Naturally, we encountered many sharks at very close range. 

The tour features an underwater transparent tube that takes you through the aquarium’s main holding tank. 

At the Mandalay Bay hotel we took the Shark Reef tour and met this rare aligator as we entered the exhibit. 

This morning we visited a number of the Las Vegas strip hotels including the Venitian pictured here. 

The Bellagio at night, my favorite hotel on the Vegas strip. 

We dined at Circos overlooking the Bellagio lake and fountains. 

Happy Birthday for my sweatheart. 

It is finally time for the big surprise. Unknown to Jeanine, her lifelong friend Kris and her husband Rob had contacted me months ago suggesting we meet in Las Vegas for her birthday which coincided with a conference Kris was attending. Since I needed to be in Las Vegas the following week for the National Association of Broadcaster’s trade show, the timing good not have been any better. Kris sneaked up behind Jeanine as we were walking through the lobby and took her completely off guard. 

We check into our suite at the Bellagio where we are greeted by an exquisite box of chocolates and basket of fresh fruit. 

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Immediately after landing, Jeanine encounters a rattle snake which she promptly kisses fulfilling a promise made to Maya. 

A view from the air as we approach Nevada. Later in the week we will be drivng through these very mountains. 

Today is Jeanine’s birthday and I am taking her to Las Vegas for a long weekend get away. Our flight out of Boston just beats the incoming nor’easter. 

The main reason for my visit to the rookery was to visit the nesting great blue herons. I was not disappointed and this is just one of two dozen great shots I came home with. 

I am out in the middle of the woods and this beaver nearly gives me a coronary by slapping its tail in the water. Here I am scanning the trees for birds and this guy has been swimming back and forth right under my nose. I guess me got upset that I was not paying any attention to him and thought he would try to scare me to death.