Adventuring
27th September
The Kiel Canal, also known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal (Emperor William’s Canal) until 1948, is a 98-kilometre long freshwater canal in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The canal links the North Sea at Brunsbüttel to the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau or vice versa in our case. An average of 250 nautical miles (460 km) is saved by using the Kiel Canal instead of going around the Jutland Peninsula. Might have saved us some rough seas too.
Spent some time this morning (26 Sept) wandering another part of Copenhagen including a visit to the Round Tower and the beautiful church beside it. I think it is my favourite church of all I have seen so far. Simply elegant and beautiful with a magnificent organ playing very acceptable music. Suspect they were setting up for a wedding.
Also enjoyed walking along canals admiring architecture of new Opera House and developments and contrasts with wooden boats and old shops and houses.
Lots of bikes. Cobbles. Brick buildings. Old. New. Canals.
The first impressions of Copenhagen – a city which seems to move along in a relaxed but very purposeful fashion. Apparently 70% of Danish households don’t own a car. Cyclists are everywhere, usually moving at speed. Most don’t wear helmets and ride very confidently along the wide cycle lanes. Bikes are parked with both abandon and purpose it seems, all shapes and sizes, carrying kids and shopping and occasionally you see a pile-up of unattended bikes. Copenhagen has an ambitious goal to be the world’s first CO2 neutral capital so this mode of transport is critical. Cycles and cars have equal rights so one must take care to look out for oncoming bikes from the right! Link to photo series – Bicycles of Copenhagen
Lovely to see the grandsons and the “new” house. A bit closer to the village now – quick walk there after breakfast to sort the vodafone card. London wildlife visited this morning- a fox on the roof of the garden shed and a squirrel with a very bushy tail just off the deck.
Early start this morning for the Grand Canyon. Flew from Boulder City (De Havilland Twin Otter) over Mojave Desert to West Rim. Views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and lots of ochre coloured landscape on the way, mesas, plateaus and incised mountain ranges. Lake Mead, man made, is beautifully blue against the harsh surroundings. The Mojave has less than 330mm rain a year.
My favourite Las Vegas spot is Little Venice at the Venetian. Dinner tonight beside the canal – sangrias, empanadas, mexican steak & tuna, tres leches to finish. Serenaded by the gondoliers & enjoyed wandering the recreated Venice. See Las Vegas photos.
Sunday 21st. Very warm and dry here – not like NZ at the moment I hear. Slow start today as planning big canyon trip tomorrow. Lunched at the Rainforest Cafe ( MGM) – just the place to take the grandies sometime. Lightning and thunder, animals and birds with moving parts, trees etc. A bit navigationally challenged at one point today but found our way to some more of the themed hotels and associated entertainment. Aside from slots and every imaginable betting option there is much to see. Checked out New York themed buildings and Statue of Liberty, The Excalibur with it’s knights and towers theme (Disneylandish) and the impressive Luxor – Egyptian sphinx and pyramid. The rooms line the sides of the pyramid – check out the photos (coming soon). Spent the early evening in Old Vegas in the famous Fremont Street entertainment area. Oh my goodness…glitz and all sorts. Mmmmm. No wonder it was called “Glitter Gulch” really OTT. Street entertainment galore and garish. Dancers on bars, contortionists (scary what they could do), exhibitionists (polite) and all types of stalls, souvenirs etc. Had a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant and then watched the renown light show on the curved canopy. Millions of LED lights.
Woke to a fabulous day, great views of the surrounding hills round the valley where Las Vegas sits and a very quiet scene below. Huge change in activity from last night. Brunched and then took to exploring. Got hotter and hotter as day wore on so navigated via hotels and air conditioned spaces. Hotels line the Boulevard & most are themed, huge with maze-like walkways through varying shops, slot machine areas, sports bars, casinos, impressive displays, accomodation, restaurants and people. We only saw a fraction but examples are
Great flight NZ – LA. Apart from the inevitable airport queues immigration and processing was a breeze. Domestic transfer also a very pleasnt surprise in comparison to other visits. We hadn’t appreciated the Friday night rush to Vegas – a very full plane with standbys but all very orderly. Only a 51 minute flight on Virgin America. Quietly amused by the onboard atmosphere of excitement & ambience created – we were requested to keep window shades down on tarmac & in flight to help keep the plane cool. The dim interior was highlighted by neon pink & purple strip lighting under the overhead lockers. Needless to say, I & others did look at the view enroute – mountains & desert. Vegas truly out in the middle of it and very warm. Cabbie on way to hotel gave us great commentary and drive down “The Strip” – iconic hotels & landmarks to visit. Early evening arrival so very busy, lots of people, lights & sights. Fab views from 58th floor of hotel straight out onto action – look straight up The Strip with 180 panorama view. Stunning night lights. Short orientation walk after dinner – through air-conditioned mall (shopping looks amazing) and immediate locale. WOW. The “World” has definitely been recreated here…., London Eye, volcano, Eiffel Tower, Venetian gondoliers etc. Seething traffic and activity, grand hotels and casinos at every turn!
In a belated summary – 2013 was big year for us with the arrival of two more grandchildren, trips to Melbourne, London and a cruise (won’t be retiring any time soon!!)
Work rolls on for both of us and we are still love country living and beach weekends. We are so enjoying our three grandies and are very thankful for modern technology so we can chat with everyone around the world and keep up with milestones, family happenings and developments. We’ve partied on-line together and the lads have had a few baking contests – highly subjective judging of course but good fun.