Road Trip, Day 22

Saturday, January 29

Went to the concierge desk to inquire about a tour of the Hoover Dam.  Am really sick of driving, so I thought it would be fun to leave the driving to someone else.  They want $71.95 for a tour.  Told them I would think about it.

Decided to get a day pass on the monorail and explore the strip.  Those hotels are enormous.  You get off the monorail and get lost in them.  No signs indicating how to get out.  They want you to stay in and gamble!  Finally figured out that if I could find the lobby (which wasn't always easy), there was usually a way out from there.  Got to the Bellagio in time for the noon dancing fountains.  They are exceedingly impressive.  It's all choreographed to music.  They do the Star Spangled Banner at noon complete with bombs bursting in air and water shooting 300 fee into the air.  The Bellagio was all decorated for Chinese New Year.  They also have a Dale Chihuly overhead glass sculpture in the lobby along with a pretty impressive golden horse.  Also plenty of places featuring designer threads, etc.

Caught the fountains again later in the afternoon--they apparently do different things every time they do them.  Decided to come back and see them at night when they are lit.  Also enjoyed lots of street theater:  chorus girls in full regalia strolling down the street (at night, they had fur coats on over their costumes), Darth Vader et al. so you could pose for pictures with them, mimes, etc.  The one thing that struck me when I went back that night was the young women all dolled up accompanied by young men in jeans.  Eh?  Slight disconnect there.

While walking the strip, encountered tour sellers, one of whom offered a tour of the Hoover Dam for $40.  Reserved on the spot.  Now I won't have to drive out there and then circle back.