we can sunbathing (yes this is how she sunbathes!) And going out for incredibly delicious (and super filling) meals around Vegas! I am not surprised that most people put on weight whilst visiting here... the food is amazing- and so much choice! 

The next night was very exciting indeed-we got to go and see Penn and Teller the magician double act- and even manage to get a picture with Penn himself afterwards! 

This was even more exciting for me (can you tell by my face?) Because I know them more as Drell and Skippy from Sabrina the teenage witch... which I am ashamed to say I was (and maybe still am) slightly obsessed with!

The next day we went to visit the 'Bodies' exhibition which was in the Luxor hotel... which yes, is in fact a pyramid! (There is also a giant sphinx, an Eiffel Tower and an entire New York skyline scene! Only in Vegas hey...)

Unfortunately we couldn't take any pictures, but a great exhibition it was! All I can say is when you see the effects that drinking does to your liver like that, it makes you never want to drink again! (Well at least for a couple of hours... we are in Vegas after all!)

That evening we went down town to Fremont Street which is the original part of Vegas where it all began! This was my favourite night because it was a bit more familiar and exciting at the same time! They have this huge dome style cover all along it that they do amazing light shows on at regular intervals and

there were bands playing on the side of the street (we had the pleasure of witnessing Yellow Brick Road and Uncle Cracker!)

Plus everything is much cheaper down this side including the drinks ($24 for a round for 9 people!) And not forgetting the casinos too which were the only places I saw with a minimum bet of $1 as apose to $15/20 up at our hotel!

After an easy day by the pool attempting to soak up some rays (im still as pale as I came!) We all got dressed and headed out for the final meal for The Holmes-es. We ventured out to the Paris hotel (where the Eiffel Tower is...) and managed to squeeze into this gorgeous 'Paris scene' style restaurant that made it seem like you were sat outside on a quaint Parisian street! A few steaks and bottles of wine later and we shuffled off to an Irish style bar on the way back to the hotel, there they had a Karaoke (not like any Karaoke I had ever heard over here in England- everyone is super skilled with incredible voices... definitely made me change my mind about getting up!  

After saying our goodbyes, the next day (our last day... tear!) We spent most of the day shopping for last minute presents and last minute bargains for ourselves (well it would be rude not too!) Then we headed off to the pool to bake in the sun again... I refuse to come back and have people say 'oh you have been away?'

Later on we dressed up in our swankiest gear to go for our final meal actually UP the Eiffel Tower... which has the best views over the strip and the Bellagio fountains. It was full of couples who had just got married, holding hands and enjoying the absolutely fabulous food and drink they serve there. 

Coincidentally it was my parents wedding anniversary this day too... so even they were super loved up (I wasn't jealous of all the couples at all...)

It was the perfect end to the holiday :)

With that, we went back to the room and packed- we still had a 12 hour flight the next day (boo!) to get home... but I didn't care... I was excited to get back and re-start my life again after the most exciting and inspiring trip!

Hope you all enjoyed the journey as much as I did- thanks so much for reading this far :)

See you when I get back to sunny England!
Au revoir

xxx