Las Vegas Trip

Here is the second installment regarding the Las Vegas trip. I noticed that when you are in Vegas, you do not think about home. Your eyes are too busy, and your mind has way too many things to think about.......and that's a good thing.

Last night I watched the movie "Leaving Las Vegas" and there was one scene in which the actress Elizabeth Shue was walking on a pedestrian bridge over Las Vegas Boulevard. That bridge was the very same bridge that I was standing on when I shot the above photo. If you have seen the movie, it was the story of a hooker and a suicidal drunk. There is plenty of that in Vegas. On that same pedestrian bridge, I saw one of those drunks sitting and holding a cardboard sign. On his sign, it read "Why Lie About It?....I Need A Drink!" I opted to not take a picture of him..........it just did not seem right to do so. Besides, I would have felt an obligation to give him a dollar or some change....and that would only encourage his demise.

We stayed at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino. It's a fantastic place to stay. Very family oriented and you would think "Disney" to look at it.

There is so much to feast your eyes upon. Daytime AND nightime, and you absolutely have to get a look at the place at both times of the day because it is really awesome to see everything lit up.

Everywhere you look.............Video!

Not the greatest picture but I had to take it. Las Vegas Boulevard at night.

When they build these places, they spare no detail. The architecture alone, everywhere you look, is something to behold.

Some people never look UP.........how else are you gonna see flying saucers..........or.........stuff like this?

This is the New York, New York Hotel & Casino. We caught the Roseanne Barr stand-up act there. She was fairly good........not the greatest, but entertaining.

They weren't kidding around when the advertised Vegas being for families. There is alot there for children to do. Example: Notice the roller-coaster ride.

You gotta love the neon lights.

This is the Paris Hotel & Casino. Just look at the detail on the building facade if you can take your eyes off of the fountain.......hehehehe.

I had been to Vegas once before and stayed at the Treasure Island. (the building on the left)

Right across the street is the Venetian. The Venetian is a must-see if you ever get to Vegas. It is a work of art. Seriously.

On the Venetian complex, is a bell tower. This whole place is an exact replica of what is found in Venice Italy. The building on the right is part of the Mirage.

I have never been to Italy, but I have a pretty good idea of what it looks like after being at the Venetian.

The hotels and casinos in Vegas, each are places that you, if you choose to do so, can be content to just stay on the premises and never leave the building. Cities within the city. Shopping malls, restaurants, entertainment, etc, etc......all under each roof. After walking around, I noticed something I had not ever seen before. I never thought I would see the day when you could be browsing along in a shopping mall, in a hotel, in Vegas......and encounter an "oxygen bar". Imagine that!.........flavored oxygen! Unbelieveable! Now, you do not have to wait for COPD, Emphysema, or Lung Cancer, for you to get hooked up to some pure air.......hehehe.

This is what it looks like inside the Venetian. You would think you are outside....but it's all indoors. I would look up and almost swear I saw clouds moving. You can even take a ride on a gondola........just like in Venice.

If you have read my blog in the past, you would recall that I wrote about my trip to New Orleans and how I encountered a mime standing across from the Cafe DuMonde. Well, as it happens, while strolling through the Venetian, I encountered a human statue. He doesn't move.

Apparently, the drunks haven't caught on to this concept.......just look at all of the money people willingly place in front of him!

These shops inside the Venetian are NOT "dollar stores"......hehehe. They are obviously where the women go to spend their husband's "winnings".

I could not write about Vegas without mentioning Frank, Dean, and Sammy.

And........go figure............you can find stuff like this in "Sin" city.

Items like the Rat Pack statues and the Lord's Supper are not cheap...........I saw one small painting inside this very same shop.....it was done very well.....nice framed picture of a WW2 bomber.........no big deal, right?...........try $1,500.!

Yep.....even a Mickey D's on the boulevard.

It's not a good idea to try to cross Las Vegas Boulevard by foot.

Here's a photo of the famous Mirage. Siegfried & Roy still have their animals there, but their show has been replaced with a Beatles/Cirque duSoleil show.

In the Excalibur is the Tournament of Kings extravaganza...............you get to go back in time to medieval days and eat with your hands and watch a fantastic show consisting of knights, Merlin, damsels, a midget, horses, jousting, fire, smoke, lights, action! It is like really being there.

I recommend this place...expecially if you have kids with you. It was said "Use of cameras inside the facility is forbidden and strictly enforced." I managed to get this picture before the show started. You can always visit their website I suppose.

Vegas Wedding

Sometimes you are busy, and sometimes you just don't feel like doing anything........and then there are those times when your laptop refuses to cooperate with you. All three of these may be applied as to the reason for my not posting much to this blog lately.



So there I was..........on a plane to Las Vegas. Not to gamble.........not to frolick..........but a very special occasion..........a wedding..........a quick, short, simple, and sweet wedding. NO......it wasn't ME getting married..........although I have been married twice to the same woman (Supernurse), and that's a whole 'nother story.............but it was the marriage of my Number Two Daughter (Noodle). I won't get into details too much here, so the pictures should speak for themselves.




We all stayed at the Excalibur Hotel. I had a real nice view of the Luxor Hotel next door. For what it is worth, here are a few pictures of what can be found inside the Luxor.

Pretty scarey eh?

They even have an IMAX theater in there.

It must have costed a crapload of pesos to make this hotel.

For those who have no clue about the Luxor.........the main building of their complex is a huge pyramid. Surely, some people have wondered what it must look like inside. Well.....now you know. This picture is the inside of the pyramid.........I was looking up at the ceiling.

The view from my room.

The airport is very close to the "Strip".

When is a sign not a sign?...........when it's an obelisk!

I think it is rather neat that Vegas is surrounded by mountains.

You cannot visit Vegas without a stroll along Las Vegas Boulevard. Themed hotels are the big deal. You can just about see the world in a short walk. Pyramids.......Medieval Castles.......New York........France.......Rome..........Venice..........you name it!

In Vegas....everything is BIG! The signs alone are HUGE!

The weekend that we were in Vegas, it also just so happened to be Cinco DeMayo. It also happened to be the weekend of the BIG FIGHT........Mayweather vs. De Lahoya. Needless to say.......people were there in droves.

The majority of the signs have video advertising...........and not just small screens either......some of these are HUGE!

I imagine it takes a HUGE chunk of change to actually live in one of these.

Oh.........that's right.............the wedding!

Everything went without a hitch........well.......a few minor glitches, but nothing that could not be resolved easily. This was yet another major milestone in my life...............now all of my daughters are married. My "Noodle" girl is all grown up and I have gained another son-in-law.

Now there's a nice looking couple. I must admit..........I had tears in my eyes.

Me, Noodle, Noodle's new Other Half, and the love of my life......Supernurse.

I am such a lucky guy!