Greetings from Amargosa Valley, Nevada (also known as “the middle of nowhere”)! We left the Las Vegas area this afternoon and checked into the closest hotel we could find to Death Valley National Park (and we are still more than 40 minutes away).This place has free pseudo-working internet, so it’s time for a We Do America update! We’ve been busy 🙂

After we left Flagstaff, we decided to check out Route 66, otherwise known as “The Main Street of America.” In the 1930s, the road was a major route through the west and was full of thriving businesses. Regarded today for its nostalgic feel and kitchy tourist traps, we thought it would make the drive to Las Vegas fun. What we found was a lot of empty space and pockets of boarded-up remnants of the past. Once we got to Seligman, Arizona, we found a few famous establishments and took some quick photos. The sheer randomness of the area was certainly bizarre. From teddy bears driving classic cars to collections of old gas pumps and UFO “remnants” there is something for everyone!

Our Las Vegas experience at the Wynn stood in stark comparison to our otherwise frugal accommodations. We lived like a king and queen for the three nights we were there. Like everywhere in Vegas, everything at the Wynn is done to excess and with no expense spared. Tremendous bunches of fresh roses and flowers are everywhere and music follows you everywhere you go, even outside. A fountain danced in rhythm to Sinatra and rainbows sparkled in the sun.

Luckily, we happened to be in Vegas for Halloween, though truly, it feels like every day is Halloween there. The crowd inside the casino certainly didn’t disappoint and there were enough thigh-high boots, tutus, and fuzzy kitten ears to fill ten Party City stores. I even spotted a guy in one of those huge blow-up Sumo wrestler costumes sitting on a stool playing blackjack.

We treated ourselves to “real” food while there and enjoyed a fabulous breakfast buffet at the Paris hotel. The croissants, crepes, eggs Benedict, potatoes au gratin, and Bavarian sausages were a welcome change to the free toast, Yoplait yogurt, and microwave oatmeal we had been eating up to that point. It was difficult to leave, but I have a feeling we’ll be back again sooner or later :-).

Once we tore ourselves away left Las Vegas, we checked out Hoover Dam. Billy has been, but I haven’t. The place is pretty incredible. The top of the dam is more than 700 feet above the base. Lake Mead is on one side of the dam and the Colorado River flows out the bottom of the other side, creating electricity as it moves over giant turbines. Even with a wide angle lens, I couldn’t get the whole thing from the places we were allowed to stand. Looking down, I wondered how many people have lost articles while bending over to get a better view.

Our next destination was Lake Las Vegas, Nevada, a man-made oasis in the middle of the desert. The Westin Resort is built and decorated in a Moroccan style and has beautifully designed gardens, patios, palm-tree-surrounded swimming pools, and outdoor fireplaces where one can enjoy a glass of wine while keeping toasty under the stars. We took advantage of the hot tub, the super comfy lounge chairs at the pool, and the kayaks. Realizing that it was probably our last “hotel splurge” of the trip (gotta keep an eye on the budget!), we lived it up!

This afternoon we tore ourselves away from paradise to get back on the road. Our path took us through endless miles of desert and very dirt-pile-looking mountains. The only wildlife we spotted were three wild burros grazing on the minute plants growing in the sand. We made a stop at the Rhyolite ghost town. It was not what either of us expected, but had some strange things to see including a house made out of bottles and mortar, and an outdoor museum with a strange assortment of sculptures. Our favorite was probably the mosaic couch, though the pixelated naked blond lady was a close second. No idea what either have to do with the ghost town, but there they were.

Tomorrow we head to Death Valley, the most foreboding sounding place ever! Thanks for checking in!