Viva Las Vegas!

Well, I did it!  I just got back from Las Vegas and we both survived.  All things considered, everything was perfect. :)

First off, let me just say that I hate flying.  I do.  I hate it.  It just feels... unnatural.  However, I would never let this hate (okay, it's more of a fear) stop me from going anywhere.  But, all of my flights were very smooth and I don't think I had that worried look on my face (you know the one like a deer caught in headlights) not once.  I was also very lucky in that I returned back to New York just before some pretty bad weather with very high winds, phew.

Now for Vegas... I arrived late Monday night and have to admit that I crashed in my room as soon as I arrived.  I stayed in the Stratosphere.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but I also wouldn't not recommend it either.  It was on the north end, but what bothered me most was how isolated it was.  However, my room was very nice and I got to go up to the top for free!

Looking down at The Strip from the top of my hotel.

Tuesday.  Ahhh, Tuesday.  I had a date with a day spa where I received a mud wrap, massage, and facial.  It was wonderful.  It was expensive.  It was worth every penny.  Some people may feel that spending money on such things as spas is about vanity.  Let me tell you, it's about sanity.  It is therapeutic and it is so very sensual.  My skin felt so soft and I just felt very sexy.  Feeling sexy leads to feeling confident and you need that when you are vacationing by yourself.  Seriously. 

After my spa date, I decided to trek down to "The Strip."  I decided to walk because first, I didn't think it was that far and second because walking is just so much more personal.  I really did enjoy it.  I walked in and out of many of the hotels and casinos.  They really are amazing!  However, that was the first and only time I walked to or from my hotel to where all the action was, lol.  My favorites from Tuesday...

The Bellagio from the top of the Eiffel Tower!
The water show was pretty cool too.  

One of my favorites was this glass "ceiling" inside of The Bellagio.

I also indulged culinarily Tuesday (actually every day).  Yum!

Wednesday I took a tour bus to the Grand Canyon.  I highly recommend visiting the Grand Canyon if you are ever in the area.  I can't quite describe it.  It's rock.  It wasn't beautiful.  It was magnificent.  It was breathtaking.  I also did the sky walk which allowed me to walk out over the canyon in a glass enclosed walkway (including glass floor).  Unfortunately, you can't bring a camera so I don't have any pictures to show of that experience.

Pictures just don't do it justice.

I climbed to the top of this one... the views were amazing!

I did meet two people on this bus excursion.  I met a woman named Jennifer.  She happened to be alone because her husband was in Vegas for business and we got along great!  We spent the whole day together and it was so much fun.  The other was Chris.  He did a helicopter tour (which according to him was beyond words) so we didn't spend too much time together at the Grand Canyon, but we did chat on the bus.  He actually asked me if I wanted to join him that night to go out clubbing.  He seemed really nice and it was Vegas, so naturally, I said...no.  Lol, I can't be reckless or stupid.  I had my own kind of fun later that night!

I almost forgot... The Hoover Dam, very cool as well!

Technology is really an amazing thing.  I'm talking about a specific type of technology, the smart phone.  Or more specifically, because I am biased, my iPhone.  Throughout this trip, even though I was physically alone, I never really felt truly alone.  Between texting, talking, and Facebook, a friend was never far away.  So Wednesday night, I got dressed up and went out for a fabulous dinner at the MGM Grand.  Afterwards, I walked around and found a few galleries and fell in love (with the photography) and ended the night by watching The Bellagio's water show at night.  It would have been nice to share this night with someone, but I didn't feel alone either.  

These are actually seats, I don't know why, I just love this photo.

Finally Thursday, my last day.  I really didn't do too much.  I made my way down to Caesar's Palace, which I had not yet been in, and found yet another gallery which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Then I went back to my hotel and just laid out by the pool.  It was nice to just sit and do nothing!  I went out for another nice dinner and then hopped the red eye flight back home.  My vacation was over.

I am so glad that I decided to take this vacation.  Las Vegas had never really been on my list of places to go, but it was actually a great place for me to go.  There was plenty to do and yet I didn't feel like 3 days wasn't enough time there either.  I didn't feel uncomfortable being by myself, not once.  It was a wonderful getaway that I truly needed.

My son... how I love him.  He stayed with my parents (whom I am so grateful towards for watching him) and he was just wonderful.  I was really worried about him sleeping at night, but he did great!  I am just so proud of him.  I am writing this with tears in my eyes... he has been through so much this year.  Even though he is very young and doesn't fully realize all that happened, he knows that his father is no longer here and he must feel that loss.  My husband's death brought about many changes in both my life and my son's and he has adjusted so well.  I knew that he would be well taken of with my parents, but just knowing that he is secure enough to be happy in a new situation, just made me happy.  I was able to relax and enjoy myself all the more.