Westward HO 2017!!!: OOOOOO Las Vegas!

August 22-24, 2017

OK, Just so we are clear, I may have overlapping dates since numbers aren't my strong suit.

We headed to Las Vegas for my birthday presents. ...Two Cirque du Soleil shows, "Zumanity" at New York, New York and "O" at Bellagio.
There are so many choice of restaurants that I didn't wanted to be overwhelmed by them, so I even made our restaurant reservations ahead of time on Open Table.

Coming out of the mountains, it was pretty flat in between the mountain ranges

Our car reflected on the side of a tanker

We weren't sure what this was? Other than solar farms, we didn't see much farming or any industry.

We watched our outside temperature climb to this...

What the F??? Tim Allen would be so proud?!

Another viewpoint, none of this looked stable...YIKES!

If you look carefully at this Space Needle, there are rides up there...Really???

Have no idea what the copper pink building is?
Just loved it's reflections on it's surroundings...

As Mike said, "If tourists only come here, what must they think of the USA afterwards???"

The Strip

Every time I see Excalibar, I think of Disney's, "It's a Small World"

Seeing it during the day is nothing like it looks at night

The Statue of Liberty replica is in front of New York, New York

After coming out of the desert, the palms are disconcerting

We had a cooling beverage after our drive

The first night I chose Tom Urban at New York New York. It turned out to be a really great deal with Happy Hour pricing, wonderful drinks and food. I had some type of delicious lemonade, ginger chicken pot stickers for an appetizer, along with crispy, spicy chicken tenders on top of cornbread pancakes while Mike had lobster and shrimp mac and cheese with some kind of yummy salad. YUM!

"Zumanity" was an adult sexy show with something for everyone...you had your lesbian, gay innuendos, mixed with a transgender, comedic, sexy hostess and a talented, strong, cute dwarf. There were a wide mix of talented, but sexually charged acts. Very entertaining! If you tend to be private about sexuality, don't go! https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/zumanity

He/she was a HOOT, as was her sidekick dwarf

The Zumanity finale when we were allowed to take photos

Our second day we had more time, so we got up late and headed to the pool. When the sun came out strong and the shade left we were about to head inside when it clouded up. Since it had cooled down, we stayed for awhile longer, but as the sky darken we decided to go inside for a nap before "O." We had no sooner laid down then we heard the rain come pouring down.

Beautiful, large pool deck

Mike's eyeballs were being overworked

We saw her and her friend later that night...WOW!

When we got outside later, the rain had really cooled things off, making our walk to the Bellagio much more enjoyable.

Everything in Vegas is an elaborate stage set, and no more so than the Bellagio!

When you walk into the main entrance, you are met by a massive Chihuly glass ceiling, but even before that is other known sculptures and paintings. It's really over the top! Which is the only way I can describe "O"! It is such an incredible, magical performance from start to finish! Mike and I both agreed, we would love to see it again because we felt we missed so much...

https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/o

The Chihuly ceiling in the entrance

A Nicholas Cage, Soundscape 2013

Todd English's Olive

Our second night we had a more expensive, but incredibly delicious meal of fancy pasta, salad and bread at Todd English's "Olive." Beyond incredible!!!