Las Vegas, Nevada was never at the top of my wish list of places to visit. Deep down, I think I am afraid that I am a potential gambling addict and never wanted to take the chance. On top of that, I have asthma and cigarette smoke is my nemesis.
But, my husband is a tournament poker player. He's gone pretty far in the ranks of the Pacific Northwest region, but has yet to make it all the way to be staked at the World Series of Poker. Now that we live so close and the World Series of Poker is in full swing, he really wanted to go and see his poker idols in action. So... I tagged along for the ride to see if Las Vegas is what I imagined it to be.
I may not have arrived with a completely open mind, but for our two day/one night visit we arrived in "style". We were able to get an AirBnb condo high up in the Trump International Hotel and felt pretty flashy: car valet, shuttle to casinos, 42nd floor! (Well, actually, the 42nd floor is more of a wish on the part of Mr. Trump. The numbers in the elevator when you enter on the ground floor (after 1 Lobby) go from 34 to 50. So, counting the 1st floor, I think that made our floor actually the 10th floor. Is that nitpicking? Who skips 31 floors? Maybe it's a gamblers' superstition thing. Are 7, 13, and other numbers before 34 unlucky? I am unable to find the answer to this, so far. But apparently, 13 and all numbers ending in 4 are unlucky.)
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| Valet area in front of Trump International Hotel lobby |
Yes, this is called a "condo". Technically, it does have a "kitchen": refrigerator, two-burner stove, and a microwave oven. There is a little living room, desk area, too, in front of the huge window overlooking the back of Las Vegas and the Erotic Heritage Museum. (Yes, Heritage, Las Vegas is a city with a long erotic history. But, I'm still musing over the idea of the advertised live Puppetry of the Penis.)
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| The aforementioned Erotic Heritage Museum, as viewed from our window |
So, after our early afternoon arrival, Steve and I split up. He Ubered over to the Rio for some fan appreciation of the World Series of Poker and was able to see and get pix of some of his poker idols in their natural habitat, while I headed for the Strip on the free Trump shuttle. I was dropped off under the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops and preceded to get lost in what appeared to be an underground village of high fashion shopping complete with twilight sky overhead, at 2pm. 45 minutes of wandering past Gucci, Balenciaga, Louis Vitton, Chanel, etc.; stopping 3 employees to ask directions; and 3 escalators later; I headed out into the 105 degree heat to "walk The Strip".
After 40 minutes walking along The Strip upstream on the crowded sidewalks, those air-conditioned shops and my air-conditioned condo room were looking awfully good. I realized that I was going to have to apply the Spanish lifestyle to this adventure - never be out on the street between 2 and 5pm in the heat.
Later... Steve and I hit the entertainment row next to The LINQ and ate our dinner at the very new and very fine In and Out Burger. It was delicious. These are the #3 cheeseburger meals, with fresh lettuce, tomato, onions and special sauce on the burgers and fresh real-potato fries. Mmmm.
As the sun went down, we walked up to The Bellagio and passed this Eiffel Tower replica in front of The Paris Hotel. On our recent trip to Europe, I missed seeing Paris and this Tower. I feel just a little bit better now that I've at least seen a replica. 😎
Steve and I are both plant and garden lovers. We've visited many botanical gardens and big public gardens, mostly in the Pacific Northwest and Europe. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden was a little disappointing, but when I think about it, very Las Vegas. It reminded me of the Home and Garden Shows in the Spring - lots of potted or temporarily planted flowers in strictly planned shapes and designs. Here are the two halves of a cut lemon (created with yellow chrysanthemums). It has two lemon leaves on the other side that really look like slugs to me, if slugs had flowers for antlers. Maybe these would be female slugs, high-end expensive ones.
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| Yes, that is Steve making a shameless sexual joke at the lemon's expense. What happens in Vegas... |
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| Bellagio has 120 horticulturists, but I just can't take it seriously. |
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| Very over-the-top Las Vegas style flower display |
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| This is the display under that over-the-top hanging flower arrangement (yes, I'm laughing). |
But, the Bellagio at night - Las Vegas at night - makes up for all the ridiculous masses of shopping, the soulless flower displays, and the hordes of tourists (and strangely not-out-of-place people in costumes on the street) by just turning on the Lights.
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| The Bellagio at night |
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| The Paris Hotel across the Bellagio lake |
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| The Flamingo across the Bellagio lake with the High Roller wheel in the background |
Being pushed, shoved and rubbed up against was the price to be able to take a photo from the railing along the Bellagio Lake when the "dancing fountains" started. It was definitely worth the price and happens every 20 minutes until midnight. The fountains danced to Cher's "Do you believe in life after love?" and then a Beatles song as we walked along the street side railing to go back to the shuttle.
For our last day in Las Vegas, we went back to the Flamingo and looked at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat in the daylight. There is something about flamingos - they are so ugly beautiful. They speak to me. Fortunately, the flamingos appear to be treated well and the grounds are green, lush and wonderful to walk through. There are waterfalls, at least 4, and huge koi in the ponds. I think it's my favorite place in Las Vegas. (The Mirage Hotel has more and bigger fountains, but they are baking in the hot sun - and, let's face it, they just don't have any flamingos.)
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| Steve at the bottom of one of the two huge flamingos outside the casino |
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| Signs reminded me that flamingos get their pink color from what they eat - shrimp and algae . |
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| This area had many waterfalls and a huge pond. |
The Venetian, though, is second runner up for my favorite. The architecture is amazing, with inside and outside canals complete with gondolas and gondoliers. This gondola below is going under the bridge and that gondolier really has to stoop to avoid getting whacked on the head.
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| Outside canal at the Grand Canal Shops. There is more to the left and right. |
Of course, the Grand Canal Shops are more of the same - many, many shops, like Gucci, Ferragamo, etc., but with gondola rides. One could get lost in here, too, which is probably by design. Notice the twilight lighting and the fake sky ceiling, similar to the Forum Shops. You have to give them credit for going all the way with the over-the-top structures and it works. What's that saying - go big or go home?
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| Inside canal next to the Grand Canal Shops |
This was a fascinating shop (can't remember the name) on the ground floor of the Forum Shops across from Caesar's Palace. The robot sculptures were created by one particular artist and they are for sale. Some of them are as tall as a very tall man and cost tens of thousands of dollars. The saleswoman told me that they come apart easily for transportation.
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| This is a poor photo of what looks like the monster from the movie, Alien. |
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| This appears to be Gollum from The Hobbit, my favorite character by the way, My Precious. |
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| The front window of the unknown shop. That sculpture is at least 7 feet tall. |
We were so exhausted by the heat and too much walking that I took the photos shown below on the way out of town; willing to just see The Luxor from the outside. I actually like these sculptures and the walls with hieroglyphics carved into them better than the all glass pyramids.
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| The sphinx at the entrance to The Luxor Hotel |
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| The Luxor obelisk next to the Las Vegas Monorail |
Maybe someday I'll go back to Las Vegas and see the inside of The Luxor. I bet it's beautiful. I did love the Vegas lights, but who am I kidding, there is no freaking way I'm going back to Las Vegas. Not in this lifetime. Once was enough to satisfy my insatiable curiosity. In fact, that sound was me ticking the box - Las Vegas, check!
