Wednesday 8 March 2017

Part 13 of our holiday - an afternoon in Las Vegas

Please note this blog has moved to
http://mylifeinthecharente2.blogspot.com

Firstly, I would like to say thank you for all the comments on the last post which I have not answered!  We were away for the whole of February  having fun in South Africa and Botswana, and although I did read all the comments, I did not have time (with limited satellite coverage) to answer all of them.   After this post we will return to France for a few posts; this blog is after all supposed to be about my life in the Charente! .

We stayed overnight in a hotel off the "Strip" (Las Vegas Boulevard) so as to catch a 6 a.m. flight the next day, but arrived early to spend a few hours seeing what LV has to offer! With outside temperatures at a body-melting 46 degrees C, and not being gamblers, a few hours was enough for us!!

The famous Roman-themed Caesars Palace hotel (now with about 3,350 bedrooms) and casino is now 50 years old, but they've been adding to it ever since! Elton John, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart and Celine Dion have all appeared here. Note the replica London bus at the right of the photo.

This jolly Disney-style castle encloses, I believe, the Mandalay Bay monorail train station. The Las Vegas Boulevard is served by an elevated monorail system 3.9 mile  (6.3km) long, on which you can invest $12 for an unlimited daily pass, a mere drop in the ocean compared with what everything else costs here!

David Copperfield the illusionist, resident at the MGM Grand hotel and casino. The MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world, with over 5,100 rooms! Some penthouse suites are 110 square metres (the size of a small house!) in area with one king size bed, all for about $750 per night!

A typical slot machine area. Plush carpets and the incessant sounds of payout bells ringing in the ears! Outside it's scorching, but in here it feels over 25 degrees cooler! A sweater perhaps?

One of a huge number of magnificent ladies loos (or "rest rooms" as the Amercans euphemistically call them) in a casino! All marble and granite; and where else did you see so many basins in a row?

The stylised but still impressive Sphinx at the Luxor hotel and casino. It did cast a welcome bit of shade as we passed by!

The Pharaoh in the entrance lobby of the Luxor complex, which was opened in 1993. It has over 4,400 rooms in the almost full-size replica of the Cheops pyramid and in two additional towers added in 2001. You can judge the size of the statue from the height of the people at the bottom of the photo!

An extension of the Luxor theme, this obelisk is presumably modelled from similar features in Paris, London and New York.

This Statue of Liberty at the New York-New York hotel and casino is a half size replica of the original in New York harbour. When the US Post Office issued a stamp commemorating the Statue, they used a photo of this replica and not of the original! One of those "Oh ****" moments!

Am amazing re-creation of a Venice canal scene. It's hard to believe, but this is INDOORS!! They even have singing gondoliers poling around, taking tourists on little trips.

Another view. Yes, it's real water - you can't forge that!

And another. There are shops absolutely everywhere, selling almost anything you can imagine. It's very easy to get lost, too!

And to finish, I thought it appropriate to show the American version of France! This half-scale Eiffel Tower is outside the Paris hotel and casino. The original plan was for a full scale Tower, but it was said that would have interfered with planes at the nearby McCullan airport. Pity! If you're a Barry Manilow fan, the Paris is (was?) the place to see him perform.

Inside the building, this is the lavish-looking Napoleon's Piano Bar. I don't know who painted all the skies, but they look pretty good!

All in all, a great experience of this OTT city and a tick, perhaps, on your personal bucket list! If you do intend to visit, check the ambient temperatures before planning your travel date and consider staying at hotels a block or so off the "Strip". We found them really amazing value in return for just a little extra walking.

Also see my daily diary HERE


and My Life Before Charente (updated  25 September 2016) I will get back to this eventually! 


PLEASE NOTE THAT BECAUSE THIS BLOG IS LOADING VERY SLOWLY FOR ME NOW - WE HAVE A SLOW CONNECTION - THE NEXT POST WILL MOVE TO A NEW ADDRESS 
http://mylifeinthecharente2.blogspot.com

25 comments:

  1. Hi Diane - lovely photos of Las Vegas - not a place I particularly want to see ... but fascinating all the same ... as you've shown. 46 degrees - I'd be melting too ... I'll be around wherever you are ... looking forward to some Africa shots and news too ... cheers Hilary

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    1. I have to agree Hilary, Vegas was not our scene at all, but I was glad to have at least seen it and one afternoon was plenty for us! I have left a note on your blog re Africa photos. Take care Diane

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  2. Gosh 46C, that even beats our summer temps! It does get that hot up North but i think the hottest we've had in Perth was around 43C and that's very rarely.. I wish I hadn't said that, there's still time before we start cooling down ☺ I don't think LA is my cup of tea either but fascinating to see your captures Diane.

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    1. It gets really hot there and walking for air conditioning to outside I am sure is not good for the health! Not a place I would like to live but it was interesting to see how others do live! Take care Diane

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  3. Hi Diane! Good post and photos! I love Las Vegas and we've been there many times over the years. Love the glitz, the shows and the slot machines. Not a place to visit frequently though! Looking forward to posts on your new address. Take care

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    1. Pam It has a certain something and I would have liked to have seen a show but not a place that I would like to be permanently. An afternoon was really more than enough for us :-) Hope all is well Diane

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  4. Πολύ εντυπωσιακές φωτογραφίες! Όλος ο κόσμος, στο Λας Βέγκας!Να είστε πάντα καλά και να περνάτε υπέροχα!

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    1. Thanks Magda for the comment, hope all is well with you Diane

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  5. Vegas is quite a show, but one I avoid. Like you, I think one day is enough for a decade. Maybe it requires a younger person, or one who enjoys crowds, shows and gaming - a polite euphemism for losing all of your money a/k/a gambling!

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    1. We do not like cities or crowds so really not our scene at all, but I was glad that we did our short visit to see what it was like. Diane

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  6. Hi Diane. Although I'm never likely to go to Las Vegas, and have no desire to do so, I can't help but be impressed by what has been achieved here. I had no idea that so much had been done on such a large scale. However, I can't help but imagine that most of those edifices are constructed in fiberglass, rather than stone!

    The most important message here, however, is to comment, once again, on how skillfully you've captured the scenery and atmosphere of the city.

    I'm now going over to look at your new blog. Best wishes - - - Richard

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    1. Richard I cannot imagine you in Vegas anymore than I could imagine ourselves, an afternoon was plenty for us :-) Fibreglass or stone, I have to say most of what we saw was pretty impressive, but not a place for us I must say.
      Thanks once again for your kind comment, and for following me, very best wishes Diane

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  7. Vegas is a crazy/amazing/weird place. Great photos!

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    1. Very weird place, an afternoon was enough! Diane

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  8. You can travel the world and never leave Vegas. But no thanks.

    Off to check your new site.

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    1. We did not find South Africa there, but you can sort of find Vegas in RSA at Sun City :-))) Thanks for following. Diane

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  9. How wonderful! Looks like you had a great time and I have thoroughly enjoyed your post. My sister-in-law just returned home from Las Vegas. I was there many years ago. These photos bring back some great memories. Thank you :)

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    1. We had a great holiday but Vegas is not really our scene though it was an interesting afternoon. Glad to have brought back some memories. Have a good day Diane

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  10. My husband and I got married in Las Vegas years ago. It certainly has changed over the years as we have gone back several times to celebrate our anniversary there. (At that time of the year, it is very cold). While we don't really gamble, we think the town has some of the best restaurants you can eat at.

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    1. I cannot imaging Vegas being cold it was just so very hot when we were there. A good place to celebrate with as you say some great restaurants. Cheers Diane

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  11. Fabulous pics! You must have had a ball! As Elvis sang: Viva Las Vegas! :)

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    1. As you (and Elvis) says 'Viva Las Vegas'. I am sure there must be many people who just love it there but an afternoon was plenty for us!! Have a good day Diane

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  12. What a wonderful! We haven't been to Vegas in years! You captured great photos!

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  13. Happy Easter Day to you & family, Diane ! Enjoy your day.
    Blessings, Kristy

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  14. How wonderful! I will wear my most beautiful dress and then go there with my husband.
    robe de soirée longue

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