Terry and I have just returned from a much-needed break in Las Vegas.
It was so good to get out of town!
No cooking, no cleaning, no worries ~ just sleeping and having fun.
Terry and I
8 East in Circa Resort & Casino
Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 13, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
I lugged my computer along on our trip with plans to do some things online and off.
But that didn't happen! I was too tired at the end of each day,
perhaps from the heat or sensory overload.
Sensory Overload
From the Plaza Entrance Looking Toward Fremont Street
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
We stayed Downtown the whole time, except for one brief Strip trip
to the new Resorts World built on the site of the former Stardust Resort and Casino.
Resorts World (Hilton, Crockfords, and Conrad Hotels)
Terry and His Bud Jon
Walking from Self Parking to Resorts World
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Resorts World was beautiful, but I won't rush back.
It's expensive, the layout is confusing, and there are much better places to gamble.
The highlight was enjoying ridiculously caloric confections at Starbucks.
And I did love the Big Ball.
Terry and Jon at Starbucks
Resorts World
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
The Big Ball
Resorts World
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Much to my delight, live music is back on Fremont Street.
I spent hours listening to music in front of the various stages on Fremont.
My favorite band ~ which I won't name ~ was back but with a new front man.
I was really really sad, because the former front man was fabulous.
This new front man has awesome pipes,
but he lacks the strutting, flamboyant charisma of the former Jeffrey St. Germain.
Very Much Missed ~ Jeffrey St. Germain
Fremont Street
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
June 16, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Luckily I discovered a new band, Blue String Theory,
which I watched for over seven hours during multiple performances.
They were fantastic: gritty, versatile, excellent singers and musicians.
Blue String Theory
Fremont Street
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 14, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Brian Pollack (left) and Scott Van Zen of Blue String Theory
Fremont Street
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 14, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
On our last night in Vegas, Terry took me to Andiamo Steakhouse in the D for dinner.
If I can't get to Italy, at least I can enjoy delicious food
and excellent service with an Italian twist.
And then there are the wines and desserts!
Andiamo Steakhouse
Fremont Street, Las Vegas
We had a lovely surprise at the end of our dinner.
A couple who had been sitting at a nearby table treated Terry and me to dessert.
We were shocked and delighted.
We couldn't thank them because they departed before our desserts arrived.
Some Andiamo Steakhouse Desserts
My favorite crème brûlée is in the lower right.
Fremont Street, Las Vegas
I snagged a window seat on our flights to and from Vegas.
I love to fly over the southwestern states because the rocks are largely exposed,
and I can see magnificent formations and structures below me.
A favorite sight I watch for every time is Waterpocket Fold in southern Utah.
This structure is a large wrinkle in the Earth's crust,
a south-southeast trending monoclinal fold that extends for nearly 100 miles.
(For more information click here: National Park Service)
The Waterpocket Fold, Looking North
The white jagged rocks on the left (west) are the beautiful Jurassic Navajo Sandstones.
The strike valley on the right (east) is largely Cretaceous Mancos Shale.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
September 25, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
But in both directions on this trip almost everything was smothered in smoke.
I caught occasional glimpses of the landscapes below,
and sometimes I saw huge thunderheads breaking through the pall.
A Line of Thunderheads
Somewhere over the southwestern USA
August 17, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
It's great to be home again. I slept most of yesterday.
Burning the candle at both ends isn't working so well for me anymore.
I am continuing to participate in my friend Rain's Thursday Art Date.
The theme this week is Reflections and Mirrors.
Below I am sharing some of my photos for this theme.
Middle Pond
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 21, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
A Skilled Bartender!
The Vue Bar in the D
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
June 19, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Dining by the Grand Canal
Venice Italy
May 24, 2016
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Self Portrait
The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Middle Pond
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 29, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
The Plaza Entrance
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Turtles and a Seagull Sunning
in Water Reflecting Summer Leaves
Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
July 27, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Reflection in a Dirty Window
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 14, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Fishing Boats at the Digby Wharf
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 1, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
My Reflection in the Big Ball in a Mirror Phase
Resorts World
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Reflection of DIA's Iconic "Tents" in the "Whale Tail"
Denver International Airport and Westin Hotel
Denver, Colorado, USA August 17, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
I've been trying to capture that DIA photo for years as I've taken off or landed at the airport.
Finally, as we landed in Denver after our Vegas trip, I got it,
strong reflections of the "tents" in the "whale tail."
I never know what's going to happen as I take a photo from a taxiing plane.
But my theory is that if you take enough shots, you'll eventually get what you want.
And how lucky was it to catch that bus with the letters "DEN" on it!
Luck is always good!
Stay happy and safe!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Lovely reflections and I enjoyed your trip to Vegas vicariously!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine! Have a happy weekend!
DeleteGreat pics of EVERYTHING....thank you for stopping by the blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam! I enjoyed visiting your blog. Take care!
DeleteThis brought back fond memories of my two visit's to Vegas Louise.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, loved the pics and pleased you had an enjoyable time.
Hope you're both feeling well.
Yvonne.
Hi, Yvonne! I'm glad that you enjoyed the pictures and the memories! Terry and I are doing great, just tired. And now it's back to reality ~ LOL. 😱 Hugs to you, my friend! 🥰
DeleteWonderful your reflections and your trip to Las Vegas and from before. Thank you for these experiences!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy weekend, Elke!
Thanks, Elke! It's wonderful to be able to share my photos, and I feel so happy when people enjoy them. Stay safe and healthy!
Delete...a colorful place in the desert that I have never visited, pwerhaps some day!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do get to see it. The desert is breathtaking and the city is unlike any other. Take care, Tom!
DeleteThe architecture is amazing. The ball is amazing. Whatever is happening with that bartender's cups is amazing. And, can I just say, the green chairs in the restaurant-- amazing. 😀 Good to see you again.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sandi! It's good to see you! I was blown away by that bartender. I love to linger over a lemon drop martini and watch the antics of the bartenders. They are amazing to watch. I hope all is going well for you!
DeleteThe dirty window shot is really amazing - looks like you are on the big screen behind the band.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out and enjoyed. Hopefully without many restrictions.
Thanks, Alex! When I took the shot I didn't see my reflection, and there it was in the photo. I thought it was cool, even if the window was dirty. The only restriction we had was to wear masks indoors. But I kept mine on indoors and out, except when eating or drinking. I hope all is well with you! Take care!
Deleteso many fine reflections you have. And I am glad you had a great time in Vegas. I have been there once but just passing through.
ReplyDeleteCan´t remember ever heard of The Waterpocket Fold. But it looks very interesting. :)
Thanks, Monica! I've been going to Vegas for 48 years! It's hard to believe. And I've always had a good time. Unless you're a geologist or have been to Capitol Reef National Park, you likely haven't heard of Waterpocket Fold. I would love to see it in person again. Have a great week! Take care!
DeleteLooks like a great trip.
ReplyDeleteIt was, Nicole! Have a good one!
DeleteWhat a fantastic post!!
ReplyDeleteI adore the photo of The Grand Canal in Venice! I would enlarge that and hang it on my wall, I would!!
Also love your self portrait, that is awesome, you look healthy and gorgeous! Your hair!!
Like you, I like to look out of airplane windows at the landscape below, how wonderful it would be to fly over Utah, maybe I will get to do so one day!
I thought of you when I read about Stonehenge this morning, they have studied one of the stones (Stone 58) and believe that the rock is much, much older than was believed! I know you must know this already but if not, look it up, it is fascinating!
My sister lives in Colorado and the first time I flew into the Denver airport, I was astounded at the beautiful design of it. You have captured it!
It's so good to see you, Kay! And I'm sorry I haven't been by your blog in too long. Thank you for visiting! Thank you for your kind words about me. I am healthy and doing well. It's been a chaotic time since Terry's heart attack in April, but things are normalizing. We went to Vegas to celebrate just being alive. I hope that you and Richard are doing well! Take care, my friend.
DeleteI did know about Stonehenge, Kay, but thanks for sharing the information with me. It was kind of you to think of me.
DeleteOne of the things I enjoyed most in geology was petrography. It was fascinating to study rocks under a microscope to determine how they formed. Sedimentary rocks were especially fun, because you could have material from different sources and ages in one thin section, like the sarcen sandstones of Stonehenge.
I didn't pursue petrography as a career though. I couldn't see myself in a lab looking in a microscope for decades. I had much more fun out on the oil rigs or mapping in the field.
I must get to Stonehenge! This darn pandemic has postponed a lot of dreams for me, but I can't complain. Terry and I have been very fortunate throughout it. Especially with Terry's heart attack. It could have happened anywhere. But we were home and raced for the hospital because he felt an odd tired after playing pickleball. If he had not been in the hospital or if we had been fifteen or twenty minutes later, Terry would have died. I still find that hard to believe and process. But it's a fact.
Oh Louise, you both must be so very grateful that you were able to get your husband to the hospital so quickly! Just think how often the two of you were on trips but because of the pandemic, you were home.
DeleteI know I must drive you crazy telling you about everything I see if it regards anything to do with ROCKS but doggone it, I can't help it, I know you would find it interesting! You know I do! Take care of yourself and of Terry too! xx
Hugs to you, Kay! You know I will always love anything about rocks. And yes, I am so glad that we were able to get Terry on that table in the cath lab in time. I still find it unimaginable to think that Terry could have died for so many reasons. You've got to let the people you love let them know it every day. Life can change in a heartbeat. Have a great week!
DeleteIf I can’t. Go to Vegas I can live it through you. Thanks for sharing your great trip. Even though I haven’t been blogging much I sure enjoy reading of your adventures. Such fun!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to see you, Peggy! I hope that you, Don, and family are doing well! Take care!
DeleteI think I've seen that wharf. Of course I've seen so many that they all kinda blur in these days lol Looks like a great time was had. 7 hours though? Must have been a really good band indeed. Didn't win any big bucks? The dessert was nice of the people indeed.
ReplyDeleteHey, Pat! Where you're at! Yup, seven hours. I'm so hungry for live music, and these guys were great! I lost some bucks, but Terry won more, so we came out with a small win overall. I'm too Scottish to risk much money, and if I'm going to gamble, I'm going to tip all the service people well. Glad to hear the westies liked climbing the rocks and that it was Monday they were mooning! Have a great week, my friend!
DeleteHi Louise!! :) Oh...sleeping and having fun sounds like the perfect life for me lol! :) You two look awesome and SO HEALTHY in that photo! Cheers!!! Sensory overload indeed, I think I would have an emotional breakdown if I went to Vegas lol...I can't handle all the stuff too much. The Big Ball is amazing!! Look at that!! Those bands look like a lot of fun. I guess it's one thing I miss about living in downtown Montreal, I used to always go to the Jazz Fest...there were so many free concerts. I saw Paul Simon one year, it was so cool. LOOK AT THOSE DESSERTS!!! I'm dying here!!! LOL...I want I want I want!!! How nice to be treated! The photos from the plane are awesome Louise. I love your reflection photos too, so well done. I love your self-portrait, seeing your smiling face and the Plaza entrance!! The Digby photo reminds me SO MUCH of when I lived on Prince Edward Island...lovely! Thanks so much for joining in I really enjoyed this post!!! ♥♥
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you enjoyed this, Rain! I had fun putting it together. One of the hardest things about the pandemic has been the lack of live music. I love live music of all kinds, so I indulged while I was there. I bought some sharp white cheddar cheese today, and I'm going to make your homemade cheese whiz later this week. Wish me luck! Have a great week, my friend!
DeleteGlad you had a good trip. I love your photo of dining by the Grand Canal, what beautiful colors!
ReplyDeletehttps://fromarockyhillside.com
Thanks, Jeff! Italy is glorious, and Venice is unlike anywhere else in the world. I long to go back. I hope all is well in your corner of the world! Take care!
DeleteI actually did my first casino trip earlier this month in Cherokee nc
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see you, Adam! I hope you had fun on your casino trip! Take care!
DeleteWhat a great time for the both of you! Love the photos so much! Free desserts? How kind! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHow great you both were able to take break and travel dear Louise :)
ReplyDeleteI felt really happy for you both!
I agree that while visiting to such busy and fanciful city one can feel bit exhausted by all the colour and voice it offers.
The skilled bartender was astonishing.
Loved your reflection image in mirror specially. I did this too few times in life :)
I like you still prefer window seat like kids lol and not just that I feel so excited while looking at views and specially vehicles outside .
You captured waterpocket so beautifully!
All reflection are mind blowing!
I hope being back from journey makes you refresh and ready to cheer up your readers again :)
Hugs and blessings to both of you and to all you love!