Not One Sin

We are back from Las Vegas, happy to be home.  The lobby of the Wynn.  Our attempts to stay somewhere not founded by a sexual predator did not work out.  At least Steve doesn't own or run the place anymore.
It is a quick flight from SFO, about 65 minutes from take off to touch. We got settled and took a walk on the Strip.  You could tell right away this new building will be the Hard Rock Hotel. 
We wanted to see the Bellagio Conservatory Botanical Garden Spring Display.  I'm not sure I'd consider it a botanical garden, actually I'm positive I would not. Those are not real daffodils. 
It felt very Disneyland, however I like that it was so overdone - it's Vegas after all. Twirl, girl!
This hummingbird was my favorite "piece" of the display. Some flowers are alive.

It was pretty crowded on a Thursday, the rest of the town was fairly quiet.  Much more traffic over  Fri/Sat. 
And the famous hand blown glass flower display in the lobby, Fiori di Como created by Dale Chihuly. Over 2,000 pieces and reportedly worth 8 million dollars. 
The Sphere was currently running The Wizard of Oz.  One of our Uber drivers said the scoop was the tornado scene was the most intense with extra effects, no doubt!
It was far more impressive from a distance than close-up.  I got a kick out the shoes. 
We treated ourselves to one buffet, the Wynn breakfast.  No way we came close to eating our $70 each worth of food, although we did put in a lot of effort.  I liked the entrance.  
We visited Meow Wolf Omega Mart.  I have to imagine this is what an acid trip would be like?  Described as a psychedelic art experience. You enter the experience via a normal looking grocery store.

Hmmm, maybe not so normal?
A look closer at the shelves. Cubed peas were right above canned beaches. 
Olivia taking a closer look at a glitch in the system.
This take on I Can't Believe It's Not Butter made me laugh.  I kept thinking how much fun the creative team must have had making these grocery items.  

Some items were real, and for sale.  I think Done detergent was an empty box.  

Apple Blossom Alibi scented.

 I opened the refrigerated beverage section door.... an entrance
Of course, we went in.
This part took a couple hours to explore.  There are hidden meanings and riddles you can figure out if so inclined.  We just kind of enjoyed the wackiness of it all. Vincent made sure we didn't miss any rooms or hallways.
Hidden tunnel that lead to a climb.
We made it, I have no idea why I am doing robot arms?

It was fun, my favorite part of the whole thing was the grocery store entrance.  The next day we vsited the Mob Museum, located in an old postal building.  The National Museum of Organized Crime.  It was just o.k., good for a walk through if you are visiting nearby Fremont Street.  The best part for us, Frank Calabrese Jr., was giving a talk.  His Dad and Uncle were hit men in the Mafia, very high up.  He talked about growing up in that environment, he worked for them as well.  He ended up turning his Dad into the feds.  What a character!

One of many posters from the prohibition era.

I'm so happy to be back home.  We are going to get HOT this week.  Have you ever been to Vegas?

Comments

  1. It has been a long time since I was last in Vegas. You had quite the experience. So many interesting things to see.

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    1. It was fun, but when I leave Vegas - I never feel like I need to go back.

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  2. What a sensory overload! I tink that I would quickly be out of my element.

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    1. Maybe that's why I turned into a robot? It was a lot of lights.

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  3. What amazing pictures! I especially love the ceiling of glass flowers.

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks Gerhard, a few days there is all anyone would need!

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  5. Thank you for taking us along. Nope, I have not been to Vegas.
    I liked your robot arms. ;-)

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    1. Ha ha, thanks Carla! I think the strobe room did me in.

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  6. I shall never visit, great photos. I enjoyed them.

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    1. Oh, I totally understand. It's definitely not a go-to place for us, I much prefer garden trips. But, James had to be there for work and also needed a vacation of sorts. He works really long hours.

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  7. So much to love here, what fun you must have had at the "grocery store"! One of my brothers and I went to Vegas YEARS ago, we had a blast with the over the top-ness of it all. But one and done covers it for me. So you didn't do The Wizard of Oz show? And did I read it right that breakfast cost you $70 EACH? Good lord. "Those are not real daffodils" had me LOL'ing.

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    1. Agree, I don't need to go again. One more day and we would've included The Wizard of Oz. $70 each, insane! I filled up 4 plates trying to hit the $70... some items wonderful, others inedible. I would've rather spent it on plants, lol.

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  8. I was to Las Vegas once, in 1979. Needless to say Las Vegas then was nothing like it is now. I love anything done by Dale Chihuly. That Omega Mart is a place I could have spent hours in, filling up my phone with pictures. Will I ever visit Vegas again? Doubtful, especially if a breakfast buffet costs $70!

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    1. 1979, I bet it was so swanky then! Omega Mart was worth the visit, they created something fun and different. I don't recommend the buffet, such a waste of $.

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  9. COMPLETELY over the top! Amazingly, I've only ever even walked through the Las Vegas Airport once (during a brief layover) and can't say I've ever seen anything like this. It's kind of interesting, though - if akin to a slap in a face.

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    1. It is ridiculous, but we enjoyed ourselves. Still, there are better was to spend money, ON PLANTS!

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  10. Vegas used to be an occupational hazard for me due to my engagement with the computer industry. Trade shows. I saw an inherent contradiction, everything designed to exploit the human UI. The only city on Earth that functions exactly like a corrupted CPU—all flashing lights, high heat, and a total disregard for logic. Your experience certainly looked colorful. Me too, I like the hummingbird.

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    1. Oh wow, I can't imagine going repeatedly. We made fun out of it, as one does in a good group!

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  11. The capital of "Gaudy", USA. It's like an adult Disneyland, for sure. A little goes a long way and then you need a long cleansing bath.
    During my last visit, the Venetian wasn't quite finished, the Aladdin didn't yet break ground, the Golden Nugget felt nostalgic. It's time to see L.V. again :-D
    Chavli

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    1. I don't think I ever need to visit again, that's for sure!

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  12. I would go to Vegas for a show, but that's about it. Too much smoke. We went to Meow Wolf in Denver and Santa Fe in 2023. Quite enjoyable, though we also did not bother with trying to figure out the puzzles - too many people, not enough time. It was much better to just enjoy the psychedelic nature of it all. Too bad we aren't really ones to get high.

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I'd love to hear from you, ~Tracy