Our Most Excellent Adventure

Well, it's been an interesting few weeks...in case you've been wondering why I haven't updated in a while, and why I've been so busy lately...it's because we have been celebrating with our son who turned 21 last year.  We asked if he would like to go somewhere for his Birthday, and he chose Las Vegas, Nevada.  Because it's so hot there, we decided we would go when the weather was a lot cooler!  The last time we were there, it was before he was born...and my oh my how things have changed!  So we saved all our spare change for over a year, and divided it up between the three of us and that is what we used for "fun money" to use any way we wanted.  I haven't had time to stitch while we were gone, and even before I left, so no stitching to show here, but I'm going to post a few pictures of our trip.

First off, the Birthday Boy...he loved that there are no open container laws in Vegas...and had to try some of the local brews from Las Vegas.

You can't visit Las Vegas without having your picture taken next to the famous sign...

Las Vegas is an interesting place...and I jokingly told my husband that we visited several places (Paris, Venice, New York City, Rome, England, Egypt, Ireland, Camelot, and even the bottom of the sea) and we didn't even need a passport!  LOL

We got to taste some Coke products from around the world too!  This a fun experience, but one I probably won't repeat...I think I liked the Smart Watermelon from China was my favorite.  

I did happen to see one place I thought might keep me there the rest of my life....who wouldn't like a giant Statue of Liberty made up of chocolate or Twizlers for their very own?  Yes, I think I could live at Chocolate World the rest of my days!

There are so many amazing places to eat, too!  We found a wonderful place for pizza at the New York Pizzeria in New York, New York casino and Chicago style deep dish pizza at Giordano's just outside Bally's Casino.  

We found the best Fish and Chips at Gordon Ramsey's Fish and Chips outside the Linq Casino!  

We had a lovely Irish dinner at Hennessey's Tavern down on Freemont Street,

 and the BEST pretzel balls with cheese fondue at the Culinary Dropout at the Hard Rock Casino. 

We learned about a place called Freemont Street from an Uber driver who told us the best casinos to visit there and about the "Freemont Experience" show where they have a video under the canopy set to music.  You can also take the zip line, and though I told my husband he should go, he vehemently declined.

We loved the old part of downtown with all their famous signs.  It was worth the trip down there to see them lit up at night.

That is where we found Hennessey's Tavern...and learned about the Heart Attack Cafe (we didn't actually eat there, but just HAD to take pictures!)  The food there is cooked in lard, all the customers had to wear hospital gowns, and if you didn't finish your dinner, the nurses (waitresses) would spank you before you left.  LOL!!  

We also found the Toy Shack.  We watch Pawn Stars which is a TV show about a Pawn Shop near Freemont Street and when someone comes into their shop with unusual items, they call in experts.  The owner of the Toy Shack is frequently featured on the show, and he happened to be in the shop the day we were there, and he graciously posed for a picture.   I took a picture of the Pawn Shop featured on Pawn Stars as we flew by in the Uber, so I didn't get the whole sign...

We made a side trip to Hoover Dam and took a tour of the Powerhouse there.  Sadly they have been experiencing a drought, and where you see white along the walls of the canyon is where the water once ran.  I hope they get some needed rain soon!

We saw a few shows while we were there...

First off was MindFreak with Criss Angel, a Goth style magician.  Ben and I used to watch him all the time on A&E and talked for years about going to see him.  He didn't disappoint!!  We got to talking with the usher for our section (at first we were seated in the very last row in the theater) and talked about her family, Cirque du Soleil who sponsors Criss, and how long we've waited to see his show.  She disappeared for a bit, then came back and told us they reserve seats for special guests and would like to upgrade our seats.  She moved us down into the theater near the aisle, and when Criss came out into the audience, he ran right by us!!  What fun that was!!

Then we went to see Terry Fator.  He won America's Got Talent several years back (2007 I think).  He is the best ventriloquist I have ever seen.  He is so funny...and our favorite act that he did was a puppet of President Trump (search for it on youtube...it's pretty funny).  When we left, we mistakenly let Mike buy some souvenirs, and he left with Winston.  He stowed him away but later we found out that Southwest let's puppets fly free.  Turns out Winston was a good luck charm at the penny slot machines at the airport!!

The night before we left, we went to see Love.  It's a Cirque du Soleil show using all Beatles music.  We thoroughly enjoyed the music, and the talented acrobats who performed.  It was our second Cirque du Soleil show we have seen and they never disappoint.  It's hard to know where to look when there is so much going on on the stage.  But it's so much fun to watch!

At one point I almost had the guys convinced they could join Cirque du Soleil!!

We did a lot of walking....one day we even walked more than 20,000 steps.  Whew!!  You can bet we slept well each night after all that exercise!  We enjoyed some of the free shows they offer, the erupting volcano outside the Mirage...

The Poseidon show at Caesar's Palace...

And the fountain show outside the Bellagio.  I caught a little bit of one of the shows...they were set to music and played every 15 minutes.  Unfortunately I can't upload the video...so I'll show some pictures instead...

We spent one night on the Vegas Strip watching the street performers.  So many of them are talented, and we happened upon an artist.  We stopped to pick up this picture done in colored pencils.  I would love to know the back story, but the picture spoke volumes to me.  

Mike had to stop and help a starving college student...at least that's his story.  He has always liked Wonder Woman...and now he has his picture with her...LOL!!  The look on his face is priceless!!

And then...there was this guy....no idea how he does this, but ... there he is...he was not sitting on the fence, he was sitting in mid air...

So....these are the highlights...I'll be back to posting stitching again soon.  I hesitated to post this but what the heck, someone out there might be interested in a trip to Las Vegas...haha.  We did a lot in 6 short days, but as I said before, it was an absolute blast!!  I'll leave you with a parting shot at a sunrise...