Another Hotel in Vegas

Sunday 26 August 2012 - Moving up a class

Day 136 and 22 days to go

A new day and a new hotel. Paul was up and awake and having a  shower again before I even stirred and by 9.30am he was calling me to get out of bed and get organised. Once showered we packed up our suitcases, gathering all of our bits and then we made it down to the lobby to check out before hopping in a cab and heading a few meters down the road to the Bellagio Hotel.

The interior of the hotel is just stunning with lots of glass, flowers and balloons. I joined the line to check-in. It took a while before we were seen to but fortunately once completed we were given a room to head straight to.

Our journey through the lobby and shops area was a bit like dodge-ems as we weaved through the crowds whilst also admiring the decoration. The crowds cleared once we made it to the elevator and then it was off to the 9^th floor to find our room.

It would seem that with every hotel change we have managed to go up a level of class. The Bellagio is a beautiful hotel and the clientele are also on the posher side.

Once in the room we dumped our bags and admired the slight lake and strip view that we had. We checked out what was on offer in the room, another electronically monitored fridge damn it! I went to get ice to fill one of the hand basins before we had a drink.

By 11.30am we were ready to head out and explore. We wandered through the hotel checking out the large chocolate fountain and the gardens in the middle before making our way through the casino and the posh shops. We crossed the boulevard via a footbridge and were out in the heat. It is hot here, but that’s what you get for the middle of a desert.

We made our way north heading to the Venetian Hotel where we were going to use our lunch voucher that we received after doing the timeshare bit the other day. We were expecting a small café or food court style restaurant, but were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at Zephirino and were ushered upstairs to a table over looking the Grand Canal that runs through the shop and gondolas cruise up and down. The restaurant was even silver service and the waiters were super attentive and friendly.

We were given a starter soup or salad and then I had a lovely piece of salmon while Paul had the chicken. It was a wonderful way to spend our lunchtime while enjoying the singing from the gondoliers below.
With lunch complete we wandered through the shopping mall looking to use our next voucher on the gondolier ride. We found the ticket booth, waited in line and then booked a ride on the outdoor version for 9pm tonight.

We then continued our wander through the complex. Paul received a voucher for the casino club card so we found the desk and signed up for their rewards card receiving a free Las Vegas T-shirt in the process.

We wandered through the casino before finally making our way out the door and into the Madam Tussauds to use our final voucher. We wandered around the various wax celebrities taking our photos with the likes of Johnny Depp, Hugh Heffner and his bunny, Shaq, Stevie Wonder, Oprah and Neil Armstrong. They even had a scary house that was pitch black and besides having really grotesque things on show like carved up people they also had actors jumping out in the dark. It was disgusting and screams bounded out of Paul’s mouth!

We finished up and made our way across the road to the Mirage to pick up some souvenirs from the Cirqu Du Soleil Beatles Love show before finding where the secret garden was deciding to come back tomorrow.

We made our way through Caesers before making back to our hotel and finally our room. Sweating and hot and in need of a cool down we hung out in the room briefly before changing into our bathers and heading down to the pool area.

We found two lounges in the shade and then jumped into the little plunge pool. It was delightful. We sat around on the ledge before deciding to find the spa. We walked the length of another large pool and then jumped into the super hot spa for some massage therapy. Bliss. When it became too hot to handle we returned to our pool to cool off. What a way to spend the afternoon.  

We returned to the room to shower and change and have a drink before making our way out at 7.15pm. We walked through Caesers finding a H&M shop that I would need to check out for new sandals as mine snapped this morning. Grr.

We finally made it to the Mirage and their buffet, Cravings where we would use another voucher. Once seated we were off to check out all of the offerings and there were plenty. Three plate loads later and feeling stuffed I was still sticking dessert in my mouth with Paul saying you have a separate stomach for dessert. Urghhh.

Feeling super full and wondering how the gondolier would cope we made our way across the road to the Venetian and in line for our ride. By now it was dark and it was beautiful being surrounded by the Venetian style buildings and the water. It was still hot outside perfect for a ride.

When our turn arrived we hopped into the gondola with another couple and our Italian gondolier steered the gondola around the water and under bridges while singing Santa Lucia leaving our male African American friend asking “Who sings that?” It was perfect.

With the ride over and souvenir photos bought we walked across to Treasure Island (TI) for their nighttime entertainment. As it wouldn’t start until 10pm we went inside in search of a drink before coming back out to stake our claim on a front row spot in the splash zone.

We were shoved along the front barricade by a rude security woman, who was creating spots for VIPS and Paul let her know what he thought.

When the show began we were entertained by the sirens of the sea and the pirate gang. There was lots of singing and dancing going on. Flames shot out and we could feel the hair on our arms being singed off. Eventually the pirates ship sank and they joined the sirens. When they bombied off the ship I was soaked from the knees down. It was a lot of fun.

We then moved on to our next stop at the Mirage for the Volcano show but with 40min to wait we figured it would be easier with a margherita in hand so we visited Casino Royale for their $1 margheritas and then returned to wait for the show. It wa mind blowing how many family groups were out and about with their kids in strollers. I don't think that Vegas is really a kid friendly or appropriate place for kids but obviously many others do. 
At 11pm the volcano show began with light and heat erupting from the waterfall area. It was a great spectacle that lasted about 10min and once it was all over we continued our wander amongst the crowds and still in the heat back to the Bellagio where we waited for the water fountain show to begin at 11.30pm. I am still blown away how tall the water is thrust into the air. 
With the final show complete we began walking passing a camera crew with their camera on a crane taking film over the lake. We wondered what it was for, a question to go unanswered. We returned to our room to watch the next water show 15 min later from our room before finally crawling into bed at midnight. Ah.