Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam is located about 30 miles from Las Vegas. We travel the same road as we take to Valley of Fire and Lake Mead but keep going past the lake turn. We are on Highway 93 which runs (ran) along the top of the dam. We were last there in 2009 before a bridge was completed to take through traffic off the dam. Our visits to the Grand Canyon and Sedona took us along 93-crossing the dam involved a time change as we moved from Nevada into Arizona.

Lake Mead-follow the road to the right of the lake


You know you are nearing the dam when these appear


These photos were from our last visit to the dam in 2009, when the bypass bridge was under construction.




These 4 towers are the inlets for the water from Lake Mead which drives the turbines near the bottom of the dam to make electricity which is sold to Nevada, Arizona and California.




Driving over the top of the dam


 Lake Mead begins 










There are overlooks once you cross the dam into Arizona where you can park your car and take photographs.


If you want to get out on the water there is a boat tour you can take from Lake Mead




The boat will sail up to the Hoover Dam so you'll get pretty much the same view as I showed from the overlook.




It's a pleasant hour on the water








Photos here are from 2003 long before they began to build the bypass bridge




Along the way you get to see some magnificent cliffs


There's a white goat standing on this one. Can you see him?






No hidden goats


You sail through this narrow channel








Beautiful colors in the rocks


Remember-only 30 miles from Las Vegas!




 Can you see the white goat in this one?


The boat returns to the dock


See you back in Las Vegas!



Thursday, July 23, 2015

Bellagio Conservatory

I mentioned floral displays when I showed you one in the Venetian Hotel and Casino. The Bellagio
actually has a large conservatory, open year round and featuring seasonal displays. The have an in-house team of horticulturalists.





Another Dale Chihuly sculpture-this one featuring butterflies


















 There's a butterfly theme in the air


And live butterflies secured by netting




These displays were from Spring, taken in late March














Nothing says Spring like tulips


Later in the year, in November, fall colors appear


and new staging elements are built


A Halloween theme is created


I like that the Bellagio doesn't have to do this-spend all this money on gardeners and plants but they do it anyway for the guests. It earns them no money, but like the expensive Chihuly sculptures and the elaborate fountains and light show each day it makes the Bellagio stand out in a sea of over-the-top luxury theme hotels, each trying to be more amazing than the other.

Overlooking the Conservatory is a casual cafe and just around the corner is the Bellagio gelato bar and chocolate fountain bar. There's a coffee shop too which is where we get our sandwiches to take with us on our drives.

Everything under one roof-hotel, casino, bars, restaurants-buffet and high-end, entertainment in the lounges and "O" Theatre ( a Cirque du Soleil show in and out of water-lots of high diving and acrobatics on the way down to the water-has to be seen to be believed!)-no need to leave the Bellagio!!