You Can Only Handle So Much of This

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not looking down at Las Vegas. Not really.

 

It's great fun to go there the first time. Everything is huge and your feet had best be in good shape, but to the first-time tourist, it has its charms. Where else can you see enormous, bejeweled women guarding over a mall?

I don't think I should like to cross this one.

 

Can't you see the disapproval in her eyes because you passed up Neiman Marcus for something a tad more budget friendly? Or is it sad recognition of her fate as something to be looked at but not touched.

 

There are fountains and volcanoes and pirate ship fights right on the street for everyone to see!

There is plenty of free entertainment. The atrium of The Venetian often has singers and if you don't like that, you can take a gondola ride.

You can head down and watch the light show in the Fremont Street Experience.

Or you can watch the people who come to hawk their wares at Fremont.

And there is always some sort of music on the streets down there!

Yes, there is art, including some galleries. But for a real splash, check out the Chihuly ceiling in the Bellagio!

Let's get a closer look!

 

Even the tram between some of the hotels has some interesting work on the walls.

Shopping? There is a more than a bit -- and on the strip you can count on it being quite expensive! But the real fun is the window displays!

There are elaborate installations in the casino hotel/shopping areas, and even if you aren't much on gambling, you can't say there isn't much to look at!

There is always something new in Las Vegas, no matter how many times you go.

 

For me it was the Cosmopolitan -- which was like walking through a giant, elegant chandelier. I felt like I was in pink Oz.

The help there is nice, too. This security guard picked up my camera when left at a slot machine. I may have lost the coins but the camera was found!

You can go from Egypt to Paris, New York to Italy in just a matter of a few miles.

Someone is always trying to sell you something, but I must say, they do it in innovative ways! If you can call a mosaic innovative! Yeah, back in Byzantine times, maybe! You don't see them often these days!

 

I don't mean to jest.

Vegas is kind of fun and it can be quite beautiful. It can also be a little bit cheesy. But it is definitely big! And speaking of big, we said farewell to our lovely lady in the giant pink hat.

It was time to hit the road.

Next post we'll hit something really big!