Vegas...The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

And, fabulous, it is!  Our quick trip to Vegas had my head spinning.  There was plenty of bad and ugly...you can imagine!  Let's talk about the good.  I got to teach some lovely ladies at Art & Soul...

Crowned Gem by Karen Burns

They created some amazing pieces.  Vegas has got to be one of the more incredible and, well, interesting places I've ever been.  I live in one of the largest cities in the nation and don't consider myself a country bumpkin but Vegas turned me into one!

I've never taken so many photos from my car...just like a tourist.  A stranger in a strange land.  Guess what...I saw Elvis...really...and I didn't even have to search for him.

 

He looks good.  Gotta love a man who wears rhinestone eagles on his thighs.  Let me tell you...there's more faux here, than just the grass.  It seemed like almost nothing was real in Vegas but, still, there was much to love.  My head was swiveling like a whirling dervish.  Here are some of my favorite things:

 

I completely fell in love with the fountains at the Bellagio. It's almost like watching a ballet.

Lanterns, lanterns, everywhere.  In celebration of the Chinese New Year.  Why?  We decided Vegas just likes any excuse to go over the top.  These particular lanterns were at the Bellagio, which was one of my favorite hotels.

Just another reason to love the Bellagio;  the amazing Dale Chihuly glass ceiling installation.

Speaking of "over the top," Caesar's was the big dog of the pack.  Nothing halfway about this place!

The most statuary, biggest fountains, most expensive shops, most elaborately painted ceilings and, come on people...spiral escalators.  Caesar would be proud.

 

Our own home away from home...Paris.  It was slightly more humble than Caesar's.  But only slightly.

I loved strolling down the boulevard, taking in the faux Parisian sights.    

The hotel lobby was divine...blindingly twinkly.  Just the way I like it.

The tower, we were told, is half scale of the real Eiffel tower.  It's good to have a landmark to guide you home at night.

Flamingo's sign.  What can I say?  Big, sparkly and pink...what's not to love?  I never realized what darkness I live in, on a daily (nightly) basis, until I came home from Vegas.

 

House of Blues in Mandalay Bay...it's artsy and I was able to get great souvenirs for the guys back home.  And their sign is a flaming heart.  Love.

New York New York.  So American.  More love.  I felt really patriotic looking at the statue of liberty (faux, of course) and had the urge to say the pledge of allegiance or sing the national anthem but was afraid I might embarrass Wife Whisperer.  And myself.  Besides, I can't sing.

The shows!  Of the three we were blessed to see, "O" was our favorite.  It was a tough choice though, as "Mystere" and "The Lion King" were fab, as well.

The Venetian...oooh, la, la.  Oh, wait a minute...I think that's French.

My inner biker chic was really attracted to this sea nymph cycle, especially made for Treasure Island.  Wind in the hair...bugs in the teeth...just plain fun.

We did feel the wind in our hair when we ventured away from the bright lights and blinging casinos.  Hoover Dam is a spectacular site...

  ...even when the water level in Lake Mead is down 90 feet.  We heard a lot of dam jokes from the staff.  Apparently, it's ok when you spell it "dam."

 

Our second road trip was just 15 miles out of town to Red Rock Canyon.  See, there really is more to Vegas than fake grass.

Joshua trees...not sure why I liked these so much.  About one quarter of the plants found in the Mojave desert, are native to this desert and can only be found here.  Joshua trees were named, way back when, by the Mormons coming through this place.  They thought the branches looked like they were reaching to heaven which made them think of Joshua (you know...the Joshua in the Bible.)
So, there you go.

This is really a pretty place where you can actually see big horn sheep.  If you're lucky.  Wife Whisperer is a freak for hiking so this is where he came, the day I taught.  He didn't see the sheep but he did run into a pack of wild burros.   Now we can say we've been to the Mojave desert.  Cool.

Last stop on our Vegas tour:  Valley of Fire State Park.  This incredible place is only about 50 miles from Las Vegas.

The day we went was brilliant and beautiful but freezing cold.  I'm glad it was sunny for photos.  The red rocks contrast so nicely with the blue sky.

The wind was fierce.  You can see what it does to the rock formations out here.  My hair looked much the same, after a good whipping.

I had to take shelter.  Unfortunately, my pretty little flats were not conducive for hiding in caves so I got a shoeful of red dust.

  
Elephant Rock...obviously.

One of my favorite features of the park was Atlatal Rock...

...except for the Stairway of the Burning Thighs...which you had to haul yourself up if you wanted to see the 4000 year old petroglyphs.

Well worth the burn.  I just knew there had to be more to Vegas than silicone and gambling!  Now, I'm sure.

Comments

[DJ]

Ooooooh your photos are always magical! The lanterns and glass ceiling display are making me drool.... and that Hoover Dam shot is breath taking too! Seeing your fabulous shots brings back warm memories and smiles of the fun time we had taking photos together last fall!

[Susie Land]

Oh my, what an over-the-top place! I got lost just looking at your photos...glad to see Elvis is OK, too.
I guess I'm just too much of a stick, Vegas would give me the willies.
The classes would be great fun, are you ever coming back East?
As always, thanks for letting us travel with you!!!
Susie
TheAntiquePalette.etsy.com

[Michelle Adams]

Very nice photos Deryn! Didn't you just love the Valley of Fire? My FB profile picture was taken there - I don't think I ever cared for the color range in oranges before I visited there - now I can't get enough! lol I loved the vastness and emptiness of the Joshua Tree National Forest as well. I couldn't believe the architecture of the Hoover Dam - all that detail even in the washrooms! lol Made me wish I could take home some fixtures, tiles, and a few doors, doorknobs and handrails! lol I know I'm weird! lol Las Vegas is the most extreme mix of glamor and seediness I have ever encountered in one place in my life! But I did LOVE the glamour part! lol My inner girlie girl couldn't get enough!!! LOVE Judith Leiber! lol

[Karen Burns]

Great photos of Vegas! Thanks for showing my work on your blog. Vegas was not my kind of town, but A & S was my kind of event!

[Seth]

Vegas is such a one-of-a-kind place. But my favorites here are the shots of the red rocks.

[jenn]

stunning photos!!!!

[sandra]

i love vegas! glad you got to experience it!

[Christine Damm]

Ya know, you've made me want to visit the place. My sis has been there and told me about the Chihuly work at the Bellagio but I never imagined it the way your photos showed it! Wow! Great camera work! I was told "Las Vegas" in Spanish meant "The Meadows" -- wonder what happened? But the desert was more beautiful to me than The Strip. But lots to see there, for sure. Thanks, Deryn, for the vicarious pleasures!

[Michelle Heim]

Love the pics of the glass ceiling and the Chinese lanterns...they look like jelly fish!
Bead Happy!
Michelle

[maureen baranov 359Cross Street, Westbury, NY 11590-2304]

Wow D- thanks for sharing these pictures. The rock formations are awesome- in the true sense of the word. And so timely for me- I'm going to "borrow" them to show to my class tomorrow- we happen to be doing erosion and weathering right now in science. So how perfect are these photos? Thanks again!
Maureen

[Carolyn Mallin]

Amazing! We've never been there but your pictures let me travel there vicariously. Thank you,Deryn for sharing.

[Jen Crossley]

Vegas is certainly a feast for the eyes.That was the same elvis that remarried my hubby and I last year in the same spot crazy hey

[Sarah Stoddard]

Deryn, I've lived in Vegas for 55 of my 57 years, and I believe you have done more in a few days than I've done in a lifetime. What a whirlwind trip. You have managed to capture the beauty of a city where people always say, "You actually LIVE there?!" Thanks for the good press. Hope to see you next year.

[Erin Prais-Hintz]

Wow. What a great trip. And truly filled with beauty (including that cute picture of the two of you!).
I went to Vegas for a business trip last summer for the first time. I was amazed at how close everything is, but yet how far. It is crowded on the strip. Garish, yet I couldn't take my eyes away. I didn't see all the things you saw, but the Bellagio was pretty special. I would have liked to see more, but I was working after all.
We saw Cirque du Soleil's Ka. That was an incredible piece of theatre. Truly epic. I have travelled all over to see the Cirque and that was at the top of my list.
Thanks for sharing your inspiration! I see many jewelry pieces coming from these pictures, architecture, color, pattern, movement and shapes!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

[Alette]

This was wonderfull.I would love to hear more about the glass cieling structure.

[Diana P.]

Looks like you had a wonderful time! I actually got married in the large chapel at the Paris in 2008! My parents also live 2 hours from Vegas in Utah. I LOVE going out to visit them. Between the craziness that is Vegas and the beauty that is the desert you can't lose out there...well maybe all your money, hehe.

[Renate]

Thanks for sharing - those are quite awesome photos!!! LOVE those red rocks and the desert! And the inside of the Paris Hotel is unbelievable.

[Bonnie Pilon]

After living in Vegas for 11 years you posted some of the best pictures that made me TOTALLY homesick!!!!!!! LOL vegas is vegas...and it is a great city with so much to take in---it does make your head spin! :) *sigh* I miss it so much sometimes. Great Great Pics :) *luv* Boni