VIVA! LAS VEGAS

In the fall of 1999 I was sent to Las Vegas for 5 days by the company I was working for then.
The gave me the use of a rental car and put me up in a hotel in Henderson, just a few miles south of Las Vegas itself.

I worked 12 hour days and once the work was done was taken to dinner in Henderson. Then to bed and up again at 6 a.m for another day of work.

Maybe 5 miles in the distance I could see the lights of Las Vegas blazing on the horizon so after dinner on my last night before my last work day and flight back to Chicago, I got in the car and drove into the city and spent a few hours just marveling at what I saw there. Even at midnight the joint was jumping and thousands of happy people were enjoying the warm night air (and some drinks) as they made their way from one casino hotel to the other. The City that never sleeps...

I visited a few of those gigantic hotels (some with over 3,000 rooms) and the last one I saw and walked through was one that left a lasting impression-the Bellagio Hotel which at that time was the newest hotel, being just one year old.

I think since that night in 1999 Carol and I have visited Las Vegas 7 or 8 times, sometimes twice in the same year until our last visit in 2009. Any photos that follow are within that 10 year timeline.

As "Vegas" is always growing and changing, old buildings get demolished to make way for the new and what you see is unlikely to be how it looks today.

So here I am, staring up at something

It's a half size replica of the Eiffel Tower which belongs to the Paris Hotel and Casino behind and around it. Yes there's an elevator to the observation deck (about 450 feet up) and on the way there is a floor with a French restaurant. Total height is 541 feet. You can't miss it!

A  2/3 rd scale mini Arc de Triomphe without the crazy traffic

I am standing by the lake that lies in front of our 3,000 roomed hotel- The Bellagio. It has since added a Spa Tower with another 950 rooms. Did I mention they have BIG hotels in Las Vegas?

The cars drive by on Las Vegas Boulevard, a very wide street also known as The Strip

Our next door neighbor is Caesar's Palace (center) with 3,960 rooms

30 Million people visit Las Vegas each year and most come through the always-busy McCarran Airport. You'll probably take a taxi to your hotel or rent a car at the airport. We rent from Hertz and at this airport they have some really good cars- Mercedes, BMW, Corvettes even, apart from the usual American and Japanese makes. Oh- mustn't forget Jaguar! (formerly British now Indian I believe).
My favorite rentals are the Infiniti G37 or the Audi S4 which you'll see when we visit Death Valley later on (like, much later!)

Car rental of course isn't vital if you plan to just enjoy the hotel casinos along The Strip. You can walk to most of the hotels although those at the southern end like Mandalay Bay and Luxor (the Pyramid) are a long way to walk in the LV heat. (last time we were there it was 106F). The Strip is over 4 miles long...
There is a double-decker bus service running up and down The Strip if you don't mind waiting and a free tram service linking a few of the hotels. There is also a monorail but it doesn't cover a great distance.

Some times we have stayed a full week-at others just 3 days and then continued on to Sedona, Arizona, making a stop at the Grand Canyon along the way. It's a 6 hour drive to the GC. Helicopter tours can let you see the canyon within an hour. less than 10 minutes flying away is the Hoover Dam.

As we have a car we make daily excursions out of the city which lies on a flat desert floor to the nearby mountains. The city is where we eat and sleep and are entertained in the evenings. There is no shortage of entertainment in Las Vegas.

No, these three guys are no longer around and Elvis has long ago left the building but during our visits we have seen Celine Dion (who was playing a three-year residency at Caesar's Place), Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno (as we like stand-up comedy) We could have seen Rod Stewart, Elton John, Barry Manilow or Cher had we wished as they all "play Vegas"

Carol bumps into Luciano Pavarotti...

We have seen elaborate magic shows by Siegfried and Roy, sadly no longer working and of course saw the legendary Wayne Newton, a ball of showman energy.

We have been to many Cirque du Soleil shows, some more than once and have enjoyed the magic and comedy of these guys ....

They were resident in the massive Rio Hotel and Casino when we saw them.

Parking is free when you visit these hotels.

So from a chilly frozen Chicago we can catch a flight to Las Vegas and in 3 hours or so find the sun and a lifestyle of no cooking, no shopping for food, no washing dishes and making beds.

Other people will do that for us and do it with a smile as Service is King in Las Vegas.

We won't watch TV as we'll never be bored. People watching and enjoying the beauty of many of the hotels will take it's place. We'll get away from the crowds of Happy Smiling People with day trips in the car to places where you can hear a pin drop and where Nature puts on it's show (yes it has a residency)

We will eat, drink and be merry-and get a suntan!

Get off the ship!

6 a.m. Houston ahoy!

Bayport terminal

Once tied up to the pier the sun came up

Lighting up the container port

 The supply trucks are already waiting to load the ship for the next cruise leaving this afternoon

A fuel barge pulls alongside to fill the diesel tanks to run the generators which propel the ship and power all the rooms and equipment on board.

Princess buses wait in the parking lot to take passengers to the airports

Passengers who drove to the pier will collect their cars from the parking lot

Trucks will unload for the next 8 hours 

We are never in a hurry to leave a cruise ship. We don't have a flight to catch as we always stay a day after the ship docks. In this instance it would be our first stay in Downtown Houston as we had tickets for an opera performance there, later that evening.

I usually kill time, after our last breakfast, taking photos of things I had forgot to shoot earlier in the week. (These ships over 100,000 tonnes are so big that you probably won't see or experience all it has to offer within a one week stay).

Here's the Internet Cafe and the Library...

Tankships take to the sea to spread the wealth to other U.S. ports

When we get off the ship as late as we do, there are no crowds and so it's easy to get a taxi to our next stop-Hertz car rental, to begin our brief stay in Houston. As I've covered Houston in a recent blog I'll end this one here.

Our friends Cindy, Alice and Daniel were already at the airport. They enjoyed their first cruise so much they joined us again on the Ruby Princess in January 2015- no doubt the subject of a future blog.

Right now I am thinking of some of our trips to the great (sunny) western US states and am thinking of three cities to choose from. Places we have loved...

Las Vegas
Sedona
Santa Fe

I don't know which one yet- if you have a preference use the comments button and let me know!

Heading to Houston

Here's a short video clip from the Culinary Show in the Princess Theater. The show lasts for an hour but that would be a long sit to watch. It's not "must-see" television by any means.

After the Culinary Show and Galley Tour and then pub lunch and Afternoon Tea it was time to relax on our balcony for the last time. Another nap in the shade, with the sound of the wake having lulled us to sleep, would give us the stamina we needed to pack our suitcases and enjoy our last dinner on board, before taking in a show in the Princess theater-the usual nightly routine, but for the last time (how sad)

Calm sea and sun. Cannot be beaten!

As you have to put your cases out into the hallway by 9pm (usually midnight in my case) what you wear to dinner will be what you have to wear when you wake next morning. Country club casual would be the best way to describe it, unlike on an airplane where gym clothes and pyjamas are the norm.

At 5pm we headed up to the Piazza....

 where a dance class was just ending...

So there was already a crowd gathered for the next event-a Princess staple-The Princess Pop Choir where passengers get a chance to sing for their fellows. People sign up early in the week and have several rehearsals led by one of the cruise staff who then comperes the event.

Here's a video from their performance.

Then on deck to enjoy the sea air and our last view of the sea while the ship was moving.

In the distance was an oil rig which told us we were getting closer to Houston by the minute.

Before dinner we went to the Vines wine bar on deck 5 as we hadn't been there yet. Buy a glass of wine there and you get free tapas or sushi. Good deal!

Here are a few shots of the MDR (taken earlier in the day when it wasn't busy)

Here's video of the wine bar and dinner where we are again enjoying Hector the singing waiter.

The crowning glory of our meal that night was a Baked Alaska dessert...

Our last dinner on board and our last meal with our friends from Chicago, enjoying their first (but not last!) cruise. They joined us in the Princess Theater for our last show featuring the jugglers we had seen with Daniel earlier in the week. Another great show of skill and comedy.

I had to be up early to see the ship come into Bayport so once I was packed and put my cases in the hallway it was time to sleep.......zzzzzzz

Last full day on the Caribbean Princess

The last day on a ship and the clock is ticking down on our cruise. If there's something you haven't seen or done (or eaten) yet, then today is your last chance.

You may want to take an elevator from the Piazza, coffee and fresh pastry in hand and head up to the pool deck for some sun and sea air.

Deck 5 midships, elevator lobby

Pool deck elevator lobby. The doors open automatically which is handy when you are carrying food and drinks or have already had too much to eat and drink!

 Nice manatee statue

A total of 5 pools await...

Some "special" people ignore the signs and reserve prime spots near the pool. They are known as "hogs". Deck staff are told to remove these items after 30 minutes but they often don't comply.

One of the many great things about a week on board ship is that you get to meet people over a few drinks as you are soaking up the sun. This was a new friend I would never see again. Steve. I spent many pleasant hours talking to him and his wife. I don't usually ask people to pose for me so this is a candid shot.

The last day there will always be tables set up on the top deck of the Piazza where the Gift Shops will put out merchandise at reduced prices-tee shirts, bags, watches and gold chain for example. They want you to grab a bargain while there is still time!

Another popular event on the final day is an early morning Culinary/Comedy show starring the Maitre 'd and the Executive Chef in the Princess Theater.

It draws a big crowd.

Video screens on either side of the stage let you see close-ups as they are cooking simple dishes

They are introduced by the cruise director, Brett Siborne

The accent though is on comedy banter onstage

After the show everyone is invited to tour the main galley

The Main Galley prepares about 10,000 meals a day when at sea (MDRs are closed in port). The Specialty Restaurants like Sabatini's and the Crown Grill have their own kitchens (as does the Buffet and Trident Grill).

As it's a sea day that means that the British Pub Lunch is being served in the Crown Grill

Chicken curry for Carol. Indian curries are the most popular dishes in Britain and Indian is the predominant ethnic restaurant food there. This is a mild curry, Madras-hot at best (Vindaloo being very hot-my favorite!)

 Fish and chips for me, with green mushy peas

After a filling lunch it was time for a nap in the Sanctuary where at 3.30 we would wake to Afternoon Tea!

(yes you WILL put on weight on a cruise)