We’re back at Disneyland and with the kids for the first time! Today we’ll check into our hotel and head on over to Disney California Adventure. We’ll start with drinks and snacks and Carthay Circle Lounge, then check out Carsland as well as the newly refurbished Pixar Pier. We’ll end the night at the Lamplighter Lounge. 
Today was about a lot of missed connections. We headed towards the garden district to take a closer look at the antique homes and mansions along Saint Charles on the way visit the famous Lafayette Cemetery. I took what I thought was a whole slew of pictures, as I’m want to do, before I realized that the my iPhone camera wasn’t working. Boo! I figured out the problem and got some good shots at the cemetery, which was fascinating.
Greenery finding it’s way.
Some plots were centuries old, as expected.
Others had DOD dates from this year. That surprised me.
The perimeter of the cemetery held these small boxes. The poorest of citizens were interned here.
Members of police and fire are guaranteed a proper burial.
Next, we headed over to the Commander’s Palace. This brightly hued restaurant is nestled right in the historic neighborhood. I had wanted to at least have a drink there, but as we approached the door, we noticed a plaque listing the dress code, with which we were not in line.
No shorts allowed.
Oh well, we decided to switch gears and get a Lyft over to the Audubon Zoo. This is reputed to be one of the best in the country! As we waited for our ride, we noticed a shorts clad couple waltzing right into Commander’s. We suddenly realized the the sign was also an antique and didn’t apply anymore. D’oh!
CLOSED!
No worries, we had other plans now. Oh, but guess what? The zoo is closed on Mondays. Oof Magoof. Okay, we still had our ride so we asked him to take us to Magazine street. A friend’s daughter has a French restaurant there we wanted to try anyway…
…that’s also closed on Mondays.
My word, I’m usually good at this planning thing, guys. I believe we walked a bit then took the trolley to the French Quarter. Now we really needed lunch and a drink. I made double sure this place was open.
An oasis.
This place was came highly recommended. It’s a dive bar to beat all dive bars. It was dark, dirty with a no-nonsense bartender at the helm.
Straight talking bartender.
No drafts, just bottles.
No worries.
The barkeep gave us the run down on specials. We pretty much just ordered what she told us to.
Jambalaya. Always on the menu. It was gorgeous.
I got the Barbecue Shrimp and an enormous loaf of French Bread.
Jeff got the Soft Shell Crab over Angel Hair.
All the food here was beyond amazing. Some of the best we had all trip. The place itself was held together with dirt and love. The kitchen was a lean-to against the building. Goes to show that passion for feeding people fresh, well crafted food is all you need.
We set about looking for more music and a souvenir to mark the trip.
Interesting.
Woo hoo!
I like it, but a bit too much.
Getting closer.
We ducked into a bar for a beer and some Americana music.
Some patrons. They have no idea how famous they’re going to be.
A very young street performer.
During the run up to this trip someone told me (I don’t recall who. Maybe a bartender?) that we must go to Preservation Hall for Jazz. I remember him saying, quite deadpan, that it was life changing. Can’t argue with that. The shows here run about every hour or so. We queued up.
Innocuous facade.
Looks like the room may have been some sort of stables or workshop?
The space is teeny tiny with only bench seating and a few cushions on the floor. There is no food or drink served and no photography allowed.
They let us snap a few before the band came in.
This was indeed life changing. Hearing jazz performed by life-long New Orleans musicians was just we reason made this trek. Thank you, anonymous person whom I don’t recall!
Plus, I found my souvenir. It came right off the wall. I bought it, not stole it BTW.
Many hours had passed, so we started back towards our B&B. On the way we passed such a beautiful spot, we couldn’t help but stop in.
This courtyard! So pretty, but too hot to stay out there.
We bellied up. The Brennan name is all over NOLA.
Cheers to the Luxardo cherry. Jeers to the skimpy pour.
We got a couple appetizers. This gumbo was presented table side.
Look at the color of this sauce. So much depth of flavor!
Lightly fried sweet breads. Yummy!
This was a nice stop. Pricey but really elegant. Now, back to walking towards the B&B. Earlier, one of our drivers recommended the Avenue Pub, which was also quite near our room.
I <3 twenty-four hour bars.
Emulate myself? I’m not sure how to do this. And who are you calling muffin?
They were having a buy one get one deal on beer at this time as well as food. We grabbed a a couple local beers upstairs. We would have stayed for an extra round and a bite, but there was a woman at the bar that was so loud and obnoxious, she made made my ears buzz. We couldn’t take it, even at these bargain prices.
Lady with the ponytail, you’re TOO LOUD!!!
We choose leave.
We still hadn’t really eaten in a while. I mean really eaten. Where else to go than the pizza joint right under our room?
One pizza with all the meat!
So this was a day that was rife with unexpected turns. Heck, as I typed up this blog, I lost half of the content that didn’t save properly. I guess it really was cursed. Let’s count our blessings though. There was plenty of food and music which was the whole goal of the trip, right?
Just a post script…
We had just enough time the next day for a nice lunch before our flight back home. We made it back to La Petit Grocery after all. Our friend is so proud of his daughter’s place and right he should be. It was exquisite!
Gas lighting outside.
Rosemary conifer.
Some sweet artwork in the powder room.
Velvet curtains separating the dining area from the bar.
We were treated with an amuse bouche. A boudin ball if I recall.
This was billed as a must get. Blue Crab Beignets with Malt Vinegar Aioli.
I expected a doughnut with crab throughout, but it was more like crab rangoon in a beignet. So creamy and delicious.
Another gift from the chef. Burrata cheese with tomato and greens.
We shared the Gulf Shrimp & Grits roasted shiitake mushrooms, smoked bacon & thyme. Sublime!
I ordered the Butterscotch Pudding for dessert. I have fond memories of this as a kid. It was delightful!
Then the chef sent out two more desserts… I wish he knew that I’d rather have more crab beignets!
LEMON CREAM TART
Toffee, Orange Blossom Almonds & Vanilla Ice Cream
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BAR Caramel & Smoked Mascarpone Ice Cream
A bit of cappuccino to get through the air travel.
We were rarin’ to go on our second full day In New Orleans! I neglected to tell you that our days would be starting out a bit differently than most tourists in this food city. We started each day at….tah dah!!! Wendy’s! Yes, my friends, you read that correctly. Mr. Jones needs to have plenty of fiber each day or his blood pressure goes wackadoo. We were lucky enough to have a Wendy’s just a few blocks down from our room that was kind enough to prepare a salad for him before lunch hours. We stopped each morning before we indulged in all the decadence.
Chicken Avocado Salad = no visit to the emergency room.
We passed by some museums and such that we probably should have visited, but we had a mission to fulfill.
We probably should have made time for this,
No business here.
Hey, it’s our old friend, the Natchez!
We arrived at our destination!
The world famous Café Du Monde!
…aaand here’s the line.
The line really did move along quickly. We got seated in about 15 minutes, but then waited quite a long time. We saw all kinds of cute girls in their paper hats happily serving other excited guests…
Hey, girl! We’re over here!
Meanwhile we waited and waited before our server finally arrived. You guys, he was Lurch.
Actual picture or our waiter.
He silently cleared the previous mess, then grunted and pointed to the very brief menu. Then we waited again for what seemed a dog’s age. After we finally got to order, he languidly brought our goods. I almost instantly forgot his creepiness though when our heavenly puffs of sugary goodness arrived!
Three beignets with 1/2 lb powdered sugar!
Simply gorgeous!
We finished up every bit of our fried dough awesomeness and took an iced Latte for our walk about. Jackson Square was right across the street.
St Louis Cathedral
This was our first clue as to how our day would go. Helloooo!!!
Mr. Jackson, where is everybody?
Some local art. Cute.
Very Pollokesque.
We set about finding some authentic Jazz music. We found some street musicians right around the corner.
Pretty dang good!
We listened for a bit until the clarinetist had some technical difficulties with her reed. We moved on.
Gorgeous balcony plants.
Suddenly, we stumbled upon a New Orleans landmark!
Pat O’Brien’s
I guess I always assumed this place would be tacky, selling yard long, fruity rum drinks (those places are around) but this establishment was lovely! It had a tranquil courtyard and a leathery, dark, stately bar inside.
Outdoor option.
We ducked into the bar to catch a little air conditioning. The pics were way too dark, sorry. We were told we had to have the “World Famous Hurricane”, so we did. I won’t keep you in suspense, it was horrid.
Like Kool Aid mixed with Zarex for good measure.
I’ll admit I’m not one for sweet drinks at all, but even so, I previously enjoyed a rum punch on the Riverboat. It was delightful! This was just treacle without a hint of booze. We took a few sips and left them. Before we moved on we ducked into the dining room to give the pianist a listen.
She was lonesome.
So, you may recall that we skipped Bourbon Street the previous night (Saturday) to avoid the craziness of drunken crowds. This may have turned out to be a miscalculation. There was just nobody around on Sunday afternoon. I thought for sure music would be flowing from every corner, every day, but apparently some people need to sleep off their hangovers. No worries though. We strolled around, enjoying the quiet and the quaint architecture.
Some dude was in the road taking his girl’s picture in front of this cute house. I thought she was ahem, waiting for business at first glance. Sorry, lady.
Oh the colors!
A hedgerow for privacy. Probably doesn’t do much during Mardi Gras.
Next we happened upon a landmark on my list of to-dos, the Lafitte Blacksmith House. This structure was most likely built as a house in the 1770s during the Spanish colonial period. It is one of the oldest surviving structures in New Orleans.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop.
Oh look! A potential customer!
Not really, it’s a bar now. Thank goodness! This building has a storied past including the claim that it is currently haunted. It’s hard to find the real story, but as the website says: “Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is a gumbo of truth and French, Spanish, African, Cajun and American embellishments.”.
They play up the history here. Looks like a cottage in the Magic Kingdom.
The interior had its charms…except for the banquet chairs. Not very period.
We got this beer. It was terrible. We’re two for two on the drinks. Left these too.
At this point, the weather started to get ugly. I finally got to break out our umbrellas that I’d been lugging around (Note to self: find lighter umbrellas). We heard some live music emanating out of this club.
Fat Catz. Scoobie-do wah wah wah.
I was really on the hunt for Jazz music, however, this band was amazing!!! The turned out some great tunes from Lionel Ritchie, Etta James and I can’t remember what else, but it was killer.
They grooved hard.
This is where we scored on the beer. It was happy hour; they’re allowed to have those here (take note Massachusetts). Not only were they tasty and cheap, they were a gazillion ounces. We stayed for a couple rounds riding out the rain and thoroughly enjoying the music.
The titular cat was pretty slim.
Things were brightening up so we took a stroll that lead us to a rather cool place. Music Legends Park.
This looks interesting.
The official Plaque
This area seemed pretty new, around the mid 2000’s is what I could gather from my casual glance over a wiki page. There was a Café where you could get a snack and a drink and settle in for some live jazz. Bronze statues dotted the courtyard.
Fats Domino, Al Hirt and Pete Fountain
Louis Prima
I found it interesting that all the gentlemen portrayed in these statues had their pants on. This lady, however….
Chris Owens
….nearly naked. Never heard of this chick. Turns out she’s a local legend of a club owner/performer who, at this point, is nearly 90 and still sings and performs at her establishment. She’s still got the gams to do it!
More ambiance.
Jeff made a friend.
The band is waaaay back in the corner but it was just the kind of music we’ve been looking for.
The ladies room was upstairs where some bonus tables were perched with fabulous views of the courtyard.
More food options. We had other plans.
We continued on our journey after the band went on a break. The street remained all but empty. We strolled and admired more of the architecture.
This iron was wrought.
Anyone have a cannon to shoot?
Balcony winner!
We were making our way back to Frenchman Street for dinner, but we had a bit of time to kill before queuing up. We ended up back at the bar where I hung out in the little nook people watching.
Hey there!
The place was pretty empty but for a few Saints fans watching the game and eating potluck.
Oh look, a beer! This was a good one! Notice the lettering style on the can.
It replicates the street name tiles found in the French Quarter
Born…Toulouse.
It was time to cross the street and stake out our space at this super tiny, unassuming restaurant.
That’s all the sign you get.
This place is cash only, takes no reservations and is nearly impossible to get into unless you are there at least thirty minutes before opening.
I’m keeping my eye on her in case she tries to cut.
The time arrived and we early birds were ushered upstairs.
This is it, kids. Like eating up in the attic. Plastic picnic table cloths adorned the space. That window on the left is the teensy lil’ kitchen.
Local art flanked the walls.
We got a pretty sweet window table.
We were handed our menus and told of the specials. then ordered a couple martinis. She returned with our no nonsense drinks.
Who needs garnish or appropriate glassware?
This was garlic bread. Bread with a schmear of garlic.
We wanted to order an appetizer and sit with that for a bit before we decided on entrées. That was not to be here at Adolpho’s. You order everything at once, you eat, and you get the H-E- double hockey sticks out! I don’t think I mentioned that this is Italian-Creole fusion. Sounds weird, but oh my goodness gracious was it incredible!!!
All our dishes were specials so I don’t have proper menu descriptions. This first one was the best bite we had on the whole trip, or that we can really recall having in a very long time.
Canneloni with Crawfish Sauce
The creole spices in that cream sauce paired with the tender homemade pasta was a flavor profile I’ve never experienced. Just amazing! Next was Escargot. The thing about Creole food is that it’s influenced by so many cultures, just like the city itself. This was decidedly French.
The most tender, garlicky escargot floating in pure clarified butter. More bread please!!
We split the entrée as per usual. This pasta dish was delicate perfection. Truly stunning.
Spaghetti with Crawfish, Crab and Gulf Shrimp.
Who ordered the Tiramisu?
What a meal! We’re still talking about it. If we ever get back to New Orleans, you better believe we’ll be stopping in for a plate at Adolpho’s! Now to walk it off.
Evening fell.
We walked a mile back to Decatur Street to the House of Blues. A musician friend of ours gave us a heads up that a buddy of his would be playing at HOB that night. We were in! We grabbed a couple beers at the bar and settled in. We really enjoyed listening to this guy. He had an easy going southern style. He and Jeff talked shop while I people watched.
*Side note: The sign behind Jason has Bible verses at each corner, but one is covered over. What could it have been?
Jason Bishop, plays every Sunday at House of Blues if you’re in the area.
We took the long walk back to Saint Charles. We stopped for one more beer at the Blind Pelican, but I was too tired/tipsy to document that stop. It was a good day.
Up Next: Missed Connections
For the last few years we have planned a post summer getaway. This year it was especially needed due to the crazy-bananas amount of gigs we would be playing during July and August. We had a staff meeting (Mr. Jones, and I) and decided that New Orleans would be our destination. This was a pilgrimage of sorts because Jeff was indeed born in the Big Easy. He was a Navy brat, so he lived there from zero to two years before the family moved on. Never the less, I expected a plaque to have been erected somewhere in the city. The search continues.
I once again took the AirBnb route. I found a place right on historic Saint Charles Street, away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, but accessible through the also historic Trolley line. It was a room located above a cool pizza joint!
Wanna Slice?
Our plan was to come in on a Saturday morning, but flight prices made it more economical to come in late Friday night. Dark pictures of our room to follow…
Clean, neat linens adorned the bed. There was a hint of bleach in the air.
Neatly folded towels.
Funky Artwork above an antique door turned to a desk.
Coffee Station.
A myriad of extras one might need.
More local art.
The bath was clean and equipped more amenities than any hotel.
Now that we were all settled in at our digs, we needed to find a bit of food. At this point it was well past eleven o’clock local time but not to worry, just steps from our spot were not one, not two, but three 24 hour bars! We ended up at the Blind Pelican.
The Blind Pelican
Allegedly…more on this later.
We bellied up.
I honestly didn’t expect palm trees. Really.
So, this place was not only steps from our room, but I had it on my list of to-do’s because they have .25 cent oysters! When you arrive at 12:30am, they tend to be sold out. Not to worry, we had another southern speciality.
Fried Green Tomatoes with Crab, Shrimp and Spicy Aioli.
A couple beers later and we were cooked….
Good Morning Saint Charles!
Our room looked right over the streetcar line.
This historic Trolley line runs all the way from the Garden District to the French Quarter. For just $1.25 per ride or $3.00 for an all day pass, you have transit. The thing is… it saves your feet, but not any time. Typically, the trolley gets you to your destination a few minutes later than if you hoofed it.
All Aboard!
How many children have fallen out of these windows?
This was our stop. The main drag was quite a bit more expansive and cosmopolitan than I expected.
The main thoroughfare.
Look at us, out and about so early!
Today was Saturday, so I decided that heading right into the heart of Bourbon Street may be unadvisable, due to crowds or just plain craziness. Instead we would be experiencing an authentic River Cruise!
Ticket Center
The Natchez
Plenty of room for now.
No waiting.
We posted up at a table right by the rail. It was nearly 11:30, so high time for a drink.
A rum punch for the lady.
Bloody Mary for the Gent.
That’s one translucent Bloody there. They just waved the tomato juice over the top.
Although the Natchez is a reproduction, built in 1975, it is an authentic steamboat built with authentic parts. Here’s a more descriptive listing from the website:
“Her powerful steam engines were built for U.S. Steel Corporation’s sternwheeler CLAIRTON in 1925. Her genuine copper and steel steam whistle is a treasured antique. Her copper bell, smelted from 250 silver dollars to produce a purer tone, once graced the S.S. J.D. AYRES. Her 32 note steam calliope was custom crafted and modeled after the music makers of the Gilded Age.”
The views along the Mississippi we’re accompanied by a live narration. This made the cruise. The Captain (in the most delightful Creole accent) explained the historical areas of the city as we swept past.
St. Louis Cathedral straight ahead.
This next building I had assumed was damaged by hurricane Katrina, as many of the structures we passed were, according to our narrator. Not so. This circa 1892 rice mill sat abandoned for decades. The interior was riddled with graffiti and most notably, a fine compliment on the exterior for passers by on the Steam Boat. It is rumored that this message was painted by the infamous Banksy. The building was purchased by investors and was subsequently renovated into posh Lofts. The one requirement: tenants cannot remove any graffiti from the brick interior walls.
Rice Mill Lofts.
These Barracks have such a storied past, I’ll just let you read more about it on your own time HERE.
The Jackson Barracks.
The Domino Sugar Factory working full time to powder Beignets.
Another feature of this cruise was live Jazz Music. It wasn’t too elaborate, but the boys got the job done.
“When the Saints…”
A little taste:
Some helpful signage in the engine room.
A lot of scary moving parts.
This area was about as neat as Mr. Jones’ work bench, which is to say, not very.
A view of the muddy Mississippi from the lower deck.
Two hours flew by and it was time to re-enter port.
The communications system was a bit archaic.
It was getting on time to eat. We made our way over to the Warehouse District for a late lunch.
Colorful facades.
Fulton Street cut through. Very modern and commercial.
Gorgeous flower boxes.
Jeff needed to take a load off.
My chair is THIS BIG!!!
We arrived at our destination. This place has been on my radar for years! I saw it on a show called After Hours with chef Daniel Boulod. My dear children were astute enough to remember this and gave me a generous gift card for my birthday the previous July. I totally didn’t lose it!
Cochon means pig.
Why didn’t I take this?
We started with cocktails, as you do. They must change their cocktail menu frequently because I couldn’t find these descriptions any longer. Suffice it to say they were perfectly balanced and quite enjoyable.
Mine
His
The place is not fancy by any means. It’s all about the food. Of course, snout to tail pig is their main focus, but there was so much goodness on the menu, it was hard to choose.
Simple dining space in a converted warehouse.
We ordered everything from the appetizer side. I enjoy small plates of intense flavors and this is where you tend to find them. First, some more beverages.
Local beer for the Mr.
A dry white for me.
smoked pork ribs with watermelon pickle
These were smokey as advertised and fall-apart tender. The pickle didn’t add to much to the party, but it looked nice.
fried alligator with chili garlic mayonnaise
Yup, alligator. It was our favorite bite. Light, crispy and tender. It tasted closest to pork. The most surprising element was the mint and parsley tossed in with the garlic mayo. It just added a brightness that made the dish.
pork cheek sauce piquant with hominy grit cake
I was most looking forward to this dish, but it was the least exciting of the three. Don’t get me wrong, the cheeks were tender, the grits were beautifully prepared and the sauce was suitably savory. It just didn’t have that “pow” that the other dishes delivered.
Chicharrones bar snack or fried pork rinds.
These were not on the menu. I heard someone else order them and said “Hey, what for???”. You just have to know to ask.
We were sufficiently filled up and ready to walk off our lunch all the way back to our flat. After a good long nap we were off to find some N’awlins jazz. It was emphatically suggested that we get ourselves to the Spotted Cat Jazz Club.
We found it!
The trouble was it was PACKED!!! Like, shoulder to shoulder, anxiety attack packed. We stood outside and listened for a bit and it was awesome. We could have stuck it out, but at this point it was starting to rain pretty hard.
Here’s a little peek of what we got to experience pressing our noses against the window:
We decided to bail and head across the street to a much larger establishment called d.b.a. I still don’t know what this stands for, but it is one of the first clubs in the area to go smoke-free. Did I mention that you can smoke indoors here? Vegas prepared us for this. This place was also pretty busy. Jeff bellied up to the bar to get us a couple local brews. I spotted an empty, tiny nook with bench seating right at the window. Perfect!
They’re all out there.
While I’m in here.
First rate people watching.
There was indeed a band here that started ten or fifteen minutes after we settled in. We stayed in our cubby enjoying the views of Frenchman street for a bit longer. I wasn’t giving up our prime seating!
The band was good…I think. They weren’t very jazzy.
A view from the wings.
The rain had subsided and we were getting pretty hungry. We decided to take a stroll back to our neighborhood. The streets were starkly empty for a Saturday night.
St. Louis Cathedral closer-up.
Beautiful architecture.
Everywhere.
Jazz it up!
Once again, we landed at the Blind Pelican. This quickly became our “Cheers”.
Wings.
Crawfish Quesadillas.
The food here is Meh, but it’s open late and the beer is good. No complaints from this lady. Thank goodness we were mere steps from our adorable suite. We summarily crashed hard. We needed a good sleep to get ready for our big day on Bourbon Street.
Up Next: Our first day on Bourbon Street…Hello!!!!????
This would be our last full day in Vegas. We slept well in our fancy accommodations at the Bellagio. We packed up our things (except for our coats which I left in the closet so I had to run two miles back to the room to get them ) and headed down to the lobby to store our things and grab a Lyft.
View of the plunge pool from our room. Never used it.
We decided to spend most of the day exploring Fremont Street or Old Vegas. We cruised through on our first night but really didn’t see much. This time we roamed around all the classic casinos:
Mr. Jones, staying in the black….for now.
I curated a list of “little things” to search out and find. Kind of like a scavenger hunt! Fun, right? First up: The Worlds’ Largest Gold Nugget! This proved to be quite tricky. It was tucked away down a dead end hallway.
There you are, Nugget!
Tadah!
A lesser nugget.
Some things were a bit easier to spot:
Closed!
This wasn’t on the list. Fun Fact: The former owner died of a heart attack. Moving on!
Whew, it seems like we should take a break doesn’t it? This pizza joint was highly recommended, but we had just had a pie the night before.
A tribute to the Evel one. The whole decor is circa 1979.
Our Lyft driver gave us a heads up about the place we landed in. Highly recommended.
I could use some.
Trendy, warehouse style space.
This spot had an eclectic, creative menu. The color of our first appetizer was jarring!
DEVILS ON HORSEBACK: Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed With Truffle Goat Cheese & Almonds On a Bed of Romesco
CHORIZO EMPANADAS: Spicy Spanish Chorizo, Bell Pepper & Jalapeño Filled Pastry with a Harissa Lime Sauce
THERAPY’S SIGNATURE SALAD: Watermelon Radish, Apples, Candied Walnuts & Blue Cheese Crumbles, Tossed In A White Balsamic Vinaigrette”
Everything was super tasty and well executed. Now back to work! Next, we were in search of the vintage games at the D Las Vegas. These are on the top floor of the casino.
Vintage Vegas = Extra Smoky
There’s lots of games and machines up here, but by far, the most popular is the Sigma Derby Race.
And they’re Off!!!!
A True one armed bandit.
While Jeff contiued to work on his Black Jack game, I stepped out onto the balcony at D.
Almost to the tippy top.
There was prime people watching up here. Notice the circles painted on the concrete. Those are the designated spots for performers. The city put this system in place in order to prevent tussling over turf.
No tussling here.
This was also a good vantage point to see the “Slotzilla” zip line. We actually considered doing this, but at nearly fifty bucks a person, we decided to skip it. If we hadn’t already laid out the cash on the High Roller ferris wheel we probably would have gone for it.
Weeeeee!!!!!
On second thought, maybe not. While out was out on the balcony I saw this kid get stuck. I think he was too light to make it all the was across. Probably not much of a risk of that for us!
Stuck kid on the right, rescuer on the left.
Jeff finished up, so we continued exploring the old slots.
These looked pretty new to me.
These were just for display.
Pretty neat that they were preserved.
I honestly don’t remember the name of this hotel where we found these artifacts. There was a small display in the lobby. It’s a scavenger hunt, so what fun would it be if I told you, anyway?
Replica of the first telephone installed in Las Vegas. I found the reflection of my iPhone in the glass nearly poetic.
The OG White Pages.
Some sort of ledger from 1907.
Mmmmm…chips.
Hotel Guest Ledger
Drinking on the job?
I found this lobby quite quaint.
We moseyed back out onto Fremont Street and grabbed a spot for a beer and people watching.
Perfect!
Some of the people we watched.
We were situated right behind this young street performer.
We watched him pretend to swallow this balloon about fifteen times as we sipped on our beers.
We finished up and strolled along for a bit taking in all the outrageously large and loud signs and such.
Slotzilla!
Giddy up.
Martini Time!
We hitched a ride back to the Strip and landed at the Venetian. Jeff hit the game tables and I wandered around attemtping to take artsy pictures.
I finally found the canals that run inside the hotel.
This ride is missing a glass of chianti.
This courtyard was beautiful.
I continued nosing around and taking videos of my feet.
The Venetian is brimming with high end stores. This one is renowned for being Michael Jackson’s favorite antique dealer.
He’s rumored to have spent millions here.
They REALLY miss him.
Back to photography.
Losing cash and taking a hundred mediocre pictures was making us very hungry. We headed over to our favorite area for reasonably priced food.
Still looking good there.
We ended up back at the pizza joint even though we said we wouldn’t have pizza two days in a row. We have no temperence.
Some calamari to start. I loved the remoulade. I have a strong stance against marinara on calamari. Ask Jeff.
Another perfect pie.
We dined al fresco, but it was getting chilly by the time we finished up. We had a a bit more time to linger before we needed to set out for the airport so we moved inside and bellied up to the bar. I decided on an espresso martini to wind up the night.
I’m both relaxed and energized!
So, my friends, we’ve crossed another two destinations (did you forget the Grand Canyon already?) off the bucket list. As someone who has no desire to gamble, I can say that there’s enough to do and see here for just about anyone. I would definitely visit again sometime…but not before we get some major cities behind us. This is foreshadowing, folks!
Later, baby!
It was time to make our way back to Las Vegas, but first we got a nice send off from some woodland friends!
A practical herd of deer!
A cheeky, over the shoulder pose.
A strong profile.
On the road again!
Just like that, were back in Vegas!. We would be spending our last night here at the world famous Bellagio Hotel.
Looking good there.
Gigantic origami art festooned the lobby.
There was an abundance of Chihuly glass sculptures as well.
We got checked-in relatively easily. This hotel is huge and gorgeous, but there were, for me some drawbacks, especially after our excellent experience at the Trump Tower. Firstly, it’s loud and almost chaotic as opposed to the quiet boutique hotel experience we had previously. Like most hotels on the strip, this is also a casino. I didn’t realize how nice it was to have peace and quiet at the end of the day. Here, you had to walk a mile through all the beeping, clanging machines and smoking gamblers just to get to the elevator. I know, I know, it’s Vegas and to be expected. I’m sure most people want the convenience of having the casino right there, it’s just me. On to the room!
Beautiful and well appointed space.
Wardrobe and console area.
If we had wine…
Those vases are glued down. I checked.
Vanity area.
Descent sized shower.
We were only on the seventh floor. The view was okay.
I’ll do just a bit more griping. THERE WAS NO COFFEE MAKER!!!! What? Yup. They don’t want you spending extra time in your room enjoying a coffee. You gots to get to gamblin’. I sent my poor husband all the way down through the maze of a lobby to fetch some overpriced cups of Joe. Lastly, the snacks on display are on sensors so if you even pick them up you’re charged. Guess who knocked over a bag of macadamia nuts with her purse?
We headed out just in time to see the three o’clock fountain show. There was a bit of time to explore the grounds.
A fancy fountain shot.
Hedgerows everywhere.
We secured our spot by the rail and enjoyed the show.
It’s hard to capture, but it’s majestic.
Our free LaQuinta breakfast was long behind us so we set about looking for food. Some quick research led me to an Asain Dim Sum Place that looked good.
Where to find Dim Sum? Paris, of course!
We hadn’t explored this resort yet. It was really impressive, especially the facades.
L’arc de Triumph.
Luxurious Versailles style lounge seating.
Found it!
Reasonably priced menu.
They actually had a dim sum cart!
We got a couple of choices from the cart and couple entrees as well.
Peking duck.
Sesame Noodles with Char Sui Pork.
Everything was tasty. Nothing out of this world, but solid. We spent the rest of the day walking about, looking at stuff and stopping for drinks. Perfect vacation activities. First stop was Beer Park . This was atop part of the Paris Hotel.
Beer Park.
A coupla be-ahs
Watching the hustle and bustle.
A look back at the Eiffel Tower.
This place had game tables and Giant Jenga. We got right to work.
The one hand rule is easy to execute when you’re holding a beer.
Careful now.
Next up: the Flamingo Resort. I read that they have a shark tank so we went to check it out. Turns out it’s only open for hotel guests until a certain hour. Fair enough. The grounds were beautiful and well worth exploring.
Perfect Palms
Real Flamingos, not lawn ornaments.
Not real.
Lovely ponds throughout.
Waterfalls
More Palms
They’re so Koi.
Everything had a pink glow to it.
We made our way back to the Linq Hotel area to get off our feet for a bit.
So relaxing back here!
We just made happy hour!
Restored, we took another loop around the strip. It was a gorgeous evening, prime for people watching.
Exhibit A.
We slipped into a lounge that was hosting an Open Mic. This was a hoot. The host was doing a great job encouraging people. What he was not good at was turning round so I could get a good picture.
Sir, could you just…
Over here, sir!
Never mind, I guess.
Honestly, there was real talent here this night. I however, choose to record this fine gentleman:
We continued our walkabout. The Venetian was looking lovely at night.
Oh Sole Mio!
We popped into it’s sister resort, The Palazzo. A bit quieter than the famous Venetian.
Elegant light fixtures.
Sculptures in the rotunda.
Hello!!!!
Next, we wandered over to the Wynn Resort. This is by far the fanciest hotel I’ve ever visited. It has earned all the ultimate accolades: AAA five diamond, Mobil five-star, Forbes five-star, Michelin five star, and Zagat Survey Top U.S. Hotel ratings, as well as one Michelin star for its restaurant Wing Lei.
Wynn Waterfalls
The lobby was just dripping with luxurious fabrics and fixtures.
Ceiling details.
I’m not sure if there was some sort of spring flower festival or if this was a regular occurrence, but there were fresh flower topiary displays everywhere.
Working floral carousel.
Conservatory gardens with floral globes.
Arched trees form a breathtaking pathway.
Around the world in eighty days!
Just stunning.
Look at the detail on these drapes! They don’t need to be here!
Tables set and ready for breakfast. I loved the color palate.
We slipped out the back entrance, before they caught on that we don’t belong here.
Earlier we had checked out the menu at the bar where we enjoyed our happy hour drink. It was barbecue and looked pretty darn good. This is where we landed back for dinner. I copied the descriptions from the menu. They’re in all caps, but I’m not yelling at you.
TRASH RIBS SERVED WITH MUSTARD COLE SLAW
VIRGIL’S FAMOUS SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS WITH MAYTAG BLUE CHEESE DIP
Another thing that drew us back to Virgil’s was the fact that they had live music. This lady was a belter. She sounded a lot like Melissa Etheridge. No complaints here.
Adena Sampson
Look her up!
We wandered back to the main drag. We had just enough umph left for one more drink.
Neon glory.
We popped into Hell’s kitchen but this guy was glaring at me. Creepy.
We ended up back at the Bellagio for our final nightcap. Yes, we knew the prices were going to be exorbitant, but we were at least prepared this time.
Another celebrity (never heard of him?) owned restaurant.
The place was sleek and attractive.
Wine on display.
Elegant bar.
Modern art adorned the walls.
A perfectly executed Manhattan. Crazy expensive.
I walked around awkwardly and took a few more pics.
Sensational views.
We knocked back our lavish drinks and headed up to our room. I believe Mr. Jones was asleep before I got my shoes off. I was still on the clock documenting our exploits.
Our view looking far to the left. Notice the “High Roller”.
Straight ahead view.
Oooh. The fountain show!
If we were higher up…
It was fine,I guess.
Guys, we have just one day left! Let’s make the most of it.
Up Next: We go on a treasure hunt!
We checked out of our gilded, crystal encrusted digs at Trump Tower and set off on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. We could have taken a quick, two hour trip to the West Rim and gotten a good gander at it, but my research revealed that it’s worth taking the extra time to head to the South Rim for the best views. Also, the South Rim is in the official Grand Canyon National Park where as the aforementioned West Rim is on Native Reservation land, so it can get pricey to park and enter. Besides, we came aaalllll the way out here to see this dang hole in the ground. I wanted to do it right!
We procured a rental car (a long frustrating story I won’t bore you with) and rolled out. We would be making a brief stop at the Hoover Dam as well, but first, breakfast! I found this little diner on a list of must do’s. It was a weekend morning so it was packed, but we were able to score a couple seats at the counter in short time.
The Coffee Cup. Adorable.
The Coffee Cup coffee cup.
We both got Bloody Marys. I don’t like Bloody Marys. He drank mine.
I let the internet dictate our selections. I chose the two most popular dishes, plus an order of Avocados to keep up with our healthy additions. We’re trying here, folks.
Huevos Rancheros: Two Corn Tortillas, Refried Beans, Cheddar Cheese, Two Eggs, All Smothered in our Pork Rancheros Sauce Served with Hash Browns
Peanut Butter Pancakes.
We enjoyed the heck out of this meal. I was feeling guilty about the pancakes so I really didn’t need to see this…
Sheesh! Pretty heavy message for a coffee joint!
Back on the road. The vistas all along this trip were just gorgeous. So different from New England.
Gorgeous!
The roads were steep and windy.
We made our way to the Hoover Dam. We didn’t drive over the dam itself, instead we traversed the new bridge that reroutes cars to limit wear and tear on the Hoover. It’s only been around since 2010.
It’s a bit of a trek.
Getting closer.
I really wasn’t sure what I was in for.
The dual-named bridge amused me. I pictured a board meeting with all members, arms crossed, not being able to reach consensus. “Tillman!…No, O’Callaghan!!!”
I guess it works.
Guys, it was really high up there.
This is me trying not to look terrified.
A bit of Lake Mead
He was non-plussed.
It really as an amazing sight to see. You can take tours down at the dam itself, but we needed to hustle along. We made it another hour before Jeff’s pancake sleepiness started to kick in. We pulled off for a wee cat nap.
Even the side of the road pull off was scenic.
Can somebody paint this for me?
Refreshed, we made our way to the Grand Canyon National Park! You don’t see it right away. There are some meandering paths.
Almost there….
Wait for it…
Boom! There it is!!!!!
Friends, there is no way to describe the majesty of this sight. People say all the time, pictures don’t do it justice. Never have truer words been spoken. I won’t clutter up these attempts at photography with my cheeky comments…
My Biggest take away, aside from the magnificence of God’s creation, is that it’s super easy to fall into it! Yes, there are points were railings allow people to get close enough for a good look down and a stellar photo op. However, ninety-nine percent of it is completely unfenced. Rationally, this makes perfect sense. There are hundreds of miles of cliff to fall from so fencing every bit of it would be impossible. Even more notable was the lack of signage saying “Yo, Be Careful!” I guess it was a refreshing turnabout in the age of labels warning you not to use a toaster in the bath tub.
Careful there. Oh, and it was freezing.
Again, trying not to look terrified.
I wanted to find a nice resort overlooking the canyon to have a drink. All the hotels in the park are affiliated on one poorly managed website so it was difficult to get a good feel for what to expect at any particular place. The El Tovar seemed to have a lounge (wasn’t sure). I had hoped to snag a room here, but it was booked up, and pretty pricey anyway. Once got a real look at the place I was very glad we didn’t get a booking. I didn’t get a good shot of the exterior so I lifted one from the ‘net.
Looks nice enough…on the website.
A bit of the grounds.
The plus side…great views of the canyon.
No bad.
You could walk up to a low wall and see those gorgeous views, but the resort itself did nothing to capitalize on viewing from the hotel itself. No patio or deck to be found. Crazy!
A view of the back. The place was worn out
A teensy sign.
I should have taken more photos, but the place was dark, dank and worn out. The restrooms were campground quality. The lounge where we had our beer was way too small for the size of the joint and just kinda…sticky.
There were about five seats. We downed our drinks and moved on.
We drove to yet another area to enjoy the sunset.
Bro, careful.
“What do you want to do tonight? How ’bout play chess on the precipice of death? Perfect!”
We watched the rocks glow and change with the sinking sun.
We’re glowing too!
What an incredible experience. That was a bucket list moment I’ll never, ever forget. Now it was time to head back, but not all the way to Vegas, we would be making camp (La Quinta) on historic Route 66! I found a conveniently located brew pub to have some victuals.
Historic.
Edison lights, chalk board menu…yup we’re in the right place.
The menu was pretty good, but they were cleaned out of a lot of items. Some sort of event occurred earlier in the day. We managed.
We had a few beers. They were all tasty, that’s all I recall.
The most elegantly plated frickles I’ve ever enjoyed.
A hearty grilled chicken salad. Hit all the spots.
Much to my surprise, Jeff ordered a gelato for dessert. Oh boy, so good with a stout!
We stumbled into our room at the La Quinta. I was exceedingly impressed with this hotel. It was clean, well appointed and full of charm. Plus, it was so much more affordable than the musty old El Tovar. Crisis avoided…
Comfy bed with crisp linens.
Charming black and white local art.
Jeez, it’s almost ten o’clock. Time for Bed.
Up Next: We ain’t nearly finished with Vegas yet!!!
We made our way back over to the area where we had had our epic breakfast. This is adjacent to the Linq Hotel. It’s sort of a wide alleyway that runs behind the main strip. There are some familiar brands and stores here dotted in between pubs along with some smaller casino rooms.
Place your bets while you wait for your guinness to settle.
Sprinkle cupcakes! Never had ’em.
Our main reason for lingering here was to ride this:
The High Roller!
This is currently the World’s Largest Ferris Wheel. It stands 550 feet tall and moves so slowly its rotation is nearly imperceptible. I takes a full thirty minutes to make it all the way ’round. We wanted our “ride” to coincide with sunset, so we had a little bit more time to linger. We found some live music to while away!
These guys were…okay.
It was getting near time to board our sky cab (my term, they can use it if they wish). You can spend extra cheese to get a booze package but we decided to not get ripped. Instead we just brought a cocktail on board, which you are allowed to do, thank goodness.
Two gin and tonics to go, please!
Time to load in. I said earlier that the cars move glacially slow, however, they seem to boogie when your trying to hop on and not spill a drop of your G&T .
Steady now.
Screens all around running stats and facts about the High Roller.
A look back at the Linq.
Away we go!
Monorail zooming by!
Mountains, pretty in pink.
Timing was working out just swell.
Views were spectacular!
The cars could hold up to forty people. On this night it was pretty slow so instead of being elbow to elbow with thirty eight people we just rode awkwardly with these guys…
Juuuust the four of us.
It would have been better to be with the throngs of people, honestly. We made some stilted small talk. If it were just the two of us it would have been terribly romantic. There could have been a respectable amount of canoodling involved, but no. we just rode silently. Boo!
Getting some nice views of the Flamingo (I think?) hotel.
At the tippy top now!
The lights are on!
Changing colors.
Yeah, it was the Flamingo.
And down we go.
Back down on terra firma. Things are hoppin’!
Ain’t she a beaut all lit up?
Our gargantuan breakfast was finally wearing off. We landed at a fine spot for dinner. Getting off the strip made a huge difference in price!
Pizza and beer for the low low price of not an arm and a leg.
Vegas local beer.
We bellied up to the bar.
This place had a peele.
More salad for the fiber….and cheese.
This pizza was like a dream!
You may assume that this would be the end of our day in Vegas, but you’d be wrong, my friend! I had secured tickets for a show! No, not a racy burlesque type deal, (I should say if you should research any of those, they’ll show up in your newsfeed for weeks) but a Cirque Du Soleil. We had seen one before in Orlando and were blown away by it. This iteration is called “O” and is located at the Bellagio Hotel.
A glimpse of the Bellagio. We’ll be spending more time here later.
The Theahtah!
This was a nice sized arena where there really wasn’t a bad seat in the house. However, we had amazing seats!
Gorgeous surroundings.
Front and center.
Unfortunately, there was no photography allowed durning the show. I take that back, it was fortunate because I could focus and be present for the most amazing spectacle I’ve ever witnessed. In addition to the artistry and athleticism of these fantastic performers, there is the added element of water. It’s not just a pool in the middle of a stage like an old Esther Williams flick either. There is an elaborate stage that waxes and wanes between a completely dry stage and a complicated series of diving pools. Below is a video preview:
I was so intrigued about how they made this happen. Performers would emerge right out of the pools as if they were living under water. Turns out that they have a whole crew of divers feeding performers oxygen throughout the show. I found this short behind the scenes video. Amazing!
Beleive it or not, it was still pretty early but we were good boys and girls and went back to our room with no nightcap. We had a very big day ahead of us tomorrow!
Good night, mon cheri!
Up Next: Yowza! That’s one big hole in the ground.
This would be our first full day in Las Vegas. We slept until a reasonable time (that’s subjective) and headed out to get breakfast. Normally, a full fledged restaurant-type breakfast isn’t on our agenda. I’m fine with coffee until, well, lunch time. However, we were strongly advised by some friends who recently visited that we just had to check out this joint. I’m not about to argue. We took a leisurely stroll down the strip, soaking in the sights along the way.
A look back at the Golden Tower.
Lots of fancy schmancy shoppes.
I <3 palm trees.
The Palazzo Hotel, sister to the Venetian.
Landscaping on fleek.
The big sister.
A replica of St. Marks Square. I know this because of Epcot, not cause Ive been to Italy.
That bra looks super supportive.
We arrived at our destination…
Uh…. no. Not today, Guy.
We passed Guy Fiore’s bôite (I recently saw him referred to as a human vape. On the money) in favor of the highly recommended Hash House A-Go-Go.
There was a bit of a wait.
The lobby was festooned with autographed pictures of celebrities who probably didn’t have to wait an hour to eat here.
We made it!!!
The decor was tractor-chic.
We started with a nitro, cold-brew iced coffee laced with Jameson Whiskey and topped with fresh whipped cream. Yes, we had whiskey before noon.
The Frigid Irishman.
So, on this vacation we were sincerely trying to make better food choices, not because of concern about love handles, but more about keeping Mr. Jones’ blood pressure at bay. It stinks getting old, kids. We were not going to completely deprive ourselves (see above whipped cream laden whiskey drink) but we did try and add healthy fare along side our meals. We started with a spinach salad.
MMMMMM….fiber!
Guys, this salad was served with a biscuit that had it’s own zip code!!! Plus it had a huge sprig of unnecessary rosemary stuck in it. Pet peeve: Superfluous garnish. What a waste!
Size reference: Newborn cranium. We sadly put it aside.
Our main victuals were out of this world! An amped up version of chicken and waffles that were TO DIE FOR!!!
This is meant for one human. No way.
This was an amazing meal and the first we had that felt like we didn’t get totally robbed. We’ll be spending more time in this area of the strip later on. It’s a hidden gem. For now, we’ll be heading back to the Venetian where we’ll continue to gift our cash to the black jack tables.
I lost my shirt on the slots!
Over the top gildedness was everywhere.
I have no interest in gambling so I set about taking photos. This hotel is really gorgeous. I thought that the gondolas were only in the front, but I later found out that they run all through the resort.
Gond-Oh-las.
Foot bridge over the strip.
Beautiful lighting over the verandah.
It was a perfect weather day.
We finished up at the Venetian and continued a slow stroll. It was so gorgeous out I decided a drink on a patio was in order. We headed over to the Mirage to explore.
Home of The Beatles Cirque Show.
This enormous water feature faces the street, but there’s much, much more.
Once you move past the berm there are many grand water falls and lush plantings leading to the entrance.
Once inside, we looked around for an outdoor patio opportunity, but soon decided that this conservatory would do just fine. Plus it was happy hour!
This view will do.
Half price drinks! Take a note, Massachusetts.
When we were wandering around earlier, we kept seeing signs for some sort of Dolphin experience. We like dolphins! We meandered down a path and found this…
Sure, I’m game.
We paid an entrance fee. I don’t remember how much but not too bad. Once inside we saw the expected dolphin habitats.
Sandals resort for dolphins.
It’s all inclusive!
Did I mention that I love palm trees?
I’m all about gardens. Let’s explore!
Grrrrr!
Namaste.
So, here’s the thing. Though there were some images of giant cats on the signs, all the verbiage was about dolphins. We had NO IDEA what we would encounter.
Good Morning!
Friends, this was simply astounding. These gorgeous white lions where as close to us as it seems. There was no zoom on my lens. For that matter, there was no moat between us and these majestic (man killing) lions. The only thing between us was a flimsy, home depot, chain link fence.
I’m ready for my close-up!
We could have combed his mane.
We had a lot of emotions about this. On the one hand, the majesty of seeing these amazing creatures made some of us (Jeff) cry. On the other hand, the seemingly insubstantial caging was worrisome. But more so, the confines of the environment showed. These magnificent beasts just paced incessantly. It was a bit upsetting.
See the video below:
There were other large cats in the garden.
A female white lion.
This guy will never change.
Is this THE tiger? Too soon?
This was a sumptuous garden.
When we exited the crazy cat area and moved back toward exit we stopped to witness some actual dolphin training.
Dolphin catching a yellow thing.
Dolphin bouncing a red ball.
Dolphin just showing off.
Dolphin advising us to visit the gift shop. Dang, they are smart.
Oh, and there’s a nude pool area. We didn’t go there…cause it was closed for the day.
We had some exciting plans that didn’t include nudity anyway.
Up Next: We become official High Rollers!
The sun was setting so we were now in prime time to see the neon lights of Old Vegas. I really had no idea that the swanky hotels of the Strip and the gritty, “Elvis and Lil’ White Wedding chapel” sections of Vegas were actually quite a long distance apart. We grabbed a Lyft (we no longer use Uber. They are horrible to their drivers.) at the Aria Hotel. There is quite a learning curve as to where ride shares are allowed to pick up. Some are down in the garage basement or around the back, this one was right at the entrance.
Pick up was right in front.
The “old strip” is on Freemont Street. I wasn’t sure where we should get dropped off specifically. We ended up right in front of a spot I wanted to check out anyway!
Container Park.
This guy was guarding the entrance! He breathed fire!!! I waited for him to do it again…he didn’t.
This place was so very cool. It is made up of old shipping containers, stacked high. There were street food vendors and cozy little bars. In the center there’s a huge play fort and giant sized games to partake in. During the day it’s family friendly, but after 8:00pm it’s adults only! Drunken Giant Jenga, anyone?
Outdoor seating and faerie lights galore!
Walk up BBQ.
A view from the upper level as we search for a rest room.
Still looking.
They even had live music! These gals were pretty dang good.
Breathe fire, dude!!!
We could have spent the whole evening here, but I was anxious to get to the legendary Downtown.
Squee!!!
My actual shoe size.
“World’s Largest Pint Glass”.
This covered bit has a light show going on all night along with some blasting music.
Four Queens
There were dozens of street artists doing magic, painting or just looking unusual
Binion’s Casino. The hotel portion has been closed since 2009 due to asbestos. Did you need to know that?
One of the oldest!
We were pretty well pooped by by this time, so we just did a lap and decided to head back to Trump for a night cap.
Hotel bar
Yup, that’s where we were.
Loungers lounging in the lounge.
We ordered two Manhattans. They were perfectly crafted and served in the most delightful etched glasses. They were so lovely I considered filching them. Why is it that when I’m on vacation I feel a compulsion to commit thievery? After we got the bill, I regretted not throwing them in my purse.
Two drinks, $50 bucks. Oy Vay!
They got to pay for the crystal chandeliers somehow, I guess.
Time to head up to bed…
Our view was even more impressive at night.
The very end of the strip.
We hemorrhaged cash all day and not at the slots. Tomorrow we’ll get a better handle on Where to find food and drink!
Up Next: Do I really need biscuit as big as my head?
