Day 3 - In the Grand Canyon

After a hasty coffee, the group assembled to wait for our transport to Papillon Helicopters’ airfield. Once there, we were weighed (thankfully, they didn’t tell us the result of this) and shown a safety video which essentially consisted of how to put on a seatbelt and open a door. 

After a bit of waiting around, we were rounded up and installed in the helicopter ready for lift off. And it was exciting! Our pilot, Blaine, was a friendly guy and we were all silently relieved to learn that he’d actually taught flying for a time. Clearly this dude knew what he was doing. 

We flew over the Hoover Dam, and got a good look at Lake Mead – very low, after a three-year drought. And then on to the main event – the Grand Canyon.

Down, down into the Grand Canyon we went, and then landed and clambered out into stifling temperatures. It was awe-inspiring. So deep, so massive, so… ancient, for all the trappings of tourism that were evident there.

Blaine set out for us a picnic lunch, and poured champagne. It was all delicious. Time for a few photos, and then we were in the air again (and the air conditioning!) and heading back.

Afterwards, back in Vegas,  the group split up by gender - the guys went off to do guy things, and the ladies headed to Paris. Paris was one of my favourite places - the casino's ceiling is painted to look like a beautiful blue sky with gentle clouds, and its shops are built to look like buildings on the streets of Paris.  We found a bar that served Sauvignon Blanc (yussss!) - although it was from Marlborough, NZ - and plonked ourselves down with a few bottles of this to enjoy an A Cappella group playing old Motown hits. These guys were sex on legs. Phwoar.