Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #7 - Cool things I saw in Las Vegas


I have to admit that I enjoyed Las Vegas much more than I expected. With the high temperatures predicted at 106°F, I thought I would be dying in the heat, but what they say about "dry heat" is absolutely true. Yes, it was really hot, especially in the sun, but it is like standing in front of an oven. When the sweat instantly evaporates, it is much more bearable than the hazy, hot and humid 95°F days that we get on the East Coast. I toted around a large water bottle, hat and two cameras and thoroughly enjoyed the sights. I also expected that Las Vegas was going to be totally fake, cheesy, sleazy and tasteless. They have really cleaned up the strip and even the old downtown was fine. The nicer resorts turn down the volume on the slot machines and infuse the place with happy ions and scent so you don't notice the cigarette smoke. I would definitely bring the family back for vacation, during a cooler time of year.
  1. Cirque du Soleil Zumanity - This was by far the best show that I have ever seen in my life. I had awesome seats in the second row on the aisle so I could touch the performers as they went by if I wanted to. Definitely another post coming up on this show.
  2. Wynn Hotel - I had seen this hotel on the Travel Channel, but it is every bit as beautiful in real life. You would expect total luxurious perfection at $600/night.
  3. Star Trek The Experience - This was indeed a bit cheesy, but was the one thing I wasn't going to miss. Here I am with a Klingon.
  4. Venetian Hotel - The Better Software Conference that I attended was held here and it was really beautiful. Even the bathrooms had marble everywhere and solid wood doors on the stalls. What's fake about that?
  5. Paris Hotel - I loved the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower and even watched the Bellagio's water fountain show from there.
  6. Bellagio - Not only did I watch the water fountain show from the Eiffel Tower, I came down and recorded a video of it from the ground. I kept having to remind myself to stop watching it through the camera and really experience the grandeur through my own eyes. It was the only time I used the compact tripod that I expressly bought for this trip. Turns out that running the Canon Rebel XTi at 800 ISO was fine for all the night shots that I took.
  7. Caesar's Palace Forum Shops - What a mall! I loved the circular escalators and the life size Trojan Horse at FAO Schwarz.
  8. Peter Max Gallery - I happened upon this awesome gallery of one of my favorite artists in the Forum Shops.
  9. Aquarium - I searched for days trying to find this in Caesar's Palace and finally found it in the Forum Shops on my last night. There was also an animatronics show on the Fall of Atlantis above it with lots of fire and water.
  10. Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum - I was not going to see this because "fake people" don't do it for me. But after seeing Whoopi Goldberg at the entrance, I was sold. I went with a co-worker, handed him one of my cameras so we took lots of pictures of each other posing with the fake celebrities. Definitely something you should see with another person.
  11. The Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace - Lots of beautiful and rare cars, plus a vintage bar on display. Now this hotel reeks of stale cigarette smoke, so beware.
  12. Fremont Street Experience - I had seen this light show on the Travel Channel as well, but it was cool so witness it in person. By the time I saw it, it was 11pm PDT or 2am EDT so I was pretty tired. Near the end of the show, I had officially reached sensory overload, couldn't video record it any longer and ended up walking back out to the bus stop. Me, sensory overload? Unheard of!
  13. Tiger at MGM Mirage - Roy and Siegfried are are only in Vegas in wax nowadays, but they did have a beautiful white tiger on exhibit.

6 comments :

maiylah said...

what a wonderful experience!!
... i probably wouldn't pass up on the chance to experience Star Trek, too! :)

Anonymous said...

Lovely! I wish I can explore Las Vegas as well ;)

Happy T13!

Janet said...

I was in Las Vegas last week, too, and I'm also from MA LOL! Went with a bunch of friends for my birthday. We saw Cirque du Soleil's Love which was totally incredible!!!

Here's a funny thing...I was going to do 13 Things I Loved About Vegas this week LOL!

Eimi said...

Vegas is amazing. I didn't see zumanity but I did see KA which was good! I now wanna see O! I didn't go to Paris (one of things I still want to do) but I LOVED the themes of the casinos. I loved NY, NY and I was swept away by the Venetian and the Bellagio. The fountain show was amazing. I liked it in Vegas so much more than I ever thought I would. =)

Mine is up too!

Anonymous said...

My Dad have always been proud of the Fremont street thingy. How I wish I could experience that for myself too. Maybe in due time :)

Thanks for sharing your great experience!

Happy Thursday dear!

Lori said...

Great info....thanks:) Happy TT...