HOW CHRISTMAS IS MADE IN VEGAS - "TRAVEL TUESDAY"

VEGAS DAY, BABY!!!  My friend Jackie and I do this far too infrequently, but made a pact at lunch on Friday to go sightseeing in our town, once a month, in the new year.  The bah-Hus-bands aren't much for the tourist thing, so it falls to us to get out on our own.  We apparently jumped the gun on the "Changing O' the Seasons", and got there a day too soon this time.  Not to worry, we had a fabulous day taking in Christmas decorations in three locations, finding a treasure of a lunch spot (next post), and getting a behind-the-scenes look at just how this fabulous display comes together.

This is the middle of the Atrium at the Bellagio...velvet ropes in place to keep the tourists out, or the decorations in, depending on if your Mimosa glass is half empty or half full!

Flying reindeer, carts of foliage and a schematic of the whole layout, a snow globe arch between the tin solders, and cranes to hoist it all in place!

Touch-up on a hat - what a fun job this gal has.

And these two guys, in the corner pictures - gardening inside the Bellagio, out of the elements of both summer AND winter (it was overcast and below freezing all day, this day).  No snow for us outside that day, but Vegas is renowned for lots of fake things here (they usually come in pairs), so snow is no exception!  The large wreath sits tucked in a corner, and is a draw for photos (Jackie juggling Christmas ornaments on her head), obviously...National Finals Rodeo is in town, as well, hence the unwitting cowboys, snapped in a photo op.

Silver bells................................(gold ones, too)...it's Christmas time, in the cityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

A Christmas train will roll around a pond when finished...we couldn't see the other side of the tree, so there may be one there, as well.

This stunning tree is 45 ft. tall, and 8,000 lbs - hand picked in Mt. Shasta, CA, and flown in for the display...

Massive Christmas ornaments on the even "MASSIVER" tree (there's a word for those Sonic burger guys)...

And, of course, the view from the secret spot, high above the hustle and bustle..

So much preparation for these stunning displays...

Carpets and carpets of poinsettias...45,000, to be exact!

Bellagio is partnering with Coca-Cola (hence, the bears) to raise awareness for the World Wildlife Fund this season.  The three beautiful polar bears are constructed with 18,000 white carnations.

And then there was this...something you have to venture away from the lobby to find, on your way to the tram to the rest of Vegas Christmas...

Chocolate waterfalls, huge fondant Christmas ornaments, and a life-size chocolate and fondant Grinch atop Jean Phillipe Patisserie...enough chocolaty goodness to make ANYONE's heart grow three sizes!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...it's even feeling like it here in the desert, though no snow yet.  To family and friends who are suffering in this cold snap, stay safe on the roads, and bundled up!  More holiday fun to follow this week...Ho, Ho, HO!