Jersey Boys

Posted on March 23, 2016March 23, 2016 by Dusty Roads

What’s Las Vegas without the shows?

There weren’t any headliners Like Elton John there but there were loads of tribute artists like Michael Jackson, The Beatles and the Jersey Boys.

MJ and me

Sandy is Old School and so am I even if her school is a little older than mine so Michael got scratched off the list and we’d seen Beatles Tribute Bands before, especially “RAIN”. so Jersey Boys became the choice.

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We got our tickets through the time share so they were Dinner and a Show. Dinner was the Brazilian Steak House, Pampas and what an experience. The food was amazing. We had a chocolate mousse cake for dessert and we should have taken a picture because it was beautiful, rich and creamy. Even splitting it we couldn’t finish it.

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Then we wandered over to the theater in the Paris Hotel. Had to walk off the chocolate!

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Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

“They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story”

I remember the songs, all of them from Sherry to Can’t take my Eyes Off You and many, many, more. Guess that’s dating me but I loved the show. I didn’t know all the things that happened, some very sad, until the show. I won’t give the story line away in case you get to go but I did a fact check and found they were true.

I lugged my camera over prepared to grab few shots but that idea was quickly shut down when they announced no photos or recording devices of any kind. I had my expensive camera so I wasn’t going to risk having it confiscated if I got caught sneaking a picture so back in the case it went.

Frankie

All I can say is that its a great show. There are several casts touring, not just Las Vegas, so it could be coming to a theater near you. If it does, don’t miss it!

Las Vegas by Time Share

Posted on March 19, 2016March 19, 2016 by Dusty Roads

When you own a time share they always want to give you updates. It’s a chance for them to try to sell you something more. A plain old update, no sale, is about 55 minutes and you get neat gifts for your time. Sometimes show tickets, sometimes amusement park tickets, it all depends on where you are and what attractions are in the area. I knew in advance that I would get a $100.00 Visa card to use toward a show so I agreed to “have breakfast on Diamond”.

Things didn’t go quite as I planned so suffice it to say I succumbed to an offer I couldn’t refuse. My 55 minutes was more like 5 hours but in the end I was happy and I have reached the level of membership that I was striving for. I will never have to do another purchase again! From now on it will be 55 minute updates.

We were given the VIP treatment from that point on and showered with candy and huge discounts on show tickets and dinners. We ate at Pampas one night. Our bill was $70.00 but we only had to pay $10.00! It’s nice to be a VIP (Gold level owner).

Heavy duty negotiations can really build up your appetite so as soon as we could break free we headed out for lunch. Since we were doing a lot of walking I had brought along a cane “just in case”. Sandy thought that sounded like a good idea as the walking was bothering her back so we headed for the CVS across the street.

One thing about Vegas …it gives new meaning to the phrase “can’t get there from here”. Most intersections won’t let you cross. You have to walk several blocks, cross a pedestrian bridge and then come back to where you wanted to be in the first place.

On the way to CVS we had to pass Bobby’s Burger Palace one of Bobby Flay’s Restaurants.

That was a good place to stop for lunch.

The burgers were excellent. I had a side of onion rings. All I can say is WOW and Bobby Flay is not one of my favorite Celebrity Chefs but now I know why he’s considered to be so good.

After lunch and cane shopping we walked the strip.

We visited the Hershey store, (Yum) chocolate.

And a chocolate Statue of Liberty.

We lingered in New York. Lady Liberty is reinforced Styrofoam.

Leo the MGM Lion on the other hand was hollow but real bronze. The statue weighs 50 tons, and at 45 feet (14 m) tall, on a 25-foot pedestal, is the largest bronze statue in the U.S.

Polo Towers

Posted on March 15, 2016March 15, 2016 by Dusty Roads

After a long but uneventful flight we arrived at McCarren International Airport, Las Vegas, NV. A quick hello to the tortoise in the terminal

and we were taking a short cab ride to our destination, Polo Towers, in the heart of the strip.

Polo Towers is a time share resort. There is no casino but we had a lovely one bedroom on the 14th floor.

There was a huge bed in the bedroom and a pull out couch in the living room. We also had a full kitchen with fridge, stove and microwave.

There is a shuttle to some of the malls and a grocery store but we were content to pick up our provisions in the little mini mart in the resort.

There is also a pool and a fitness center although we didn’t get a chance to use either.

Upon arrival we were treated like VIP’s. Everyone making us feel welcome.

It had been a long day . We left Albany Airport at 11 am but didn’t arrive in Las Vegas until 6:30 pm. We quickly got checked in and settled.

We took a quick look at the views of the strip from our room and then headed out for dinner.

Our meal was enjoyed with the elephants of the Rainforest Cafe before we returned to our room for the night.

Time enough to explore in the morning.

California Adventure

Posted on February 16, 2016February 16, 2016 by Dusty Roads | 20 Comments

After dinner at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel I walked into a Disney themed retail area right out the back door of the hotel.

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Strolling along this section was similar to Disney Boardwalk in Orlando, just much smaller. That seemed to be the theme over all. I am used to Walt Disney World, Orlando with multiple parks covering lots of acres.

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This was only 2 parks, Disneyland and California Adventure. I wanted to see both but there wasn’t enough time.

My goal for this one evening was to see the water fountain show at California Adventure called World of Colors.

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In celebration of Disneyland’s 60th anniversary, the “World of Color” water show at Disney California Adventure got a new story overlay dedicated to the history of Walt Disney and his first theme park. Neil Patrick Harris’s image tells the story from Steamboat Willie to Star Wars with a little help from Mickey and Walt.

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I couldn’t believe I was wearing a winter coat in California but it was cold and the World of Color is projected over a pond that is loaded with fountains that dance and provide a backdrop for the videos. The breeze was chilly and when the fountains explode you do get wet!

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Of course when the flames shoot into the night sky the brief warmth is welcome!

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I got there in time for the last show of the day and by the time it was over the California Adventure Park was closing so I didn’t get to see much else. I’ll have to plan another visit when I have more time.

Maybe I should plan a California Dreamin’ Vacation. What do you think?

Gator Wrestling Anyone?

Posted on January 29, 2016January 29, 2016 by Dusty Roads

Once we returned from air boat ride we followed the signs to the gator wrestling pit. This was in a different place from the old pit where I saw J Mark do his performance.

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The new pit had a cover so if the rain started only the wrestler would get wet. The audience would stay nice and dry. There were tip boxes placed along the fence.

We had a lady wrestler that I’d never seen before. I don’t think she was ever on the Gator Boys show but I could be wrong. I may have missed an episode or two.

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She did the usual tricks, nothing new. After the show you could have your picture taken with a baby alligator.

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I have to admit to feeling a bit let down. My last visit has so much emotion attached to it because J Mark passed away after I’d seen his show. As a result this visit left me feeling kind of flat. I would have liked to see one of the show’s principal’s make an appearance. But that was not to be on this day.

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The air boat ride was good, especially with the iguana at the end but I’ve been spoiled by going out on the smaller 6 person air boats. Now the big Holiday Park boats don’t have the same thrill as before.

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