I’m staggering back to what passes for normal after a week in Las Vegas. As a rule, I love cities: the structures, people, old shops, twisting roads. I do not love Las Vegas. It’s miles and miles of sameness: same style of houses/same color of houses/gigantic, confusing, under-construction-everywhere freeways/and impossible to spot landmarks (all streets/houses/shopping areas look the same–thank goodness for Google maps!). However, our grandson was graduating from a grueling year of nursing school and flying back and forth to San Diego where home and wife and newly born son were, and we are proud of him.
Ergo. La La Las Vegas.
Cliff and I ran away from the family one night and went to The Eiffel Tower Restaurant in the Paris Casino. From the top of the Eiffel Tower, I can deal with the city. And when I’m graced with exquisite food, I’m even nicer.
The tower restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and Cliff reserved a window table across from the dancing waters of the Bellagio; the same dancing waters made famous in various movies, especially Oceans Eleven and twelve and thirteen. At any rate, we had a ringside seat to dancing waters without having to stand with throngs of people on the sidewalk.
And the meal was extraordinary. I chose Dover Sole and Cliff, Veal Medallions. We shared a spring greens salad, which, instead of being in a bowl, was heaped inside a ring of paper-thin slices of zucchini, and a final souffle desert. And champagne and a perfect Negroni. Oh. My. Goodness.
Here’s the video that drew us in – watch it all the way and you’ll learn from a master chef how to make a perfect Dover Sole. You’ll also get a better view of the restaurant in general.
The first shopping trip we made after coming home? Trader Joe’s for Dover Sole. I followed the Chef’s directions from the above video. Not quite the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, but just as good and quieter.
So, all in all, a lovely dinner which, along with a fine grandson graduating from a tough program with a 4.0 and an eleven month old great-grandson and his mamma and visiting with son and daughter-in-law, made Las Vegas worth while.
Maybe that’s also why I’m still recovering!
…
janetsunderland.com 
I had been in Vegas but those were the days when i used to make good money haha. The view sounds awesome.
Pamela RN
Best Nursing Schools California
Thanks for checking in. I made my “money” in Reno. Lol. No idea what that’s like now but back then, it was really liveable.
I’ve always lumped Vegas, Disney venues, and large cruise ships together in one of Dante’s unpublished circles. Still, even Las Vegas can be a worthy destination when it includes family, celebrations, and lots of reasons for congratulations. It sounds like a wonderful, enjoyable, loving time.
Interestingly, I spent Memorial Day weekend in Independence and Blue Springs, Missouri. I also was visiting family, and it was great.
Hahahaha! I like your comparison! It was an incredible week. I don’t get all my boys in one place very often, so that was the absolute best, along with twi in-law ladies I love.
Next time you’re in the area, let me know. We live in the Waldo area of K.C.
I’ve never been to Las Vegas and never really wanted to go. Except perhaps on the way to the Grand Canyon or southern Utah national parks.
Well, it’s a fur ‘nuf round-about way to get to either! But say, you wanted to go visit the Mojave…..Las Vegas might fit in there. Although, one year, driving back from California, we took the highway that wanders through Vegas and then southern Utah and Colorado. That was a beautiful drive.
Sounds like you kept to your priorities – being present for a significant milestone in your grandson’s life and a terrific dinner with your husband. I’ve never even wanted to go to Las Vegas.
We did keep to priorities, Viv, you’re right. We celebrated with family (all my immediate family: one husband, two sons, one daughter-in law, one grandson, one granddaughter-in-law, and a ten month old great-grandson. While our family is relatively small, it’s certainly lively!! And that was, indeed, the best part.
I think I wouldn’t like Vegas either these days, for all the reasons you mention.
I was there once, in 1971. A friend and I were driving around the country in his van. We arrived in Vegas at night and slept in the van in the parking lot of Caesar’s Palace. Those were the days of little money!
See you —
Neil S.
I went through there about that time, too, on my way to live in Reno for a while and work. I liked Reno although after these many years, it might be over-the-top, too. Wasn’t in those days.
The dinner and view from above sound wonderful; the rest of the city, not so much. I know people who go to Vegas on vacation. It’s my idea of a vacation in hell. Well, maybe not that bad, but I want my vacations to be places where I’m in nature and not with zillions of people. I can take cities and even enjoy them, but my heart and soul belong to the outdoors. Congrats to all!
janet
Yup. But it was a wonderful week of family. One son and family lives in Florida, other son lives here in K.C., grandson and family live in San Diego (he flew back and forth for school) and that was, even topping the wonderful dinner, the best part.
Well of course. 🙂
Thank you. It was a memorable trip! To say the least.
Congrats to all. Graduation. Great-grandson! And dinner…
Provecho.