Home Again...

Good Morning, Fellow Bloggers!

Agnes and I returned from our mini-vacation in Las Vegas late last night, and we were up pretty late getting unpacked and reorganized. It feels as if this morning started about six hours too soon. I've got plenty still to do this morning before leaving for work, so this will just be a very short post with a few highlights of the long weekend. I'll post some pictures and additional details later today or tomorrow when I have more time.

Here are a few hints for anyone thinking about visiting Las Vegas:

1. Bring money. Even if you don't gamble (and we didn't this time, at least, not more than $50), eating can cost you a fortune if you're confined largely to the area of The Strip where the major hotels and casinos are located.

2. Take a Hoover Dam tour. It's a really eye-opening and fascinating look at a marvel of engineering.

3. See a Cirque du Soleil show. For pure, glorious entertainment, it's hard to beat the amazing athleticism and sheer sensory overload of this unusual circus. We saw the show "O" at the Bellagio resort, and my jaw is still on the floor. There are three other Cirque du Soleil shows at other hotels in Las Vegas, all unique.

4. See a real Las Vegas Revue show. Agnes bought tickets to the show "Jubilee" at Bally's, and we really enjoyed the 0ver-the-top singing, dancing, and special effects. Several short acts punctuated the major song-and-dance productions: the best was a pair of Korean acrobat/contortionists who did amazing things with each other, a metal tube, and two steel rings. I hurt just thinking about it. The fact that this act sticks in my mind as much as the grandly-costumed topless parts of the show ought to tell you something.

5. If you fly out of McCarran Airport in Las Vegas on a Sunday (when most people are leaving), allow a minimum of three hours to check in and clear security. It's about as well-organized as it can be, but the airport is grossly undersized for the number of passengers it serves, and the crowds are mind-boggling. Best advice: fly out on Tuesday or Thursday when the crowds are somewhat smaller (but remember that this airport is always busy - according to our Hoover Dam tour guide, it's the third-largest by passenger volume in the country).

That's all for now. It's good to be home and back to our regular routine again. I'll post more details of our trip, and a few photos, tomorrow.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo