Las Vegas, Nevada

We stayed in "Sin City" or "The City that Never Sleeps" for 3 nights at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club, with a three day rate for a total of $238. for Hilton Honors members.  Yes, we had to listen to the 2 hour presentation, but we got a voucher for a future stay at any Hilton Hotel (up to $200.), 2 tickets for "Las Vegas, the Show" which was fantastic, dinner for two at Pampas, the Brazilian Restaurant, and 15,000 points on our card.  Not bad for $238. and a 2 hour presentation.  The Hilton is great, the pools and 4 hot tubs were relaxing and the food and drink at the poolside bar was great.  The room and the view from the 36th floor was nice.

At Circus Circus we gambled and only lost $50.  At The Venetian we took the gondola for a romantic float and got serenaded three times by our gondolier Francesca.  We ate at Buddy V's Italian restaurant, which was superb.  The restaurant is owned by Buddy Velasco, you might have seen him on his TV program "Cake Boss."  We went to the top of the Eiffel tower at Paris Hotel & Casino and watched the dancing waters at the Bellagio across the street from up above.  We also went to the Bellagio to see the dancing waters at night and to see the butterfly garden, the beautiful art and ceilings during the day. We visited Caesar's Palace, The Luxor, Mandalay Bay, and The Excalibur.  We ate outside Planet Hollywood at P.F. Chang's and got to people watch, and there are some strange people in Las Vegas. The volcano at the Mirage was quite a show, and we were as close as you could get and you really felt the heat.  As they say, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."  Some people really act the fool in Vegas, most of them under 30 years of age.  Where else can you get solicited for prostitution even when your with your wife, walk the street with alcoholic beverages, see young ladies dressed so scantily that their mother would drop dead if they saw them. All in all, with the exception of some sore feet from walking,  it was a great visit.

Our Venetian Gondolier Francesca, an Italian with an amazing voice

In the gondola at The Venetian

                                                                            Our Gondolier Francesca serenaded us 3 times

Debbie enjoyed her eggplant lunch at Buddy V's

Caesar's Palace was beautiful inside

Debbie was sober, riding a goat at Luxor

We went all the way to the top for a great view

The view of the Strip from the Eiffel Tower

The new Ferris wheel, 40 people per car!

                                                                                          The volcano at The Mirage

                                                                                The dancing waters at The Bellagio                                                                                  

Across from New York, New York

Debbie at the M & M Store

Inside the mall called "Shops at Planet Hollywood Marketplace"

The Excalibur

The glass flowered lobby ceiling at the Bellagio,

The Bellagio and the Vegas skyline from the Eiffel Tower

                                                                                                                   
                                                                   

Hoover Dam, Boulder City, Nevada

On our way to Las Vegas for 4 days, we veered over to the Hoover Dam for a view of the exterior and the views around the dam. We did not take the tour, as we already took tours at the Shasta Dam in Northern California, Bonneville Dam on the Columbia river that connects Oregon and Washington, and the biggest of them all, Grand Coulee Dam in Washington.  It was very busy on the day we visited, but we did get some good photos. The water level behind the dam is very low, due to the 2 year drought in the southwest. I'd estimate that it's at least 40 feet below its high levels.

                                                   

The Lake Mead side of the Hoover Dam, before the spillway

Lake Mead and the drought reduced water level

Not a drop of water is going over the dam.......it's too precious due to the drought.

                                                                         
       

Debbie.......Hawaiian Fashionista

                                                                         

My handy work

A drive around Oahu.

On Sunday we rented a car and drove the rain slicked roads around the island.  We headed for the north shore in hopes of seeing some surfing.  The storm raised the waves to 30 feet high or more.  The red flags were up, warning surfers not to try their luck, but a few brave souls tried to surf, without much luck.
                                                             

The surf washes away the shoreline

In the rain, this guy stacks rocks on a cliff

Surfs Up!

This guy tried but failed

Ioloni Palace

The statue of King Kamehameha who unified the islands.
Have you ever seen this statue on the opening credits of Hawaii -50?

The many food trucks of this guy who has a bit part on Hawaii-50.

                                                                   

Dog the Bounty Hunter was not open when we stopped by.

             

Pearl Harbor

We celebrated the honor, valor and courage of the World War II US servicemen on this very special tour of Pearl Harbor. This nostalgic journey takes you to the two places that marked the beginning and the end of the war for the United States, the USS Arizona and the USS Missouri. At the site of Pearl Harbor, we visited the Arizona Memorial where the remains of the USS Arizona lie silent beneath the waves.  We started the visit by going through the museum and watching a 28 minute film about December 7th. Then on a boat to the Arizona Memorial. Debbie and I both through flowers from Debbie's two Leis into the water above the Arizona to honor those 1127 who died there.
I met a survivor of December 7, 1941, Paul Rodriguez, 94 years old, and I purchased his book.  We saw the USS Missouri from a distance, as well as the submarine, USS Bowfin, but did not board either one.  Over 2400 died that day, almost half on the Arizona. This was a very emotional day.

Heading out to the Arizona Memorial

Almost there

There

Debbie honoring the brave who paid for our freedom

I honor those who died here

The coral crusted Arizona

Diesel fuel still leaks from the ship, 73 years later

The list of those who died on the USS Arizona. Look to the bottom left of the photo above, this is part of a list of those Arizona sailors who survived the tragedy, but chose to be buried here, at sea, to be with their brothers.  That is true brotherhood.

The anchor in the photo weighs 10 tons.  When the armor piercing bomb penetrated the deck of the Arizona, and blew up the forward ammunition room, this anchor was blown over a quarter of a mile away.

The USS Missouri, where the surrender of Japan was signed.

Debbie and I with Paul Rodriguez, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

                                                                         

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki

The cruise is over.  Seven days of fun, food, entertainment and excursions on the Pride of America. Now, five days on Oahu in Honolulu on Waikiki Beach.  We spent time at the beach, in one of the many pools and hot tubs, shopping and eating at some of the resorts great restaurants like Benihana of Tokyo, Fresco Italian, Tropics at the Beach, C.J.s Deli, Round Table Pizza and more.  As Hilton Honors Reward members, we had a nice breakfast everyday at the Rainbow Lanai.  We also had a Starbucks in our lobby. Shopping, me got t-shirts and Debbie got Pearl and Diamond earrings and necklace.  You'll have to see those in person. We also went over to the University of Hawaii to pick up a few gifts.

Debbie deciding not to try the surf lessons.  Also, she's advertising for her brother again!

Deb at the beach

Waikiki

A whale sighting!

The Rainbow Tower

Feeding the Penguins

Debbie at breakfast, overlooking the lagoon

We fed this Red Crested Cardinal

The view of Honolulu from our 24th floor balcony

A closeup ,looking down at the pool and hot tub

The nighttime view

Waiting for the waiter to bring me another beer!

Diamond Head in the distance