Days like today take me back to the days of Ireland where we spent many days in a misty rain. Soft weather is what days like today is called (at least in Ireland). It reminds me of the misty rain that surrounded mom and I as we toured Hook Lighthouse. That same misty rain followed us as we climbed through an old ruin, fascinated by the old grey stone covered with a fine green moss while wild greens grew unchecked inside the open top of one building. And still the same mist surrounded us in the Kilmokea tea garden adding an air of romanticism to the beauty of the gardens.
Mist filled the air with mysticism in Waterford in the early morning as we began our day. We watched through the window as schoolkids in Killarney disappeared into the mist as they headed out to catch their bus. It was another misty rainy day on Inis Mohr as we bounced along in a horse drawn cart back from the amazing views of the cliffs toward our hotel.
Misty rainy days like today make me think of the wonders of the views, the amazement and enchantment I experienced from all the beautiful places we visited. One major difference from today and those lovely memories though, Prescott in February is much colder than those September days in Ireland.
Up the California Coast
Gorgeous view
Monday, February 27, 2017
Monday, February 6, 2017
Never Ending Day...or Night
Here is was..Las Vegas. The end of a week long road trip, the end of a seven hour day of driving but here I was, finally, in Vegas. I was excited to be here. My friend Kris had met up with me and together we Uber'ed to the strip for dinner and all the touristy trappings. Dinner at the Wicked Spoon was fantastic but it was EXPENSIVE!! We were able to enjoy a tapas style buffet with all kinds of yummy dishes from many different ethnicities. After dinner we wandered the hotel/casino the Cosmopolitan. It was amazing, knowing it was nearing 9 or 10 at night and yet the amount of people was just as crazy as it might have been in the middle of the day. I always heard that famous line of "the city that never sleeps." I can see why it would fit so well.
I spent a short time enchanted by a bar designed to look like it sat in the center of a chandelier. I laughed at the storefront of "Stitches" where a line of old fashioned sewing machines covered the front windows.
Finally we made our way outside and I goggled at the amount of traffic, lights, and people. So many people!! We made our way to the Bellagio and I spend a happy moment watching the fountain dance to "In the Mood." We made our way inside and found a Tiffany and Co. The jewelry inside was so dazzling but I knew I couldn't afford to buy any. I just wanted to say I'd been inside a Tiffany's so I approached the stern looking, intimidating security guard. I asked for permission and said I just wanted to say I'd been in a Tiffany's at least once in my life even if I never would own a piece of jewelry of my own. His stern appearance softened and he smiled, softly laughing, telling me to come on inside and look around. I drooled over the beautiful jewelry and smiled at the sharply dressed staff who stayed in their respective areas. Even knowing that my friend and I wouldn't be purchasing anything they offered assistance and answered questions. As I left I thanks the guard and wished him a good night. He smiled back and wished me a good night as well.
Next up was Paris at Las Vegas. I stared up at the pretend Eiffel Tour and drooled over the pretend Arc du Triumph, wishing desperately that I would one day see the real thing. Inside I was amazed, it was so busy, stores all along the "road" because going inside was like stepping outside onto a street of shops somewhere in Paris. The ceiling was even painted a sky blue with clouds and was lit. I felt like it was still daytime. Eventually we moved along from Paris to the Venetian but had to cross in and out of several casino/hotels. The movement from nighttime to false daytime as we moved inside and outside was disorienting. I had lost all track of time. Finally making it to the Venetian, I experienced a similar view as the Paris at Las Vegas but less ornate and with a "river" with Gondola's in the river. I was enchanted by this experience.
After wandering for a while my feet began to tire and my head began to swirl with exhaustion from the length of the day. Glancing at my watch, I was stunned to see it had crossed past midnight. Kris and I agreed it was time to call it a night. We grabbed a taxi and I watched as we exited the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip and headed back to my hotel. That night after bidding goodnight to Kris, I crawled into my bed, head swirling from the memories I had built. What seemed like days of experiences had all been crammed into one evening. I smiled as I drifted off to sleep. I would definitely come back, but next time with more than one evening to enjoy the experience...and perhaps with a little money saved for a small piece of jewelry from Tiffany's.
I spent a short time enchanted by a bar designed to look like it sat in the center of a chandelier. I laughed at the storefront of "Stitches" where a line of old fashioned sewing machines covered the front windows.
Finally we made our way outside and I goggled at the amount of traffic, lights, and people. So many people!! We made our way to the Bellagio and I spend a happy moment watching the fountain dance to "In the Mood." We made our way inside and found a Tiffany and Co. The jewelry inside was so dazzling but I knew I couldn't afford to buy any. I just wanted to say I'd been inside a Tiffany's so I approached the stern looking, intimidating security guard. I asked for permission and said I just wanted to say I'd been in a Tiffany's at least once in my life even if I never would own a piece of jewelry of my own. His stern appearance softened and he smiled, softly laughing, telling me to come on inside and look around. I drooled over the beautiful jewelry and smiled at the sharply dressed staff who stayed in their respective areas. Even knowing that my friend and I wouldn't be purchasing anything they offered assistance and answered questions. As I left I thanks the guard and wished him a good night. He smiled back and wished me a good night as well.
Next up was Paris at Las Vegas. I stared up at the pretend Eiffel Tour and drooled over the pretend Arc du Triumph, wishing desperately that I would one day see the real thing. Inside I was amazed, it was so busy, stores all along the "road" because going inside was like stepping outside onto a street of shops somewhere in Paris. The ceiling was even painted a sky blue with clouds and was lit. I felt like it was still daytime. Eventually we moved along from Paris to the Venetian but had to cross in and out of several casino/hotels. The movement from nighttime to false daytime as we moved inside and outside was disorienting. I had lost all track of time. Finally making it to the Venetian, I experienced a similar view as the Paris at Las Vegas but less ornate and with a "river" with Gondola's in the river. I was enchanted by this experience.
After wandering for a while my feet began to tire and my head began to swirl with exhaustion from the length of the day. Glancing at my watch, I was stunned to see it had crossed past midnight. Kris and I agreed it was time to call it a night. We grabbed a taxi and I watched as we exited the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip and headed back to my hotel. That night after bidding goodnight to Kris, I crawled into my bed, head swirling from the memories I had built. What seemed like days of experiences had all been crammed into one evening. I smiled as I drifted off to sleep. I would definitely come back, but next time with more than one evening to enjoy the experience...and perhaps with a little money saved for a small piece of jewelry from Tiffany's.
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