Where else can you go and see so such incredible architecture? We love the visuals of LV as much as we enjoy the shows. The creative teams that design each hotel are to be applauded. Yes, they're fake, no, they're not to scale, but the details make up for any and all descrepancies. You are instantly transported each time you walk into a hotel to an imaginative place that often takes my breath away, or makes me want to leave fast, such was the MGM Grand. It's interior is just too dark, they love the color black, and I felt claustrophobic until I saw the lions. I had to get some photos before escaping into sunlight. 
Everywhere you looked something was going on and once again we were blown away by the performers. But, I don't think we need to see this show again. 
After the show at the Mirage we grabbed a taxi, just too far to walk back to the Bellagio where we seem to gravitate at least once a day even though we stayed at the Paris this time. It was 11pm and I wanted to get a couple more photos of the water show in the Bellagio lake. Well, the traffic was stalled due to the construction going on next to the Bellagio. We had paid under $8 to get from the Paris to the Mirage and $29 to get from the Mirage to the Bellagio. Same mileage but obviously a longer commute time. We arrived at the entrance to the Bellagio just in time for the next to the last show and I aimed the camera and got this amazing shot! The water had just shot up for the final chords of the song, I don't remember the song, and happily everything worked! The photo that I posted two posts ago was taken after this one when we moved to a better spot. The water show ends every night at midnight.
The change/coins at the feet of the angel on the right had been tossed in by visitors, obviously, some of them missed the fountain.
We got to the Paris hotel just as the sun was setting and when the desk clerk asked if we'd like to change our room, on the backside without much of a view, for one on the front overlooking the Bellagio for a much lower rate we didn't hesitate. When we stayed at the Bellagio last year we had a view out the backside of the Rio Hotel and of the desert. How grand is it to see the Bellagio water show at night from our room? Very! We were on the 29th floor of the 32 floor hotel. The photo on the left is the view out of the window. The Bellagio lake is in the middle with the hotel directly behind it. Just under the Eiffel Tower is a restaurant that we ate at on our last night there. We sat on the left side and had a window seat of the Bellagio lake, perfect for watching more of the water show.
The night shot was taken from the front of the Bellagio with the Paris hotel in the background. Happily we discovered that the second performance of "O" at the Bellagio was at 10:30, unhappily it was sold out, but if we came back at 9pm and put our name on the stand-by list we might get in. A fast dinner at Noodles, the only lousy meal we had, and a quick race back to stand in line. We were 9th in line would we get in? They started calling the standby people at 9:30 and by 10:45 we were sitting in the 10th row back dead center! Last year we were in the first Mezzanine. We remembered the show as being outstanding and it didn't disappoint! No wonder I was so inspired the first time by the colors, sound, and amazing talent of the performers! It is very magical. 
Many, many moons ago in a Galaxy far, far away, well it does feel that way sometimes! I remember reading "Passages" by Gail Sheehy way back when I was interested in such things. I didn't understand how life could change so much but after all I hadn't lived as long as I have now. My life at times feels alien to me; kid, student, wife, daughter-in-law, mother, ex-wife, new in-laws, working at jobs I loathed, ex-wife again, and then finding my way back to art first through off-loom weaving, photography, and finally to where I am now which I like to think of as abstract experimentation in a variety of mediums. It's a good thing that we can't see too far down the road, well actually, we can't see down the road of life at all. We leave a trail of events behind us that shape who we become on any given day. If only I'd known that with age comes some wisdom that wasn't afforded to me when I was younger. What wisdom you may ask? One thing I know for certain is that nothing stays static long enough to give up our happiness for. Now if I could just remember that on a daily basis perhaps I wouldn't drive myself so crazy with anxiety.
It's been such a long time since I've seen rain that when it happened yesterday the novelty of it was an event. If it hadn't been for a guava tree that required re-staking after the monsoonal wind raced through the area on the tail of the rain I would never have seen the cloud formation that was to the north of us. The windows face south. Truly a break from the mundane sunshine endless hot days. Sweet! I blogged a little more about it on the photography blog. 
On of the ideas for the 52 projects was to use scraps from some of the pieces and create a new one, thus this one was born.
I'm starting to see the end in sight for this project which brings up the question, do I do another year of 52 projects? I have a couple of ideas brewing, one of which is to work on muslin pieces no larger than 8.5 x 11.5 inches. Books maybe? To that end I started messing around with muslin, paints, and a variety of textures. First copper fabric paint was brushed over the entire surface and while it was still damp black black mixed with water was misted on from a spray bottle. Before the black dried a texture tool was scraped through various areas. Bubble wrap was then painted with Red Iron Oxide and randomly stamped on the piece. The depth of the textures aren't evident in this photo.
Exhausted and feeling vulnerable after the theft we barely remember entering the magnificent city of Florence. We had been in such a rush to leave the city a mere week before, Italy awaited, so returning to its embrace was met with relief and confusion. The city made no sense to us but we knew one thing for certain, we needed a hotel near the airport for the early morning flight. It took quite a bit of doing but we found Hotel Franchi of which the only redeeming feature was that it was close to the airport. But we were to discover not close enough to the areas of interest in Florence. We left he car in the parking lot and after more misdirections than we could believe finally boarded the last bus going into the center of Florence. What had we been thinking when we left the car behind? Too exhausted to sort out the city, that's what we had been thinking. I was certain that my feet couldn't manage one more step, but after giving up the walking shoes for sandals I was able to persevere enough to completely enjoy the balmy evening.
The daylight remained just long enough for me to photograph some of the Cathedral, baptistery door, building, windows, signs, and statues. Some how we stumbled into the Piazza della Signoria where copies of Michelangelo's David reside. The Piazza was the perfect setting for dinner at Cavallino where we sat next to two couples from England. The waiter decided that we should all become friends being that we spoke the same language. It couldn't have been a more delightful last meal in Italy.
Ponte Vecchio is best seen in daylight but when that isn't possible its best to enjoy the experience no matter what the conditions are. So, these are a couple of the night shots including a manipulated one at the bottom.
June 13, the last day in Italy. I could have stayed in bed all day; fatigue and FM flare-up at all time high, but the flight home out of Florence was the next day so we needed to move ourselves in that direction. We had hoped to see some of Tuscany, but time ran out so Orvieto in the Umbria region would have to suffice. The village on the Rock, as it's often referred to met all of our expectations and more. It was market day and we arrived in time to wander through one at the north end of town, that is after we parked the car and walked and walked. I stopped quite often to photograph and try to gather some strength to carry on. It seems that when one is absorbed in the surroundings energy can be mustered. Whatever it was I was able to fully enjoy the village even if the day was near stifling. I can't imagine traveling any later in the summer as humid as it was starting to get. Happily there was a pharmacy in the square where the market was and I was able to get band aids, never travel without them! for the blisters that ended up taking over a month to heal once we were back home.
Orvieto might not have been as colorful if it weren't for the banners, colorful window displays and planters full of plants. Obviously the residents have a flair and playful side and take great pride in their village. We ate lunch, outdoors of course, sat in front of the duomo that refused to be photographed; the light was too bright and the design defies being photogenic and bought touch-stones at Yolanda's before heading back to the car. The village had literally rolled itself up tight, shops were closed, the market had disappeared and the locals must have all gone home, we felt like we were trespassing. Siesta time? 