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It seemed like a good time to write another blog, so I thought I would! Here's the next installment of adventures in Turin...

Saturday dawned bright and sunny - at least, it was when we eventually got out around midday. We decided to head to the large park to the south of the city, by the river - Parco del Valentino. It turned out to be even larger than we expected, and quite tricky to navigate as signs were a bit sporadic. Quite reminiscent of Central Park in New York but very quiet - despite being a sunny Saturday afternoon, the Turino's clearly do other things than spend the time in the park. Seems to reflect Turin as a whole - while a well-known place, it is rather side-lined by tourists as they prefer the main sites of Venice and Rome. Consequently, Turin is quite quiet and free of British/American tourists. The park itself has roads through that split the grassy and landscaped areas, with pedal cars for hire and twisting-and-turning paths. We headed vaguely in the direction of the river, following the water line, which seemed to go for ever, before resorting to Google maps to locate the 'medieval village' which we had been aiming for (before the signs fizzled out). Arrived at the village, surprised by its scale and magnitude - expecting a model village, we discovered a full-scale version, created in the 19th century as a replica. Wandered amongst the streeets, watching the nesting house martins bobbing about their nests and sat by a lovely 'tree' fountain.

We then headed towards the botanical garden, unfortunately to find it was closed until 3pm. It was, however, next to a rather splendid building, palatial in scale and apparently used by the faculty of architecture but it was originally one of the residences of the royal house of Savoy. Having spent several hours wandering around the park, we decided to return to the viewpoint at Monte de Cappuncini across the river, as it was nearby and a very clear day. It was quite hot at this point, so we walked gently, particularly as we were going uphill. Made it to the viewing platform and although there were a few other people, it was characteristcally quiet. Both the church and the museum (for mountaineering) were open, so we popped into the church - Santa Maria del Monte - for a quick look. It had a very tasteful ceiling - lots of domes and small windows in the main dome, creating an effective light pattern. Took quite a few photos of the view outside, including the Alps and the distant fixed hot-air balloon attraction. Unlike our previous trip up at night, the mountains were really clear, showing a few snow caps in the far distance. After a sit and several trips to the water fountain to refill our water bottle, we headed back down the hill, not getting very far before having to go back to search for my sunglasses, last seen in the church... (found them!) 

Contempleted stopping for some lunch as it was getting late in the afternoon and eventually settled on a cafe in a square opposite the Palazzo Carignano. We were a bit surprised by the prices in the menu! 6 euros for a coke! In the end, we decided to try their homemade raspberry ginger beer and got complementary nibbles -like coloured popadoms, but saltier, wasabi beans and spicy corn, lightly popped. It was enough to settle our appetite until dinner later. Headed back to the hotel for a rest, before going to a wine shop and restaurant for dinner- we had nice starters (lamb skewers and sun-dried tomato bruschetta), followed by carbonara and a duck ragu tagliatelle. After we tried the ice cream at the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe - it was very tasty! 

Today, we had planned to visit the Palazzo Carignano, having sat outside it yesterday and having walked past it a few times. Turned out to be a bit more of a mission than we anticipated! We ran into several language barriers with two older gentlemen seemingly refusing to sell us tickets for entry and directing us to a different place. We knew there were state rooms to view so we followed the gestured directions and ended up in the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento - a military museum about the unification of Italy set within the rear part of the palace. Very interesting with lots of things to see, with painted ceilings revealing the original use of the rooms. There is also a surviving example of the hall of deputies from when the palazzo was the House of the Deputies. There was also a huge room, later discovered to be the ballroom, at least four times the height of a normal room. But no actual state rooms. Persevering, we went back to the first ticket place, having seen others with tickets just in front of us. Took a different approach and were slightly more assertive, and came away with two tickets. It turns out you have to be part of an hourly tour which we had just missed earlier in the day. The tour itself was very interesting and informative - if you were Italian. Otherwise we spent a significant time on the stone staircase and the entry hall, whilst looking up the history of the building on Wikipedia. We then went into the actual state rooms and it was lightning tour of all three, compared to the time spent on the stairs! They were a shining example of Baroque splendour in the fleeting glance we had. Photos were taken for further study.  

Having successfully navigated the Palazzo and seen what we have intended to see, we embarked on a further quest to see the cathedral... It was just behind the Palazzo Reale and headed straight in, no queuing, no problems. Wandered around and were surprised to find the Turin Shroud ensconced in a corner. Didn't expect that! Just outside, we went up the campanile (the bell tower) and enjoyed the views across Turin. Even got to hear the bells while we were up there! 

Returned to the hotel for a rest before heading back out in search of food. Settled on Eataly, a busy place not far from the hotel. Had spaghetti with tomatoes and mozzarella and Dani had linguine with pistachio pesto and tomatoes. Went to Lindt once again, for ice-cream and Dani had a cappucino, by way of dessert.

Got up and showered and went down to the Avis car rental desk at the hotel lobby, for about 9 AM. We filled in the paperwork, a little unhappy about having to sign for the car before checking it. We asked about GPS systems, but they had none. We also asked about putting Dani on, as an additional driver, but for a cost of $11 a day, we decided against it. Before fetching our stuff from the room, we went out to check the car. It wasn’t quite as nice as the previous one, but still very big. Despite our efforts, we couldn’t work out how to move the drivers seat back, so we went back in and, again, stood in a queue at the Avis desk again, for help. The man behind the desk wanted us to try again, but I said that I wanted someone to come and look with me. Whilst I waited, Dani went to get us some teas from Starbucks, and then went back to the room to make sure we were all packed and ready to go, as checkout was 11 AM and, despite our early start, it was already getting on for 10:30 AM.

It turned out that the seat movement was electronic and controlled by a small switch on the side of the seat. I also asked about the parking brake whilst the Avis man was there, but I was told that we wouldn’t need to use it. Satisfied, I went back to the room, where we drank tea and gathered our things. Dani had filled out the express checkout envelope, so we wouldn’t need to queue again downstairs.

We spent quite a while waiting with all of our things in the Spa and Lobby area, trying to get on the Internet to get directions, but they seem to have turned off the Wi-Fi. A little disgruntled, we queued for the concierge desk for answers. Unable to help otherwise, she printed out directions for us and we were eventually able to get on our way.

The car was longer than the previous one and the boot easily accommodated all of our stuff. Despite limited directions, the journey out of Vegas was quite straightforward. We stopped at the Hoover Dam after only about 40 minutes into the journey. We decided against the tour, as it was very hot and already lunchtime, so thought we might do it on the way back. Instead, we paid the $7 to park and walked across the dam, taking photos and occasionally stopping in the shade. It is quite a magnificent structure. We saw people walking along another bridge, way above the dam, and thought we might do this on the way back. We stopped for a drink at the snack bar which was relatively cheap ($4) and came in a souvenir plastic cup. We were there for about an hour, stopping in the gift shop to buy a few bits before setting off again.

After about another 40 minutes, we stopped for lunch, as time was marching on. We went to KFC and had a two-piece chicken meal each, which came with a sort of scone that they call a biscuit? We also went in Walmart, which was at the same services, where we bought two large bottles of water for about $0.84 each, and Coke for just over a dollar a bottle. We also bought a USB car charger that we thought might be useful, for about $14.

Got back on the road and drove most of the way. The roads were pretty clear and the journey itself was straightforward. Not many cars on the roads, and the roads were decent, with quick speed limits. So we zoomed on! We stopped for some petrol about an hour outside Grand Canyon. Had a momentary panic when we realise that we didn’t know for sure if the car took diesel or unleaded, but asked a woman inside, who said it would be standard (unleaded gas)

We headed on, through the Kaibab (or kebab, as we called it) and towards the Grand Canyon National Park. As we were driving, Ben saw a red-headed, vulture-like bird, which we later found out was a Condor. So, an awesome spot!

Found our way to Maswick Lodge really easily! It was like a little village, with a main house and large houses around it. Check-in was easy and efficient and we were directed towards ‘Mesquite’, where we found a really decent two-double bedroom, with bathroom and balcony! Luxury! We dumped our stuff and lay for a while. Temperatures here are much more bearable, though still warm and considering we are still in a desert, it is all really green. We had a look at the map and guide that we are given on arrival to the National Park (like Yosemite, there was an entrance fee of $25). We were particularly looking forward to seeing a hump-back chump (a kind of fish) just because of the awesome name!

Headed over to the main house to find some food. Looked in the gift shop, as it was also there, and found some really nice things. Bought a poster of the National Park and some postcards, and also a couple of sew-on badges and a magnet for Audrey. Dithered at some attractive tiles that there were decorated with images/symbols of the park and also of the Native American Indian history. They were really colourful and we were really tempted - will think about them!

Went through into the cafeteria. It’s a main eating area, with different sections to choose from, from all-day breakfasts to full dinners. We weren’t that hungry after our late lunch, so opted for a cup of chilli each, with chopped onions and cheese - which seems to be what they accompany their chilli with. With a bottle of beer each, it was surprisingly filling and quite spicy, and for a bargain price of about $4 each! After we’d eaten, we stopped at the information desk to try to get a grip on what to do tomorrow. Noticed that they offered both sunrise and sunset tours of the Grand Canyon for $21 per person. After consulting a map, we decided to do it ourselves, using the park’s shuttle buses to get there. Not really knowing distances and timings, we estimated leaving about 4:30 AM - either brave or foolish - not sure which!

With this in mind, we headed to our room, however got sidetracked by the amazing night sky - so many stars! The lights in Grand Canyon are restricted to help get a better view of the sky, and for environmental reasons. Took some photos using the gorilla pod and a very slow shutter - they were blurred due to the movement of the earth, but still show an immense sky! Headed off to bed, feeling pretty pleased with the visit so far!

Got up late after our late-night - just before midday. Showered and got ready, then headed down to get something to eat. Our plan for the day was to see more of the Strip. So we started off with brunch! Using our welcome vouchers from the hotel, we sought out something other than pizza or burger and chips. In the Excalibur hotel (we call it the Disney Palace) we found a sandwich/salad place. I had a turkey Cobb salad, and Ben had a chipotle chicken wrap. My salad was huge! It had egg, bacon, avocado, tomato, turkey and salad, with Caesar dressing and croutons. Very tasty!

From here, we headed out onto the strip. Our hotel is set quite far back on the main road and it’s hard to see the Strip from it, so it took us a while to locate the right direction. Plus, it was like being in a fan oven, as it was so hot, so we were quite eager to get into the next air-conditioned building. We stopped at the CVS pharmacy to get a bottle of water to help combat the heat.

We headed north on Las Vegas Boulevard. As we walked, we popped into the different hotels and casinos. We went into the Monte Carlo, which was very glamorous, with strings of jewels hanging in swathes, with lots of glass and mirrors. We had a little dabble on a roulette machine and lost a little bit, but then won it back.

As we wandered up the Boulevard, we stopped outside the Bellagio - the one with the fountains. Ben took some photos and then we started to walk up the side passage to go inside, but, overhearing some people talking about the water show, we decided to hang about. When the show began, it was amazing! The water was actually dancing to music, wiggling and weaving about. And there was also water fireworks - spurts of water that shot out, with a thundery-type noise. It was brilliant!

We then went into the Bellagio itself, past all of the designer shops - so it’s clearly the posh one. We lost $5 straight away on a roulette machine - we hadn’t realised it was $5 a bet! We then found the one dollar version and trebled the money we gambled, so we were up by about $10!

After our gambling, we wandered to the lobby of the Bellagio, to admire the luxury! There were glass flowers covering the ceiling, which was so colourful - stunning! There was also a conservatory with some exotic birds in a large aviary. One of the birds looked like a little, tiny duckling - it was just a yellow ball of fluff! There was a wedding taking place - a pretty setting, but it must be quite annoying to have random people in the background of photos!

Outside again, we went a little further on, towards Caesar’s Palace and took a few photos down the Strip. Crossed over - all the pedestrian routes go over the Interstate, via bridges, so we had to keep going up and over! Then wandered down the Strip the other way. Outside the Paris Casino, we admired the Eiffel Tower and the model hot-air balloon. It is all very theme-park-like, but with less rides - it’s like an adult Disneyland. We went into the Paris Casino, but weren’t impressed to find neither blackjack or roulette machines! What kind of Casino is this? Lost quite a bit on the fruit machines, so left a bit disgruntled. Walk further along and had a similar experience in Planet Hollywood! Oh dear! So gave up for a bit.

Dropped into McDonald’s for a drink as we felt very dehydrated - it’s like a fan oven - I think I’ve said that already! Spent a while drinking and resting our weary limbs. We had decided to go to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner, so decided to start heading over. As we walked that way, we went into a few ‘tat’ shops, looking for a sew-on badge for Las Vegas. We bought some postcards and keyrings as potential presents, and after a fair bit of searching we found a Las Vegas badge, although it wasn’t the nicest! Made our way to the Hard Rock Cafe and had a look in the shop first. Found a nice sew-on badge! Straightaway! We admired a little bear, which was really soft and wearing a Hard Rock hoody, but we didn’t buy him - yet…

Went upstairs and waited to be seated. While we waited, we played with the interactive wall, which displayed information about their rock music memorabilia. We had a pager, which, when it buzzed, meant we had to go and have our picture taken and then be seated. Our server was very enthusiastic, recommending all sorts of things on the menu. I had a cocktail called Gini Hendrix - gin and Cointreau, among other things! Yummy! Ben had a beer in a free glass, except the beer was pretty expensive! He had an ‘ultimate burger’, with everything in, and I had a pulled-pork barbecue sandwich with beans and coleslaw. Then we shared a chocolate brownie dessert. When it came over, the waiter got them to take a photo of me with cream on my nose! A little cheesy! It was all very nice - about $81 all in. We had to collect Ben’s free glass on the way out from the shop below.

We walked along a bit and had a look in the Coca-Cola shop and the M&M shop. Both had a spectacular range of merchandise - who knew they made so much! We headed back along the strip, past the Bellagio again, where we watched the night version of the water show and took some more photos. By this point, we were getting very tired, so plodded on towards our hotel. Feeling very tired and thirsty we dropped into Excalibur for a drink. We then hobbled onto our hotel casino where we played blackjack unsuccessfully and then recouped a bit on the roulette wheel before heading up to our room. Were surprised to find a room hadn’t been cleaned? A bit strange. Went to bed very tired, about 2 AM again!