All you need is love

We are writing this in the Qantas Lounge at LAX...finally getting our money's worth from the membership! We are heading from Las Vegas to Denver after a few days of glitz and glitter. Since we left LA, we drove to Sequoia National Park for a few nights in a cabin in a campground. It was a fantastic period of peace and quiet after the hubbub of LA. There were huge trees all around us, and hardly anyone else there, as they were all in the cities for 4th of July fireworks. We cooked our own meals (a real luxury as any traveller knows) and had a great time. Unfortunately Maddi was struck down with her second viral illness of the trip, so Adam had to do the uphill trail walk on his own. There were no bears, mountain lion or rattler sightings, despite the fear inducing pamphlets in the cabin. The guy running the campground said he had to shoot a bear about 4 years ago after some Dutch tourists aggravated one by taking flash photos (good thinking guys).

The drive to Las Vegas was long and hot, through the Mojave desert. It was a little reminiscent of the Nullarbor, as it is really a scrubland rather than the Sahara variety. We could see the Nevada border approaching easily...one minute desert, the next a huge casino with flashing lights. Vegas really is everything you imagine. The strip is wall to wall casinos, all of them with competing neon signs, buffets, stage shows and nightclubs. During our stay we walked through fake indoor Paris, Venice, New York and Rome. We considered the indoor gondola ride but then remembered we have some self respect and decided against it. The absolute highlight for us was going to see the newest Cirque de Soleil show on the strip (there are 4 others also playing!). It was called Love, and the music was all Beatles, put together by George Martin. We blew our budget on the tickets but both agreed it was worth it, and easily the best show either of us have seen. We were literally on the edge of our seats watching the acrobatics, and were horrified at what they were prepared to do without safety harnesses. Adam definitely had his biggest thrill getting a C6 corvette sideways on a racetrack behind the hotel. All of $11 worth. What a bargain. He didn't obey the "no tire squealing" rule but you only get these opportunities once!

Keep the comments coming. It is lovely to know people are reading, and we are not sending these messages off into cyberspace unread.