Flying into Los Angeles (from Merida) later than expected due to another plane delay, our road trip to Las Vegas started a bit later than originally planned. However, my friend and I were eager to get to Las Vegas. After all, it’s pretty close to LA, isn’t it?
We had five days left on our North America trip and wanted to explore the west side of the USA by car. So, as soon as we landed in Los Angeles, we picked up our car and hit the road to Las Vegas The drive was long and the traffic big. It took us 2 hours just to get out of LA. But once we hit the desert and the empty roads, the drive was quite pleasant. And the sunset spectacular.
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The landscape was truly unique, and even before we reached Las Vegas, we were already excited about the drive back the next day. We looked forward to enjoying Route 66 and stopping at various points along the way.
But let’s do Las Vegas first. Even from 30km away, we could see the dark sky lit up by the city’s lights, and we were excited to drive into the glitz of this desert oasis. It was amazing!
Viva Las Vegas!
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What happens in Vegas
We arrived just before midnight at the Bellagio Hotel, our choice for the night, and found Las Vegas buzzing with people. The crowds were everywhere—outside, in the hotel lobby, and in the casino. There was no time to rest. After a quick change into more suitable outfits (AKA sexy dresses), we headed straight to the casino.
It was a fun night filled with people-watching, winning and losing at the slots, and enjoying a drink. We didn’t need to party too long; satisfied with our taste of the Las Vegas vibe, we enjoyed a good night’s sleep before driving all the way back to LA along the iconic Route 66.
P.S. Las Vegas looks so different in the morning, without all the colourful lights. It is really just a big city in the middle of the desert. The 40 degrees certainly confirmed that too!
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Route 66
The historic Route 66 (we all heard of it) stretches from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica. Although it’s no longer fully drivable, the historic sections that remain, offer some fantastic spots to explore.
After leaving Las Vegas and hitting the highway, there was only one place we had to stop for lunch. The Peggy Sue’s original roadside diner, built in 1954. We had to check it out! The American diner food might not have been the healthiest choice, but the experience of being there was unforgettable. I even made a new friend in the toilet.
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A few hours later, as we got closer to LA, we reached the most enjoyable part of Route 66 starting at Barstow. This is what the route is all about.
Driving along this historic stretch of Route 66 is a dream for many, and I never imagined I’d find myself doing it. It was fantastic.
With our own car, we had the freedom to stop whenever we wanted. And so we did. Whether it was for a quick photo or a longer visit to the most amazing antique shop, driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles along the historic Route 66 was an incredible experience! At times, it felt like we were in a western movie!
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And so…
After six hours of driving, we were both relieved to finally arrive in Los Angeles. Hollywood and the famous sights awaited us. But all we did was check into our hotel, park the car, and head to a great spot next door for dinner and drinks. We had done a lot of driving over the past two days! It was time to relax.
(post 199)
