To-Do List #17 - Drive Across Country - Part Five

So driving through New Mexico is so incredible. It has to be one of my favorite places I have been to. We left in the morning and a little bit on the highway we pulled off again at a small Native American Arts Center. I purchased a horse hair ceramic vase and a Christmas Ornament, both made by local Navaho. Both are gorgeous peaces. We got back on the road again and drove through to Arizona where stopped at a GREAT rest area - we spent almost an hour there because the outside is all red rock boulders that you can climb on -- I took many photos of course. As we continued on through Arizona the view became more and more spectacular. From the red rock background - and then to the mountains of lush green that you snake through. It was all incredible. The drive was long and tedious -- but we finally made it to the turn off to Hoover Dam -- where we stopped and ate dinner. From there it was about an hour drive to the Dam (yes, I know mom, start laughing) as we were driving, the sun was setting over the mountains which just made the view that much more incredible! As we drove higher in elevation there was a turn off. We stayed there for a while, taking photos of the gorgeous sites - all the edgy Arizona Mountains turning different shades of blue. It was beautiful. We continued on the few miles to the Hoover Dam. Stopped at the Dam lookout (haha - yes I know...) and stayed there for a while -- by now it was completely dark and the lights of the Dam were up - it was spectacular, how it was reflected in Lake Mead... It was really really amazing. As we were there and I was taking my hundred and one photos - - a group of Bikers come riding down the road -- as they get closer we notice they were playing Uptown Girl! HA! Here are about 10 bikers, clad all in leather and jeans with there bandannas -- riding along to Uptown Girl! As they got off I noticed they spoke another language, maybe German. I watched them for a while as they took there pictures and when they continued on there bikes, the first bike to turn on blared "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" I AM SERIOUS! What a great visual!

We, I, ME - who is afraid of heights, I drove over the Hoover Dam -- my hands were clenched to the wheel! When we got to the other side of it we hadn't even realized we were driving over it. oops. Oh well!

As we were leaving the Hoover Dam we started noticing that the car was running a tiny bit hotter than normal-- so we stopped for a while. We have discovered that LJs car likes to go faster to get that air on his engine. So we started up again and drove the half hour to Las Vegas! LJ has never been before and I wanted to drive down the strip but with the car and the stop and go traffic down there -- I opted out of that. We drove downtown to the El Cortez Hotel and Casino on Freemont St and got ourselves checked in. I am always pleased with this hotel- I know it's not on the strip - but when you stay they always give you a two night free stay good for the next few months and they always upgrade you. So our room is a Tower room and it is gorgeous -- It has two queen beds, a sitting room, a desk, a huge dresser - it's beautiful! We decided that we were exhausted after that long day of driving and we enjoyed going to sleep without having to worry about another day of driving the next day! We are here for 3 nights.

Viva Las Vegas!