Well, we are having another beautiful day here in Phoenix. I am presently attending a week of a Leadership Academy. There are about 25 of us and I know most of the participants from our session last year. There are 2 new people, one of whom is from Guam.

I also purchased a new camera yesterday and am experimenting with it today. I am hoping to become a better photographer. It is lots of fun.

See my flickr site for a few pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbate/

Sedona, Arizona is a beautiful town to visit if you like untamed beauty. The rock formations and mountains are spectacular. It is hard to imagine that this part of the country was once under water. I am fortunate to have visited Sedona today with some of my colleagues from the leadership academy. If you ever get the chance to be in Arizona, I would recommend Sedona to anyone.

See flickr for some pictures. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbate/

Well, we finally made it to the Strip.

Nadine and I had a wonderful 4 days in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Nadine arrived in Vegas on Friday the 15th in the afternoon and I met up with her early that evening after driving from Phoenix. We had a nice supper with Audrey, Sue and Michelle (friends of mine from the college). Then back to the hotel to get unpacked and retire for the night. We were both very tired, Nadine from 4 hours of jet lag and me from a 6 hour drive.

Saturday was a day of exploring Vegas Boulevard and all of the hotels and casinos. We must have been in 10 casinos by the end of the day and found a few places to shop as well. The Bellagio and Caesars Palace were two of my favourite spots because of the style and atmosphere. Very high class and mucho expensive. By the time we walked the strip it was late and we grabbed a late supper and headed for our room.

Up very early to catch the bus to the Grand Canyon and see the sites. We caught the bus at 6:15am and were under way by 7:00. We drove over the Hoover Dam and took some photos of the massive undertaking. It was build three times bigger than needed because of the political pressure of the day. We arrived at the West side of the Grand Canyon where we in turn took a helicopter ride and landed at the bottom on the banks of the river. We then took a short ride down the Colorado River with a local tour guide. What a great experience to see the canyon from the inside. Back up by helicopter and on to other areas to catch more photo opps. The view was spectacular. After lunch at a cowboy ranch we headed back to Vegas for the evening.

That night we ventured to Freemont Street where there is a covered street about 4 blocks long full of casinos and gift shops. The roof is also a giant screen that has lights flashing all the time. This is a great place to see while in Vegas, however, you don't need to spend a lot of time there.

Monday we completed our tour of the Strip and was able to do a little shopping as well. The days were sunny and the temperature was around 65º F. A nice comfortable temperature for walking. Monday evening we went to the Hilton Hotel and Casino and saw the show, Menopause, the Musical. It was a riot! We never stopped laughing for an hour and a half. Nadine even got up on stage at the end of the show to be part of the kick line.

All in all, a great time was had and don't forget...what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

To view some photos, go to my flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbate/