Trip to Paris

The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, that is. It had been almost five years since my last trip to Vegas and I was ready for a short weekend getaway. This hotel is one of my favorites.



The theming is fantastic; although I would never think I was actually in Paris, this hotel is a lovely homage to one of the most famous cities in the world.



Let's go inside, shall we?



You can see the Bellagio hotel located directly across the street through these doors.



Time to check-in:





Signage, bestill my heart:







Pennies…what you end up taking home after gambling in Vegas.



It's easy to lose track of what time it is when you're indoors in Vegas.



View from the pool:



Plenty of restaurants to choose from:





Beautifully detailed interiors:





I will leave you at the hotel suite door until next time!



More Paris Hotel at my main website.

The Rocketeer Abroad, Pt. 1

When Disney released "The Rocketeer" back in 1991, the studio had high hopes that it would be a blockbuster, spawning sequels, merchandise, and lotsa' moola. The photos shown here are of the lead character, The Rocketeer, visiting various cities around the globe. I have doubts that Billy Campbell (shown above) actually visited these locations; most likely somebody else filled in for Campbell by donning the iconic costume. I am guessing that these shots were intended to give a very Americana-film a bit more of an international appeal.

Here the Rocketeer is in Paris, giving a thumbs-up for the Eiffel Tower.



Looking a bit stiff on the Champs-Élysées near the Arc de Triomph. I wonder if Disney bothered to get any filming permits or if they just shot these rogue. I'm choosing the latter.



Here are 3 views from Rio de Janeiro:





Final one today shows the Rocketeer looking for benediction from Christ the Redeemer, the 98' foot tall statue that has been since 1931 at the peak of the Corcovado mountain and is considered one of the "New" Seven Wonders of the World.



Unfortunately, the visit to Rio didn't seem to help the box office, which fell short of The Disney Studio's desires. No franchise for you!

See more Daveland Rocketeer photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Mom Goes To Europe, Pt. 5

Today, we say “bonjour” as we spend some time in the romantic country of France, circa 1955. The first few photos that my mom snapped are from September 16, and show the Tuileries Garden, located between The Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Created by Catherine de Medicis as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was first opened to the public in 1667, and became a public park after the French Revolution (maybe the peasants ate their cake here!).



Speaking of the Louvre...mom had the next 3 shots marked as “The Louvre,” probably one of the most famous art museums in the world, and home to the mysterious “Mona Lisa.”







The Seine River:



You can enjoy the vintage cars AND the Eiffel Tower, which I remember being told the Parisiennes HATED! Ironic that most of us associate this city with that iconic landmark.



The Seine Bridges:





Some spectacular views that mom took from the Eiffel Tower:





And a fun shot of the Tower as she was descending:



Chateau de Malmaison (“the evil house”) was first used as a hideout for Norman invaders in mid 1200s. Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte lived at Malmaison for a number of years.



The Palace of Versailles:



The grounds of the Petit Trianon were laid out by Marie Antoinette, the Queen of Louis XVI, who was extremely partial to this villa as a residence, and used to entertain her guests there, living there as a shepherdess. I guess it made her feel closer to the peasants without actually having to smell them.



See more vintage and contemporary photos at my main website.