Vegas trip

Well, what can you say?  I think the best way to sum up Vegas is to say that it's an adult orientated theme park.  While visiting some of the casinos, I couldn't help but feel like I was at Disney world or something similar.  At some places, you are sitting in a model of another city chillin'--like you would at Epcot or Six flags.  It was surreal.

Well, we stayed at the Bellagio, and I have to say that this was the fanciest hotel I have ever stayed at.  The "deluxe" room was nice and spacious and the bed was very comfortable.  Thought the sheets could have been softer, and thought some of the pillows we had could have been a bit better, but overall a very nice room.  Of note, there was a snacks box sitting on top of the wet bar that was a weight sensor.   When you sign into the hotel, the dudes up front tell you not to touch anything or you will get automatically charged for the things you touch--this could have been a problem if your with kids, or are very, very drunk!  The casino was fancy, but seemed a bit intimidating.  I've never really gambled, so I never really got comfortable there.  The Spa, according to my wife, was magnificent , with showers, lotions, shampoos, gym, baths, etc...you would expect from a nice spa.  The pool area is a classic design, nothing fancy, but nice and high class--much like everything else at the Bellagio.  Of note, this hotel had the best elevator system I have even encountered--I was on the 15th floor (goes up into the 30's) and the rooms don't even start until the 14th floor.  Each group of floors had 6 elevators assigned to them (14-20, 29-25, etc...) and I never had to wait longer than 10 seconds for an elevator, usually less than 3!!!  Suffice it to say, I was impressed with the hotel.

Well, the first night we ate a Fix--a restaurant in the Bellagio and I was a bit disappointed.  The food is fancy american, and while the meals were good, they were nothing special--especially when you consider that each entree ranges from 30-50 dollars.  The service wasn't that great either.  It's the service you would expect at a normal $20 entree place and not a place charging so much for a meal.  Oh well.  

That first night we saw Cirque du Soleil "O".  I've seen 2 other Cirque shows in the past and I have to say that this is the best one I've seen.  Cirque du Soleil is a group that does fancy acrobatics set to live, modern, music with french lyrics.  And the shows are generally impressive--but this one does everything the other shows do, and sets it above a pool.  Really, fun stuff.  

The second day, we cruised the strip and visited most of the casinos on the strip-Paris, Flamingo, Bally's, Harrah's, Venetian, Wynn, Treasure Island, Mirage, Caesars Palace, NY NY, Luxor, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay--probably the most impressive ones were the Venetian, and Wynn, although the Excalibur is a freakin' castle with wizzard laser show at night!!!  I would have killed to go to a place like this when I was a kid.

That night, we went to dinner at a place away from the strip called Casa di amore--it seemed like a family run Italian restaurant, that's a bit cheesy, but man--the food was great.  The service was great, and it was a nice change a pace from the rest of the Vegas fair.  They also sent a limo to pick you up and drop you off for free.  I'd highly recommend this place to anyone looking for some good homecooked Italian food.

The final night we say Cirque du Soleil "Zumanity".  This is advertised as the "sensual side of Cirque", and it really a cabaret show with some acrobatics mixed in.  While a fun show, it didn't have nearly enough acrobatics for my tate.  Although the topless girls were a plus, it didn't make up for the fact that it really didn't feel like a Cirque show.  Wouldn't make this the first Cirque show you go to.  

For dinner, we went to Mon Ami Gabi--a french themed streakhouse located in the Paris Hotel.  This is a great meal.  The steaks were wonderful, fun atmosphere and the "Frites" that come on the side of every seak--were great!!!  They are hand cut fried that are all like the really crispy fries at the bottom of the box at McDonnalds.  Tasty--highly recommend this place for steak lovers.

Well, that was about it for our Vegas trip.  We did do some gambling, but not all that much.  Never was into loosing money.  Now for those people that say "what's the difference in spending $100 on dinner, or $100 at a blackjack table"--well, my answer is that after dinner, I'm full and tired.  After blackjack--I'm pissed off and still hungry. 

Here's a final message from Vegas:

Well, what can you say?  I think the best way to sum up Vegas is to say that it's an adult orientated theme park.  While visiting some of the casinos, I couldn't help but feel like I was at Disney world or something similar.  At some places, you are sitting in a model of another city chillin'--like you would at Epcot or Six flags.  It was surreal.

Well, we stayed at the Bellagio, and I have to say that this was the fanciest hotel I have ever stayed at.  The "deluxe" room was nice and spacious and the bed was very comfortable.  Thought the sheets could have been softer, and thought some of the pillows we had could have been a bit better, but overall a very nice room.  Of note, there was a snacks box sitting on top of the wet bar that was a weight sensor.   When you sign into the hotel, the dudes up front tell you not to touch anything or you will get automatically charged for the things you touch--this could have been a problem if your with kids, or are very, very drunk!  The casino was fancy, but seemed a bit intimidating.  I've never really gambled, so I never really got comfortable there.  The Spa, according to my wife, was magnificent , with showers, lotions, shampoos, gym, baths, etc...you would expect from a nice spa.  The pool area is a classic design, nothing fancy, but nice and high class--much like everything else at the Bellagio.  Of note, this hotel had the best elevator system I have even encountered--I was on the 15th floor (goes up into the 30's) and the rooms don't even start until the 14th floor.  Each group of floors had 6 elevators assigned to them (14-20, 29-25, etc...) and I never had to wait longer than 10 seconds for an elevator, usually less than 3!!!  Suffice it to say, I was impressed with the hotel.

Well, the first night we ate a Fix--a restaurant in the Bellagio and I was a bit disappointed.  The food is fancy american, and while the meals were good, they were nothing special--especially when you consider that each entree ranges from 30-50 dollars.  The service wasn't that great either.  It's the service you would expect at a normal $20 entree place and not a place charging so much for a meal.  Oh well.  

That first night we saw Cirque du Soleil "O".  I've seen 2 other Cirque shows in the past and I have to say that this is the best one I've seen.  Cirque du Soleil is a group that does fancy acrobatics set to live, modern, music with french lyrics.  And the shows are generally impressive--but this one does everything the other shows do, and sets it above a pool.  Really, fun stuff.  

The second day, we cruised the strip and visited most of the casinos on the strip-Paris, Flamingo, Bally's, Harrah's, Venetian, Wynn, Treasure Island, Mirage, Caesars Palace, NY NY, Luxor, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay--probably the most impressive ones were the Venetian, and Wynn, although the Excalibur is a freakin' castle with wizzard laser show at night!!!  I would have killed to go to a place like this when I was a kid.

That night, we went to dinner at a place away from the strip called Casa di amore--it seemed like a family run Italian restaurant, that's a bit cheesy, but man--the food was great.  The service was great, and it was a nice change a pace from the rest of the Vegas fair.  They also sent a limo to pick you up and drop you off for free.  I'd highly recommend this place to anyone looking for some good homecooked Italian food.

The final night we say Cirque du Soleil "Zumanity".  This is advertised as the "sensual side of Cirque", and it really a cabaret show with some acrobatics mixed in.  While a fun show, it didn't have nearly enough acrobatics for my tate.  Although the topless girls were a plus, it didn't make up for the fact that it really didn't feel like a Cirque show.  Wouldn't make this the first Cirque show you go to.  

For dinner, we went to Mon Ami Gabi--a french themed streakhouse located in the Paris Hotel.  This is a great meal.  The steaks were wonderful, fun atmosphere and the "Frites" that come on the side of every seak--were great!!!  They are hand cut fried that are all like the really crispy fries at the bottom of the box at McDonnalds.  Tasty--highly recommend this place for steak lovers.

Well, that was about it for our Vegas trip.  We did do some gambling, but not all that much.  Never was into loosing money.  Now for those people that say "what's the difference in spending $100 on dinner, or $100 at a blackjack table"--well, my answer is that after dinner, I'm full and tired.  After blackjack--I'm pissed off and still hungry. 

Here's a final message from Vegas: