Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - Road Scholar Program Day 4

After Buffet breakfast at the hotel, we went on a field trip to the 160-acre Walking Box Ranch.  The ranch was purchased in 1931 by legendary silent films stars Rex Bell and Clara Bow.  During the 1930s, it covered nearly 400,000 acres, supported 1,800 head of cattle and was a beautiful, rural, desert escape destination for their famous Hollywood friends including Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. 

Clara Bow (1905-1965) and Rex Bell (1903-1962) were Hollywood's premier couple in the 1940's.  One of the legendary sex goddesses, the beautiful redhead with the cupid bow-shaped lips made 46 silent films and 10 talkies in only 10 years (1922-1932).  She married Rex Bell in 1931 and retired in 1933 at the age of 26 to become a rancher at her "desert paradise".  Rex Bell was one of the white-hated heroes riding off into the sunset in the shoot-'em westerns.  In the 1950's Bell was the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.  They had two sons.


After a tour of the two-story 5060 sq. ft. ranch house and a box lunch at the bunkhouse, we did a drive by of the Hoover Dam.  The dam is located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas at the Nevada-Arizona border.   I was deeply disappointed that we were not able to tour the dam as I had been looking forward to the scheduled guided tour.  I also wanted to see the new 2000 foot long Colorado Bridge that spans the Black Canyon (about 1,500 feet south of the Hoover Dam) and is nearly 900-feet above the Colorado River.


We rode the bus to downtown Las Vegas where we visited The Mob Museum - National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement - in the historic former federal courthouse.  I explored all three floors, saw the actual St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall,  and visited the courtroom where the Kefauver hearing was held.  We drove back to Harrah's through downtown Las Vegas past Fremont Street and The Little White Wedding Chapel, the site of many "quickie" celebrity weddings.  It is noted for its Drive-Thru Tunnel of Vows.

After dinner buffet at the hotel we saw KA' - Cirque Du Soleil show at the MGM Grand Hotel.  Cirque du Soleil truly broke the mold with KA', its most lavish stage production to date.  KA' not only features Cirque’s signature dazzling acrobats and trapeze artists, this production also incorporates both Chinese and Brazilian martial arts, Poi (the Maori art of juggling), and the “Wheel of Death” — a thrilling spectacle of agility and bravery.   The theater itself was built specifically for this remarkable production.   The 360-degree rotating stage features unlikely elements such as moving platforms and a seemingly bottomless performance space, which adds to the drama to this unforgettable Cirque show. 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - Road Scholar Program Day 3

Following the buffet breakfast, we traveled by bus to Red Rock Canyon.  Red Rock Canyon is located just a few miles west of Las Vegas and encompasses 196,000 acres within the Mojave Desert.  We stopped at the new Visitor Center and then drove the 13-mile Scenic loop.  Red Rock Canyon State Park features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations.   

The park gets its name from the red sandstone layers that contain iron rich minerals.  Several of the sandstone layers are unusually white from ancient volcanic ash.

We had lunch at the Rampart Hotel/Casino.  We rode the bus to the classroom at UNLA where we heard a talk by James Taylor, Special Investigations Section, Nevada Gaming Control Board.  He presented information on gaming regulations designed to prevent crimes of cheating and fraud.  The board's agents make as many as 500 arrests annually for cheating or embezzling from casinos.  He talked about "The Black Book".  We rode the bus to the Hard Rock Cafe where Security Director Jessie Beaudoin took us on a hour-and-half tour.

I ate dinner early at Harrah's Buffet so I could attend Bally's "Jubilee".  I had a great seat - Row E, center seat in center section.   After the show, I walked across the street to the Bellagio.  The glass ceiling is spectacular as well as the flower garden with the merry-go-round and giant swan and baby swan and giant bumble bees.  Back to Harrah's and bed.

Monday, May 7, 2012 - Road Scholar Program Day 2

After a buffet breakfast, we went to Bally's Hotel (formerly MGM) for a two-hour Back Stage Tour of "Jubilee" by one of the showgirls.   "Jubilee" is one of the most famous show productions in Las Vegas.

Afterwards we walked to the Paris Hotel where we took the elevator up to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a magnificent view of the surrounding city.

We had lunch at UNLV Dining Commons.  Afterwards we had a lecture on Entertainment Engineering by Joe Aldridge, UNLV Theatre Dept.  We learned what it takes to put on a huge production in Las Vegas. 

We had free time after a Dinner Buffet at Harrah's.   I wandered south along the LV Strip to the Imperial, Flamingo, Barbary Coast and Bally's.  I crossed the street to Bellagio (Dancing Fountains) and Caesar's Palace.  Back across the street to Harrah's and bed.

Sunday, May 6, 2012 - PDX to LAS

I arrived at Portland International Airport a couple hours before my flight.  After going through security I purchased a cinnamon coffee cake and early grey tea from Starbucks, Concourse C about 7:45am.  I sat at a table near the windows watching the airport.

I caught the 9:25am Alaska Airlines Flight from Portland, OR (PDX) to Las Vegas (LAS) arriving about 11:30am.  We flew over Red Rock Canyon just before landing in Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.  I caught the shuttle to Harrah's.   It took me longer to get from the airport to my room than the flight from Portland to Las Vegas!

I purchased a sliced ham and provolone cheese on a pesto cheese focaccia and shortbread cookies from Starbucks in Harrah's lobby for a late lunch in my room.  I got the last room (1858) on the 18th floor in the Carnival Tower.  Great view of the mountains and the airport and a very quiet location.

Road Scholar check in was at 4:00pm, Orientation at 5:00pm (it would have been great to have quick introductions by each person - name, occupation and number of Elderhostels/Road Scholar programs attended) and Dinner Buffet at the hotel at 6:00pm.  Afterwards I watched the finale of "Amazing Race" in my hotel room.

Mother's Day Tea at Nordstrom, Vancouver, WA

My daughter, Catherine, and I had Mother's Day Afternoon Tea at Nordstrom at Westfield Center (formerly Vancouver Mall) at 11:00am.  We had two sandwiches: Chicken and a Cucumber; Zucchini Bread; Currant Scones; and several desserts: Lemon Lavender Shortbread, Chocolate Cake with Berry Mousse, Carrot Cake; Lemon Bar; and Elderflower Marshmallow.  All was served with Organic Earl Grey Tea with bergamot.  I would have preferred white bread on the tea sandwiches rather than wheat. Otherwise delightful.

"Movie Night Out"

I won a "Movie Night Out" gift basket from Addus HealthCare Services.  I had entered the drawing at the Connections 50+ Expo at the Hilton Hotel & Convention Center in downtown Vancouver.  There were several items in the gift basket: Tootsie Dots, Ferrara Pan Lemonhead Lemon Candy, Good and Plenty Licorice Candy, Nestles Milk Chocolate Raisinets, 3 Bags of Act II Movie Theatre Butter Microwave Popcorn and the DVD "Marmaduke" starring Owen Wilson and George Lopez.  It all came in the perfect popcorn bowl!

BrewCycle in NW Portland

I was parked near NW 17th & NW Madison yesterday afternoon when I see a strange looking vehicle in my rear view mirror.  I grabbed my camera and took a couple photos.  As I headed south on NW 16th toward Burnside I took another photo of the BrewCycle.  It looks like it would be great fun on a hot summer day!