Brrrrr! Boston!

We arrived in Boston, well and truly aclimatised to SoCal weather, in thongs, jeans and tshirts. No problems, our jackets and sneakers are cleaverly packed on top of our suitcase so we could change as soon as we picked it up from the airport. Just one problem.... luggage didn't arrive with us. It was delayed in New York. And we'd just flown the red eye from the West Coast, almost no sleep, and frrreeeeezing cold in Boston!

Fortunately we were able to check into our hotel straight away and this was the view from our window - look cold? It was!


First things first - Fenway Park to get some warmer clothes and check out the home of the Red Sox. But we saw this sign on the way... And this country wonders whats wrong! We sell guns, no ID required, no background checks, CRIMINALS & TERRORISTS WELCOME! WTF!

We took a 'tour' of Fenway park - unfortately there is a bunch of construction so the tour included a slide show - then a peek inside the grounds. And there is Murray in his warm snuggly Boston duggout jacket.

The next day we took a trolley bus tour out and about in Boston. (BTW - our luggage arrived later that night). It was great to see all the fall colours.

We also when to the bar where everyone knows your name... Cheers! I guess they got sick of the people taking home the beer mugs because now they just give them to you! (I wonder if ours made it home safely?)

And of course... the main event of our trip to Boston!

Vegas - Day 2

We started off our second day in Vegas with a nice relaxing breakfast by the Hotel pools, which we could see from our window. Next time I'm having a lot more poolside cocktails because it was amazing down there.



Vegas sure is a difference place in the sober light of day. So what did we do? We found an indoor activity of course!!!! The sun - its blinding me!!! Considering the real Rome is some time away for us, we enjoyed walking around Ceasar's Palace, looking at all the fountains and artwork. We also watched a sound and light show about the battle for Atlantis.





We managed to surface a little while for some more hot Nevada sunshine to check out the Canals at Venice.


Murray talked me out of a Canal ride, and into seeing Madame Tussauds wax works - and it was well worth it! At Madame Tussauds I was interviewed by Oprah, we fooled around in the Playboy mansion where Murray lived out a few fantasies and I became Heff's newest girlfriend, Murray had a Vegas wedding - to George Clooney, and I wore a silly hat like George Bush! Murray had a very serious game of poker, before being given his orders by the Godfather. And I met Elvis!!! (he lives you know!)

After a very ordinary dinner at the very expensive Jasmine restaurant at the Bellagio, we went to Paris (how romantic) where we went to the top of the 2/3 scale Effiel Tower with the most amazing views of Vegas. (and the most terrifying glass elevator!)

After a bit of romance in Paris we were ready to see the Sexy Sirens of Treasure Island.

The Sirens of TI begins with a 17th century clash between a group of beautiful, tempting Sirens and a band of renegade Pirates. With their mesmerizing and powerful song, the Sirens lure the Pirates to their cove, stir up a tempest strong enough to sink a ship, and transform Sirens Cove into a 21st century party featuring daring swordplay, high-diving acrobatics and eye-popping pyrotechnics.

After a big day out we were ready to relax... by playing the pokies of course!!! No big wins - but we had a great time!!! And LOOSERS - we'd been paying for drinks the entire time - no-one told us you drink for FREE if you're gambling! FREE (well... in America "free" means "plus tips").

Star Spangled Banner

The AMAZING and just MEZMERIZING 'Fountain Bellet' at the Bellagio Hotel. It was to Star Spangled Banner and just send shivers down your spine. An absolute highlight of my entire experience here. I could watch it forever.

Vegas baby, here we come!

This is Murray and my new car. Ok.. its actually a hire car. But I take back everything I ever said about Toorak Tractors. I want a Ford Escape.


On our drive to Las Vegaswe ummed and ahhed about going to the Grand Canyon, but decided that something so Grand deserved a road trip of its very own.

But we were surprised to come across the Hoover Dam on our way to Vegas - turns out that you can't miss it! It really is quite a sight!

I had a little surprise for Murray - he didn't know the hotel we were staying at in Vegas. I told him it was something 'okay' just in the middle of the strip. Driving up "Bellagio Drive" I confessed that I had a small surprise... that we were actually staying at the Bellagio Hotel. Murray is a huge fan of Ocean's 11 - and I'm a huge fan of nice hotels... and it really did live up to its expectations! From the the moment we arrived it was amazing.

First of all - on my next trip to Vegas I'm spending a whole less time on the strip and a whole lot more time in the Hotel - You could stay there a week and not leave the Bellagio.

There was a fantastic "Harvest" display set up inside which was great to walk around. There was also theatres, pools, games rooms, pokies galore, all sorts of gambling, enough shopping to have to take out a mortgage on your house, any kind of food you could think of...

But we were pretty keen to get outside and check out the bright lights of the city that never sleeps. And an halloween there was no way this city was sleeping tonight!!!

The fountains at the Bellagio were amazing. I just couldn't get enough of them. You have to watch the video posted on this blog to see what I mean.

It was kind of odd to visit a city where the Hotels are the actual attractions. Its the whole world (in a really tacky way) in one city.

After just a few hours in Vegas the night felt like it was disapearing so fast - and we still had so much to do! Even though we'd only planned for one night in Vegas - we decided to stay for an extra night! We're so glad we did!

Road Trippin' to Phoenix

After a few days hanging out in Santa Barbara Murray and I took a road trip to Phoenix and Las Vegas!

The drive was amazing. I loved driving through the desert and seeing all the cacti - I thought they might be like kangaroos, like you might see one or two of them, but noooo - hundreds! They were everywhere.

The Main Event of our trip to Phoenix was not the Cacti, it wasn't even the beef Jerky. It was of course the Basketball. Our first ever NBA game - New Orlean Hornets at Phoenix Suns. Where we had some pretty awesome seats.

Murray met and got a photo with Boris Diaw, despite being told the chances of meeting a player were next to zero. He also got his Jersey signed - so this is now obviously a sacred item.

I'm not sure what Murray enjoyed more... the actual game or the pre-game entertainment where he got to hang out with some of the Suns Dancers.

The game itself was great though - so much hype and so exciting. And those guys can move! And Shaquile ONiel.... HUGE. GAINT. MASSIVE.