Day 10 - Last Day In Las Vegas (2 videos today!)

Las Vegas is sometimes (especially on this blog) called The City Of Lights and anyone who has been here will agree that there is more neon and lighting at night than in any city on the planet.


This does make for some great photography though as there is always something to picture at night.


Here is some video of The City Of Lights.

I had not realised until this trip that our favourite hotel in Las Vegas, The Venetian / Palazzo was actually built on the land previously occupied by The Sands Hotel which became famous for The Rat Pack playing at it's Copa Room.


When delving into the history of modern Las Vegas, it was Frank Sinatra and his dubious mafia contacts that made Las Vegas "respectable" and brought all the Hollywood celebrities to come and see the shows.

Before that it was entirely a gaming and divorce city - as Nevada would allow a couple to divorce with a "quickie" if one of the couple took up residency in Nevada state for 6 weeks.
The gambling was given a boost when the Hoover Dam was being built because Boulder City where all the workers were staying was a no-gambling city and strangely enough stayed that way long after the dam was completed. So where else were they going to go but 15 miles down into the valley to Las Vegas.


Throughout the 30's and 40's it stayed relatively small but this was the time when Bugsy Seigel moved in and took over The Flamingo and started the rise and rise of the casinos.


The modern day allure of big shows and a more family orientated atmosphere actually started with the big name shows in the 50's like the Rat Pack mentioned above but has gone way beyond that now and today includes Broadway productions and long term engagements from world class singers like Elton John, Barry Manilow and Celine Dion.


The Sands closed it's doors in 1996 after a succession of owners, including Howard Hughes the reclusive billionaire. 

Two years later the new Venetian rose from the ashes of The Sands and has since become the largest hotel in the world  with the subsequent building of the Venezia and Palazzo towers.






So 50 years after the Rat Pack used to perform their shows on the same spot, they have been replaced by "The Hunter Girls" - equally as entertaining, and a lot cheaper (well actually maybe not...) And as you will see below looking very glamourous as they step out for their last night.


As for our visit, we are now on our last day in Las Vegas and making the most of the hotel, it's pools and the entertainment that the city is famous for.

Fiona here squinting in the sunlight before leaving for the concierge lounge and a few refreshments...

The free bar in the concierge lounge was certainly made good use of (this is still early in the evening!)

The Venetians indoor version of The Grand Canal in Venice.

Our hotel at dusk as we go out to enjoy our last evening.

"But Mum I am fed up posing for pictures with you!"

Having spent the evening enjoying ourselves, the tradition is now that we finish up with a visit back at the fountains of The Bellagio for one last look and to remember our stay in The City of Lights.

Here are the girls enjoying one last show - a picture that looks very similar to the last 5 minutes of the Ocean's 11 film and remembering another great few days spent here

Here is a video to end our stay in Las Vegas.








Time to go back to the hotel get some sleep and pack up for our relatively short trip to Zion.