Trip to SIN City -- Las Vegas
We went to Las Vegas for our anniversary and also to meet up with some friends, Cliff & Marlene. We had a blast there. I do not have any pics of our stay in Las Vegas. We once again stayed at the Imperial Palace on Las Vegas Blvd. To say it was busy, is an understatement. Saturday was St. Patricks day, plus March Madness (College Basketball) plus several colleges were on spring break. (Thousands of people and I do mean thousands)
Cliff & Marlene arrived on a flight out of Bellingham, WA on Friday evening. We drove out to the airport and met them then took them to there hotel .. The Riviera Hotel. Thank goodness for a GPS unit to get around Vegas
We did all the tourist things, like go to the Outlet Mall.... south end of the strip, we visited Sam's Club and Costco. Just to browse!!! We ate meals at the Hash House at the IP (they were gigantic portions), Marge & I ate once at Panda Express(Thursday night), went out to Sam's Town and ate at T.I.G. Fridays. Also spent some time at the Orleans, went Friday night to Fremont Street and into a casino or two.We spent most of Friday, Saturday and Sunday just browsing through the malls and other businesses. And does time ever go fast when your laughing and having a good time. That we did a lot of!!!
On the drive from Wellton to Las Vegas the workers were out in the fields picking lettuce & preparing it for the stores. Several pics to follow. A lot is left behind as only a certain size fits the requirements of the stores and the buyers. It seems more is left behind than picked. But after all the field is picked, the field lies dorment for a few days, then sprayed to induce decomposition. Then the field is gone over with a tractor pulling a disc. Allowed to set several more days, then run disc again. I believe this process happens about 4 times, then the field is let to rest for a month. The process starts all over again by laser levelling the ground, getting ready for the next crop. In the summer time these fields are planted with cotton. The area where I have taken the pictures is called "Dome Valley" Rather than proceed back to Yuma and get on Hwy 95 north to Vegas, we go the back route, through farm land bringing us out to Hwy 95. This cuts off about 30 miles.
Workers in the field
Tractor, trailer & workers in field
Pickers and machine
another view
Lettuce Field
Closer look at picked field
Most of the workers are from Mexico. They have a work permit to be here, and return to Mexico after a days work. They do not get paid for travel time, only actual work hours. Very back breaking work, but are paid well. Anywhere from the minimum wage of Arizona and up. We have heard between $8.00 per hour to $15.00 per hour. They get on the transport bus at San Luis crossing early in the morning and somedays don't get home till late in the evening(7-8pm). The weather controls the day. If too cold in early morn must wait till the dew is gone and sometimes this doesn't happen till late in the day. Then put in 8 hrs of work, get back on the bus & returned to border crossing. LONG DAY!! sometimes.
Peggy, Gary, Jeanne
Gary, Rhonda
