Let's Do Vegas! 15-21 October. Day 4 - Hotel Hopping and The Blue Man Group

[clochette]

Day 4 - Hotel Hopping and the Blue Man Group

I was awake at 5am again this morning but managed to get back to sleep until about 7, so an improvement there. With nothing planned for today until the evening, when we were heading to the Luxor to watch Blue Man Group, we had a lazy start to the day. Well I did. I sat by the window admiring our stunning view yet again, whilst Gary nobly went down to Jean Philippe Patisserie to get coffee and pastries. Based on yesterday's performance, I was expecting him to be gone for at least half an hour but we were obviously up earlier than most people today and he was soon back with a hot chocolate for me, an Americano for him and a cherry Danish and a cheese Danish. ($21.92). The cheese Danish was supposed to be for Gary, as he had seen them the day before and was curious. I think he was expecting it to be savoury, but it was quite sweet, a bit like cheesecake, which he doesn't like, so I nobly sacrificed my delicious cherry Danish and swapped with him. (That's why we've been married for 25 years, lol).

Still a lovely view even though it's cloudy.

A few more photos of the Bellagio because it's so stunning, you can just never have enough!


We finally made it out at about 9.30. It was overcast today, but still quite warm. It looked like it might rain but we weren't too bothered as we were going hotel exploring this morning, heading north instead of south, as we hadn't really been that way yet. Our first stop, unsurprisingly as it is next door to the Bellagio, was Caesar's Palace. What can I say but wow!

The foyer at Caesar's Palace

The Bellagio is impressive, but I think Caesar's Palace beats it. We wandered through the casino and found Triton’s fountain (?) I had no idea that this was inside. In all the photos I have seen of it, I had assumed because of the painted sky that the fountain was outside.

We finally came to the Forum shops and that was it! I could have spent all day in there. There was quite a range of shops, from the obvious high end ones such as Gucci and Chanel to more high street ones like H&M and Victoria's Secret. I think we only saw about half the shops today but we were still in there for about an hour and a half.

DD would have spent the entire holiday in here!

We spent quite a lot of time in a shop called Antiquities which had lots of memorabilia and signed photos of all sorts of famous people from film stars to politicians, royalty and astronauts. Gary was particularly taken with all the signed guitars - I don't know why as he doesn't play. We could have spent a lot more time and huge amounts of money in there, but conscious that time was getting on and we hadn't made our fortune at the gaming tables, we moved on. Unfortunately, the next shop we saw was a Disney shop, so I just had to take a look. They had lots of beautiful art work in there but it was nearly all original stuff, so very expensive of course. The lady in the shop knew I was a Disney fan (I think the t shirt gave it away) and we had a nice chat, particularly about DLP as she hadn't been there and wondered what it was like. It was quite funny really because I was telling her that it was more like Disneyland California than WDW but then I had to confess that I hadn't been to Disneyland but had tried to convince Gary that we were so close in Vegas that we ought to take a side trip! She did her best to talk him round for me but he wasn't to be persuaded. We'll just have to make another visit, then! She had some beautiful pictures but I will just go to the Art on Demand shop next time I am in DLP (next February, yay!) and get a copy; the real thing would be nice but let's be realistic here!

One of the many fountains

Got to love this escalator

After having a go on the wonderful curving escalators, we finally made it back into the open again, to find that the sun had come out so we strolled over to Venice to have a look round there. Having visited the real Venice, I have to say we thought it was very well done, if rather cleaner than the real thing!

Outside the Venetian

We crossed the Rialto Bridge and went for a wander inside. Lots more shops! I was getting a little peckish by now so we nipped to the food court for a coffee, San peligrino and a Danish ($10.19) and then took them outside to watch the world (and the gondolas) go by overlooking the Grand Canal.

Absolutely stunning!


The sun had gone in again by this time, which led to some banter with one of the gondoliers who said that we had come all this way to get some sun and had obviously frightened it away. Apparently, he has been to the UK three times in his life and has never seen the sun here. He doesn't believe we have one! (If he's used to Vegas, I can see his point.)

Back outside

We then moved on to the Palazzo, which was also very swish. I could see myself staying at any of these hotels on our next visit. They really are stunning, though we didn't see the rooms, of course. We were getting quite tired by now so we didn't spend as long in the Palazzo as the other hotels, though we were in there long enough for me to get yet another moisturiser sample! The lady who gave it to me was lovely and didn't tell me I needed to start looking after my skin! She asked us where we were from and said she knew we were coming as the queen had told her to look out for us! She was also a Disney fan and for some reason told me that she was pregnant and was looking forward to taking her baby to WDW - very random! We also discovered a wonderful rare books shop (or was that in the Venetian?) Forget the high end fashion shops, my gambling wins would have been blown in there - and the Disney shop, of course!

The Palazzo

How the other half live!

The vague plan had been to walk all along the Strip to the Stratosphere but we had had enough by now so we headed back via Walgreen's for some drinks and snacks for the room. Gary got some beef jerky, which he has always wanted to try - disgusting stuff, but he liked it! We also called in the Sephora shop by the Venetian as DD had given us a shopping list. I am the first to confess that I don't have much of a clue about make up (maybe the moisturiser ladies have a point!) and I was completely bewildered by the huge array of stuff in front of me. I managed to find two of the three things she wanted, a lipstick and a concealer I think, but had to admit defeat on the third. In the end I asked an assistant (not as easy as it sounds as they were very good at disappearing just when you wanted to ask them something) and it turns out they didn't sell it. She did tell me where I could get it from, though, which was helpful of her. As for DH, he was just in shock about how much stuff was actually available to "slap on your face" and how much it cost! We popped into Earl of Sandwich in the Miracle Mile for a cheese steak sandwich to share and were back in our room for 1.50. We had been walking for over four hours!

We spent the afternoon chilling by the pool again. It was still cloudy but it was warm enough to swim and relax, though not as warm as the day before. It wasn't as busy either and there were plenty of sun loungers free today. A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon! I may have nodded off for a minute or two! By about 4.30, it was too cold for swimming so we went back to the room to chill a bit more and get ready for our evening. As we were getting ready, there was a knock on the door. It was housekeeping, wanting to come in and turn down the bed. As I was in the shower at the time, we declined. Gary also turned down the chocolates! What! Why did I not answer the door?

As Gary had decided that he wanted a burger for dinner because we were in the USA, after all, and it was in the right direction, we were going to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. We arrived at about 6.45 and were seated straight away. I would quite like to have sat on the balcony as you get a fantastic view of the Strip from there but we really needed to get on with it, as I wasn't sure how long it would take us to walk up to the Luxor. As I went to take a photo of the restaurant, I realised that I hadn't got my phone with me which I was really annoyed about as it meant I had to rely on Gary to take the photos and he never takes enough for my liking. Oh well. I started off with a Hurricane cocktail and Gary had Sam Adams Boston lager.

Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe

They both came with a souvenir glass, but we reluctantly decided that we wouldn't fit them in the suitcase on the way home, so we didn't bother. I don't know what possessed me to think we could manage with one suitcase between us - I won't make that mistake again! We again decided that we wouldn't manage a starter so went straight for the burgers. I had a hickory cheese burger and Gary had a Sin City burger which was quite spicy and came with the biggest jalapeño chilli I have ever seen! Gary loves his spicy food but even he couldn't manage the whole chilli. However, that may explain why he decided to have ice cream for dessert. I think the waitress thought we were really stingy because we shared the ice cream as well; we just don't seem to be able to manage American portions. I didn't make a note of how much the bill was, but I think it was about $50 plus tip.

We made our way to the Luxor, which took longer than it should have done because one of the pedestrian bridges near the Excalibur was closed so we had to take a detour but we were at the Luxor by about 8.30. We had to pick the tickets up from the ticket office, where their signs about queuing made us laugh.

Inside the Luxor


We had quite a bit of time before the doors opened at 9pm so we had a wander around. I really liked the feel of the Luxor but one of the people on our Grand Canyon tour was staying there and he said that the rooms were looking really tired now (he had stayed there about ten years ago). Our guide said that the lifts were really small so they struggled to get new furniture and beds in the pyramid but I don't know whether that's true or not. We had a quick look at the shops leading to the Mandalay but we didn't have time to look round properly. Gary did notice a sign by the toilets saying no guns, which I found quite sad.

We had a quick look around the Blue Man shop and then got into the queue for the theatre. I was a bit bemused by all the litter that was around - bits of paper everywhere. It was being swept up but I thought it was very strange - until we got in the theatre and I realised it was part of the show. When I had got the tickets I had got us seats right at the back of the theatre, partly because they were cheaper but also because I was a little perturbed to see a poncho area on the seating plan. That looked rather ominous to me and I wanted to be well away from it! However, the theatre wasn't full and when we got inside, we were upgraded to the second row from the stage, just a few of seats away from the poncho seats! We were sitting next to an American lady and her teenage son and daughter. The lady was sitting right next to a seat with a poncho on it so she made her son swap. He wasn't keen on that idea at all and told her she was making a scene. Well, she wasn't happy with that and they had a low voiced conversation (how inconsiderate; do they not know how nosy I am?) but she obviously won and they swapped seats. (I think she may have regretted it, but more of that later)

It didn't take me long to realise why it had been so messy outside the theatre as, before the show started, streamers of luminous yellow paper were handed out for everybody to make a headband.

I don't know how big they thought people's heads were but there was plenty to go round! The show was really, really good. It was Gary's choice and I had been unsure but I really enjoyed it (except the theatre was absolutely freezing!) There was audience participation but not too much except for one poor lady who they got up onstage - and they went towards the back of the theatre for her, so maybe we were safer at the front after all. Bearing in mind that the Blue Men don't speak, I think she did really well to interpret what they wanted. She was a really good sport until it came to eating a Twinkie bar that had been "mauled" by one of the others; she drew the line at that - not that I blame her. That still didn't stop her from being "sick" all over the audience, though. They had put some sort of breastplate on her when she got on stage and it spurted all over the poncho area of the audience and a little bit over the non-poncho area too. I got a little bit but the lady who had swapped seats with her son got loads, whereas her son didn't even get a splash. It sounds gross but it was really funny, particularly when she kept apologising to people. It's not like it was her fault. (It was mashed up banana, by the way.)

The show finished at about 10.45pm and after a quick selfie with a Blue Man we took a pleasant walk back to the hotel via New York, the Aria and the Cosmopolitan.

The Strip at night

The Cosmopolitan was hugely busy; it was a real crush in the chandelier bar - obviously the place to be. On the way back Gary uttered one of the most stupid comments I have ever heard. Looking up at the sky, he said "I know it's cloudy tonight, so we wouldn't see any but we haven't seen any stars since we got here". Really? We are in one of the most light polluted places on the planet and he expects to see stars! And he has a science PhD!
When we got back to the hotel, it took us a while to get to our room as the member of staff who checks your room key before you can get in the lifts was having a conversation with a very " happy" gentleman who was convinced he was staying at the Bellagio but couldn't remember his room number or produce his key. The security chap was very polite but clearly didn't believe him. I don't know what happened in the end because he let us in the lift but I half expected them to still be there the following morning. We got back to our room about 12.10 so it took us about 50 minutes to walk back. We were tucked up in bed by 12.30. Another good day.

Read previous days here
https://DIBB.in/12925011 - Day 1
https://DIBB.in/12930493 - Day 2
https://DIBB.in/12943067 - Day 3

[tinkerbell59a]

Another great day.

[clochette]

Originally Posted by tinkerbell59a

Another great day.

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Thanks for reading along!

[JoS]

What another fun packed day! Every time I go into Caesars I keep looking at the floor and how shiny and clean it is and think, you could eat your dinner off that floor. Its lovely isn't it. Another big favorite of mine is the Venetian. The rooms are about twice the size of Bellagio with a separate sitting room and dining table if you ever do decide to stay there. Blue Man sounds a bit strange! I am still undecided about that for February We like to try and do a show. You are definitely making the most of your days, and thanks for sharing.

[dozy]

absolutely fantastic report

[clochette]

Originally Posted by JoS

What another fun packed day! Every time I go into Caesars I keep looking at the floor and how shiny and clean it is and think, you could eat your dinner off that floor. Its lovely isn't it. Another big favorite of mine is the Venetian. The rooms are about twice the size of Bellagio with a separate sitting room and dining table if you ever do decide to stay there. Blue Man sounds a bit strange! I am still undecided about that for February We like to try and do a show. You are definitely making the most of your days, and thanks for sharing.

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I was unsure about Blue Man Group but I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't hesitate to watch it again but I would go for another cirque show if I could only watch one show.
Thanks for reading along.

[clochette]

Originally Posted by dozy

absolutely fantastic report

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Glad you're enjoying it. I'm so jealous of your countdown!

[Pussycat Doll]

Great day, lovely photos.

[clochette]

Originally Posted by Pussycat Doll

Great day, lovely photos.

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Thanks for reading along. Enjoy your Christmas trip!

[LOU LOU DISNEY]

Another fab day, loving this report so much!