Highlights and Recommendations:
Voodoo Restaurant & Nightclub at the Rio All Suites Hotel - they occupy the 50th and 51st floors of the hotel with amazing outside deck areas and superb distant views of The Strip. We had an incredible dinner there including reasonably priced Grey Goose martinis, foie gras appetizer, lobster/crab thermidor (to die for!), seared scallops with shortribs(!), along with the tastiest 'jumbo' asparagus ever in lemon aioli.
We enjoyed three Cirque de Soleil shows: "Zumanity", Criss Angel's "Believe" and "O" - all were wonderful, with "O" being the most impressive.
Other incredible dining included two experiences at The Bellagio (loved the water fountain show with music on the 'lake' in front of the hotel):
- deluxe caviar tasting and Veuve Cliquot champagne at The Petrossian bar; and,
- 6 course dinner with wine pairings at Le Cirque...with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner (well, they were at the next table). Oh, and Eugene Levy was on the other side of us.
Sightseeing included a visit to the pawn shop made famous on TV's "Pawn Stars" - suffice it to say I am no longer a fan of the show.
The place is a total dump, despite becoming a major tourist attraction in Vegas (there are sometimes lines of up to 200 people waiting to get in!). They obviously aren't putting any money from the show back into the operation. The place was full of crap the day we were there, and there was no expertise offered on a piece I brought in to have valued just for fun. A large section of the store is devoted to tacky "Pawn Stars" souvenirs mainly featuring "Chumlee" - the loser sidekick on the show. It was a big yawn. But we did see "the old man" (Harrison Senior) in the back.
Much more fun was Fremont Street, and getting our (free) photos taken with a pile of $1 million cash at Binion's Casino!
The Golden Nugget was surprisingly nice (owned and re-done by Steve Wynn), although we were shocked at the $20.00 price tag of a double gin and tonic in their Chart House lounge. We saw the world's biggest gold nugget named "The Hand of Faith." Very impressive.
The Venetian's Grand Canal and St. Mark's Square make for some great strolling, sightseeing and dining.
We stayed at the re-done Tropicana and were very pleased with the room and fabulous pool area. We'd stay there again - great location and nice, light and bright hotel and casino.
Hubby was in heaven being able to smoke cigars ANYWHERE but where food was being served.
We enjoyed a late afternoon of cigars and scotch (for him) and champagne (for me) at The Galleria bar at Caesar's Palace - very decadent.
More later once I've downloaded the other photos I took!
Todo bien. (It's all good.)
