Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day

December 24
We had a relaxing morning with breakfast at the wonderful buffet the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas has. We had our luggage ready to be picked up by 10 am and were on the bus by 11 am. We got dropped off at the south end of the strip at the Excalibar. Mom and I looked around the Hotel, casino and shops before heading out side. We saw the great pyramid they have and went to the MGM Grand where we had lunch in the Rainforest Cafe. It is like being in the jungle only the animals are not real.
No time to gamble anywhere as we were on a tight timeline. After lunch we walked over to New York, New York and looked around in that Hotel. There are walkways over the street. That is where the picture in the posting below is taken from.
It is ironic that the bus driver asked us if we wanted to leave before 3 pm and alot of people did. Some people including me loudly voiced no we wanted to stay until 3 pm. Mom and I were so aware of time and not being late that we were back at the Hotel by 2:30pm. We were on our way to Laughlin and were there by 4:30.

We got settled and I went exploring. I found a Italian restuarant in the Hotel that had an early bird special from 4 pm to 6 pm. I hurried up to the hotel room and we got down there just before 6.
After dinner I did some gambling, they set the machines to win a few and lose alot.

December 25, We had breakfast and then went for a walk around Laughlin. We went and looked at some of the other Hotels. One we went in was the Colorado Belle which is built to look like a paddlewheeler. We found they had a Christmas Buffet for members of their club. We went and joined gambled a little and walked along the river walk back to our hotel.
We went for the buffet and it was turkey and all the trimmings. Very enjoyable and filling.
In the afternoon we gambled a bit more at the Colorado Belle before going back to our hotel room to rest and have tea. We went down for Christmas dinner in our hotel
after gambling for a while went back to the room.





December 26
Our day trip was to Oatman Arizona, we crossed the bridge on the Colorado River and were in Arizona. We got off the main highway and got on Route 66. Route 66 is an historic highway that now I can say I have been on. Oatman is a little town that has been preserved from the old west. The Chamber of Commerce was putting on a shoot out we watched for a while and then had lunch in the cafe. I looked in the gift shops on the way back to the bus. I didn't buy anything, I always think I can get a better price at the next stop.
Our next stop on Route 66 was Lake Havasu. I hear that is where the rich people like to go. London Bridge is there and we went on a lake cruise. It was windy so I watched from inside sometimes and when I wanted to take a picture I went out side. Some historic lighthouses and landscapes I took pictures of. Cupcake Mountain does look like a cupcake sitting on top of the mountain.
After a full day we went and had dinner, did a little gambling and had tea in our room.
December 27, Mom went on the shopping trip to Walmart and I stayed at the hotel so I could go to the outlet mall. I spent a couple of hours at the mall and got 2 pairs of pants for a fraction of what I would pay here.
Mom and I had lunch when she got back and then she went to the mall and I went to the Riverside Casino. I went and saw the Antique Cars there. We had been there on the 25th looking in the gift shop and looked at one showroom but we fould out there was another showroom so I went to look at it. I gambled at a few machines and that is when I won the $133. I was quite happy. Mom and I had dinner in the Italian restuarant again and this time I was able to have the vegetarian lasagna. The other time they were out of it so I had the regular lasgna. Both very good, sometimes when I am eating a lot of meat I like to take a break from it. Nice to have attentive waiters.
After a bit of gambling I went up to the room and packed my suitcase. We had a very early morning as we were driving from Laughlin to Wendover. Scroll down to read about that.