I know this is longgg overdue but alas the kid is back!  Life intervened and I had to take a little break but let’s jump into this like I never left.

I decided to head out the west coast for a week  to celebrate my 21st birthday. Always wanting new experiences I opted to go to Arizona and Vegas. In a few short days I managed to check the following off my bucketlist:

  • Hoover Damn
  • Grand Canyon
  • Celine  Dion concert
  • White tigers

Hoover Damn & Grand Canyon West

I covered the Hoover Damn and Grand Canyon in a day via the Papillion Grand Canyon West Rim Tour. Our bus driver/tour guide was amazing, (he talked a little too much though) he provided detail about the rich history of different sites along the way. On the way back he even went off route to show us bighorn sheep and a few celebrity homes.(Apparently bighorn sheep are a big deal out there).The sheep  were just chillin’ on a playground near Celine Dion’s house! Grand Canyon West  is located on a Hualapai  Indian reservation. At the Canyon there are 3 different points: Eagles Point, Guano Point and the Hulalpai Ranch. The main attraction at  Grand Canyon West  is the SkyWalk – a glass bridge that juts out into open space from the canyon edge suspended 4,000 feet above ground. You can literally look down into the Canyon. It’s almost as if you’re walking on air! Pictures does not do the Canyon justice – it’s something that you have to experience in person.

 

 

The swindle with the skywalk is that you CAN”T bring your own camera. You have to put all your belongings/electronics  in a locker.  The Hulalpai are serious about enforcing a no electronics  policy as you’ll have to walk through a metal detector TSA style.Why would they do that? Well you have to pay almost $50 to get your picture taken if you decide to capture the breathtaking view.  Notwithstanding this little swindle it was a pretty cool experience.  By cool I mean a tad bit nerve wrecking. After a 15 minute wait I finally was on the skywalk and my heart rate sped all the way up. It was extremely windy and like a little b I held on to the rails silently praying I make it off alive. To make matters worst there was a guy behind me having a panic attack. Dude was keeled over hyperventilating and clutching his chest. No bueno. I quickly made my way off the skywalk to get food. An experience like that heightens my appetite. Dont judge me lol.

 

 

 

 

Food was easily accessible and served at all 3 points throughout the Canyon. Hot, sweaty, and starving  I decided to play it safe and get fries and chicken fingers at Eagle’s Point. Later thirsty and hungry yet again at Guano Point I decided to give the cowboy style barbecue meal a try. Initially I was a bit hesitant because there are  so many ways to mess up chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus etc. but  the Hulapai threw down! The food was on par. I’m not sure if it was the hunger or maybe the food was just that great but the brownies and cookies were everything in that moment!  By mid afternoon the lines for the shuttle bus transporting passengers between the three sites  grew longer. Waiting for the shuttle in scorching desert heat will cause major  fatigue. I drank at least 6 bottles of water in a four-hour time span. After numerous photos and giving my family  a panic attack for sitting way too close to the edge we  made our way to  Hulalpai ranch, rode horses and shot a few bows and arrows. By the end of the day on the bus ride back to Vegas everyone was exhausted. I planned to spend the rest of the night in but there’s no sleeping in Vegas. The next order of business was dinner and to check out Zumanity, Cirque du Soleil’s critically acclaimed show.

 

 

Zumanity: Tres Sexual 

This was my first Cirque show so I was not quite sure what to expect. I knew it was  highly rated  and dubbed as Cirque’s most sensual show yet but I didn’t know I was in for a night of seeing bare breasts, penises, mock penises, and listening to faux-orgasms. Reminiscent of a Parisian cabaret, the show heavily relies on audience participation. While there was flying and acrobatics I expected more high level stunts. If you’re  shy don’t sit in the first 4-5 rows because you will get called out! This show is not for the prudish it’s a celebration of human sexuality. If nudity, penises, and discussing your sex life makes you feel uncomfortable you might want to skip this one  and go see Ka instead.

 

Celine: The Reason I came to Vegas

Three years ago I brought my mom Celine Dion’s A New Day  DVD as a stocking stuffer  Christmas present. We were  floored by the diva’s performance-I instantly added ‘Celine concert’ to my bucketlist. Being the amazing woman that she is, mi madre  spared no expense and treated me to the best seats in the Colosseum  for my birthday! #BestBirthdayyet Before I jump into the concert the day was really about Celine. At my birthday lunch at Central in Caesar’s Palace I met René Angélil (Celine’s husband)! What a coincidence. Quick backstory: I was annoyed that out of ALLLL  the available tables the hostess decided to sit us between 2 occupied tables. (I know it’s not a big deal but I have spaces issues… our tables were too close for comfort). Anyway mid way through my meal I realized that the guy  having a business lunch sitting arms length across from me looked like René. I was a 100% sure it was him when he started showing pictures of the twins on his iphone (that’s how close we were sitting). As he was getting up leave I asked “Are you René?” and he graciously replied yes with a smile. I told him that were going to see the  show later that night  and he indulged in quick conversation telling us that we will be blown away by his wife’s  performance.

 

 

Celine: The Show

Celine can do no wrong in my eyes. If you go to the show expecting to see Cirque du Soleil aspects from A New Day you’re not going to get that. She replaced Cirque and is now backed with a 31 piece orchestra and stunning visuals. The show is not a Vegas type show with high drama elements it’s more intimate.It’s just Celine, and her orchestra.Her performances are intense especially “Ne Quitte Pas” where she cried at the end. (I suspect she sings this song for René). She even had  a few duets, one with Stevie Wonder, and another with HERSELF! All thanks to holograms. My ONE gripe is that I wish she did more of HER own songs instead of covers. Her James Bond set and Adele cover were great but I distinctly  wanted her to hear certain songs like “A New Day.”  All in all the tickets are well worth it. Aside from powerhouse vocal performances  she’s very personable interacting with the audience and sharing anecdotes from her life.I love that she’s such a class act but  still manages to bring the cray-cray.

 

 

WILDLIFE : Secret Garden & Shark Reef at Madalay Bay

Being the huge animal lover that I am I couldn’t leave Vegas without checking out Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat. Interacting with white tigers and getting a behind the scenes tour of the facilities is something that I always wanted to do. So if you’re into learning more about these unique big cats I highly recommend it.  On the last day I headed back to Mandalay Bay to check out their Shark Reef aquarium. I mean who doesn’t like sharks. I also made a few new friends and by that I mean all the sting rays flocked to me at the petting center.

 

Nightlife

Out of all the clubs I visited during my stay  Surrender had the best vibe.  There’s a good mix of hip-hop, and electronic/dance music. When Lil Jon spins a set you know you’re in for a good night!

 

Overall I couldn’t have asked for a better week. It was great catching up with my west coast homies and spending time with the fam. Nature, pool side cabanas, clubs, wildlife, and quality  entertainment I couldn’t ask for a better time.  Vegas has easily become  my new favorite playground.