Its a brunch not a party

On Sunday Wiliam held a brunch at his place. A couple of us are having our birthdays over the next week or so, so we thought a party was in order and that we should have it at Williams. Will was happy enough to allow this but was adament he wasn't throwing a party, just a brunch. Therefore my requests for balloons, party hats, streamers and strippers fell on deaf ears.

William being the trooper that he is spent Saturday in the kitchen baking quiche after quiche after quiche. Then there was the salad, the crepes and the dessert. The bubbly flowed endlessly and a good time ws had by all. After the party a few of us headed of to El Rio and then after that Kevin and I went to the Castro for a night cap at the Midnight Sun. The poo r taxis drivers that had to put up with my drunken tom foolery.

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas

I find myself in Sin City, and its not for the opening of my new lavish topless review show. Las Vegas play time is largely "all about the money' and as I've been advised 'not about the sex'. Visitors are advised to have a real understanding of what Las Vegas is about, preventing frustrating nights alone in hotel rooms not understanding why boys aren't flocking to them or why they are not finding the wild gay parties and asking "Where do all the cute boys go"?

I find myself suprised at how much I am enjoying my stay here. Originally I booked in for three nights and thought how the hell am I going to entertain myself. But I did, I was having a great time and extended my stay by an extra night. I was thinking of staying two extra nights but I needed to be back in San Francisco for Sunday brunch and I was taking the cheaper option of travelling, by Greyhound. So an hours flight now became a fifteen hour bus journey.

During the three full days I had in Vegas I checked out as many hotels/casinos as possible. The sizes of these places are incredible. One that I took photos of was The Ventian, gondalas and all. The Bellagio Hotel has magical fountain displays during the evening to music and lights. I have recordings of these but yet have not figured out how to load video onto this website.

On one of my nightly walks along the strip I even found a Palms. Its was nice to see a little piece of home just off the strip. On my last night (Thursday) I ventured off to the gay club/s. The one I went to was called Gypsie. The place had potential. It had a great set out, fantastic music, but no patrons. At one stage I was there on my own. Later into the evening I met Travis and his friend Dave. They are from Austin Texas. So the three of headed across the road to the Piranha nightclub. Well wasn't I in the wrong place. This club was packed. Unfortunately we couldn't stay for long as I was checking out the next morning and it was already 3am.

I'm definately going back to Vegas.

Day 6 - Zion Natinal Park & Las Vegas

We travelled south towards Zion National Park. The dramatic white, pink and red rocks of the sculptured canyon and soaring cliffs, is a creation of the Virgin River thousands of years ago. After our visit, we continue to Las Vegas where our tour ended, but where I will continue to stay for the following four nights. This time I stayed at Circus Circus, Las Vegas's only theme park hotel, and you guessed it, under the Big Top. Its definately a place for the family and kids and was right at the north end of the strip. But it was very clean andsuited my backpacker budget. Also the hour walk each way up and down the strip was great exercise.

The couple featured in the above photos are Monica and Alvaro. They are from Spain and were on my tour

Day 5 - Bryce Canyon National Park

This morning we cross Glen Canyon Dam, the last of the major dams built on the Colorado River. and viewed Lake Powell from the lookout point. It is the second largest man-made lake in the United States. Its described as 'Awesome in its dimensions and complexity, its desolate beauty makes it an experience never to be forgotten'. We cross back to enter the Mormon State of Utah, and on to Bryce Canyon National Park. Here we are to see thousands of delicately carved spires that rise in brilliant colors of red, yellow and orange, from the amphitheaters, along with towering cliffs, and rainbow-striped rock formations.

Day 4 - Desert Canyon, Monument Valley & Lake Powell

Travel east along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the Painted Desert, crossing the largest Navajo Indian Reservation. We continued to the Arizona / Utah border, arriving at Monument Valley. We enjoyed a local sightseeing tour with a native Navajo Indian guide. The isolated 1,000 foot high stark red cliffs and buttes surrounded by empty, sandy desert have been filmed and photographed countless times over the years for movies staring John Wayne. Overnight in Page.

Day 3 - Grand Canyon

Leaving the glitter of Las Vegas behind and we headed to Arizona, " the Grand Canyon State ". It is the World's Seventh Natural Wonder. Carved over millennia through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau, It is more than an awe-inspiring view. As you gaze out from the rim, you're viewing 2 billion years of geologic history. You can not help but stand in awe at the canyon and leave with a realization that they have witnessed nature at her finest. I wish that we had more than just an afternoon here. The afternoon was only enough to walk the rim, but I would love to have had a full day so that I could have treked down into the valley itself.