1. VEGAS VACATION Sandy, Victoria and Susan got together in Las Vegas during the week of May 3. We took pictures to share with all of you on our blog. We made it through the week without being arrested once. Not a day went by that we didn’t discuss Michael. He was in our hearts as we walked through Mandalay Bay Resort where his MJ Cirque will be held on Dec. 3, 2011 and we will meet up again at that time and get to meet Renee. 1
2. The Bellagio This is where Sandy and Victoria stayed. The Bellagio was built on the land the Dunes used to be located. It cost $1.6 billion dollars to build the Bellagio. Bellagio is owned by the MGM Resort and employs 10,000 people. Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Thirteen was filmed at the Bellagio. 2
3. The Bellagio The top picture is the front view of the Bellagio from The Strip. The statues in the front of this picture is part of Caesar’s Palace. The below picture shows the Rio Hotel (red & purple), Bellagio center and Caesar’s Palace to the right. 3
4. Bellagio Fountains The fountains are located in the front of the Bellagio along side of The Strip. When the fountains begin, traffic stops to watch because it is so breathtaking. The fountains are in an 8 acre lake. The dancing water is synchronized to music. It cost $40 million to build. The water shoots 460 feet high. 4
5. LasVegas You can see the Paris tower in the background with Bellagio to the right of it with the turquoise roof. 5
6. Bellagio Pool Sandy, Victoria and Susan ate breakfast pool side one morning. The weather was perfect in the high 80’s and no wind. Sandy and I are posing behind the angel that Sandy gifted to me by surprise. Victoria is taking our picture. Thank you Sandy. 6
7. Bellagio Chandeliers This is one of numerous chandeliers that are consumed throughout the Bellagio. The one shown is in the waiting area for elevator. 7
9. Bellagio Comfort Piano music is presented daily. You can sit at a nearby bar for drinks and listen to him perform or be gambling close by counting your winnings with soothing sounds. 9
10. Bellagio Lobby When you arrive to check-in at the Bellagio, you are covered overhead by the Dale Chihuly glass flower sculpture chandelier’s. The picture does not do his work justice. Dale Chihuly also has a gift shop in the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens located just steps away from the lobby. 10
11. Bellagio Gardens We are now entering into the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The gardens and structures are changed out 5 times per year.....winter, Chinese new year, spring, summer and fall. You will now travel through our many pictures taken of this scented, awesome adventure. The Gardens are a photographers dream come true. 11
12. Bellagio Gardens Inside the gardens you will notice you are actually inside a huge atrium. The see-through house in the background is a butterfly habitat. You can walk inside and photograph them up close. 12
17. Bellagio Gardens The top picture of this tree is taken at night under the colorful lights. 17
18. Bellagio Gardens Flowers photographed by Victoria. I don’t know what kind they are so please ask Victoria. She has a garden, I just mow lawns. lol 18
20. Bellagio Gardens This is Victoria surrounded by the colorful flowers and savory aroma’s. Victoria looks so darling in her hat, and speaking of hats, stay tuned because we have a good story about that later in this slideshow. 20
21. Bellagio Gardens Framed flower art. Each color is a flower that created this landscape scene. 21
22. Bellagio Gardens A ferris wheel makes up part of this season’s décor in the gardens. 22
24. Bellagio Gardens OMG, what do we have here??? A beautiful white covered rose with a red dressed ragweed. 24
25. Bellagio Gardens Thank you Michael for bringing all of us together. Blog sisters, who 2 years ago, didn’t know each other existed. Perhaps in the near future all of us on our blog can meet and take our friendship a step further. Wouldn’t that be fun !!! 25
27. Bellagio Gardens Did you think of Neverland when you see this Merry-Go-Round? 27
28. Bellagio Gardens This is Dale Chihuly’s shop within the Bellagio Gardens. These blue-green, candle looking, glass pieces are made by Dale Chihuly. You can see more of his work in the top picture through the window. Sandy purchased one of his books. 28
29. Bellagio Decor The flower displays inside the Bellagio make you want to reach out and touch them. All the flower displays are live flowers Each resort has their own employees who create these flower displays. 29
34. Welcome to City Center This is the latest project completed on The Strip. This is the largest private funded project in the history of the U.S., and funded by MGM Resorts and Dubai World. It sits on 76 acres with 2400 condo’s and 4800 hotel rooms. The project used “green” technologies using reclaimed water and an on-site power plant. It opened in 2009 (3 yrs. to build) and employees 12,000 people. It has a tram to the Bellagio next door. City center consists of: Mandarian Oriental Hotel Aria, resort & casino Vdara, hotel & spa Crystals, shopping & dining Veer Towers, condo’s. 34
35. Aria Aria is the building behind the red light signal. Bellagio is on the front right of it. We’ll be visiting Aria next. 35
44. Aria This is the Jean Philippe Patisserie chocolate shoppe. Jean Philippe Maury is the world pastry champion and noted for his signature chocolates. 44
45. Aria Victoria took these Jean Philippe photo’s of his work. Wait until you see what she found!!! Next slide please........ 45
48. Aria After picking up Sandy at the airport, we met Victoria and her husband at Julian Serrano for tapas. OMG, talk about good food. If anyone is brave enough to look up the menu on the web, see how long it will take you to make a decision of what to order. His menu has the largest selection of food I’ve seen in my life. There are exotic items to eat also, so if you are daring and looking for something new for your taste buds, this is the restaurant to visit. Yum Yum 48
