Venetian Gondola Serenade

O Sole Mio! I can not help but have this song run through my mind when I see a gondola. It is one of the most famous Italian songs in the world. I have heard that even though Venetian gondoliers sing this song for tourists it is actually a Neapolitan song. If my photo has gotten you in the mood for Italian serenades check out more Italian songs here.

Venetian Gondola
A romantic Italian gondola rocks gently in the aqua blue canal at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Viva Las Vegas!

We are back from Las Vegas and we had a great time! It has taken us both some time to switch gears and get our feet back under us. For anyone that has been to Vegas you know exactly what I mean. There is no place quite like it. Think about it. An entire city built just for entertainment. And they have it down.

View from our room at the Four Seasons.

We stayed at the Four Seasons, the top floors of Mandalay Bay, and loved their resort. The pool was quiet and relaxed with constant pampering, even cucumber slices for your eyes. We spent almost every afternoon there and it was heaven.

Pool at the Four Seasons

In the evening we would prowl the strip looking for the perfect martini and dining experience. By the third day we were ready for hamburgers in our room, which we did for our anniversary, and could not have been happier!

Ric in front of New York New York Casino in Las Vegas.

Fountain at Bellagio.

Ric at the Venetian.

We also got to see Cirque du Soleil's "O", Cher, the lions at MGM Grand, the dolphins and tigers at the Mirage, and a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, which was our favorite thing.

Waiting for Cirque du Soleil's "O."

Papillon Helicopters is a really great outfit and our pilot, Mike, is a great guy. He took time to give us a great tour, pointing out landmarks and features on the way to the Grand Canyon. I loved every minute!

Yes! I am the copilot! That's Mike behind me. World's best pilot.

Ric and I in the Grand Canyon with a helicopter taking off behind us.

I hope you enjoyed the snapshot vacation! I will be back with your "regular programing" in my next post. Cheers!

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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Sunday Gallery - Seattle Evening Romance

One wondrous evening in Seattle I was totally enchanted. Going from a land of mountains and dry sage in Colorado to the seascape of the Pacific Northwest is a dramatic change to the senses; with the gently falling rain, the ocean's salty scent, and the sailboats floating lazily like giant birds on a giant pond. We stood mesmerized watching the ships for quite some time and then decided to have dinner on the waterfront deck of our hotel. The breeze was a little chilly but undaunted we "layered up" as we say in the mountains, unwilling to give up our intoxication with the waterscape. I caught our reflection in the window and smiled. Afterward, we walked hand in hand along the waterfront as the sun slowly descended into the water of the sea.

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

On Vacation in the Pacific Northwest

I am packing my bag and getting out of town. Well, so to speak since I do not live in town. But none the less, I'm heading out, hitting the road, taking off. My destination is the Pacific Northwest and I could not be more excited!

Please note that the following gorgeous photography is not mine.
I have linked the photos to the photographers' sites. Please give them a click too!

My sweetheart and I will be staying for three nights in Seattle to get our city fix. There is a ton to see and do and I'm planning on shopping, dining, and touring to the max.

A whale watching tour is on our list too. I just hope I do not get so excited that I forget to snap some photos! This is something that has been on my bucket list for a long time!

Next we are heading to Port Angeles. For those of you who are Twilight fans this is the heart of it all. I am looking forward to exploring the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park. There are all those wonderful wineries to explore too.

So don't expect me back for awhile. I'm taking my camera(s), of course, and will return with many pics and experiences to share.

Cheers!

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

On Vacation

I'm on vacation. I'm taking a few days off. My husband has been after me to slow down and I am going to take his advice. I have a couple great excuses too. One, it's my birthday week. Two, a couple very dear friends are flying in from California for a visit. I'm very excited as we have not gotten together in five years. So if you are looking for me, I'll be sitting right there on the porch, rocking, talking, and sipping a wine cooler. See you in a few days!

Golden Bliss