You know, I love Las Vegas, I really do. I didn’t expect to when we first had a stop-over there. It was simply that our airline of choice didn’t fly all the way to the West Coast where we were headed, but into McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, and we were so convinced we wouldn’t like it that we chose a hotel in nearby Boulder City.
Well, it didn’t take long to enchant us, once we’d set foot in the place. We’re not gamblers and never will be (although I did lose twenty or so bucks in the slots, just because …) but the whole place is just so bizarre, so over-the-top, so full of itself*, that you can’t help falling in love. The free shows on the strip are all very good, but the Bellagio fountains had us from the first millisecond … so now we stay on the strip.
We chose The Venetian this time, and I have to say it’s a very beautiful hotel, even if they can’t process a simple request like ‘no feathers in the room’. Yes, it took them four goes at that one, bringing successive armfuls of pillows containing down or feathers until I was gasping for breath before I’d even laid down. But anyway.
Where else can you take a ride in a gondola indoors? Oh yes, that is a ceiling up there, painted blue, with clouds. Clever, ain’t it?
But Vegas is also an excellent place for people-watching. Here’s another shot from inside the Venetian Hotel.
I love the accordian player, don’t you? But I can’t help wondering what’s going on with those two people standing there. Are they arguing? Or is she propositioning him?
I guess that might possibly lead to the obligatory Vegas wedding
It all looks very grand, but what you can’t see, just down the hall (in the direction they’re headed) is the casino, which is full of tourists in shorts and sandals with socks and serving wenches dressed like hookers and everything.
I don’t have a picture of the casino to show you, but here are some wenches, and they certainly look like hookers to me.
Interestingly, the young lady on the left (the one NOT dressed like a hooker) is selling cigarettes! Where else would you see that these days? It’s because smoking is permitted inside the casinos, you know.
So, moving on outside the Venetian, there are plenty of people to watch on the streets. Like this guy, determined to get that great shot of the Bellagio fountains.
Or this family wearing their best balloon hats
And then there are these guys, who are trying to sell the services of girls. The services are unspecified, but they can have one inside your room within twenty minutes, apparently.
You know, it seems that they aren’t allowed to actually speak, so they thrust their little leaflets and business cards right across your chest as you walk by, snapping them loudly to get your attention. And you know what? I find it insulting that they’re trying to give my man one of these damn ads, when he is clearly with a woman already! What am I – chopped liver?? I was actually moved to tell one of them to ‘fuck off’ at one point, which is not something I’m in the habit of doing, let me tell you.
Anyway. After being in Las Vegas for a day or so, I find it necessary to get out of town and find somewhere soothing. Somewhere good for the soul. And to this end, we made our way to the Valley of Fire and took a short hike to Mouse’s Tank.
It’s beautiful.
It’s soothing**
And there are petroglyphs! Enlarge this next photo and look right there on that dark bit of rock, towards the bottom.
Finding these things out there in the desert, still attached to the very rocks they were pecked into thousands of years ago … well, it’s a bit like OH walking into the Kennedy Space Centre. And yes, I shed a few tears of my own. It’s humbling, is what it is.
We stayed until it was nearly dark, and the moon came out, and so did the bats. It was magical.
It was only later that I found out that we were in exactly the right conditions (soft, deep sand among rocks), at exactly the right time of day (dusk), to tread on a sidewinder and get bitten, so I guess we were lucky. But we returned to Vegas refreshed and ready for another day of tackiness and indulgence.
*Just for the record, yes I do realise there is much more to Vegas than the Strip, and that not all of it is tacky. We saw a great performance of Jersey Boys, which wasn’t tacky in the least – although OH was warned about the ‘Jersey language’ that it contained, which made him laugh.
**Mostly. If you enlarge that picture, you’ll see a tiny figure, right at the top of that rock. It’s OH. He’s not a mountain climber, he had no equipment, he just scrambled up. Luckily, he scrambled down again safely.
Fun, holidays, aren’t they?
looks like wonderful fun..Share more . i love it and somehow feel your joy as we travel..Was Sid overjoyed to see you ??I would be living a fantasy at the Venetian.
I am going through a bad time now – infected foot and battling flu coming off a month of illness. Not good..
I’ve visited Las Vegas once, even though I didn’t gamble I had so much fun there! and I love the Venetian!
Probably my fav town…….certainly over the top and you have to treat it as such. Was fun to visit Venice this summer after having spent a lot of time in the Venetian – usually people do it the other way round.
I’d have been that person trying to get the best photo of the Bellagio fountains as they are just so beautiful.
So glad you had fun (how could you not ??) and thanks for sharing it with us.
.-= Silverback´s last blog ..T-Minus 34H:59M:59S =-.
I’m looking at that very first pic, and all I can think is, “Ocean’s 11.”
You know, I’ve been to Vegas once, and I used to hear the rumor about as soon as you stepped off the plane, there were slot machines in the terminal. I never believed it…and then I stepped off the plane…
.-= Mr. Nighttime´s last blog ..The white patch. =-.
Oh I want to ride on that gondola. I work with someone who visited lots of places in the US earlier in the year and loved Los Vegas so much that she is going back for New Year. I can now see, after your post, why. It looks deliciously crazy.
.-= Joy´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – O is for Overcast =-.
Great photos! I didn’t expect to like Vegas when my mom and I went 6 years ago, but we’ve been back 4 times since.
I LOVE the Venetian, tho we’ve never stayed there. Maybe next time.
I was as amazed as you to see those cigarette girls, complete with “old-fashioned” trays that strap over their shoulders.
And those guys on the streets with the cards? It’s illegal for them to say anything, so that’s why they do the card flipping thing and practically trip you to get your attention. Yes, I am a woman, but they had no problem shoving the cards at me and my mom!
I cannot BELIEVE that tiny black dot is OH!
.-= JD at I Do Things´s last blog ..My Mom Shakes It so you don’t have to =-.
Sandy – Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear you’re sick again … or is that ‘still sick’?
I hope you feel better soon.
Yes, Sid was overjoyed to see us! Very flattering!
Jama – It’s a captivating place, isn’t it?
Silverback – I did get one stunning shot of the fountains, on a number where they blow steam before the show – it’s all moody and atmospheric. But I did video last year and I thought I didn’t need any more. Looooved the show though. They did one with the theme from The Pink Panther, that was great fun.
Yep, you do have to accept that part of Vegas for what it is, that’s for sure.
Mr N – Yep, it’s true. Slots in the arrivals AND departure areas. They want our money, and they want it NOW!! But I will say, they process you very quickly when you arrive and that’s a huge plus. We were off the plane, through security and onto the street within fifteen minutes. In all our travels, that’s got to be the record by a mile!
The first pic is of people watching the Bellagio fountains. I was across the street and thought it made a nice silhouette shot.
Joy – It is deliciously crazy! We had a ride in a gondola last time we were there, the gondoliers sing to you. In Italian! It’s all very romantic.
JD – I figured it was illegal for them to speak, but they’re just SO annoying. GRRR. I’d like to smack them one. I realise there are gay women, but I really don’t want to be propositioned – and surely, if I’m with a guy, I’m not going to be looking for a girl, huh? Oh … yeah, OK, maybe some do. LOL!
The Venetian is very pretty, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend it. Housekeeping was sloppy. The Bellagio was much nicer – AND we got a room with a view of the fountains. Soooo nice. Next time I’m pushing for a strip room in the Paris hotel. Gotta try new hotels, haven’t you? And I’d still get to see the fountains.
Until I saw these pics I would have been ashamed to admit that the lead-in film for CSI/Las Vegas captured my attention and I hung around to get the story…its the only CSI I watch…wonder why that is. Great shots…
Sandi
.-= sandi mcbride´s last blog ..When the Cats Away… =-.
I know about the Bellagio fountains, that’s why I mentioned Ocean’s 11. There’s an iconic scene near the end of the film that is set in front of them.
.-= Mr. Nighttime´s last blog ..The white patch. =-.
Sandi – I’ve never watched a CSI, though I know people who love it. Maybe I should give it a try? And I’d love to see that lead-in!
Mr Nightime – Ah … well, that’s a dead give-away that I haven’t seen the movie, isn’t it? LOL!
Jay, I cannot believe anyone thinking of you as chopped liver (unless a very very hungry T-Rex or something). Next time you go, take with you a stack load of business cards saying something stupid on them. Every time they give you one, you give them one! Hmm, might work in London as well…
.-= Mara´s last blog ..Dressing up! =-.
It certainly looks like you had a marvelous holiday. The photos of the rocks are lovely
.-= babs – beetle´s last blog ..A little bit of heaven on a spoon =-.
Never been to LV, but heard the shows are great. (I don’t gamble.) Now the real show here are your spectacular desert shots! Wowswers!
.-= Gel´s last blog ..Guts or Nuts? =-.
Never been, and never had an urge to go…until now. Though I will certainly steer clear of those “sidewalk pimps.” The nerve!
And I was totally amazed when I read that the picture of the canal, the gondola, and the sky overhead was INDOORS! Impressive!
.-= ethelmaepotter´s last blog ..Milestones =-.
What I found more amazing at the Venetian was sitting in the casino area and suddenly realising that the canals were all on the floor above. I then started looking for cracks in the ceiling with all the weight of water above me
Mara – Now, that’s an idea. I could stuff them down their stupid shirts! Good idea! LOL!
Babs – Thanks – we did! But now I’m in post-jetlag, post-holiday downswing. I wanna go back!!
Gel – Yep, the desert is gorgeous, and so photogenic! It’s hard to get a bad shot, but thank you!
Ethelmaepotter – I never wanted to go either, but it’s a fascinating place – and in spring and autumn, the climate is wonderful!! I love it. But I’m beginning to develop a deep appreciation of the desert for its own sake. The more we stay in Vegas, the more we spend days heading out to look at the surrounding area and keep the nights for the Strip.
Taffy’s Mum – You’re right, of course. The ‘canal’ is upstairs! But I figure it’s only like having an upstairs swimming pool and we have one of those right here in our city, complete with separate diving pit, and I’m sure the Ventian’s upstairs canal is a whole lot less water than that!
Where do I start, Jay?! Have’t been to Vegas since the late 70′s; thoroughly enjoyed the photos and your guide from encounter to encounter! That pimp was desperate!
And wasn’t Jersey Boys great?! The dialect in many places of Joisey is very similar to Brooklyn’s! Don’t know why?
Others, e.g. from southern New Jersey, have a totally different accent not heard anywhere else in the world. My college roommate has it! I’m going hoooome! Can I borrow your coooomb!
The Valley of Fire is where I’d love to be! Lovely! I’ve heard the Red Rocks in Colorado stain? Did these rocks do the same?
Can’t wait for your next installment! Sounds like one helluva vacation, Jay!
)
.-= petra michelle´s last blog ..THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE PHANTOM – An Encore Presentation =-.
Petra – Jersey Boys was great! Much better than I expected, too! I had heard it was good, but my first choice was Alice Cooper. However, OH wasn’t keen, and I didn’t fancy Penn and Teller so we compromised.
Yes, the rocks do stain, but only if you get the dust wet. OH has a tee he bought in Moab which is dyed using local earth pigments. It’s quite a bright orange! The Valley of Fire rocks are pinker, but it was very dry when we visited and the dust is so fine it just shakes off.
Hey xx
I can’t believe I have missed all this on your blog, all from my ‘back yard’ … I can still feel and smell the heat from the desert, and I can really understand how you felt out there, a truely wonderful place. I loved Vegas too, I shouldn’t as it goes against everything I really love… but… Vegas is different, and I place I adore … glad you enjoyed xxx
.-= moon´s last blog ..I’m cooking ….. =-.
Wow, great photos Jay! I would take the hills over the strip anyday… and yes, I too would be tempted to tell those guys to F – off too!
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..The Scariest Part of Halloween =-.
Moon – Hey – good to see you getting out and about again! How’s the new language coming?
I’m guessing you must really miss your adopted home in the US. Maybe you’ll get back there one day, you and Mrs M?
Maureen – Thanks!
I like the Strip, a lot, but I do need to get away from it for a few hours. It’s too much otherwise.
You know, I was never the least bit interested in Las Vegas until I read your posts about it, and previous video of the fountains. And only since then have I wanted to visit. Oh, and wow… that blue sky can’t possibly be a ceiling??
I am just catching up, so far behind, I know, busy busy.
Love this post. I have lived here for the past 30 years, and honestly you described it almost how I feel.
Glad you enjoyed your stay.
.-= T´s last blog ..Maiya Update =-.
Baino – If you get the chance, you should go! Everyone should see Vegas at least once, though I know people who won’t visit because they disapprove of the wastage of water. And yes, that is a ceiling – honestly it is. It’s quite wonderful. Many of the hotels have these ‘outdoor’ scenes inside.
T – Thanks! Good to know I haven’t offended a local with my view of the town! OH did that once, and boy, did he get his head bitten off!