Sensory Overload

Well, we are in Las Vegas, so what do you expect?! For those who've experienced it, you'll understand, but for those who've never been here before, you really just have to accept that this is a place of excess in every way, and marvel at it's over-the-top-ness, for what of a better phrase, and not get offended by it's loud, brash, bigger-than-necessary, teeming-with-people daily and nightly existence. It is a place to wander, not aimlessly because there are too many others around, but without hurry or destination, just drinking in its essence. Piped music is everywhere, day and night, emanating from hidden speakers in grass verges, bridge pillars and walkway walls; and lights flash, stream and rotate in signs and billboards. Street vendors stand on every corner and over bridge, many of them selling water, thankfully! So many Hollywood characters clamouring for attention, wanting you to stand with them to have your photo taken for a 'donation'! What a job, in that heat! We saw 7 Elvises, Despicable Me characters, Transformers, Chewbacca (?), Star Wars storm troopers, Mickey and Minnie - now the Woody and Buzz characters I was almost tempted to stand with and send the photo to my boy; we love Toy Story! - but I resisted! 

We kept ducking into the various theme hotels, not just for a squizz at what was inside, but to get out of the heat, and some of them are amazing. Ceasars Palace had a circular escalator, which we both thought was pretty neat, as well as huge statues and columns and painted ceilings, and I loved The Venetian. The only word that kept coming to mind was 'opulent' and I told myself I must consult the thesaurus to find alternatives, but I haven't as yet; I promise I won't use it again, but really you could use it over and over and over. There was no inside gondola due to repairs, so we had to find our way out to the outside one - easier said than done! However, due to getting lost we did come across the very attractive Venetian square where the sky is projected onto the ceiling - absolutely brilliant! 

I think we wandered a little too long, however, both overdosed on excess, and the pool back at New York New York couldn't come soon enough. Unfortunately the wind had got up - albeit a very warm one - and the sun was sinking behind the rollercoaster and car park, so we sat in the spa instead. The jets were heaven on our aching limbs. After dinner we set out again, this time with a definite destination in mind - the fountains at the front of the Bellagio hotel. They were much further away than I remembered, but maybe it was because there were so many more people out at night that it just took us longer to get there. Five minute show only but very lovely :-) 

Steve did tick off one thing he wanted to do before we set out this morning - the roller coaster. Nowhere to take photos, though. Now, if I’d gone on it, I’d be congratulating myself on overcoming one of my huge fears, and I’d probably not stop going on about it for hours. Steve, on the other hand, was extremely nonchalant; meh, in fact! Well, what can you expect after almost 2000 skydives.

At the end of the evening we sat in a bar in NYNY and people watched for a little while - so many women wearing leopard print something or other; Steve wondered if that's because they were cougars, and right enough, most of them were about the right age! - before calling it a day. And what a day! I think a lie in is in order for tomorrow morning, before a lazy day around the pool. Oh yes, bring it on!