Happy Wednesday Peeps!

Peeps by the way is short for peoples. I know we’re going towards a whole different area right now, but “Marshmallow Peeps” is now selling snack size mini chicks and I am dying inside! All that marshmallow goodness compacted into a small chick just completed 2013 for me. You have not lived if you haven’t heard of them by the way.

Since Wednesday is my favorite weekday I made sure today’s post is extra special. Just recently, I went to the Cabrillo National Monument (San Diego, California) in search of the famous Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Getting there was a bit confusing since it sits on top of a hill in the very entrance to San Diego bay, but the 5 dollar entrance fee made it worth the trip. Okay just so everyone knows, there isn’t any food here. Fortunately for you guys, you have me for the inside info. But when I heard they only had vending machines, I rummaged through my car like a mad man for some quarters and nickels. If you’ve ever seen a raccoon ravage through a garbage container, It was similar to that. Probably even worse because not ONE PENNY came up.  For some reason I was walking towards the back of the building. Well there was a reason, I was going towards the wind because my hair which was very long at this time was blocking my whole face. I felt like I had pasta hair and that I needed one of those bonnets from “Little House on the Prairie.”

This panoramic picture was taken way beyond the danger zone on top of the cliffs. There was actually a little girl who went a tiny bit further than me, but I’d like to believe that I was the lone daredevil to cross the line.When I finally reached the front of the lighthouse I was astounded by how far my expectations were from reality. I was expecting a Lighthouse keeper, maybe some goats. Probably some bean cans scattered around the grounds and some lunch bell in the porch or something. Instead there was this sophisticated “oh those primal days” museum. I stormed out and took shots of the architecture instead.$5 Entrance fee per vehicle (Good for 7 days)

Have a great rest of the week you guys!

FOLLOW ME!

Lago

THE LAGO WAY – Vegas Part 1

The day started in an absolute rut. Since we wanted to get there as quick as possible (okay I did, you guys are such judgers) I made sure our check in time was so early that we had to get our stuff together way before sunrise. Well sunrise came and (freakin’) went 6 hours ago. We all woke up an hour before check in, which was at 1 in the afternoon. Me not waking up is primarily not my fault, because my alarm was set to level 9 rather than 10 and my body knows when its a notch lower. As for the other people in my group, they can speak for themselves because they didn’t even set alarms. After playing the blame game for a few minutes, we realized the deadline for picking the car up was an hour away and we had to storm to the rental place if we didn’t want to walk to Vegas. Luckily all the cars in the tier we reserved were all unavailable and they had no choice but to give us an upgrade. Score! Silver freakin’ lining!After 10 hours of pure pandemonium we finally arrived in Las Vegas. I booked a room at the Planet Hollywood Resort which is in the middle of the strip between Paris and some other hotel. For people who like the hustle and bustle without having to be in the middle of things, I recommend a room with a view of the strip, it’s a bit pricey but if you’re like me that can’t tolerate heat it would be the best option during the summer season. The only thing I didn’t like about the PH was the parking, it’s so far from the main entrance that you either had to drop off everything in the front or drag your stuff through the Miracle Mile Shops (retail center) that connects the parking structure to the hotel. It does have the cool underground celebrity vibe to it, but shuttles or even golf carts would’ve been great.Unfortunately the sun already went down when we got there, so I had one of two options—take shots of the view or of Charlie Sheen’s sweaty stuff (like hand-cuffs placed inside a see through side table) installed all over the room. I chose the view.

Seriously with the hand-cuffs Planet Hollywood? If it were a different actor there wouldn’t even be an issue. Except if it were hair gel placed in a glass case from one of the Jersey Shore kids. Please tell me no one got stuck with a Jersey room at the PH?! If you did, we’re forming a freakin’ 2 man strike in front of the hotel, and anyone interested in volunteering— we’re holding friday meetings at the Carnival Buffet at the Rio. Just look for the crazy dude with pamphlets.

The hollywood experience in my bedroom was so literal that I slept right next to a picture of Charlie Sheen running in the same sweaty shirt that was hanging lighted on the wall. 

Sharks & Scuba Divers

Covering 8 acres of land, the Bellagio fountains was opened in 1998 to the tune of $40 million. Originally envisioned to be a water resort in the middle of the strip called Beau Rivage, Steve Wynn and his team decided to tone down the project and transfer the concept to a casino resort in Biloxi, Mississippi. Constructed above a desert floor, the Bellagio fountains have had controversies of the man made lake being filled with treated greywater (water recycled from laundry, dish washing and bathing) from the hotel since a considerable amount of freshwater would be needed to fill the basin. Fortunately decades before the building was constructed a fresh water well had been drilled to irrigate a golf course that previously occupied the lot. Consisting of 4,500 lights, 1,200 nozzles and extreme shooters that can send blasts of water up to 460ft high, this daily choreographed show has stood the test of time and today stands as the best attraction on the Las Vegas strip.

40 Million + Some

Situated between the Monte Carlo and Cosmopolitan the CityCenter is a site to be seen, not only from the outside but from within. After my trip I was digging through articles and features when I stumbled upon some hefty price tags. With billions spent on the architecture, an unexpected 40 million was spent on the CityCenter’s fine art collection. With renowned artists like Maya Lin and Henry Moore covering from walls to corners, the CityCenter has set itself apart from the rest of the crowd. Before going to the center I had one installation in mind to feature, the “Big Edge” by Nancy Rubin. Rubin has been known for using recycled materials with her work and so she did with the “Edge.” Composed of suspended canoes jotting out from a single base structure the “Edge” definitely holds its own among the other center structures. Since it was located in front of the Vdara which (to me) was nowhere near the Crystals structure I thought to just feature the smaller galleries within half a kilometer radius from the center exits.

Happy 400th Follower

I wanted to wait for 500 but 400 is pretty darn good! Thank you!

LAGOS

[Just reached 500 in less than 15 hours! Thank you Thank you Thank you! Fasten your seat belt guys, I will take you through one heck of a ride! Don't miss out and FOLLOW ME!]

Within “The Center”

Okay, I lied, but with good reason! I was expecting to write about just a few things but when I started my research and got deep into the CityCenter (and you know I get in there for you guys) I couldn’t stop writing! There were so many interesting things and the post started to sound like jibber jabber! So this will be part 1 of 2! (kind of?)

Saturation Overload

Just a tad for color

We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers – Alejandro Roces

This is a short story written by Alejandro Roces during his freshman year in Arizona State University. He was well known for his humorous stories and whit in writing. “We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers” is dated back to the 1940s. The war had just ended in the Philippines and life was back to normal, except for a few new friends of course. This is one of my absolute favorites. I hope you guys like it.

Rooftop Rager

It was our last night in Vegas and it was ABSOLUTELY HOT outside. After a long day of walking, visiting attractions and watching shows we decided to go back up to our room and wipe up all the sweat we had just released into the world. Well maybe I did. It was not relatively early since it was 10 PM, but in Vegas, that’s early. I know I’m sort of breaking the “Vegas Rule” with my first official post, which turns out to be a non-existent rule, but for you guys I’m fine going to a non-existent Vegas jail. Okay so I get out of the shower and look outside my window and there it was: A big rager on top of the Cosmopolitan!

WELCOME

Hey Guys! This is the LAGOS travel blog. Like most of you guys I’m an extreme blog goer. I love blogs, I try and experience things through other peoples footsteps and look through millions of pictures and just getting away from it all. Early last year I’ve been conceptualizing on starting my own blog since a few family trips were coming up I decided to give it a try. I took every single shot from those trips imagining what I would say about it or if I could connect it to a story that happened. And after almost a year and a half I think I have enough to get this going. The main idea behind this is to introduce every single one of you guys to the world through my eyes, through what I see and really to get everyone distressed from their personal lives. I will bring you guys upfront and personal to shows, events, concerts and trips as if you’ve gone with me. I hope you guys stick with LAGOS and stay tuned. Below are a few photo teasers of what is to come this following weeks. Enjoy!

Bellagio Fountains Las Vegas

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans

Seaport Village San Diego

Rooftop Rager Cosmopolitan Las Vegas