Sedona & Las Vegas

Twisted Jupiter Trees

I woke up to see where I was actually overnighting and realized that I was literally right by the Bell Rock in Sedona. To start the day I took a little morning walk to go and see the Bell Rock closer by. It is said by many “New Age” folks that have gathered to live in Sedona that there are energy Vortexes right by Bell Rock and to be more specific the vortex of Balance. The “proof” to this is claimed to be seen in the “Jupiter” trees all around the Bell Rock that grow in spirals from the effect of the vortex. I walked for awhile and granted I found these trees that indeed seemed to be twisting as they were growing where the other Jupiter trees in the area were not. I don’t know weather the vortex was there or not, but many seemed to believe so and it is a popular “New Age” travel destination.

After I got back to the car I stopped on my way back to Flagstaff in Sedona itself. It is a very calm little town with magnificent sights all around it. Not quite as in Moab, Utah, but not far from that. I also learned after that Sedona is an UFO sighting hotspot.. luckily I came out intact.. ;)

Hoover Dam

I checked few of the shops on the way and started driving towards Las Vegas where I had a place to stay. Another “sailing friend” from the south pacific trip. I also realized that it would be my second last driving day. The only one left after was the drive to LA. The Drive was nice and with variety. Though long long straight roads again! There was one quick stop that I wanted to do on my way to Vegas: the Hoover Dam. And I must say that… it was smaller than I thought! Still big and a great marvel of engineering, but somehow the movies made it look so much bigger. Oh well, got my pictures and were on my way.

I arrived to Las Vegas to meet Jennifer around 5 pm. And that firs beer after driving tasted GOOD! After catching up the past 2 years we hit the Vegas Strip a bit. Stopped to have THE photo taken: which is of course in front of the famous “Welcome to the Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. The Strip itself is a marvel of lights and attractions in the casinos. Funny enough as we drove pass all these monuments from around the world I couldn’t but think. I’ve been there, I’ve seen that in real size, that’s the third obelisk I see.. etc. Granted there were few places I hadn’t been, but not many.. felt kinda good :)

We drove by the whole strip and back and stopped in Mandalay Bay Hotel, where Jennifer had a chance to get to the top floor for the scenic view of the strip. Very fancy club with a perfect view! After we continued to another hotel where we had to try our luck with Black Jack. I’m not a big gambling man, but "once in Vegas". So 10 minutes and $80 later I had to bail (I know some of you go: “you played only $80!” and the others go “how could you spend that much on a game!”) I felt that it was a donation I was ready to make for the sin city.. ;)

The following day I had the full day time to explore the strip and I set out to see what Vegas had to offer at day time. Plenty of tours, attractions and excursions one could’ve taken, but since I had only one day to explore I decided to do it on my own. I started from the Las Vegas sign again and walked my way all the way to the Caesars Palace checking every sight on the way. On my way back I did the same but on the other side of the road ;) I know it doesn’t necessary sound that exiting just to walk up and down, but I got my “money’s worth” from it! And I can’t lie, for the whole day I was expecting for the evening to come! We had booked tickets for something I had wanted to see for years: a Cirque Du Soleil Show. And not any show, but the famous “KA”! After I got back to Jennifer’s place I had a quick change and off we went again. First off: Eat then show.

We ate in this Sushi place that Jennifer spoke very highly of. Funny enough only just two years ago I actually learned to eat sushi. Anyways.. this place looked like any kind of sushi place I’ve been before, but undoubtly I had the best Sushi I’ve ever had! (so far)

Then it was show time. We got in good time to the MGM Grand hotel where the performance took place and managed to get really good seats as well. The show itself is one of the only one’s from Cirque Du Soleil with a story line I learned. The whole theater was built for this show and it was truly something. The acrobatics, Moving sets, aerial acts. Just a combination of pure awesomeness in a form of a show! 

Here’s few some details about it:

Kà is a show by Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Created and directed by Robert Lepage, the show and the theater cost $220 million to develop.

Kà is the first Cirque du Soleil production that deviates from the company's usual format—the production presents a more straightforward story, unlike the more abstract visuals presented by other Cirque productions.

In its review, the Los Angeles Times stated it "may well be the most lavish production in the history of Western theater. It is surely the most technologically advanced."^[2] The New York Times highly praised all the technical aspects and costumes, it was "essentially about the kind of wild physical feats that all Cirque shows are about, their jaw-dropping effect multiplied by the huge dimensions of the theatrical space." The show has been seen by more than one million spectators since its opening in October 2004. 

After all this awe it was time to get ready for the final day of driving. It was time to drive to LA!