We headed out on Friday and immediately saw bluer skies and warmer weather. Once we checked into our Best Western just north of the Strip with the Stratosphere in sight we headed out for some dinner. Apparently the direction we headed was less than swanky, and within minutes of grabbing our Jack In The Box burgers, we were accosted by some very sketchy individuals asking for change. Ken nudged me and whispered that both guys were definitely on drugs - as an office manager in a methodone clinic, he has a trained eye. When a third man burst into the restaurant, looked around as though he was expecting someone, and then proceeded to wait just outside, I decided I was done with my dinner and practically sprinted for our car. We capped off the evening in the confines of our locked hotel room plotting the next day's activities.
Saturday we started out at the north end of the Strip and made a huge find right off - Ken's favorite History Channel show "Pawn Stars" has their store right on Las Vegas Boulevard and we happened upon it within minutes! We peeked in and got to ogle some really cool items and enjoy the atmosphere we had seen so many times on the show. I wasn't sure we could take any pictures and didn't want to be rude, but I really wanted to get a shot of Ken in the store - darn!
We checked out the shops at Caesar's Palace (we stopped in the Gap and Ken insisted that I get a shirt in every color I wanted, since they were on a huge sale) and then hit the legendary buffet at the Bellagio. This is the buffet of the gigantic crab legs and mountain of shrimp that Mom, Jim, Megan, and I discovered in 2002. We hopped into line and suddenly, the bartender approached us from the restaurant and asked if we would like to sit at the bar to eat. We glanced at each other and accepted, then were escorted past a line that had to have been at least a forty-minute wait and were promptly seated at the bar right in the middle of the food and next to the crab legs. The bartender told us, "Never wait in line! Always let us know that you would like to sit at the bar, and we will get you in right away!" We had a fabulous dinner of all the seafood we could handle, plus incredible fruits, prime rib, duck, turkey, and delectable desserts. Plus all the diet Coke I could drink, of course! Then we headed back to our hotel to swim in the pool, but a really heavy wind kicked up and the temperature dropped so drastically that we gave up and went inside to hear the wind rattle the door - so much for getting some sun at the pool!
The Bellagio's famous blown-glass flower ceiling:
Kenny at the Bellagio's front entrance:
And me!
Sunday we started the morning by driving all the way up to the base of the mountains to see the Las Vegas LDS Temple. It was so beautiful set far above the smog of the Strip, nestled in gardens and palm trees. It mimics the Portland Temple in its design, but with its own unique flair.
Once we had walked around the temple grounds, we headed back into the valley to explore the southern part of the Strip and visit the Bellagio buffet, where we put our newfound knowledge of "bar seating" to good use and escaped a two-hour line to dine in luxury once again. We also checked out the MGM Grand to see the lions and happened upon a sight I had not expected - baby kitties! Ken noticed the crowds around the lion habitat (a big lion was asleep in the main area) and suggested we dodge around through the gift shop. His suggestion was ingenious, as our detour put us right in front of two lion cubs curled up next to each other, fast asleep. Ken prodded me forward to get right up next to the glass to see them, so here are pictures and a short video where you can see their tummies moving as they breathe!
And one of the other lions, fast asleep:
And here are some dorky views of us at the Bellagio the second time. I know, I know - we are such tourists! But the food was so delicious and the deserts so unique that I wanted to catch a shot or two.
The strawberry at the top left is sprinkled with silver, the dish clockwise to the right is tiramisu, next is a berry and cream dish sprinkled with gold, then something mocha-y, then a key lime tart that was delicious but still not quite as awesome as Karl's key lime pie.
Kenny and his desserts:
A close-up of the gold-sprinkled berry dessert and a Napoleon:
Me at the snow crab buffet area:
A view of the Strip from the south:
New York, New York:
The Luxor:
The view of the Strip from Treasure Island (right before we saw "Mystere"):
Mystére was an absolutely incredible show - we couldn't decide where to look next! Drummers appearing out of the ceiling, trapeze artists that bounced and twisted through the air and yet always managed to land on their trapezes in perfect time, acrobats who did flips off seesaws, climbed poles in seconds to hang off them from a ninety-degree angle, and plunged headfirst from incredible heights to land gracefully in nets, and costumes and lighting that made us feel like we had entered an entirely different world all combined to make Cirque du Soleil nearly impossible to describe. We emerged in awe. And then we hiked to the Bellagio to see the water show and to wait out the emptying of the parking garage at Treasure Island before heading home for a good night's sleep.
Monday we hit the outlet mall across the freeway from the Strip after checking out of our hotel - oh, now the weather gets warm again once I pack my swimsuit? - and headed back home to a rather chilly Utah. Not a quarter was spent in a slot machine, despite gambling being in just about every single location we visited - even the gas station, which made me surmise that slot machines must feed a nervous tic in Las Vegas - but our tummies were filled, our minds were entranced, and our feet were sore with all that walking! Kenny and I hadn't been to Las Vegas since we went with Megan and our friend Paul back in 2003 for Memorial Day eight years ago, and it was great to relive memories, pick a better buffet, and enjoy the sights and sounds as a family this time.
2 comments:
I think the only reason I would want to go to Las Vegas would be to go to the Bellagio, but only because of "Ocean's 11". And when are you going to post your new profile? It has said "coming soon" FOREVER! Am I the only one eagerly anticipating it?
Meredith! You commented on my post! That makes me so happy. No one comments on my (very rare) posts anymore! Sorry about my months-long delay in posts. I think I lose steam easily. Kenny makes fun of me.
It was so fun to see the Bellagio after "Ocean's 11"! The rest of Las Vegas is pretty much a gigantic ashtray, except for the temple.
I promise I will work on our profile this weekend - really, I will!
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