Day 5 started with a long lie in....for most people other than me and Jack. Jack is being a little bugger this week and waking up a lot...which means I spent from 6:30am to 8:30am wandering around the Venetian, drinking coffee and passing time.
Once everyone was up it was off to Circus Circus Hotel & Casino to visit their AdventureDome. The AdventureDome is an indoor theme park - with about 15 rides for the kids plus the usual fun fair type games/challenges. The kids had a ball and were kept amused for a few hours. James wimped out of the scary rollercoaster (thank God, as I did not fancy it either). We left loaded up with fluffy dice, stuffed toys and a fake flower. Jack seems to like the stuffed toy and James and Olivia LOVE throwing the dice at each other.
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino is at the North end of Las Vegas Boulevard - which, to us, seemed like the BAD end of town. The casino was run-down and everything about it screamed cheap & nasty. I hate to sound like a snob, but the people were fatter in Circus Circus.
There were two main 'free' shows we wanted to see in Vegas - the fountains at the Belagio Hotel and the Treasure Island Sirens show.
One of the challenges of getting to anything on time in Vegas is that you cannot walk straight there. Every few hundred metres when you want to cross the road you need to go over a walk way. The walk way cleverly takes you into a casino. One wrong turn and you can get lost for hours (if not days). As a consequence, even with perfect navigation, walking from one hotel to another can take 2-3 times as long as you think!
First, the fountains - we made it to the Belagio at 4pm just in time - after running for the last 100 metres. The fountain show was rather good - majestic fountains spraying water as an Elton John song played in the background. Emma liked it so much we decided to watch the next show (30 mins) but first walked through the Belagio "to get a coffee". Well, none of Dior, Dolce & Gabana, Tiffanys, Rolex, etc. sell coffee. Most of the shops in Vegas are very expensive - Emma was banned from shopping. Due to the lack of coffee shops we detoured into the main hotel - and as noted above, they cleverly get you lost. A frantic dash (without a coffee) to the fountains for 4:30pm, the whole family out of puff and slightly grumpy. Stood there for 10 minutes....no fountain show.....
Next the Treasure Island Sirens. On Monday night the Treasure Island show had been cancelled so we were hopefully of seeing it today. We left our room in plenty of time for the short distance but long walk (see above) to the 7:30pm show. We got prime spots for the show and waited....and waited.....and waited. "Due to high winds tonights show is cancelled."
So, Emma suggested we jump in a cab and head back to the Belagio for one last fountain show at 8pm. Another dash, eventually find a cab to take 5 of us at the Mirage, short cab ride, dash around the lake, take prime spot for fountain show (it's dark now so it should be really good)...and "Due to high winds tonights show is cancelled".
So, the free shows did not do much for us....
The GOOD in Vegas are the expensive shows. Last night Emma and I went to see Le Reve, in the Wynn Hotel. Le Reve was one of the best shows we have ever seen. A cast of about 50 ( who must have all been gymnasts and synchronised swimmers ) acted out a story of a girl who is proposed to and then has a dream where she works through all her doubts, dilemas before finally saying yes. The show is set in water. Most of the cast are swirling around on trapeze, diving/falling in and out of the water. At one point people are being lifted and dropped about 50 metres into - what seemed like shallow - water.
It was stunning. Well worth a visit. The kids had fun with their babysitter - Ally - a daughter of a friends, friend...we think.
Finally the UGLY. Whenever you walk down the street in Vegas there are hundreds of people trying to give you 'cards' with phone numbers of Prostitutes on them. In addition there are trucks driving by also advertising the same service. Somehow we managed to get through 2 1/2 days in Vegas with neither James or Olivia asking too many questions on this....
Overall, Vegas was a success. It's a fun place to spend a few days - but does need careful planning.
Off now to Sedona and the Grand Canyon!
Ken
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