Las Vegas 3

Some more Vegas pics, just because there is so much to see there. Backing up to Sunday evening when we went back to the strip to check a few more things off our to-do list. The Grand Canal Shops at the Venetian are definitely worth a visit. Not that we went into any stores, but the whole area, huge of course, is tricked out to look like Venice and does a pretty good job. The story is that some couple (either very well known to all of you or a total myth) with a LOT of money went to Venice on their honeymoon and she loved it so much he said he would build her a replica.

this is indoors, seriously

 Then we went to Wynn to see the somewhat overrated Lake of Dreams. The hotel itself is gorgeous but the Lake show was too short and not all that interesting, but weird and fun technology.

light fixtures at the Parasol Bar in the Wynn hotel - cool

By then we were really hungry since the bar only sold pretzels, and we had had about enough of the crowds and crazies, so we went back to the resort.

Valentines Day took us to things we are more inspired by. we went to Red Rock Canyon which is only 20 minutes from the Strip. It was about 25C and sunny and it is a spectacular place. We did the scenic drive of about 13 miles and as an afterthought dropped into the visitor center. It was so much of an afterthought that we left the camera in the car and it has to be the most beautiful visitor center I have ever seen; I've seen lots. In front of you when you walk in is a 25 foot long window that frames the calico hills, and there are wonderful sculptures of various animals. Even better is the outside interpretive area.

great light and great rocks

this sandstone is interestingly striped

part of the 'calico' section

And then on our last night in Vegas we went up to the roof of our building to have some champagne and enjoy the vista. It was chilly and we were the only people there - fabulous.