A new Vegas Day dawns....

Now, when it comes to a straight choice between a bus and a helicopter - E will always choose to keep his feet as close to the ground as possible.
There was just no way I was going to get him up there.

I know this, particularly, from his reaction to one of the card snappers.
'Wanna woman ? ' hissed the snapper ...'No? wanna helicopter?' ..
'I don't think I fancy either of those rides' said E.

With time running out, today I am going to be selfish. I want to shop - and I want to see the Canyon.

The Signature reception can get me onto a sunset trip late that afternoon with Sundance Helicopters . I figure that the Signature won't recommend any firm that may kill their customers and sign up. $330 + tax for a couple of hours.... seems reasonable to me for what I hope will be a once in a lifetime experience....

In the meantime I am going shopping, while E sets off happily for the Deuce and a trip downtown. ( He's a big fan of public transport so we are both happy.)

Hit the Forum shops . What I want is good quality American merchandise that I know costs double at home - so first, I run amok in Gap. I have long suspected that Gap just switch the $ for a £ on the tags in the UK. So I stock up on some winter basics. After all, - it all seems like half price to me !

Prowl the Forum 'streets' and end up in my favourite skin care treasure trove ...Kiehl's ! ...Wonderful Kiehl's whose products are also double the price at home. Load up my basket and by the end I feel like the staff are my new best friends. ....or maybe they were just pleased that I bought everything they suggested!

Head back to The Signature, satisfied with my fix of retail therapy.

E is back and puts the kettle on. Actually he doesn't. As we have been unable to work out how to boil water in the coffee maker for tea - we have been using a saucepan.
So E puts the saucepan on and I ask him about downtown.

With a faraway, misty eyed look - he tells me. At last - here was the Vegas of his memories...or as near as dammit. He'd loved the Deuce, had a bit of a gamble, abit of luck and pronounced the tables more to his liking.
I had a vision of him strolling into town like Clint Eastwood. The Man with No Name - and a bus pass in his pocket...

By now it's time for my Big Canyon Adventure.
'If anything happens to me' I say to E ...'I want you to know you've been a great mate '...
....and with that, I run down to reception to wait for my pick up....... leaving E looking faintly worried.......