All Your $$$$ Belong To Vegas!

That's the view from the overlook above the Hoover Dam from the Arizona/Lake Mead side.
Big Bubba took that photo late Friday night/early Saturday morning on our way to Las Vegas. It's an extraordinary place, and I recommend you check it out if you've not been.

After publishing my last post we set out to get a feel of what Las Vegas has to offer. We drove the strip from North to South, then turned around and drove back to our starting point. It was a chilly but sunny day with lots of folks out walking the strip, even at Noon-time in a city that doesn't really awaken 'til 3 P.M. Some were dressed in full Winter garb, others in shorts and short sleeved shirts....
An interesting mix.

The world we grew up in is full of images.
When I first went to Dealey plaza in Dallas I was amazed at the "been there already" feeling I had because of all the still and moving pictures we have been exposed to...
Same with much of Las Vegas... we've seen most of the images a thousand times, so it's odd to be lookin' at them in person. We really had no idea what to expect from the city, so it's impossible for Vegas to disappoint us. But I will say this- we saw Elvis, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and lots of boobs.... all startling replicas of the real thing.
The thing that did surprise me on our drive, and for that matter the entire weekend, was the scale of the place... again, we didn't know what to expect, but the drive from one end of the strip to the other took 45 minutes. We had thought we might walk it... NOT POSSIBLE!

We drove back North to the Hilton Hotel, home of "Star Trek, The Experience", and went to "Quark's Bar" for a bite to eat. For you "Trekkies" out there, Big Bubba had a "HamBorger". Sara Jean and I shared "Leeta's Clam Chowder", and an order of "The Holy Rings of Betazed". After those appetizers SJ ordered the "Sulu Toss", while I ordered the "Warbird". A little pricey, I was surprised at the quality and content of the food... it was tasty and there was more than we could finish.

You don't have to be a fan of the movies/series to enjoy "The Experience". Admission actually gets you two experiences... a "Klingon Encounter" and the "Borg Invasion". Both were interesting and exciting, but my favorite was the "Klingon Encounter." Thirty or so of us "crewmen" were briefed on our mission, then seated in a shuttlecraft, where we were taken on an acrobatic flight to try to avoid being sucked into a Klingon "Bird of Prey". The shuttle craft had a great visual display and reminded me of some of the best flight simulators available today. I was actually slightly disoriented during the ride and felt I had gotten more than my money's worth.

As I have previously indicated, for the Greybeard family this was a "scouting mission" to see if we wanted to return to Las Vegas for a lengthier visit later. When we finished with our Star Trek experience, we purchased a ticket for the Las Vegas Monorail, a driverless, computer-operated tramway that runs most of the length of the strip. A 24 hour pass cost $9 and seemed like a bargain. We boarded the train at the stop just outside the Hilton and rode South to the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino. A quick note about the Monorail... I still think it is the most efficient way to get from point "A" to point "B" in town, but you need to be aware that getting off the train forces you to walk all the way through each of the Casinos in order to get to "Las Vegas Avenue" to continue your walk down the strip. Walking through each of the casinos is no small feat... it can take upwards of 15 minutes, and it's never a straight shot, so you can easily get disoriented and make the walk even longer.

And be advised... everyone in Vegas is an expert at separating you from your money. There are no water fountains... if you want a drink you'll have to pay for it. Kiosks are everywhere trying to sell you time shares, Las Vegas trinkets, photos, massages, you name it. Be ready to buck up and "Just Say No!"

We walked through The MGM Grand, Harrah's, Bally's, and The Venetian...
Wow... The Venetian!
A canal runs down through the center of the "street", leading to a town square. It's a sunny, gorgeous day, even when it's raining and 55 degrees on the outside. Gondoliers sing as they transport passengers in their gondolas... it's another wonderful, FAKE atmosphere!

We walked over to The Bellagio and watched "The Famous Dancing Fountains" put on their show to Aaron Copland's "The Gift To Be Simple". The fountains put on a show every 15 minutes to a different piece of music, and I think I could sit and watch them all day long.

At 11 P.M. our feet finally screamed loud enough to be heard above the din. We walked back through Harrah's to the Monorail and via the Hilton, made our way back to the car. Back at Nellis Air Force Base, it didn't take long for us all to be asleep. Our plan was to tour Hoover Dam on our way home.

That post is comin' up.