Las Vegas 2010: Day 1
I went to Vegas in December and never posted about it, so here's my late entry! Part one, at least.
I've been to Las Vegas before -- three times before I was 21, and once afterwards --so this made my 5th visit. I should mention that I have no interest in gambling at all, but I've always loved the party atmosphere Vegas offers. The sights, the food, and the shows which I didn't see any of this time. Because as dorky as this may sound, the main purpose of this trip was for cosplay, and when rai_kamishiro initially made a post about it on Facebook, I jumped on the chance. Reason being, I'd always felt Vegas would be a great place for cosplay photos! With their cheesy themed hotels, it's almost like having many different styles of backdrops all in just one location. I had thought about trying to get a group together earlier that year but it just didn't work out -- and this time, I got my chance. I stayed at the Imperial Palace only because that's where everyone else was staying.
Because I hate mornings with a passion and did not want to deal with having a morning flight, I arrived a day early than everyone else. This gave me the time to drag asylum_resident out to eat with me, as well as scoping out locations and practicing some night shots. I met up with Mike at his work -- the Fashion Show Mall which I'd never been to in all my previous visits. We hit up an awesome all-you-can-eat sushi place a ways off the strip -- really good stuff! When he dropped me back off at my hotel, I'd intended to sleep early, but I ended up heading back outside to wander for a bit. It was a Friday night, people were still out and about, and it felt a bit too strange to be going to bed so early.
There was one thing I'd never noticed during my previous Vegas trips -- either because I was too young, or too busy hanging out with a group of friends to pay attention to my surroundings -- and that was that it was perfectly fine to be walking along the strip with a drink in hand, laughing and having a good time (or just being drunk) out in public. I'm sure it was because I noticed little details a lot more when I was by myself. So I put a bottle of beer in my backpack, grabbed my camera, and out I went.
I was happy to have gotten some better photos of the sights, since I never had a decent camera during my previous visits. As I got near the end of the strip, I even stopped at a couple bars to take a break from the walking to sit down with a drink before I head back out. It was also cold and drizzling that night. I had left the city of rain to arrive in more rain.
Imperial Palace, where I stayed. Definitely one of the older hotel-casinos on the strip, but it's cheap. I'll admit I couldn't help but silently laugh to myself as the shuttle dropped me off there, being Asian staying at this Asian-themed "Imperial Palace".
The front of Caesars Palace. My memories of this place was mainly PURE, a nightclub there that I went to the last time.
More of the fountains outside of Caesars Palace
A view of The Cosmopolitan towers on the strip, which had its grand opening only two days before I arrived. (You bet I went inside to check it out!)
Front of the Bellagio. I never got to see the fountains this time.
Outside of Paris hotel & casino, with the fake Eiffel Tower. XD It's actually a restaurant, and the building below it is the casino.
Just a glimpse of what the casino area and lobby looks like inside.
Well what do you know. This was as I was walking back up north to meet up with Mike.
More familiar dining options. XD
As I headed north I walked by The Mirage. It's very nostalgic for me.
And even more nostalgic, Treasure Island where I've stayed twice before, as well as where I saw Cirque du Soleil's Mystère a long time ago. Treasure Island it pirate themed, but it's too bad the Sirens of TI wasn't running that day...
Wynn and Encore, which I still have yet to go inside. ;_; I've heard the clubs are good there.
The Fashion Show Mall where Mike works.
The Miracle Mile Shops was new to me. This was after I'd headed out again after dinner, and was walking towards the south end of the strip.
It's basically next to Planet Hollywood, which was also new to me.
Inside of Planet Hollywood
Outside and on my right -- another shopping center, Aria, and Mandarin Oriental. All of this I'd never seen during my last visit. o_o;
A view from one of the sky bridges as I look back up north. On the left is The Cosmopolitan where I was headed.
The Cosmopolitan hotel towers and casino below
This gorgeous lounge was situated on two levels, with the casino floor below.
One of the areas under that lounge
... Where two DJ girls were playing some nice club music for the people in the area!
A different bar downstairs, also at The Cosmopolitan.
Back outside to brave the cold...
This might look familiar to anyone who's been to the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle.
Outside of Monte Carlo hotel & casino. There were actually some really nice potential cosplay locations there but we never made it that far south the following days.
The New York New York hotel always amuses me so much.
Some of the casino area
Near the food court, and yes this is still indoors... Most of the shops were closed at that point though.
It's really endearing how they try to capture the New York flavor in this place. No joke, this would be such a cute place for Hetalia America cosplay.
Back outside again!
View of New York New York. That track is a roller coaster ride on top of the casino. XD
Excalibur, one of the older ones on the strip, and also pretty nostalgic for me.
Inside the casino
Next stop: Luxor, with the light that still is one of the few manmade things you can see from space.
The entrance to Luxor
I would love to stay here someday. The elevators go slanted up the rooms which are on the "wall" of the pyramid.
The last place on the strip I wanted to hit was Mandalay Bay, which I have seen before but it's been awhile. The problem was by the time I was done wandering around Luxor, I was so tired, and was not even going to bother walking anymore. I took a cab back to the hotel and tried to get some sleep as I knew I was going to be woken up pretty damn early the next morning...
More photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/84582256@N00/collections/72157625518101707
I'll post some actual cosplay pics in the next entry!
I've been to Las Vegas before -- three times before I was 21, and once afterwards --so this made my 5th visit. I should mention that I have no interest in gambling at all, but I've always loved the party atmosphere Vegas offers. The sights, the food, and the shows which I didn't see any of this time. Because as dorky as this may sound, the main purpose of this trip was for cosplay, and when rai_kamishiro initially made a post about it on Facebook, I jumped on the chance. Reason being, I'd always felt Vegas would be a great place for cosplay photos! With their cheesy themed hotels, it's almost like having many different styles of backdrops all in just one location. I had thought about trying to get a group together earlier that year but it just didn't work out -- and this time, I got my chance. I stayed at the Imperial Palace only because that's where everyone else was staying.
Because I hate mornings with a passion and did not want to deal with having a morning flight, I arrived a day early than everyone else. This gave me the time to drag asylum_resident out to eat with me, as well as scoping out locations and practicing some night shots. I met up with Mike at his work -- the Fashion Show Mall which I'd never been to in all my previous visits. We hit up an awesome all-you-can-eat sushi place a ways off the strip -- really good stuff! When he dropped me back off at my hotel, I'd intended to sleep early, but I ended up heading back outside to wander for a bit. It was a Friday night, people were still out and about, and it felt a bit too strange to be going to bed so early.
There was one thing I'd never noticed during my previous Vegas trips -- either because I was too young, or too busy hanging out with a group of friends to pay attention to my surroundings -- and that was that it was perfectly fine to be walking along the strip with a drink in hand, laughing and having a good time (or just being drunk) out in public. I'm sure it was because I noticed little details a lot more when I was by myself. So I put a bottle of beer in my backpack, grabbed my camera, and out I went.
I was happy to have gotten some better photos of the sights, since I never had a decent camera during my previous visits. As I got near the end of the strip, I even stopped at a couple bars to take a break from the walking to sit down with a drink before I head back out. It was also cold and drizzling that night. I had left the city of rain to arrive in more rain.
Imperial Palace, where I stayed. Definitely one of the older hotel-casinos on the strip, but it's cheap. I'll admit I couldn't help but silently laugh to myself as the shuttle dropped me off there, being Asian staying at this Asian-themed "Imperial Palace".
The front of Caesars Palace. My memories of this place was mainly PURE, a nightclub there that I went to the last time.
More of the fountains outside of Caesars Palace
A view of The Cosmopolitan towers on the strip, which had its grand opening only two days before I arrived. (You bet I went inside to check it out!)
Front of the Bellagio. I never got to see the fountains this time.
Outside of Paris hotel & casino, with the fake Eiffel Tower. XD It's actually a restaurant, and the building below it is the casino.
Just a glimpse of what the casino area and lobby looks like inside.
Well what do you know. This was as I was walking back up north to meet up with Mike.
More familiar dining options. XD
As I headed north I walked by The Mirage. It's very nostalgic for me.
And even more nostalgic, Treasure Island where I've stayed twice before, as well as where I saw Cirque du Soleil's Mystère a long time ago. Treasure Island it pirate themed, but it's too bad the Sirens of TI wasn't running that day...
Wynn and Encore, which I still have yet to go inside. ;_; I've heard the clubs are good there.
The Fashion Show Mall where Mike works.
The Miracle Mile Shops was new to me. This was after I'd headed out again after dinner, and was walking towards the south end of the strip.
It's basically next to Planet Hollywood, which was also new to me.
Inside of Planet Hollywood
Outside and on my right -- another shopping center, Aria, and Mandarin Oriental. All of this I'd never seen during my last visit. o_o;
A view from one of the sky bridges as I look back up north. On the left is The Cosmopolitan where I was headed.
The Cosmopolitan hotel towers and casino below
This gorgeous lounge was situated on two levels, with the casino floor below.
One of the areas under that lounge
... Where two DJ girls were playing some nice club music for the people in the area!
A different bar downstairs, also at The Cosmopolitan.
Back outside to brave the cold...
This might look familiar to anyone who's been to the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle.
Outside of Monte Carlo hotel & casino. There were actually some really nice potential cosplay locations there but we never made it that far south the following days.
The New York New York hotel always amuses me so much.
Some of the casino area
Near the food court, and yes this is still indoors... Most of the shops were closed at that point though.
It's really endearing how they try to capture the New York flavor in this place. No joke, this would be such a cute place for Hetalia America cosplay.
Back outside again!
View of New York New York. That track is a roller coaster ride on top of the casino. XD
Excalibur, one of the older ones on the strip, and also pretty nostalgic for me.
Inside the casino
Next stop: Luxor, with the light that still is one of the few manmade things you can see from space.
The entrance to Luxor
I would love to stay here someday. The elevators go slanted up the rooms which are on the "wall" of the pyramid.
The last place on the strip I wanted to hit was Mandalay Bay, which I have seen before but it's been awhile. The problem was by the time I was done wandering around Luxor, I was so tired, and was not even going to bother walking anymore. I took a cab back to the hotel and tried to get some sleep as I knew I was going to be woken up pretty damn early the next morning...
More photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/84582256@N00/collections/72157625518101707
I'll post some actual cosplay pics in the next entry!