THE EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE THAT IS VEGAS...A Return to "Travel Tuesday"

What better way to return to Travel Tuesday 2015, than in my own backyard.  A recent meet-up (camera ever in tow) with old friends passing through town, proved that Vegas is the town that never sleeps...especially when it comes to reconfiguring the old.  I know they were pleasantly surprised.

What used to be just a large alley-way between the old Imperial Palace (which is now The Quad) and The Flamingo Casinos, has been transformed into The Linq - shopping, eating, bowling and concerts; local artworks on the walls; and the 550 ft. High Roller Ferris Wheel that provides breathtaking views of the town.  This was an unusually gray, clouded-over day - we don't get too many.

The Flamingo Hilton, next door - the casinos and hotels are on a never-ending quest to update.  A few still have the old Vegas charm to them, with a few new twists.  The flamingos and pelicans can be found in a center, outdoor sanctuary of the casino - a place to go and reflect on the money you may have "spent" while in town.

A trip through the gorgeous FABERGE Revealed Collection, inside of the Bellagio Hotel - now through May 25 (it's an ever-changing exhibit, as well)...238 rare and jaw-dropping Faberge artifacts - the largest public collection outside Russia.  The glass sculpture atop the eggs (they don't allow cameras in, but believe me it is well worth a look!) is Chihuly - you'll find a Gallery for that there, as well.

The seasonally changing display at the Bellagio Atrium presently showcases Chinese New Year - 2015 Year of the Goat.  

I did hear grumblings among some there that 2015 is the Year of The Sheep.  Sheep/Goats - I think it's probably all relevant - gorgeous no matter what you call it!

And the ending of the day brought this - from atop the 32nd story hotel roof where they were staying, a view of the ever-changing skyline of The Las Vegas Strip.  This, the newest addition to the landscape - the fabulous and glittery City Center.  Housing The Aria Hotel and Casino; The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino sitting within the same block; high end shopping; dining; condominiums - truly a city within the city, with loads of glittering glass!  I think the days of the "theme" casinos (such as the old Excalibur and the MGM Grand) are on the way out.

A straight-on shot of the Aria, with the high-end shopping mall of Crystals in the foreground.

Either direction (north or south) on The Strip, remain the older, more easily recognizable buildings - they will all eventually end up with a Las Vegas face lift, making way for the new models.  There are a few here in town that NEED to be demolished and redone, but I guess I kind of like that they are holding on, just the way they are...at least for the time being.  

A view of the back of Planet Hollywood (which used to be The Aladdin, for those that remember), Paris, Bally's (which is older now, and used to be the old MGM Grand that caught fire all those years ago), with the new High Roller Ferris Wheel behind it all.

More great places to see - I've been saving up photos just for Tuesdays, in hopes of showing you something you might have never seen, or may want to put on a list to visit.  Hope your week is spent out of snow and cold!