Las Vegas, the Bellagio

Could not say it better than Liberace!

I can watch films and get house envy, I now have hotel envy.

Fell in love with the Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip. Everything I loved about this weekend was embodied in the hotel.

Quixotic, colourful, generous, expensive, free, energy, larger than life, world class, artistic, sculpted, eclectic...

The flowers were spectacular

Hermes scarf as a window treatment

The creative glass work of the Bellagio

Larger than life displays

Fresh flowers in the Conservatory

The magical Cirque du Soleil's O

Bellagio, Las Vegas Strip

And the Bellagio fountains, my favorite stop along the Strip

Foodie Interlude: Las Vegas

'The artistic genius of Chef, Jean-Philippe Maury is displayed daily at Las Vegas' first truly European-style pastry shop.'

 Afternoon bliss while walking around the gorgeous Bellagio Hotel, people watching and a delicious sorbet.

Shawni sent me a Facebook link for the best burgers in each state and the lister in me got happy - so collecting burgers now.

The Nevada pick was Gordon Ramsey's BurGR on the Las Vegas Strip and specifically The Hog Burger. After the fabulous Cirque du Soleil's O at the Bellagio we walked across to Planet Hollywood, queued for half an hour, then devoured this burger. Best burger of the trip by far.

From the website: 
Already receiving rave reviews, the Hog Burger at Gordon Ramsay BurGR features a special grind Mangalista patty, perfectly grilled over oak, apple and alder woods, basted with maple butter and served with melted English sharp cheddar and arugula on a signature Brioche bun made fresh daily and topped with black and white sesame seeds.

Death Valley National Park, California

No research prepared me for Death Valley.

The access through the passes falling into the desolate vast valleys below sea level are remarkable drives.

The scenic beauty hits you around every bend. 

We could not get enough and have dropped in lots of photos to share this fantastic day with us.

Pass on the Golf! temperatures getting to 120 degrees F!

Death Valley National Park: Artist Drive

Artist Drive, Death Valley National Park 

The temperature kept leaping up as we drove along the Artist Drive. We were stunned by the spectacular color in the rock formation. Greens, pinks, purples, mustards, blacks, browns, blues.

Beyond belief. 

A wondrous place.

Death Valley National Park: Zabriskie Point

Iconic Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park.

Fred taking the most spectacular set of photos of the point and its surrounding Badlands. Nothing seems to move or fly, its eerily silent, scorchingly hot, tumble dryer feeling. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Coping with 115 degree F heat at Zabriskie Point

Roadrunner, Death Valley National Park

As one heads into Death Valley from the west the first stop is the Panamint Springs Resort. 

Fred and I stopped here to pick up coffee for our breakfast picnic. I was already scanning the bush around the camp spot  - after all their sign told me too..

Fred came back after chatting to the waitress and she had told him the roadrunners are early morning birds and it was already close to 9am.

Well, got my bird of the trip! 

The Roadrunner is my only target bird for the west. It has been on my radar for 4 weeks and then it quietly sneaked past me. Fred rushed off for his camera and managed to snap a few pictures before the bird disappeared. Awesome. 

Running as they do!

How cool is this bird! Rock star of the desert.

cautiously watching Fred and his huge lens.