Hey, I'm Dutch! » Nevada

Hoover Dam Construction

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:13:55 +0000

Counting our mobile phones, P and I have a total of 6 cameras with us on our trip. I just found this cool shot of some construction going on at Hoover Dam. Not sure what that work is, but I thought it would make for an interesting pic.

Hoover Dam

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:10:39 +0000

The Hoover Dam is an impressive site to behold. It is one of the largest concrete structures in the world, standing at 726.4 ft (221.4 meters) in height, containing 3.25 million cubic yards (2.5 million cubic meters), and weighing in at 6.6 million tons (6.0 billion kg). All this concrete is necessary to hold back the mighty Colorado river. All of that raw power translates to about 4 billions kW-h (14 billion MJ) of power per year. Amazing!

Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a proper aerial view of this massive structure, but take a look at some professional photos of it and it still wouldn’t prepare you to see this thing in person.

Wynn, Las Vegas

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:34:52 +0000

P and I were having so much fun at the Venetian, and it was so damned hot in Las Vegas, that we wound up just visiting Caesar’s and the Wynn. Hey, there’s only so much you can do in 4 days in Vegas, k? The Wynn has really empty when we came to visit. You would expect the crowds to be thinner because the Wynn caters to a bigger bank account clientele, but it was way emptier than that reason alone would explain. I guess ballers are feeling the pinch too. Beyonce was performing next week at the Wynn so I was really bummed we wouldn’t be around for that.

These pics are from one of the cool waterfalls in the Wynn. No, that’s not someone skinny dipping in the pool, that’s one of the sculptures. Get your mind out of the gutter! Can you spot the smorkin’ labbit?

Blue Man Group

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:57:54 +0000

The Blue Man Group show was a blast! Music, lights, art, and humor all rolled into a spectacular experience. The sheer creativity of these guys astounds me. The way they involved the audience throughout the show was paced very well and you really felt engaged with the show. If you ever find yourself in Las Vegas, you have to check these guys out.

Sweet Suites

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:18:15 +0000

Not bad for $129 a night, eh?

There were three–yes, three–flat panel TVs in the suite. Yup, that’s a TV you see in the bathroom. The bar lit up from below which was pretty cool. The curtains were remote-controlled. There was even a scanner/printer/fax in the room. There was a phone in the toilet, but I think that’s just wrong.

Now you see why I think the Venetian is my new favorite?

The Venetian for a Steal!

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:52:03 +0000

Guess there is something to this recession thing. Hotels in Las Vegas were going for as little for $16 a night for the Sahara, right on the Strip! Places that normally cost $300 a night were going for half that price. We got a great deal to go to the Venetian, which officially became my new favorite hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

Great restaurants, suites, happening clubs, cool lounges, and great shows. What more could you ask for? Party at Tao or Lavo. Catch the Blue Man Group, Phantom of the Opera, or Wayne Brady. Oh, and the V Bar lounge hosts a meet-and-greet with the lovely ladies of Spearmint Rhino. It was pretty hilarious to see them walk through the casino and watch all the tables stop gambling to stare.

Vegas, Baby!

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:36:22 +0000

In the distance on the I-15 you see lights blinking across the horizon. Well, you would if it were night time. In any case, that beautiful beacon of lights marks the Nevada State Line. Anyone who has made the drive in from California knows that sight and knows that Las Vegas is not that far. As always, Buffalo Bill’s is there to bid you welcome to Nevada.

It didn’t take P long to enjoy the flash of Las Vegas and the promise of riches to be won at the tables. I was up a couple hundred but gave it back a little while later. Hey, you’re supposed to play out a heater, right? Blackjack is fun, but it’s a lot better when you have a fun table or a great dealer. I had both so it was definitely good times. I never really learned all the rules of betting on the craps table, but it is a lot of fun. You can win a lot very quickly, but lose that much and more just as quickly.

All in all, it was a great trip. P and I are both looking forward to our next visit!