Two days in Vegas

Before Christmas in New York (and after skiing in Montana), we spent a couple days on the Las Vegas strip. Being the kitsch aficionado that I am, naturally I have an affinity for this city (and here you thought I was all about sophistimicated high-culture destinations in Europe).

How can you not love a street so full of diversions? Everything is so ridiculous and extravagant. Indoor waterways, pirate ships, volcanoes, yummy restaurants, lions and tigers and dolphins (oh my!), Broadway shows, Big Elvis, dancing fountains, a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower and Saint Mark’s Square. Not to mention the gambling… if you’re into that kind of thing. I won a big $20 on nickel slot machines this time around (in other words no, it’s not really my kind of thing… but I like the blinking lights).

This time we stayed at Bally’s, an older hotel in the middle of the strip (next to Paris and across the street from Bellagio) which offers large, cheap rooms. December is apparently a great time for deals in Vegas, although some things (like the pirate ship show at Treasure Island) are out of commission during this slow month.

My favorite meal of the trip was at Olives, an Italian-like restaurant at Bellagio (with good martinis). We didn’t see any shows this time (although we were awfully tempted by Little Legends), although we did catch Big Elvis’s free lounge act at Bill’s Casino. Good times.

More Vegas photos here.