Mon 10th Nov - Early start as we were picked up for our transfer to Universal Studios. Here we are inside the park by the House of Horrors ride
Next we headed to the lower lot, first ride being the Revenge of the Mummy
Followed by Jurassic Park - a boat ride with lots of animated dinosaurs
Followed by a 80ft drop
Apart from the studio tour,there was only two attractions that Vicki & Ian remembered - The Special Effects show, and this one - the Backdraft movie stage
After queueing what seemed like forever for The Simpsons ride, we had pizza for lunch. Homer told us to do it
Imatation backdrop of Hollywood just before the studio tour
Even caught up with Spongebob
The studio tour included seeing many sets, Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives, Jaws set, the Earthquake set, and this one from War of the Worlds. Universal Studios bought a real 747 Jumbo Jet and destroyed it for this set
The Terminator 2 3D ride was great - here is Danielle & Connor on the Terminator Harley Davidson
Final picture stop on the way out
This is Universal City Walk just outside Universal Studios - full of shops and restaurants
Tue 11th Nov - Another early start for our bus trip to Las Vegas. Here we are crossing the state line into Nevada which was packed with casinos just over the California border. Strange name for one place - Terribles. Who would stay at a Terrible place??? Americans are crazy!
Checked into the Luxor Hotel - modelled on a giant pyramid
Inside the pyramid was huge -including the casino, restaurants, atrium, shows, exhibitions. Its apparently large enough to house five 747 Jumbo Jets, though you wouldn't get them through the front doors!
We headed out to walk "The Strip". First hotel next door was Excalibur
Then the impressive New York New York
Across the road was the MGM Grand - a collossal building
In between was numerous souvenir shops selling all sorts of interesting things. This bubble machine impressed the kids
Couldn't go past the M&M store - including pick n mix M&M's in many different colours
By this time it was getting dark - sunset is before 5:00pm. This is Paris
We went up the copy Eiffel Tower which gave us some great views over "The Strip"- here looking south
And the view looking north
We also got a spectacular aerial view of the musical fountains at Bellagio
Wed 12th Nov - caught a taxi to the north end of the strip to the Sahara casino where we had breakfast. After spending a bit of time at Circus Circus we continued south. Here is Treasure Island
This is the Venetian with its gondolas and canals
Across the road at Caesars Palace, there was a copy of the Trevi Fountain - nothing like the original!
Yes and we are sorry to report that Donny & Marie Osmond are STILL on at the Flamingo
Bumped into an interesting chap taking his pet Python for a crawl. Its apparently a movie star - you may have seen it in "Snakes on a Plane"
The Bellagio fountain show in daylight this time
A photo of the Luxor at night. The searchlight from the top is apparently visible from space
Thur 13th Nov - had the morning to kill so went shopping at the outlet centre before a final short walk along the strip. Another shot of New York New York, probably the most impressive of all the hotels/casinos

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