A Life, Lived

Travel Tuesday # 4

It's the fourthweek of Sandi's new blog 'event' - Travel Tuesdays. It's easy to play (I like THAT!) all you need to do is to post one of your travel pics (and who doesn't have a gazillion of those) and then pop on over to Sandi's blog to join her Linky.

By the way - even though I didn't explicitly say last week's post was Travel Tuesday I was travelling when I took the pics, it was Tuesday, so it was. Trust me, I did NOT forget about Sandi's event. I did not.

One of my work colleagues just returned form Vegas and was telling me about her trip yesterday. It got me thinking about our time there - sure, I loved the strip but I loved our visit to the Valley of Fire even more!

 
 
 
Enjoy travelling the world with Sandi today . . .

The BEST Thing I ate in 2010

I can already hear you - 'how can you pick one thing to be the best thing you ate last year given all of the food that you shovel down during the course of the year'.

Behave, Sandi. You are being rude. This is my blog and I can make any definitive declarations that I want. This is why I have a blog you know. All my life I wanted a pedestal to stand on from which I could make declarations . . . this is my long-desired pedestal.

Sure, I ate many wonderful things last year but one thing stands out well above the rest - the Maytag Blue Cheese Soufflé with Pear Compote we enjoyed at Bradley Odgen's restaurant in Vegas.

Oh my. The heart palpitates. It does.

Remember that old Reeses peanut butter cup commercial where they blathered on about how chocolate and peanut butter were meant to go together more than anyting else in the whole wide universe? Reeses clearly didn't know a damn thing about blue cheese and pears - these two seemingly opposites are clearly meant to be together   . . . not unlike Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

(Note the inane celebrity reference designed to enhance google stats although perhaps I'd have more traction with those who can actually use a PC had I used Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal - sadly this couple 'destined to be together for eternity' have apparently split up. Dear lord. No one saw that coming!)

Seriously though, the pairing (no pun intended. Well, perhaps a tad) of pungent blue cheese with sweet pear is a classic. Frankly, it doesn't matter what else you toss into the dish it will be perfect because of the presence of the blue cheese and pear side-by-side.

Palma told us how much she loved this appetizer - declaring it to be a food she'd want on her deathbed (well, actually I can't recall her exact metaphor - I was obviously drunk on Brad's killer martinis and was, as our dear friend Gail would say, 'overserved') but the exulted position that these soufflés held in her foodie estimation was such that the deathbed metaphor works.

Besides. It is my blog and I'm gonna say what I want. Please re-read paragraph two if you don't understand how that works around here.

Palma is a brilliant cook. She loves food. She knows good food. She may have some odd aversions to cilantro, tomatoes, beans, and many things green, but dammit, if she waxes poetic about a dish than you know it shall be brilliant.

Thus Paul and I were determined to order it at the restaurant. Happily it was on their tasting menu so we both selected it as our first course.

When it arrived I was confess that I was almost afraid to try it. How many times do you hear something hyped to a great extent until you race out to try it and are left somewhat disappointed. . . let down, as it were. In most cases you're let down not because the drink/movie/city/shop/restaurant/date/car/jeans/TV show/song/computer/park/lake/?/?/?/ is bad, rather it would be impossible for anything in creation to live up to the hype that has been placed upon it.

How would we smile and say 'mmmmm' if these soufflés weren't the best damn thing we'd eaten since we first tried salted caramel? How? We'd have to fake smile and then move on to the next course.

Well kids. I am here to declare that these soufflés were truly amazing. Creamy. Full of pungent blue cheese flavour. Light as air. The pear the perfect counterpoint to the cheese. Sure each bitty one probably had 500 calories but we were on vacation (sadly, my fat gut tells me that what happens in Vegas follows you home as compared to what the popular cliche may lead you to believe). It matters not . . . I'd fall off the diet wagon for these any day.

I am sure that you've heard of a pear and blue cheese tart. Hell, I've even pressed a pear and blue cheese pannini. Comparing anything else with pears and blue cheese to this dish is like comparing a Lada to a Mercedes. $ 2 Chuck to a 1996 Barolo. Meet the Fockers with The King's Speech. I won't continue for I am sick and require sleep - you catch my drift I am sure.

This, recorded for prosperity even though the snooty waiter (whom we did not much care for . . . unlike the soufflés) gave me 'looks' for taking photos, is the best thing I ate in 2010:

 
Oh my.

Valley of Fire State Park

I've left a few hints recently about our day trip off of the strip to see the Valley of Fire State Park. Funny to think that millions visit Vegas annually yet few of those folks take the 45 minute drive to this amazing place. On the other hand, it is great news for those of us who DO!

Before our trip I had asked on the slowtravel message board about visiting the Grand Canyon or Valley of Fire. Everyone said 'Valley of Fire'. There are times when I listen to the advice of others so we booked a day tour of the park.

I couldn't be happier for taking this wonderful advice!

There are many parks throughout the southwest which offer incredible scenery. Here red is the dominant color, next to large expanses of contrasting pale yellow rock, both part of an undulating landscape of petrified dunes, strangely-shaped boulders and sheer sandstone cliffs set amongst an empty, very scenic region near the north end of Lake Mead. It has been called one of the most photogenic locations in the Southwest, especially at sunset when the rocks glow deep red and do indeed seem to be ablaze when seen from a distance. The landscape is made more striking by the surrounding black hills of somber appearance.

 
Those hoping to discover more about the valley’s history will find a great visitor center that features comprehensive interpretive displays and exhibits with information on local ecology, geology and prehistory. A wander through the park’s many fascinating trails will take visitors past incredible formations like Atlatl Rock, which features truly amazing examples of ancient Indian petroglyphs, the White Domes, sandstone formations known for their brilliantly contrasting color, and many other fascinating sights.

We were lucky to visit when we did - there had been heavy rain a few weeks before and the vegetation was green and flowers were blooming. Our guide said that in 25 yers he had never seen wild flowers and green vegetation in the park in November.

The park is a short drive from Vegas - if you have a car it would probably be best to drive yourself and stop where you wanted in the park. Our guide was wonderful and provided incredible information about the park and the surrounding area but there were spots where we would have stopped to hang for a bit if we were on our own. I suspect when we visit Vegas next we will rent a car, at least for one day, and trek out to the park for a return visit.

 

Back Home . . . SIGH

So we are home.

We left Vegas at 6:30 am and arrived in Buffalo early at 4:30 this afternoon (with a three hour time shift).

After stopping to load up on groceries in Niagara Falls (butter was 2.59/lb!) we headed back across the border. Crossing was a breeze, when our customs officer heard that we had been in Vegas he spent the next 10 minutes yapping away about his favourite Vegas spots and asking us about our experiences. It was as if he was our new best friend. He didn't care how much we spent, what we had bought. As soon as he heard we had been in Vegas he just wanted to talk about that.

Apparently everyone has Vegas tales and needs to share 'em.

Now we are home, unpacked, and Paolo is starting the gazillion loads of laundry that he must do.

I am thrilled that I have the next two days off ofwork to recover. LOL

I am getting evil looks because he is slaving away while I am blogging (truth be told, all of my work is done  . . . . for now) so I shall finish with my favourite picture taken while we were on our Valley of Fire tour.

This is elephant rock:

 

Photo Hunt - Itchy

This week's Photo Hunt theme is 'itchy'. Since we're in Las Vegas it seemed appropriate to search for something 'local' for the hunt.

I was walking outside the Paris hotel the other day, looked up, and saw this guy. From this angle it looks as if he has an itchy back!

 

Vegas, Baby!

Today was our first full day in Sin City and I have come to appreciate why so many people love traveling here. This is a playground for adults. Leave the children behind and YOU play for a change.

Vegas has it all - glitz, shows, shopping, food, drink, art, people watching, and the promise of a big win!

All takes place within a rarefied Disney-like environment; . . . . no money has been spared to recreate Lake Como, Ceasar's Rome, the Eiffel Tower, San Marco Square, the Grand Canal, or the Statue of Liberty. Sure, you're not in Rome, Venice, Paris, or New York - anyone who comes here expecting to find those cities is a pinhead (that being my technical phrase) - this is a resort town where the illusions aren't all on the stage and it should be enjoyed as that.

Take today for instance . . .

We walked along the strip and went from Paris, to Lake Como, to Rome, to New York:

We checked out the Chiluly glass ceiling in the Bellagio hotel.

Drinks at the Mesa Grill

Lunch at the Mesa Grill and dinner at Carne e Vino by Mario Batali.

 
Throw in a performance of Jersey Boys and you have one hell of a great day.

Oh yes, throw this in on the first freaking spin of the dials and you have a beautiful day, indeed.

Is there a better playground just for adults?

If there is I want to GO!

Paris, Las Vegas Style

Yesterday we packed, loaed up the car and headed to Vegas. There were a few stops on theway (the Canadian dollar was at par - there were outlet malls aplenty - how could we NOT stop?) so it was close to 8:30 by the time we arrived.

The vibe at Paris is a relaxed and open Parisian street scene. The casino, shops and eateries are bustling. And it’s no wonder — Paris is in a prime location on the ever-evolving Las Vegas Strip. There’s plenty to experience at Paris, but if you want to get out to see the sights you’re right in the heart of the action.

After check in (no kings just queens . . . sigh) we met Palma and Brad for a late night snack in teh cafe. Having had a double double at In N Out a few hours before I wasn't hungry  but everyone seemed to enjoy what they had. I couldn't really concentrate on food . . . there were lights, sounds, and every now and then the screams of someone who had won coming from all around me.

I wanted to get out and PLAY!

 
Inexplicably, we went outside and walked about. It was freaking cold - even for we cold-blooded Canucks. The wind was threatening to blow the tethered 'hot air balloon' off of its moorings. Needless to say we were inside quickly and at the machines.

I LOVED what my friend Joanne calls the 'value added machines' - the ones where if you spin and a certain symbol comes up you win but then you have a second game to play. The Wheel of Fortune was a good example of this. I spun, won 3 bucks, but the Wheel of Fortune symbol appeared. This meant I had another spin of the big wheel - where I was $ 100. $ 40 on the next spin.

Fun, baby, fun!

We found many value added machines and won on most of them. By the time we headed upstairs I was ahead by about $ 150 and Paul was ahead by about $ 75 (from a PENNY machine). Of course this means that today we shall lose it all.