Las Vegas, Day 5

Last night Paul (my new friend and the only one of our sales reps who doesn't like to gamble or party and isn't afraid to go for a long walk) and I wandered the strip and found this amazing place at the Venetian Hotel and Casino: St. Marks Square I think it's called. Incredibly, the clouds and sky are actually the ceiling...this photo was taken at about 9pm at night but the place totally feels like a tiny Italian square at dusk, complete with a canal, live music and gondoliers! It was really wild. Check it out here. We almost missed it and walked on by but a wrong turn left us in the valet parking garage and when we turned back, we stumbled upon it. We had dinner in this square (in the pic, the cafe is on the right side at the back of the frame and it was on the "sidewalk" so it really felt like we were eating in an open air café at dusk (see below) but it was 9pm) at one of Wolfgang Puck's restaurants, Postrio, that was sensational...and totally affordable by Vegas stardards. I bought a liter of water for $5.75 in the Luxor lobby yesterday. Glad it's all expensed...



Plus, I gotta say - I have an excellent sense of direction but this place has me completely turned around. It must be intentional - there's no other explanation...they want you to go in and never come out...and they pretty much succeed because not only does everything go on FOREVER - like slot machines as far as the eye can see - but it's nearly impossible to find an exit. I thought I was in pretty good shape but my feet are SCREAMING at me. I'm pretending the two are not related...I've resorted to wearing my running shoes because my other footwear leaves me in agony. We're talking barking dogs with blisters and hot spots...and I'm very much a sensible shoe kind of girl. I don't know how the folks in heels are holding up. Brutal...

So we walked all the way from Mandalay Bay to the Venetian - it has to be at least a mile and a half one way - and on the way we passed Caesar's Palace:


























The Bellagio - which has just about the most amazing fountain out front that does this incredible show every few minutes and the water appears to be choreographed to music - was totally my favorite part of the night. It's the one in the closing scene of "Ocean's Eleven" when they've successfully stolen all that cash and are about to go their separate ways. I could sit and watch it for hours... when we walked by in one direction, it played and danced to "Viva Las Vegas" and on the way back it was doing "All That Jazz", the opening number in Chicago. So cool. Here are some pics of the hotel and fountain...they're kinda blurry but you get the idea:






On the way back, we zoomed thru the Paris Casino and got a souvenir Eiffel Tower for Milkshake Girl. She went to Paris for her anniversary last year and wanted a tree ornament of the tower but couldn't find one anywhere...mission accomplished. She'll be pleased.

I hope I haven't bored any of you who frequent this town with the basic layout of The Strip. I'd like to say I'm not a country girl - I did grow up just outside of Boston - but I've pretty much been wide eyed and gaping at the scale of things and the disgusting excess. It's just too surreal in a Disney World kind of way. Unbelievable really. I would not want to vacation here unless I was taking day trips to Hoover Dam and/or Bryce Canyon etc. Too much cigarette smoke to start but just TOO MUCH in general....of everything. BUT, it's my job and I gotta say that now that the pressure is off, I love it.

Going to try and get to the treadmill and lifecycle tonight but there's a Salmon and Aquavit party for all the Nordic dealers that I think I need to go to and the spa will be closed by the time it's over. Too bad because I hate both smoked Salmon and Aquavit. Maybe I can get out of it. If not, I'll be getting up tomorrow to go. Although, with all the walking I've been getting plenty of exercise. Sadly, the pool is closed...it's kind of cold anyway but I'm going to be very unprepared for the meet on the 5th when I get back. Perhaps I'll do some lifting too. Two more days here and then it's off to SLC for a few more at the Outdoor Retailer Show. Then my Honey will join me and we'll spend a few days skiing in Park City to celebrate our 11th anniversary. HOLY COW that's a lot of years. Sweet sweet years....

More to come...stay tuned... OH, and planning on listening to Get Your Geek On Podcast with my next workout...can't wait!