Welcome to the Fabulous LAS VEGAS Nevada

The atmosphere on the bus was electric as we drove to Las Vegas. After a stretch of National Parks and quaint western towns, we were desperate for a good night out and where better to have a night out than Vegas?

We stopped at Zion National Park, near Springdale, Utah on the way and then a brief break at Wal-Mart was the final hold up before we hit the highway, heading for Sin City.

I had always wanted to drive through the desert into Vegas and now I was doing it, surrounded by new friends with so much to look forward to. The only thing that would have made our entrance into Vegas better would have been to do it in an open-top Cadillac, but you can’t have everything.

We drove past majestic, glittering hotels like The Mandalay Bay and The Luxor before we reached our home for the next two nights – America’s Best Value Inn. It looked like somewhere that Cletus and Brandine might book themselves into before an appearance on The Jerry Springer Show, but we had a bed and a shower, so I was happy.

That evening, after a gorgeous Italian dinner, we drank yard-long cocktails in downtown Vegas and then headed to a little Wedding Chapel to see the fake marriage of Christian and Caroline, two lovebirds from the tour. We drank wine on a balcony at the top of the Mandalay Bay with views of the glittering strip beneath us. And then headed to The Cathouse in the adjoining Luxor, where the beautiful waitresses strutted around in corsets and fishnets, occasionally putting on risqué shows for us dumbstruck mere mortals.

Without intending to I got very drunk and tottered home singing Kelly Clarkson songs with Steph.

The hangover the following morning was not appreciated, especially considering we had planned to spend the day on the rides at The Stratosphere with Brendan, Carly and Aaron.

We took the monorail to The Stratosphere which is right at the other end of the Strip and had a ball going on all the rides twice, despite our hangovers and the blazing sun beating down on us.

After lunch we all split up, apart from Steph and I who decided to stay together and explore Vegas.

As we wandered down the strip we could faintly hear music coming from The Bellagio and so we crossed the road to watch the fountains. As we came closer I began to recognise the song. It was Time to Say Goodbye by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. Not only was it a beautiful song, it was the song that had played at my Grandad’s funeral, just weeks before.

Overcome by sadness, I thought about Gramps, who had been such an integral part of my childhood and teen years. He was funny and quick-witted, loving and so clever and I adored him. Every week when we visited for Sunday dinner, he and Nan would always stay on their drive waving us off right until they could no longer see the car. They would never go back indoors early.

Watching the fountains move in sync with the music was incredibly beautiful and emotional. I was transported straight back to the church on that grey day, surrounded by everyone I loved, minus one. We stood in silence for a few moments and then moved on.

One thing I wasn’t prepared for in Las Vegas was the debilitating heat. Heat that I have never experienced before. It takes your breath away and Steph and I had to keep darting into casino doorways to be soothed by the air-conditioning. By the time we met the others for dinner, I was completely exhausted.

That evening was designed to be a big one, and Jason had arranged for a bar called Sugarcane to provide us with free vodka and mixer for a couple of hours. The bar had been newly refurbished and everyone in it was beautiful and rich. Scantily clad dancers donned the platforms around the bar and waitresses provided us with what seemed like endless vodka and pineapple.

Then we moved on to the most impressive club I ever did and probably ever will see.

Tao was located within the Venetian Hotel and as we were a huge group, we had the privilege of queue jump and cheaper entry.

We walked through a darkened corridor before reaching the main entrance to the club and the first thing that greeted us was two beautiful Japanese girls in a bath of rose petals. The walls were a sexy burgundy colour and the dark lighting added to the ambiance. The club was huge and absolutely packed but we managed to push our way to the raised bar which glistened like it was made of crystal. Drinks were expensive and glitter seemed to drop from the ceiling as R & B music pumped out. Steph and I managed to lose most of the group pretty quickly but were soon directed towards a rooftop bar. Making our way up flights of stairs it seemed no one was in front or behind us, but then we pushed open a door to reveal a massive playground of bars, swimming pools, cushioned loungers and leggy model-types. We joined the group and danced and laughed on what was our last night together.