Up and Down The Strip, Part 1

Because of the pandemic, my recent trip to Vegas was even less enjoyable for me than usual. Is that possible? Yes! I rarely left my hotel room except for each morning I went on a run, thinking I could get some fresh air when there weren’t very many people out. Let’s face it…Vegas is not an early morning town, other than the people who haven’t been able to pry their fingers off the slot machines the night before. The “fresh” morning air in Vegas was tinged with the smell of weed. Lovely. Here is my photo tour of The Strip from the Flamingo down and back. I figured it was time to take new photos as it had been over ten years since I last did so. First stop…

Harrah's:

I was tempted to come back at night to get the McDonald’s sign when it was lit, but no…not worth the effort. I was feeling lazy.

The Venetian:

Gondola rides were still being given:

The Grand Canal Shoppes:

The Shoppes still looked well maintained, albeit not very crowded.

Lollipops as art:

The Palazzo:

The Wynn is one hotel I have never gone inside; since it wasn’t really themed, it has never been on my radar. Still, it is a beautiful property.

Next time we’ll hit the other side of Las Vegas Boulevard.

See Las Vegas more photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: The Venetian Hotel in Vegas

It’s official; I have a favorite hotel (so far) in Vegas, and it’s The Venetian. In the past I’ve stayed at The Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Paris, and Caesar’s on my various trips to Sin City. What does the Venetian have that the others don’t? First, I love the architecture and theme. The Paris Hotel is okay, but for me, there’s just something about it that misses the mark and looks more faux than French.





What an entrance! Hard not to have your jaw drop when you walk down this hallway off the lobby. Make no mistake; it cannot compare to the Sistine Chapel or any of the other works of art in Italy, but for those who can’t see the real thing, it’s damn impressive.





This is probably my favorite part of the hotel itself; the indoor shops and waterway with Gondola are done to perfection. It is truly difficult to manage a sense of time with this indoor area that is constantly lit like a sunny day.



The rooms/suites are tasteful without being over-the-top; I loved the sunken living room as well as the furnishings.





For entertainment, The Venetian also has “Phantom of the Opera.” A spectacular show on Broadway is even more impressive in Vegas. I dare you not to flinch as the chandelier drops overhead at 35 mph!







The Venetian also has its shares of delicious restaurants, including Valentino and Bouchon:





My mouth is watering…



And you CAN’T pass up Madame Tussaud’s, where they encourage you to touch and pose with the wax figures!



Do you prefer youthful and sexy Elvis?



or paunchy Elvis from the later years…



Some of the statues will make you look twice...they are THAT convincing!





See more Las Vegas photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Viva Las Vegas, Pt. 2

Over at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Phantom of the Opera and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum are two of the major attractions for visitors to Las Vegas.





Like Disneyland, Vegas has a total different look at night when the sun goes down and the magical lights turn on.



The interior of The Venetian is richly detailed and slightly over the top; just what you would expect when Italy and Las Vegas collide.





I’ve seen “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway, but even that amazing production is outdone by the Las Vegas version. The music, the sets, and the moving story still brought chills the second time that I watched the show. If you’ve seen the movie, please don’t let that deter you from seeing the theater production!

Even the theater itself will cause your jaw to drop; decked out like a vintage playhouse, “dummies” populate the sideseat, dressed in historic era-appropriate clothing.







Falling overhead at a speed of 35 mph, this combined set of 4 chandeliers would be enough to cause even the bravest theatergoer to invest in a set of Depends!



For the Las Vegas production, even the Phantom’s makeup was revisited. With a new set of facial molds, the final result is stunning, as shown here by The Phantom himself, Anthony Crivello. Discussing the new molds, Crivello is having the final remnants of his Phantom “face” removed before he goes home after his performance.







Quite a setup of computers and monitors is required for precision accuracy with the lighting and props for “Phantom of the Opera” in Las Vegas:



Over at Madame Tussaud’s, you can see two versions of Elvis; young and handsome, or older and slightly paunchy. Take your pick!





Apparently Criss Angel is one of the most reviled people in Las Vegas; Cirque du Soleil is just waiting for his contract to expire so that they can remove their name from his show. Still, he is one of the figures at Tussaud’s.



Who needs the egotistical Criss Angel when you can have the Rat Pack?







You haven’t heard the last from Sin City. More to come in the future!

See more Las Vegas photos at my main website.