Romance in Las Vegas

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What is interesting to note is that Bally''s probably has the safest features in as much as fires go, as it used to be the MGM Grand, which had a devastating fire some years ago.

They have a couple of eateries on site, and the one we used was the Sidewalk Café which served a la carte, for breakfast anyway. Service is prompt and friendly, but don''t look for any bargains. One morning, we went across the street to have breakfast, and it was easily 50% less than it would have been at Bally''s for identical menus.

We took advantage of the pool facilities one morning, and the heat was deadly. There were masses of near naked bodies all over flirting with the rays, and I wondered how they could withstand it. What I found refreshing were the little step-down alcoves at the pool, where you can put your legs in the water, and keep somewhat cool. I did that while Chuck was braver and took to the water. They do serve beverages and they will be served to you by sweet looking young things. If you want heavier fare, you need to get up and go across the area to the other side where they have an indoor-outdoor café with a limited, fast food menu. The tuna salad was OK. Actually, the pool area at the Flamingo hotel is so much more attractive and interestingly laid out.

Since we were there during the Memorial Day Weekend, the place was sold out. One of the advantages of being at Bally''s is that it has a monorail stop, and that''s a great feature, especially if you don''t relish 107 degree weather. Not being compulsive gamblers, Chuck and I played some slots and lost. Also, the Paris Hotel and Casino is easily accessed through a corridor on the casino floor.

There was an accordionist who was also ambling up and down the cobblestone street, serenading whomever wanted to listen to him. Next to us was a replica of a public fountain, and a park bench where they sat the most lifelike figure of a woman searching her purse. You can just imagine how many times this figure became a prop in people's pictures.

The food was delicious; Chuck had lamb with rice and vegetables and I had the ravioli stuffed with lobster with vodka sauce. Pre-dinner bread basket was my undoing altogether. Baguettes, peasant bread, olive breads...whatever, they were all sinfully good. The waiter was kind enough to give me another full basket to take out.

Mid-dinner, the waiters and waitresses turn into showpeople and line up to sing and dance. It seems to happen on the hour. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful. No one spoke French which is a shame; that would have definitely added to the ambiance.

Food is well prepared.

You must know that this hotel cost almost one billion dollars to build. And as far as the overall theme, I think that Mandalay has not yet decided what it wants to be when it grows up. It's absolutely tropical, but not decidedly Asian. There is a delightful place in the shopping area called the Bali Trading Company, and it brought Chuck and I back to Ubud almost instantly, and caused us to reminisce.

On to lunch: Raffles is grandiose and no details have been overlooked. Enormous fronds adorn the entrance of the restaurant, and tropical bouquets abound. Appropriately, all windows have floor to ceiling shutters. Sir Raffles would have been proud.

The menu is simple, and dishes are tastefully presented. I opted for the tropical fruit salad and Chuck had the satay. After we were served, the waitress vanished for what seemed to be forever. We really didn't mind too much as we had some very eccentric lunchtime "artistes" at the next table that rivaled any of the shows we might have seen on the strip.

Altogether, there appeared to be a slightly higher caliber of people at Mandalay. Whether they were staying there, or just here for the food, there was a general elegance not seen in the other hotels.

If you must shop, this is the place!

Olives in Las Vegas is modeled after the original Olives of Boston. The cuisine is definitely mediterranean, and my salad was exquisite. The dessert menu is nothing short of decadent, and both Chuck and I skipped, but our friends did not. You'll see what I mean.

We were seated very promptly; there was also outdoor seating, but considering how hot it was, we opted to stay inside. Our table was facing the "street" so to speak, so one could also do some people watching. We did wait quite a long time to be served although it was not particularly crowded at the time. Lunch for 4 was about $150. Now I know how they can afford that million dollar lighting extravangaza at the entrance!

Lunch was enhanced by a visit to the gardens, but there wasn't sufficient time to see the art gallery. We also missed the water show which can be viewed during the day as well as night; we did catch a glimpse of it as we were walking on the strip one evening. It's a symphony of water jets rendered even more beautiful by lights at nighttime.

One needs to see this place one more time to be able to "take it all in". It takes its name from a small Italian village.

If you missed the event, you can see the implosion on their official website at: link

Well it seems that this baby is more expensive than Mandalay at almost 1½ billion dollars...what's a few dollars here and there? The main attraction for me is the Desert Passage which is a sinewy corridor with shops and restaurants abounding, but with an overall theme of a little Morocco, a little Arabia, carved chairs and a strip of water in its center, where it rains at designated times.

In one of the entrances, there are some statues and carvings which are reminiscent of India. There is an enormous elephant which seems to be coming through one of the walls. I spotted a Starbucks while we were strolling around. They have their roster of impressive restaurants, including New Orleans' Commander and P. F. Chang's. I was somewhat disappointed not to have been able to see a reproduction of a "souk" or an open air market. We went through the passage twice, and admired a lot of the facsimiles of the architecture of North African cities and villages.

Guess what? No Middle Eastern food anywhere to be found! This should have definitely been the venue for it. It's nevertheless quite an enchanting stroll.

We were able to see this show for $5 each by agreeing to attend a 90 minute presentation offered by Hilton Vacations. It was worth every minute we suffered with an absolutely awful salesman.

Bill Acosta changes his voice at will, and in song! His range is incredible, and the topless review that accompanies him is almost unecessary. This man is AMAZING. He does the most believable Sinatra imitation I have ever heard. Wait till you hear him doing dialogues between unlikely pairs, or duets...he never misses a beat. There ought to be a way to get this man's name out more. He is deserving as he does work his butt off on stage, and you can see it. We were in the first row as a result of a tip to our usher.

When Bill introduced his dancers, I was delighted to find out that some were actually young moms. Three of the dancers exercised the privilege of not baring their breasts. They were talented dancers, but I can't help feeling that the nudity detracted from the quality of Acosta's work.

At the end of the show, he does his own rendition of the 12 days of Christmas, and with this one, be prepared to roar!! I can remember the inclusion of the likes of Bush (jr.), Jack Nicholson, Ross Perot all wanting something. Don't miss this one if you're in the area.

We went there after Red Rock Canyon, since we had the car that day, and enjoyed the freedom of wind rushing above our heads. We did pass some small towns on the way there, specifically Boulder, where I insisted we get out, as it is designated by the government as a historical site. Well, aside from a couple of antique shops, and a very large souvenir store with imported Mexican arts & crafts, it was difficult to assess the historical importance of this place. You have to wind your way down to the lake area until you reach sea level, at which point you pay a small fee to enter the marina, where most people go. We were hungry at this point, and headed for the only restaurant on the premises. It was very simple but the food was freshly prepared and tasty. We had fish (surprise!). There were a lot of families with children, most of them feeding the giant, and I mean giant, scavenger fish that populate the waters. They will eat anything, especially popcorn. I was mesmerized by the fish and stood to watch them for quite a long time. There were times when they literally jumped out of the water, and over each other, so the "swoosh, swoosh" was constant.

The water was clear, but it was evident that it had litter which is a pity. Some took out their boats, others were content to wade in the water. They offer lunch and dinner cruises, which is something we will definitely do next time around.

There is a $5 entrance fee to the scenic 13 mile drive which is de rigueur. You can stop at the visitor center first, or last as we did, as we do almost everything backwards. They offer a self guided tour with telephone set which is quite informative and I do recommend you take it. They also have a small, non-profit gift shop with interesting seeds of flora found in the desert. Go for the Joshua tree...very unusual.

On the loop drive, you will see geological marvels, and the red color provides a beautiful contrast to the greyish slate and taupe colored rocks around it. It's a one way road with strategically placed vistas for picture taking or just stopping to feel amazed.

There are some picnic sites as well, but no one was picnicking that day. We did see an older couple with their folding chairs and a cooler comfortably seated, facing one of the more majestic rock formations.

There were also some fairly brave hikers making their way up some of the more friendly hiking trails. They do ask that you cover your feet and watch where you step. Make sure you are well hydrated. We took along 2 bottles of water, and some other soft drinks. Chuck managed to find a red rock with some petroglyphs which quickly became a treasured item. It now sits on my window sill in the kitchen. Imagine, 65 million years....

However, there is plenty to fill your eyes at the Venetian. Besides the exquisite details on some of the ceilings and walls, you'll love the reproduction of the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square)minus the pigeons. There are a number of al fresco restaurants all around the Piazza, and free opera was to begin at 8pm. We were back there at that time and I was honestly astonished at the talent that was performing. Women and men dressed in period costumes ambled around the square, while a diva accompanied by a sole musician did not get the attention and respect she deserved. She was excellent.

Canyon Ranch , Sephora , Madame Tussaud have all esablished a presence at the Venetian. In fact the entrance to the Canyon Ranch Spa is on one of the banks of the Grand Canal.

The gondolas are new and shiny black. The gondoliers are dressed in red striped pullovers and will serenade you if you are coupled. The rides can be shared, and if you wish to be alone, you may rent them for $40.

Some of the workers there apparently improvise with some of the visitors and offer song and anecdotes. You can really lose yourself in the ambiance at the Venetian. If you do anything, try to attend some of the entertainment offered at the Piazza. The ladies of the court will glady pose for pictures with you.

You can preview the experience if you wish by clicking here.

This is where the locals come to gamble (bets are much lower than the "other" Vegas)and the eats are also cheaper. There is one fantastic Indian gift shop which has handmade crafts of very high quality, rather than the knick-knacky sort of stuff you see in the area's souvenir shops. There are sculptures, blown glass pieces, paintings, kachina dolls, jewelry from the reservation Indians, etal..Make it a point to stop in there. It will be hard to leave.

Above your head will be an enormous canopy (90 foot long?) that turns into a light and sound show with different themes on the hour. When those lights go on, all of the casino and shop lights turn dark. It comes toward you and goes past your head at incredible speed. Amazing what electronics can do these days. The entire experience may last about 10 minutes or less. People hang around to see other shows, but we didn't as we had had a very full day.

Fremont Street is a must do, especially if you tire of the theme package on Las Vegas Boulevard. Attraction is free.