Las Vegas

Our hotel 'The Flamingo'

Actual Flamingoes in the hotel gardens

Ballys and  Paris Las Vegas Hotels

 

Excalibur hotel

 Centre of the Strip from the New York New York hotel

 

 North up the Strip with Treasure Island and Venetian Hotels

 

 Looking north by day from Luxor Hotel

 

View of the strip south from top of 'The Eiffel Tower'

Bellagio fountains seen from top of 'Eiffel Tower'

 

Battlefield Vegas!!

 

In a small break between Prairie exercises, Matt and I took the opportunity for a small break away and opted to spend 4 nights in Las Vegas - what an experience! We booked through a small local U.S airline for a cheap deal for flight and hotel but it entailed a 5 hour drive down across the border into Montana to fly from a  small airport in Great Falls across to Las Vegas.

 

Arriving in the middle of the day, we missed the neon approach but it was still bizarre to see the glittering huge hotels stuck out in the middle of the desert! A cab ride took us right into the heart of the strip to our hotel 'The Flamingo'. Noise and crowds hit you immediately but we jostled through and went exploring up and down the strip. The hotels are all experiences by themselves, with casinos, shopping malls, restaurants, show areas and each one has its own 'signature' ride or experience. Our hotel room looked directly across the road to the famous Bellagio fountain show, so we migrated out that way in the evening and ate in a restaurant overlooking them.

 

The next day saw us out exploring again. We went in search of tickets for shows and into hotels we had not yet seen. We ventured all the way south and visited an exhibition called 'Bodies' which used real embalmed humans in a study of human systems such as muscles and tendons, bone structure and how organs function together. It sounds pretty grusome but was actually very good! That evening we went to a show called 'Jubilee'. This was a stunning show that was a celebration of the history of Vegas and harped back to the traditions of the shows they used to put on - so massive headresses and feathers everywhere and lots of cabaret and jazz hands!! It had a huge cast so was difficult to keep track of everything that was happening!

 

The next day saw us get up over easy and after a bit more booking of events, we went to a comedy magic act in the afternoon called Mac King. He was very good and the act was very Tommy Cooper like but finished with some excellent slight of hand tricks. The weather was very hot so we were beaten back in to the shade before venturing back out in the evening to watch the headline show 'Rock of Ages'. We were very lucky to have come by some very cheap tickets as normally this show is very expensive, but it was an absolutely brilliant show! Strongly recommended to anyone who finds themselves out and about in Vegas and wondering what to do!

 

The third day started in a much more relaxing manner with a massage treatment at the hotel spa but went a lot more adrenaline fuelled in the afternoon as we went up to 'Battlefield Vegas' - an indoor shooting range and militaria museum at the top of the strip. The team came to get us in a big U.S military Hummer vehicle and once inside, we selected from a huge array of weapons to shoot. The place is relaxed but professional and safe and they aim to let people experience firing any weapon they choose. Matt had shot lots before (obviously) but we chose a pistol and rifle each to fire. Jen was extremely nervous but shot first. She selected the Sig Sauer P226 9mm pistol and found it quite difficult to control (despite hitting the very centre of the target with her first round!!). The instructor sensed her unease and switch ammunition across to her other choice, the Heckler and Koch MP5 Sub machine gun. She enjoyed this a lot more and listened well to the instructor, who got her shooting steadily at the target, with a good grouping! Matt then had a go and shot the same pistol before shooting the iconic U.S M16 assualt rifle. All too soon it was over and we headed back down to our hotel with our target sheets as our souveniers!

 

That night we enjoyed some early dinner before watching the free pirate show outside Treasure Island and then moving down to a late show at Caesers Palace called 'Absinthe'. This is a mix of comedy and stunning acrobat performers in a circus style tent. The performers are very close to you and were absolutely amazing. Another recommended show but be warned - the comedy is of an 'adult nature', so not one for the kids!!

 

The final day came quickly and we spent the morning wandering the designer shops of the Bellagio and Caesers Palace before heading back very weary and tired to Great Falls and then on to little quiet Ralston!