Viva Las Vegas - April 2006

From this ..................................................................to this, Viva Las Vegas!!


After years of playing 'backyard poker" and numerous plans, talk and promises of visiting the ultimate poker venue, we finally got organised and took the card crew to Vegas. Well almost the whole crew, who's not in?




Flying in over LA and yes we did drive down there, and landing at LAX.






Our first stop was to pick up big D, it was only a coincidence that we met near HOOTERS. But since we were there we stopped in for a meal and to meet the locals.

Fully satisfied after lunch we started on a two day tour LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills etc






Mann's Chinese Theatre and footprints in the concrete; "I'll be back."




Outside the theatre, search your wallet Luke, photos are one dollar.





The streets of Hollywood lined with stars; and the Hollywood sign high in the hills.




Beverly Hills 90210; and on Rodeo Drive - not that I bought anything.



The next day we hit Venice Beach and Santa Monica.



The crew on the beach front at Venice Beach and the gym on Muscle Beach - although after our diet of beer and beer no-one felt worthy to give it a go.





Our version of Baywatch on the Santa Monica beach.




Santa Monica Pier.


After 3 days in LA we piled into the rental car and hit the open road (or make that freeway). Only 5 hours to Vegas and the promise land.






Five hours became ten as a crash blocked the highway and left us standing still for hours. We had to back track and take a scenic route around the highway until we finally reached Vegas.





On the Nevada border - you can smell the casinos; and arriving at last on the Vegas Strip.




Excalibur Casino, our home for 6 days and the best poker room in town.




Looking down the strip at the miles of huge casinos and cheap drinks.




The Stratosphere and the giant drop ride at the top; the view of the Vegas Strip from the top of the Stratosphere.



Fremont Street and the old part of Vegas.




You never know who you are going to meet, here we were minding our own business on the Strip when we bumped into Elvis - one of four sightings throughout the week.




You can't win at every game - I guess he is no longer the best man.




Not all our time was spent in Vegas, we did take one side trip out to the Hoover Dam - spectacular!!




When our time and money had come to an end it was time to drive out of Vegas and head back to LA with an obligatory photo at the Californian border.




Then it was Route 66 all the way back to LA and the airport.





Our flight home was courtesy of United Airlines - can't wait till they get personal inflight entertainment and step into the 21st century.




And once back home it was back to our backyard poker. Nothing had changed except for our dodgy souvenir LA /Vegas shirts and hats.

Lets hope it doesn't take 15 years for our next trip......ante up.

Switzerland - Xmas 2005/06

Since Ka's move to Australia we have tried to spend every second Xmas in Switzerland with her family. Christmas 2005 was the first time we could do this as a married couple and with K officially part of the family.


Due to our different holidays, Ka flew over first and caught up with her extended family and friends, then K met her in Switzerland after flying through England to catch up with his family.

Ka arriving back at Zurich airport and home again for Xmas.

Ka's house under snow for the winter. It was a very cold winter with heaps of snow.

Ka taking a walk around a frozen lake with her brother and sister.

Meanwhile K had flown to England to visit Blackpool and his family.

In Piccadilly Circus, London.

K in his home town of Blackpool. With his cousin on the Blackpool Prom, and with his other cousins and cousin in law after an intense game of ten pin bowling.

After a quick visit to England K headed to Zurich to meet up with Ka.

Our first plan for Switzerland together was to head off and do some skiing in Davos.

Waiting for the train up to the alps, Ka and her sister. The weather was not too good the first day as it snowed and snowed but then it cleared up to perfect ski weather.

The town of Davos - the place to ski - and the house we stayed in while there. It doesn't get much better than this!

K and Ka - ski legends carving up the slopes.

Taking a break from the slopes to have some lunch and a few drinks.

We had a great time skiing but with Christmas fast approaching we headed back to Mannedorf to have a family Xmas with Ka's family.

K, Ka and her parents, sister, brothers and sister in law.

A traditional Xmas with a real Christmas tree and candles, and setting the table for dinner.

This is the life, relaxing after Xmas in the outdoor heated spa. This is what holidays are all about.

After Christmas we had a few days to look around Zurich before our next trip. Zurich was still lovely but it was cold!!

Water frozen in the fountain outside Zurich train station.

The narrow streets in the old part of town, and looking out towards the Gross Munster in Zurich.

The tram lines along Bahnhof Str - the richest shopping street in Zurich, and winding through the streets and snow of Zurich.

Cow art over hanging the streets of Zurich.

Our next stop was Germany to visit K's grandparents in Umkirch.

Waiting for the train at Mannedorf train station, and catching the ICE train from Zurich to Freiburg.

K's grandparent's house in the town of Umkirch.

From Umkirch we took a day trip into France to the town of Strassburg.

Strassburg, a beautiful town and a magnificent cathederal in the middle of town. This was the coldest day of our trip - overcast, sleeting and a freezing cold wind.

The weather proved too much for K's Brazillian grandmother so we sought some warmth and shelter inside a coffee shop.

On the train leaving Germany back to Zurich and New Years.

Our New Years plans were to celebrate and stay near St Moritz with some school friends of Ka's who had recently got married. This friend was Ka's bridesmaid in Switzerland and Australia.

Stopping at a service centre for lunch, and getting out to admire the mountain scenery on the way to Silvaplana.

The town of Silvaplana where we stayed, and our apartment.

Happy New Year!! Seeing in 2006.

New Years Day, walking to St Moritz through the woods, and the town of St Moritz.


Another day , another trip. Being on holidays is all about touring and our next stop was Appenzell a very Swiss town.

Driving through the winter , and the town centre of Appenzell.

Then it was back to Zurich for some more relaxation as our trip neared an end.

Zurich on a beautiful winter's day. It was still cold but the sun was out and it looked a picture.

Keeping up a fine tradition, having some pints at the Noble Dubliner our favourite pub in Zurich where we have had many a drink over the years.

Leaving Zurich via Swiss airlines. The plane was sprayed with hot water causing a cloud of steam as they de-iced the wing. It was minus 6 degrees when we left at night.

Flying over Brisbane as we descended to land. It was a beautiful summer morning and already 29 degrees at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Arriving back home and getting the luggage out of the limo.

It was a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic 6 week holiday... and we will do it all again in two years!