Las Vegas: Photo Shoot & The Strip

It’s time to finish up Vegas! Saturday was our free day in Vegas as MerCon was a one-day event, however there was one last mermaid-related stop for us to make. Heather had signed up for an underwater photo shoot with Susan Knight from Susan Knight Studios before we left for Las Vegas. She was able to get the first slot in the morning once we met with the photographer at her booth at MerCon. Heather told me that it would be all right with her if I stayed back at the hotel to get some extra rest/relax. My response to that? Heck, no! I was excited to head to the photo shoot and watch the photographer at work (as well as Heather swimming in a mermaid tail)!

Heather was able to borrow a tail from The 2 Tails. Here’s Cata, showing her how to put it on.

Now, let me tell you a little about our morning pre-photo shoot. Heather and I got up bright and early. Well, Heather got up bright and early, I got up a little dull (and groggy after a late night of editing, which I started as soon as we left the pool party) and later than Heather. Fortunately, I didn’t require perfect hair and make-up for the outing. We got ready, grabbed some coffee from Starbucks and left to meet our taxi. And our taxi driver was a character! He was excited to drive the Minnesota Mermaids around for the morning and chatted the whole way to the location of the photo shoot. I have to say, he is one taxi driver I will remember for the rest of my life!

Once we arrived at the location of the shoot we discovered that it was in a neighborhood where we didn’t exactly feel safe. The taxi driver stayed with us for awhile until we sent him on his way. After that, we tweeted/texted our location to our friends and tried to think of ways that we could use the mermaid tail in self-defense if needed. Soon enough (now, looking back) a lifeguard arrived, and he let us into the pool. The photographer arrived just a few minutes later.

Heather had some time to practice swimming with the mermaid tail.

Then, the photo shoot began.

Eventually, other mermaids (and mermen) began to arrive and everyone hung out in the pool before and after their photo shoots.

The final shoot was for a magazine and all mermaids present for private shoots were allowed to participate.

After the photo shoot, we called our trusty cab driver and he came to take us back to the hotel. Once there, we grabbed our first meal in 24 hours and relaxed for a little while before we went out to spend the evening on the Strip.

Our first stop was Caesar’s and we walked around outside looking at the sculptures and fountains:

Mer-horse! Perfect for a mermaid event!

After this, we went back into the casino to walk inside and see all the decorations in Caesar’s and the Bellagio.

While we were at it, we enjoyed the most delicious mochas and cappuccinos ever created!

Eventually, we found spots outside the Bellagio to watch the fountain show.

This is one of my favorite sites of Vegas. I love the music, the blasts of water, the smell that fills the nose and the mist that covers the skin. Afterward, the fellow French survivors (from the French class from hell – no joke!) journeyed over to the Paris Casino and Hotel, where we grabbed dinner and walked to Bally’s.

Once we were finished with our time on the Strip, we journeyed back to the Silverton, where we hung out with the fish. The following day we left, ending our magical vacation to Las Vegas and the world of mermaids.

I’ll be posting links to some of the vendors we met tomorrow.