The first picture is of our waiter Ken at Planet Hollywood restaurant in Caesar's Palace who famously said something along the lines of, "Did you see I took a sip from you're drink? Now we're like family!" before passing the taster of root beer (tastes like mouthwash) around.
There are lots of animals in Las Vegas. Lions, tigers, dolphins, flamingos. They all seem to be happy…
Mostly at Freemont Street in Old Vegas. It's the opposite of classy there, but we did manage to be there at the same time as the annual Elvis competition. Win.
If you've heard the word no expense spared, then the decorating flourishes in Las Vegas may make sense to you. They are stunning – sometimes in a good way. My favourite is the conservatory at the Bellagio. I love it there!
I use the word design loosely because I’m not sure if its the right way to describe the reinterpretation and outright thievery of some of the world’s most famous landmarks. Think BIG then quadruple it!
You can’t go very far in Las Vegas without Elvis popping up – the Bellagio Fountains perform to Viva Las Vegas, Sarah and I had a photo with ‘Elvis’ this afternoon and earlier today we checked out the Elvis Museum (The King's Ranson) and alongside the spangly outfits, bedspread and guns, there was a guy called Jimmy Velvet – a friend of Elvis’ since he was 15 and a musician in his own right who’d toured with EVERYONE – Johnny Cash included. He’s basically one of the exhibits in the museum with pictures of him and Elvis, other members of the family, musicians etc. What a strange thing it is to once have been famous.
We've also seen an astonishingly lifelike MJ, Spongebob Squarepants, Johnny Depp and various other personalities. No sign of Holly Madison or John Cleese, who was reportedly at the bar downstairs last night.
In a little over 48 hours I've swum at the beach and at a crazy pool, been to a so-called exclusive club, eaten the best sandwich of my life, had great tacos, met some incredibly fun people and been to see one of the most gorgeous bands in the world play at the Hollywood Bowl. This city is eclectic, but it has been a blast.
As a seasoned LA visitor of all of 48 hours, I think it’s safe to say that I prefer the relaxed indie scene of Venice over the overblown Hollywood ‘look at me’ vibe. That said, I had a very entertaining time last night on the town and then today visiting the pool at the W.
The Venice crew prefer their locals, but because there were visitors in town – me and an English couple who had been married by Elvis just the weekend before – the locals decided it’d be fun to go downtown for drinks and then on to Hollywood to experience one of the big clubs.
We started out at the Edison, which I would like to take back to Auckland with me. From the tasteful electricity inspired decor (it was a powerplant) to the cocktail list to the black and white films projected on the walls, the place is a winner. http://www.edisondowntown.com/.
A friend of a friend of a friend is an entertainment lawyer with connections and had got us on the list for The Colony, supposedly the hot new place in Hollywood and where Lindsay Lohan was arrested a couple of weeks ago. We didn’t see LiLo, but we did see the lines, power tripping bouncers and lots of very glammed up kids. I’m not saying it wasn’t fun getting to jump the queue (line, for Americans), but the place reminded me all the worst bars at the Viaduct crammed into one space. As far as people watching went, it was pure gold. Here are some photos – but we couldn’t see much of the decor because it was heaving. http://la.guestofaguest.com/nightlife/sbes-the-colony-tries-to-bring-the-hamptons-to-hollywood/. If your self esteem rested on whether you got into clubs, this place would kill your soul – while we waited out turn we saw pretty girls jump the queue and others on lists be turned away.
Everything closes at 2am so we quickly headed to a place called the Dime, which is like any bar you’ve been to except there were people wearing baseball caps sideways. After The Colony it was a relief.
Today we headed to Westwood to hang out at the pool at the W. We didn’t realised that Sunday afternoons are all about pool parties and it was like no swimming pool I have ever seen… although I think that the next week in Vegas will help me get over my astonishment.
There was a lot of crazy – high heels, big hair, tiny bikinis, masses of plastic surgery, chunky jewellery and cabanas. I shouldn’t complain because I made the most of the free spray tan and as I type this blog I’m slowly turning orange.
There’s nothing like seeing how other people live to make you grateful for your own life. For some people, it takes a trip to a third world nation. For this girl, Hollywood makes me glad to be me. I’m pretty sure we were the only girls eating pizza while lounging by the pool.
The photos are some of the less terrifying poolside paparazzi shots taken surreptitiously from our loungers.
I arrived in LA an hour before I’d departed Auckland. Sadly, not due to a time machine, just the weird timezone things that happen when you travel. When I come home I’ll arrive two days after I leave.
I got outside the airport around 6pm, so the drive to Venice in Adriena’s convertible was in the gorgeous sun. I love this area – its a little bit hipster, but mellow. We walked up the road to the cutest wine bar for dinner which was a great start to me falling in love with Venice.
We cycled to the beach this morning (after donuts for breakfast). Adriena has a surfboard rack on her bike and I managed to cycle on the right hand side of the road with no accidents. Apparently the risk of lawsuits ensures people are very careful of cyclists and pedestrians.
Venice Beach is seemingly never-ending with lifesavers everywhere and coastguard boats, even though the water is so safe – no rip here. The area we went to was surfers only, then swapped to swimming only, which worked out perfectly for us.
Of course everything is like the movies and there were millions of tourists, but as a visitor myself I had nothing to complain about. Apparently we were a little low on freaks today, but there were still plenty of notably orange joggers of indeterminate age.
I’d been told by everyone to eat Mexican in LA, so it was tacos for lunch, which were predictably delicious and a quick browse of the shops took my dress count from seven to nine.
We’re heading to Hollywood with friends and friends of friends of friends to go to a Hamptons themed club tonight, which somehow we’re on the guest list for. Tomorrow is all about hanging out at the pool at a nearby hotel, then back to Hollywood to see She and Him, Bird and the Bee and Swell Season at Hollywood Bowl.
If I lived here I’d be happy all the time, it is so good to be warm.
Sorry to go on, but I’m leaving for America on Friday for a short (but action packed) trip. The real travel blog is over on www.vegasforlife.posterous.com, but as a lover of lists, I thought I’d feed my own anticipation and everyone else’s eyerolling by posting 10 things I CANNOT WAIT FOR.
In no particular order:
1. Not being cold. As I type, it is the middle of the night in Venice Beach and the temperature is 16.9 degrees. That’s what I’m talking about. It’s 31.9 degrees in Las Vegas, but there’ll be air conditioning.
2. Hanging with the locals the only times I’ve seen one of my friends for years is when she’s visited NZ I’m looking forward to seeing her in her own habitat and catching up with a few other good people.
3. She & Him. Super excited about going to see She & Him, The Bird and The Bee and The Swell Season at Hollywood Bowl next Sunday! She & Him”s new video posted below. It is WOW!
4. Dinner at Picasso at the Bellagio. I got this guidebook on special at Borders and its right at the top of recommendations from decor (well it is decorated with Picassos, so duh) to menu to everything. http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/picasso.aspx.
5. Jerry Seinfeld he is one of the comedians most influential to a generation and we’re seeing him at Caesar’s Palace. Aside from the comedy, the experience of going to a massive stand up show will be incredibly cool.
6. Shopping. Of course.
7. Absorbing the culture. Culture might not be the right word. Absorbing the overblown kitschness.
8. Bubble baths.
9. LOVE at Cirque du Soleil. http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/love/default.aspx.
10. Visiting the three storey M&Ms store.
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12831262&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
<p>She & Him – Thieves from Merge Records on Vimeo.</p>
