I don't think you ever recall just how surreal Las Vegas is. My first visit there, seven years ago, was to celebrate Grandma Gunn's 75th birthday, when Mom, Colleen and I accompanied her for an awesome girls weekend. The gigantic hotels, lights and craziness was overwhelming.
When Dad and I flew in Saturday, I was once again transported into the bizarre world of Vegas. We stayed at the MGM Grand, and the first thing I did (unlike 99% of everyone on the strip, except for the odd infant) was have a big nap in a fresh hotel bed. Perfect start.
Over the next few days, Dad and I people-watched, swam in the gorgeous hotel pools, ate at some fantastic restaurants, played 1 cent slot machines like video games, and rested in the comfy hotel beds. Oh yeah, and we saw some shows...!
Sunday was Cirque de Soleil's LOVE, with music by the Beatles. My first time seeing Cirque, I was totally amazed of course by the acrobatics and dance flying over top of us - but the stories behind the music of the Beatles, told through these amazing artists, was really what hit me.
Brandon had got tickets to David Copperfield for us for Monday night. I had never been to a magic show before - I still haven't been to one, as what we saw was not magic, it was a total imgination illusion experience. His show was UNBELIEVABLE. Like Stingray City, I never had this on my lifelist, but I would recommend everyone try to see Copperfield sometime in their life. It was an hour and a half of surreality - the good kind!
Of course the whole purpose of the Vegas trip was for Tuesday night, to see Elton John's Red Piano concert, and it was certainly worth it. I had made great efforts to ensure our tickets were perfectly positioned to watch his hands on the piano keys, and I succeeded - our view was spectacular. The show was fantastic...he LOVES to play and you can see it. His passion for the piano made me realize I have to work on another of my lifelist - get back to playing the piano again (first get a piano of course!). Brilliant.
Yesterday before flying out last night, I made one last trip to the pool area to hang out. A little less crowded than other days (it was only 80F) I decided to try swimming in the lap area...I managed to do several laps, pushing muscles that had not been pushed for many many months. When I stopped to rest, my heartbeat pumping fast for a very good reason, I looked up at the palm trees and sky above and laughed. Interestingly, I saw the top of the Chrysler Building, my favourite New York marker while I lived there. It was peeking over top of the MGM, from the New York New York hotel across the strip. Perhaps a reminder of all that had happened since I last saw the real Chrysler Building last July. Perhaps a reminder that New York will always be with me. Perhaps a reminder that I will be there a week from tomorrow. Whichever, it was a fitting moment of illusion to end a very wonderfully surreal trip.
Cheers
