What happened in Vegas???

A week ago today I arrived in San Diego. Claire, Bella and Ciara picked me up from the train station. I had flown into LA and then took the Amtrak down the Coast of California. It was a beautiful journey with lots of lovely scenery! San Diego is a really lovely city and I enjoyed it but I can't help but notice there is a huge number of homeless people. The Gaslamp quarter is really beautiful and balboa Park was spectacular.

I enjoyed spending a few days there before we headed off on our road trip to Vegas.....where the fun begins....

The drive was done at our leisure, stopping in at a vineyard for a wine tasting!!! Then we drove through hundreds of miles of desert!!!!!! As we were entering Vegas the sun was going down and the lights shining brightly!!

Arriving in Las Vegas was a bit of a shell shock!!!! It is quite an amazing place but yet so void of any sense of purpose. 24/7 365 days a year the casinos are open. There are hundreds of them!!!!! You can't help but feel sorry for people who just spend all their time in the casinos throwing good money away!!! It is obvious the hotels are reaping the profit!!!

Our hotel was nice and very close to Paris and Planet Hollywood. We had a really great weekend perusing the strip and taking it all in. Claire and I were in disbelief at the sheer size of the place.....everything is so grand, bright, fake but made to look so real. Shopping centres are designed to make it look like you are walking outside. Miles of exclusive shops, chandeliers etc...

I did the day trip to the Grand Canyon which was really beautiful. It was a long bus journey but again a beautiful drive through Arizona desert

Next stop San Francisco!!!!!

North Island

Just spent the last week catching up!!!!!!  Old friends of mine Gary, Alma, Daniel and Rachel looked after me and showed me a good time. It was a wonderful time in Wellington.....The kids are great and we had a good laugh together. I miss those guys!!! What a shame NZ is so far away....


The next stop was Hastings in Hawke's Bay. I was going to meet family that I didn't know existed until a few months ago. I was rather hoping they wouldn't be weirdos like some family!!!!! They took me back to their beautiful home and I had the most comfortable nights sleep I have had in a long time!!!!! They are just wonderful and we had a really good time together. I signed my name on their wall although it was difficult to find space on it!!! Thanks Ken and Annetta for being so hospitable. I am so glad that I have met you and look forward to another visit, only for a bit longer the next time!!!!


Then to Auckland!!! Kevin, their son, picked me up and took me to a dinner party at a friend's house where we enjoyed Mexican food and sangria!!!!! A good time was had by all and the hosts were lovely...A Capetonian and an American/Korean....very good company. Inagh was an absolute doll and I wish I had had more time to spend with her but hopefully next time!!!!! As she says, never worry what type of cousin you are, YOU ARE FAMILY!!!!!
John picked me up at their house and took me for brunch! I had never met him before but it was as if we had known each other for years. John spent some time in Ireland a few years back and knew friends of mine Dave and Lynda. It was them that put me in touch with John here in Auckland. They did not tell me how good a cook John is. Had I known that I would have changed my flight....lol. Thanks John for all you have done!!! 

This is my last day in New Zealand before I head to California!!! I am very excited....this is the last leg of my journey. The next flight I get on is bound for home!!!!!