Beautiful Bellagio

Posted on March 9, 2015March 9, 2015 by Dusty Roads

I don’t know Vegas well enough to say what is the most beautiful or the most sophisticated or the most anything. Everything we’ve seen and experienced so far in Vegas has been over the top but I did love everything about the Bellagio, from it’s dancing fountains to the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

I have a video of the fountains but so far have not been able to complete an upload so until then here is a still photo to share the experience with you.

Chihuly in the lobby

The Gardens decked out for Chinese New Year.

Time For The High Roller

Posted on March 7, 2015March 7, 2015 by Dusty Roads

We took our time over lunch at the Venetian but finally it was time to begin our trip back toward the Linq. We had show tickets and we didn’t want to miss out on riding that huge Ferris Wheel. The High Roller.

The High Roller is at the bottom of the Linq promenade which makes it fun just to get to it with all kinds of shops and fountains along the way.

We bought our tickets from the concierge at the Linq. The price changes from the daytime to nighttime rates at 5 pm. It was 4:30. We would get the day rate while enjoying a desert sunset.

From the first time I saw the High Roller all I could think of was Star Wars. The white pods just made me think of something from one of those movies. It only needed a storm trooper!

Inside wasn’t what I expected. I had heard of wedding parties renting the pods and bars set up in them but they hardly seemed big enough for a crows, especially a rowdy crowd intent on drinking. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been on a Ferris Wheel enclosed like this.

The wheel is 550 ft high and the ride from start to finish is about 30 minutes. The pods move at about 1 ft/ sec and it never stops turning. Unlike a Ferris Wheel at a fair where it stops and starts to let passengers on and off, the passengers on the High Roller enter while the pod is slowly passing them by.

Inside is like command central with 8 monitor screens letting you watch the pods above and below your own.

Plus there the “talking head”. I found him very funny but Joe thought he was quite annoying. You’ll have to go and make your own decision.

But no matter what, taking this ride at sunset was a perfect time. It was relaxing and beautiful, The huge windows allowing an amazing view.

Alas, all things must come to an end and too soon we were back to the bottom preparing to step off the moving pod to good old terra firma.

I highly recommend this. Even for my sister, who says she is afraid of heights.

Lunch in The Courtyard

Posted on March 5, 2015March 5, 2015 by Dusty Roads

I was very thrilled that I managed to get out of the gondola after our ride and not fall into the canal. I was assured that they hadn’t lost a guest overboard yet that day and I didn’t want to be the first.

Decorations for the Chinese New Year were everywhere. We plan to see the Bellagio Gardens eventually but the display here at the Grand Canal Shoppes was pretty amazing.

After taking our fill of pictures of the Year of the Sheep we headed back toward the exit.

Since it was lunchtime we decided a good place for lunch was in the courtyard by the canal. We hadn’t been seated very long before costumed performers took center stage. The performances were marvelous.

It was easy to forget you were just inside a well decorated mall.

The way the facades were lit and the ceiling reflected light, it was easy to think you were outside, canal side in Venice.

Of course you can’t forget the food. Cibo molto buono!

Back to Vegas

Posted on March 3, 2015March 3, 2015 by Dusty Roads

Before I move on to the remainder of our stay in Vegas I thought I’d flash back to the Venetian Hotel for one last glimpse of the boat ride on the canal. I was thinking since it had been so long (2/1) since I posted about the trip that a little photo flashback would help set the stage for the rest of the story.

Have You ever wanted to go to Venice?

Posted on February 1, 2015February 1, 2015 by Dusty Roads

Venice, Italy is called one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But with all the unrest around the world, terrorism, plane crashes not to mention cost to go jetting about, how many will actually get out a pass port to take on an international adventure. I’m told I’m a chicken because I want to stay within the confines of the good old USA. But if I do that How will I ever get to see Venice?

Why by going to the Venetian Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. This wasn’t even on our to-do list. The concierge at the Linq told us it was not to be missed. She really gave it high marks so after our morning at the Mirage we headed back out to the strip to wander down to the Venetian.

I think I had to pick my mouth up off the floor when we entered the shops. The ceiling was a breathtaking mural! My head was back so far I almost fell over!

Strolling past the shops on the promenade we passed one of the human statues. The actor was very good. I got a good laugh when Joe jumped when he moved.

Once again the ceiling was painted as a sky and each shop had a facade making it appear we were actually strolling through Venice. They even had a canal. And just as if we were in Venice we had to take a gondola ride. We shared our gondola with a nice couple here on “holiday’. He was from Wales and she was from London.