Vegas = Venice + Vino

Upon our first day exploring we started with the Venetian which so many people had told us about. It was literally across the road from TI and it was such a huge beautiful looking place. Outside the Venetian is a bright blue canal with tall tanned singing Italian boys rowing the Gondolas that start outside and continue on inside the hotel. The architecture of this hotel was amazing, every little detail was just exquisite! The whole time we stayed in Vegas Tim loved walking past the Venetian as they had speakers outside on every lamp post blazing out Phantom of the Opera because it was showing inside in one of the theatres as you can see from the poster high up on the picture below.

We ventured on inside and of course the first thing you sight and hear upon entrance is the flashing lights and high pitched squeals of the slots and it does cause the beauty you just witnessed outside to fade somewhat...until you look up at the roof and see this magical ceiling brightly painted and magical.

We headed up stairs to the main part of the hotel and as we arrived on the second floor, it was like the elevator doors opened to another universe, almost like a section of willy wonka's factory, only not chocolate but shopping! As we walked on with mouth continually open in awe, above us was the ceiling painted as sky, and it looked so real and almost like it was moving. It alluded me so that I started to feel quite sick trying to watch it. Not only was the ceiling meant to look realistic, but the facade of every shop was made to look like your typical Italian streetscape shopfront complete with beautiful arch windows and balconies. As we strolled down the cobblestone corridors of this inside/outside miniature version of Venice we couldn't help but wonder how close was this to the real thing. There was entertainment happening on every corner, from human statues to a small performing troupe of jugglers, singers and musicians. It was incredibly surreal.

 

  

Trust me, this Corona action was so big that it was nearly taller than the juggler on the left and the human statue on the right! Well maybe a little bit exaggerated but it was one of the biggest bottles of beer we have seen. Pictured below are some Italian versions of a toffee apple. So many different varieties and flavours and so big. Two hands were definitely needed to hold up this delicacy.

 

The canals with gondolas inside the casino and shopping complex believe it or not were actually on the second floor. What an engineering feat that must be. All the shops and restaurants line the banks of the water and we could already see that we were going to enjoy a beautiful meal here one evening before we left sitting and watching in awe of this special place.