Hayden and Célia's Web Site

Hayden standing in front of the fountains of the god's in the middle of the Forum shops attached to the side of Caesars Palace.

Outside the Mirage is a fake Volcano that erupts throughout the evening.

Once of the best features of Las Vegas is that between the big hotels instead of trying to cross the road they have laid on bridges (with Escalators). This is the view from the bridge between the Mirage and Venetian looking South.

A Gondola inside the shops at the venetian, although they look great and sing, the cost seems very expensive for a short ride.

The flamingos at the Flamingo as we went to breakfast on our first morning. The Breakfast was a buffet were we meet our first optician, as the American and world optician's had decided that Vegas (while we were there) would be the venue for their conference, so the bus stops all had adverts for optical products and everywhere we saw people with red bags with the conference logo.

The View of the gardens from our window on the 16th Floor.

The View across from our room to the parking lot.

The View of the Barbary coast from our room

The View down the Strip from the bridge between Bally's/Paris and the Bellagio.

The Seahorse bar inside Caesar's Palace with aquariums.

Inside the forum shops are Circular Escalators, we could not quite believe so we had to take a photo.

After spending the evening watching Danny Gans (Very good impressionist / entertainer) we grabbed a late supper at Margaritavile (attached to the Flamingo) they had a covers band playing various hits, but as the evening wore on we noticed more and more marines, who were out celebrating having just got back from Iraq.

The Fashion show mall has a large metal oval outside known as the cloud.

After Celia's trip to Cape Town earlier in the year, she has developed a fascination for Harley's so when we saw the cafe we had to take a shot.

Carp in the pools at the Flamingo.

One of the highlights of the whole trip was the excursion to the Grand Canyon. After being picked up from the Hotel, weighed at the Aladdin and then bussed to Boulder City, we were up in a very small plane (11 seats).

The View once landed from the South Rim.

Hayden overlooking the rim.

The Sign post so we know where on the Rim we were.

The Two of us, taken by an Optician who had decided to over stretch herself as was panicking by the end of the day as she felt she was going to miss her dinner appointment. We had decided to just play it by ear and was able to relax.

Here you can see a path down to the base of the canyon (see left) and a small view of the Colorado river (bottom right).

I had hoped to get the eagles flying around this rock but they disappeared just as the shutter clicked.

In the distance is a hut halfway down the canyon, but due to the branches are close they got the focus.

The Path down the side of the canyon.

The Path even goes through the side of the canyon.

Hayden walked down the side for a few minutes and managed to find a large group from Idaho, who would take his photo on the edge.

After walking back up the path he was out of breath, but at least made it back to the coach. unlike some of the party who were never seen again and almost delayed our planes.

Some shots from the flight back.

Hayden sitting outside the taxi run to the Paris hotel, with their fake Arc du Triomphe.

Outside the Bellagio is a hugh lake where during the evening they put on a music and water show, so we paused after dinner at the Aladdin Buffet on the way to O.

This was both a classic cirque du soleil show and one of their most different shows. It is based on water with the stage varying from solid land, to a large puddle to a full lake that can take high divers, and can be all at once. Just see it if you can.

The ceiling of the O theater.

In the entrance to the mirage is a tiger habitat.

Just outside the entrance is some dolphin statues.

One of the nicest hotels, a far way from the strip but the casino was small and the tables were built into the shapes of music instruments. The Roulette was a piano.

Next to the Hard Rock hotel, but not connected is the cafe, we had to visit to allow Hayden to get more pins for his collection.

The Luxor had been one of the hotels we had though about staying at but glad we didn't as it was much smaller than it looks and was very cluttered inside.

The Bar at the entrance to Excalibur, this was one of the most depressing hotels with everything feeling cheep and nasty.

The towers of NYNY with the Manhattan Express rollercoaster in front. Hayden tried this and it was stuttery and not work the $12.50 cost.

Wow - Great simple sandwiches not as big as the New York originals but still great flavour and just the ticket after a morning walking around the hotels. Even the chefs from other restaurants inside NYNY decided to eat here whilst we were eating.

Earlier in the week we had had a very good italian meal at il Fornio.

Hayden outside the House of Blues where we went for Sunday Gospel Brunch. Which had a good range of food and loud gospel music, which was very uplifting and a lovely start to a Sunday. But we did have some chaos as the Opticians had turned up en-masse and took 100 seats.

The Mandalay bay was a huge hotel and was very self contained with multiple restaurants with this one being beautiful.

A good walk (very good walk) south of the Mandalay bay is the famous Vegas sign, we had to walk down, but we did catch a bus back to the Strip.

I had hoped to join these 2 pictures so that we were both standing at the same sign but the different location of the photographers (cause of our height) I have been unable.

The Stardust sign, unfortunately the Stardust hotel had just closed and has now had all its interior sold.

Now this was a depressing hotel, situated a long way from any other major casino/hotel, Circus Circus seems to attract Families but is the most depressing hotel with everything appearing threadbare.

At the back of Circus Circus is the Adventuredome, Hayden had a go on the roller coaster there, smoother than NYNY but more cramped. If the shutter speed had been faster you could have seen him 2nd from the left.

In the Golden nugget is a pool with slide that goes through an aquarium with sharks.

Hayden had always assumed that Glitter Gulch was another casino, but having seen the TV screen/advert it would appear to be a lap dance club.

We had traveled to Downtown vegas to see the Fremont Street Experience which we had been told started at 4pm. At 5:30 we had had enough and headed back, just as it started its testing.

The view of the tower from our Bus back from Downtown Vegas

Just though this was a great sign. Cold Beer, Dirty Girls what more could you want from Vegas. However we only saw this on Sunday so had missed the Mud Wrestling & Bikini bull riding.

Every 5-10 minutes running up and down the strip is this van or one like it with 1 of a few pictures of this woman in various outfits (1 black 1 pink). We decided to call her "Esmerelda" or easy for short.

The back side of NYNY.

Everyone had these yellow bags from M&M World, so we had to view 4 floors dedicated to the chocolates.

Directly opposite the Coke world is this advert for Pepsi.

This was supposed to be 1 of our top meals of the trip, however the waitress ignored us, but did then recommend a great Cocktail unfortunately we can't remember the name. The steaks were then poorly cooked, this was put into even more focus when we went to Bouchon the following day. HOwever after the meal we went to Zumanity, this is Cirque du Soleils adult show, and is in a wonderfully intimate theatre and we were 4 rows from the front. The best way to describe is cirque du soleil with less clothes.

Overnight Caesar's prepared its self for the comedy festival. we loved the ducks.

We found this shrine hidden away in the grounds.

The Check-in desks at the bellagio has the wonderful glass sculpture which no photo can do justice to.

Hayden in the Bellagio's atrium.

The chocolate fountain at the patisserie.

Hayden with a Showgirl. Due to time restraints and better shows to see this was the only showgirl we saw as we didn't get to a classic Vegas show.

Vegas with the mountains in the distance.

At the Sahara is Speed where for 10 dollars you can either drive a sports car or a Hummer, but the course looks very very short.

The Wynn Golf Course.

The Sirens at TI show. Scantly clad women battle pirates outside the TI.

This was by far and away the best meal of the entire trip. We both had Steak Frites and the steaks were cooks wonderfully Celia's well done was still juicy and Hayden's was pink but not a single drop of spare blood. The rest of the meal was great the only slight problem we had was finding it, as unlike all other restaurants in the hotels it was nowhere near the casino floor, but in the private tower.

The Ceilings in the lobby of the venetian.

The fountains outside the Forum Shops

Inside the Forum Shops is FAO Schwarz, but the horse is more impressive than the store. And so ended our trip to Las Vegas. Overall glad we went, but we could have come home a day earlier and we are unlikely to head back.