If you are, don't look at this picture!
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*Isn't it amazing? I want to be a bird when I see this.
I am back from Las Vegas!
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You thought I was gambling? Not exactly. Losing an amount which is enough to purchase a luxurious hanging flower basket isn't really gambling is it? Did you think I was playing the crap tables? Just look at my clear naive eyes on my Blotanical plot, and you will understand that I am not a gambler. We were in Las Vegas with our kids during their spring break. Actually, I think Las Vegas would be a very nice playground if all the slot machines and gaming tables were removed. Just look at fun that we had there.
The Mirage Casino has a Seigfried & Roy Secret Garden and Dolphin Place where we watched sand-colored lions with groomed manes, two adorable 8-month old white tigers, a black panther, jaguars, other animals and of course, dolphins.
The Mirage Casino has a Seigfried & Roy Secret Garden and Dolphin Place where we watched sand-colored lions with groomed manes, two adorable 8-month old white tigers, a black panther, jaguars, other animals and of course, dolphins.
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We observed the sin city from the top of its Eiffel Tower which is one-half the size of the real one in Paris...
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witnessed the death of ancient Atlantis at Caesar's Palace...
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*admired the spectacular fountain show at Bellagio...
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*Mandalay Bay offered us an excellent Shark Reef Aquarium where sharks, piranhas, stingrays and other creatures, including a Komodo dragon, awed and inspired us.
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The Cirque du Soleil water show was absolutely astonishing! We loved every moment of it! What a hymn to human abilities, imagination, artistry and humor!
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M&M store (four stories high) was a hit! How many colors of M&Ms have melted in your mouth and not your hand?
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*Bellagio Casino and the Forum at Caesar's Palace were my favorite places in terms of architecture, décor and design
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Grand circular escalator at the west end of Caesar's Palace is one of just two such escalators in the U.S.
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I enjoyed riding it just as much as the kids.
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*I could spend hours there walking among fountains, huge classical urns, planters, admiring magnificent flower arrangements, mosaic floors, painted ceilings and walls. I would return to the Bellagio again just to see its garden displays (next post).
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How do you like casual, cottage garden regulars (foxgloves) around this classic fountain?
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How do you like casual, cottage garden regulars (foxgloves) around this classic fountain?
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Let's look what is above this fountain and foxgloves:
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Wonderful ceiling...
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I plan to post brief reports about other two parts of our travel - Zion National Park & Bryce Canyon in Utah and Death Valley in California.
Trust me, you will start packing your suitcases after seeing those pictures. At least, in your dreams...
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Copyright 2010 TatyanaS
Wonderful pictures! How many people who go to Las Vegas actually take time to look beyond the gambling? I've been there twice. Next time, I want to go out into the Red Rocks and do some hiking. That is, after seeing another Cirque du Soleil show!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful vacation that must have been! I have never heard that there where so much to see in Las Vegas. I'm looking forward to your next post =) And, YES I AM AFRAID OF HIGHTS / gittan
ReplyDeleteThat first photo is amazing! I am glad I'm just looking at a photo and not actually that high up. Looks like you all had a fun time!Thanks for sharing your photos...very pretty!
ReplyDeleteStunning architecture...and plants! Looks like an amazing place to spend a weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my, I am a bit fearful, and your first picture is so good, it had my stomach churning a bit :)
ReplyDeleteTatyana, it appears that you had a wonderful Easter with your family... that's what it is about. Thanks for the photos of LV... still looks the same. Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures. What a great vacation you all had. Looking forward to seeing the other photos.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
Dear Tatyana, I am somewhat fearful of heights but thought your first image to be incredible and wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHaving heard much about Las Vegas I was interested to see what it is like. Impressive, certainly, and no expense spared. I rather enjoyed the foxgloves around the fountain which, for me, gave it all a more human scale and made it slightly, but only slightly, more domestic.
I am so pleased that you have had an enjoyable holiday and will look forward to seeing more in due course. Welcome home!
What wonderful pictures! You reminded me of my trip several years ago. I didn't gamble much either. In fact, I won a two hundred dollar door prize at a company breakfast that I attended. My husband said that I was the only person that he knew that could win money in Vegas without gambling. I have always wanted to go back to take my kids. There is a lot to see and do there. Glad you had fun! Carla
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos, really takes me back to Vegas, but for me a bit of magic was the Venetian - following the canal and the fake day/night change was amazing. Did you take the helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon by chance? It was another must have experience.
ReplyDeleteWow! I always imagined Las Vegas so cheap and tawdry, but these photos are quite impressive. Makes me want to visit!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures - but why do I feel dizzy (lol).
ReplyDeletewow, for not being a gambler your right, there is alot of visuals and amazing things to see and play in.....i'm also a fan of the seasonal displays at bellagio - its such a class act and i bet the spring display is really amazing....i would love to just do a ceiling painting like the one you showed - its spectacular-looking forward to the next post!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip you had! Even though we just visited in January, we did not do as much as you did. I guess we need to go back now ;-)
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. I'm not a fan of Vegas because of the sin city image, but I now see that it can be a beautiful place to visit. You may have just helped their image!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Tatyana! All your photos are super. I'm glad you had a good time. I have heard that Las Vegas is a great place for a family vacation but didn't believe it until I saw your photos! I would be like a kid, too, on the circular escalator, and the architecture of the Bellagio is astonishing. Love he lion!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great time in Vegas! I was there in February for a conference, but didn't have much chance to look around. I was at Mandalay Bay, but didn't make it to the aquarium. Love the shot of the Komodo dragon!
ReplyDeleteTatyana..
ReplyDeleteWell it sure looks like you had tons of fun. The buildings are stunning. Thank you for sharing since we never went away. I'm with you with the gambling, I'd much rather buy flowers then try and win a bundle and spend the same amount trying. Welcome back
Cheryl
Wow Tatyana! Now if I went to Vegas that is what I would be looking at also not the gambling parts. Such beautiful buildings and architecture. I love to watch Cirque du Soleil anyway so I can imagine the water show would be spectacular.
ReplyDeleteEveryone keeps saying that we need to go to Vegas - and after seeing these photos, I agree. You have a great view of this adult playground.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a great family spring getaway!
ReplyDeleteI used to go to LV for technical (software and computer hardware) conferences without time to do much of anything else.
Sounds like you had a really nice trip. There is a lot to Vegas besides gambling. My favorite part is people watching!
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible post you shared with us! The pictures are simply amazing and quite breathtaking. I can imagine you had a terrific time and you timed your return home just in time for the tulips. You are one smart lady. LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana~~ My son just came back from a trip to Vegas. He took photos but his interests aren't the same as yours and mine. These are magnificent. I can see what you mean about the entertainment value. Just walking around, looking at everything would be good enough for me.
ReplyDeleteI think the foxgloves are fabulous!! I can see that some people might not but for me the structure is a great illustration of what can be done with plants.
I love the blue tile/mosaic ? pool/floor--such ambiance.
I'm curious about the second photo. Is it taken from an airplane? What are the curvy lines? I want to say they're houses and streets but it seems almost too perfectly uniform for that--no trees either.
I don't like heights but I love PHOTOS of heights because I can enjoy the view without the fear!
So thank you dear friend. I look forward to more.
Thank you, my friends! Oh, I am so glad you liked the pictures! Yes, there are streets and houses of LV on the second picture, Grace. It was taken from the plane.
ReplyDeleteTotally amazing photos, Tatyana, and yes, I have vertigo! Noted your name on the storefront :) Welcome home to a glorious spring.
ReplyDeleteTatyana, thank you for the marvelous pictoral tour of Las Vegas! Amazing images! (Not that Las Vegas needs publicity, but LV should hire you as their publicist.)
ReplyDeleteWelcome home.....those foxgloves are just awesome!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought that you'd find foxgloves in Vegas?! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteBoth Kim and I used to attend conventions in Vegas at our former jobs. Fun, fun place. Neither of us is a gambler. You're so right, it's so fun to be there and be entertained.
ReplyDeleteLots to see and do other than gamble.
And, you can be married at a moment's notice; we did just that, 18 years ago.
It looks like you had a fabulous holiday. There seems to be so much to do there, and I'm sure your boys will have really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteToo cool! Looks like TONS of fun! I've been there once and loved it but did not see so much as you-especially that first shot. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI'm not afraid of heights unless I'm not safely strapped in something. hehe Try the Royal Gorge in Colorado and WALK across that bridge. It's terrifying! I've been at the top of the St Louis Arch, and all the high places in Vegas and wasn't scared.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever end up at the Ethel M chocolate factory and nearby desert garden?
wow that was some first photo. I am so glad you had a great time with your family at Easter. Such granduer and fantastic planting schemes. What a feast for the eyes and the tummy yum yum I am quite partial to quite a few m&ms.
ReplyDeleteWe're off to Ireland soon with the kids as part of their Easter break.