First, our fabulous time in Las Vegas ( and we never bet a dime!). We had a magnificent suite in the Bellagio Hotel and you will see photos of the famous fountain that goes off frequently with different "computer shows timed to music"!
We did lots of walking on the strip the first couple of days because the weather was great. It did turn quite windy and chilly the final two days. We had a great trip and a 2 hour walking tour of Hoover Dam ---VERY impressive! It could never be duplicated today because it would cost billions ( and you'd probably be tied up in so much red tape the project would take 50 years to finish! :)) It is a "floating structure" not permanently attached to the ground or the sides. That helps make it "quake proof" to 8.5. They say they have frequent small quakes and they have never had damage. The dam was built in 1921 in 4 years time and they say it will last for another hundred years! That in itself is an amazing accomplishment!
This adventure was followed by a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon. How could anyone NOT be impressed by its size and great beauty. Stunning and breathtaking. I highly recommend doing this trip if you ever get to Vegas and have the time...
Now for the phenomenal shows we saw! Great seats for everyone of them. Bill and I discussed it and we have a hard time choosing our favorite because ALL were amazing. But, right at the top of the list was the Cirque de Solei version of the Beatles, titled LOVE. It is my favorite of all the Cirque shows we've seen -- and a little bit different then the others.
Terry Fator, the singing ventriloquist , was wonderful!! What an amazing talent he is! You would swear those little wooden characters were real people! It was terrific fun! Highly recommend his show!
Next we saw Absinthe. It is a very "blue/racy" show, but if you can get past all the F-bombs, the acts are excellent. They are mostly acrobatic along a Cirque theme, but still different. We enjoyed it very much.
We saved Larry the Cable Guy for last! He has one funny act! He was only there for one night and we are SO glad we got to see him! Catch his routine if you ever get a chance! You won't stop laughing!!
We saw one last amazing magic matinee act by Mat King who is at Harrah's. It is a totally clean show, cute and excellent magic! Don't know how in the world he spits out two live goldfish into a glass filled with water! Amazing! His show seldom sells out we're told, but it's definitely fun! As my granddaughter would say, "Try it. You'll like it!"
Next we flew to Orange County for a dear friends surprise birthday party organized by her beautiful daughter with the help of her dad's credit card!!! It was a small, but intimate affair in a gorgeous room overlooking the beach. It was like attending a small, formal,wedding! AND, the best part is, our friend, Barb, was totally flabbergasted! We were able to stay over Sunday for the Super Bowl and got to hang out with the family as we watched the game. So sorry all my Bronco fans! We were really rooting hard for you! And big time congrats to a GREAT defense for Seattle. They earned That trophy this year!
We got home late Monday night, and now, here we are Thursday on our way to Quebec for their Winter Carnival! Why, you may ask , if you live in the north and have been suffering the onslaught of winter storms, would we do this? Well, when I thought it up for Bill's Christmas present last fall, it seemed like a GREAT idea! Actually, it's been unseasonably warm in Florida this winter, so we don't mind a few days of snow and cold! We will get to see the Ice Hotel ( I was smart enough not to have us stay there) and we're going snow mobiling. We will get to see all the beautiful snow and ice sculptures !
One last story I have to post about. Last week, friends that we travel with were contacted by a woman in Boston. Why you may ask, is that significant? Well, here's the "rest of the story".
Back in 2006 we were doing a trans Atlantic crossing with our friends. I told the story one evening of how, many years ago while traveling with my parents, we tossed a champagne bottle overboard with a note in it saying there was a reward of $10.00 if anyone found the bottle and sent us proof. We sealed the bottle with candle wax and actually tossed it over in sight of Gibraltar! Low and behold, several years later, my parents got that note back! It was found in the Bahamas on Little Abaco! A few years later, Bill and I were in the Bahamas and actually got to meet the young woman who found our bottle! Turns out she was a receptionist at the resort where we were staying.
This story inspired us to try and duplicate the experiment (we did up the reward to $50.00) and last week we heard our bottle was found! It was found on the beach, again in the Bahamas, where a couple had gone back to visit for their 3rd wedding anniversary. She was taking a last walk on the beach before flying home to snowy and cold Boston, when she spotted our bottle -- thrown overboard on Dec 6, 2006! What stories that bottle could tell! She has mailed us the note and the bottle! I'll post photos when it arrives with our friends to Florida!
That's all the "catching up stuff". Back tomorrow when I hope to have great photos of our first day in Quebec!
Inside the dam..
Marks deep inside the dam that engineers make as they check for cracks. They monitor and trace all cracks discovered and date when they were found.
Night view from our room at the Bellagio! Spectacular!
On our way to the Grand Canyon!
No caption needed.
Flying back after seeing the Canyon.
The guest of honor, Barb, with her daughters, Elisa and Kristin!
Our friends, Tom ( dad with credit card) and his beautiful wife, Barb!
The gal who planned the whole thing down to the smallest detail, Elisa!
Justin and his gorgeous wife, Melissa. Justin is Barb's son and we were pregnant together! Justin was born 2 weeks later then Grant!
That's it for today guys!!
Sounds like you both hit the jackpot - you did not need to go to the casinos.
ReplyDeleteLove how you color matched with the helicopter Jenn.
Can't wait to hear about Quebec
sending warm thoughts
love the pic's as always, thank you guys!
ReplyDelete