Las Vegas Photo Dump

It's funny to think that it was only a week ago that I came back from Vegas.  It sure seems like longer than that!  Unfortunately, I don't have any particularly interesting stories to tell about my trip, so it's been kind of tough to think of a narrative to accompany the photos.



For the volcano shots, I did a lot of scouting around before the first show.  I picked out two spots where I thought I would be able to get a clear view of the excitement.  I didn't bring a book or my headphones or anything, so it was pretty dull waiting around and holding my spot for the two shows, but I dutifully stood at the fence waiting for thirty minutes before each show.



At one point (still at the volcano) a couple standing behind me (who arrived five minutes before it started) began complaining about my tripod.  Which I had carefully set to only stand as wide as my shoulders.  It's not like the tripod was any wider than I was, but people still complained.  I just don't get it.



Have I mentioned how difficult it is to take a picture of a black building at night?  Well, it is.  Thank goodness they have those white lights running up the side.



This is the multi-billion dollar "Project City Center" that is slated to begin opening this winter.  It's amazing to think of all those condominiums that they are still building in Las Vegas.  I wonder what they will do with them?  It's not like they have a hotel or apartment shortage.  I have a hard time thinking this place won't lose some guys in Dubai a ton of money.



Another change since my last visit.  Still a very difficult hotel to take a decent picture of, the setting sun at least gave me some cover by shadowing the ugly street part up.  The Encore looks nice, but Wynn isn't much to visit, especially as far north on the strip as it lies.  So I didn't take any time to head down there and settled for this better-than-nothing shot.



I don't think there are a lot of opportunities to get dramatic clouds in Vegas.  I guess you'd have to be there the two or three days a year when storms roll through.  I'm glad I don't live there, because I'd get pretty frustrated waiting for them.



One of these days I'll actually cough up the dough to stay at Caesar's.  I don't know why I like this place so much, but it still is my favorite spot on the strip.  It's just got the nostalgia of old Vegas but with a completely modern and sophisticated feel. 

Their casino is huge and they really do a lot to maintain their status as a high class place.  They have a pretty good poker room, which is a plus for me.  Finally, my grandpa spent a lot of time in Caesar's during the sixties and seventies, so the emotional link is there too.