CHARDO • A Mission: Las Vegas

So I know that I haven't really written in weeks, I promised this to you day's ago, and to that I am deeply sorry. But for now, I have a lot to talk about. Concert choir tour was amazing! I had so much fun!
The bus ride was long, but fun. Not much to tell you there. Disneyland was by far the most fun. The rides, the magic, the memories... oh so many. For those of you Disneyland purists, yes I mean you E, you really need to check out California Adventures park. It has really changed for the better since it opened. There, they have Soarin' over California, by far my favorite ride. It gives you the sensiation that you are flying. Then there is Tower of Terror, a terrifying 13 story drop into The Twilight Zone. I forgot, you need to check out Toy Story Midway Mania. It is a game! Then there is Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth. Oh, how I love that park. It is truly clasic americana. All the rides are classic - all five mountains (Space Mountain is my favorite), Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, Small World, Pirates and oh, so many more! I didn't perform there, just watched the ensamble perform. A whole day at Disneyland is tiring, and expensive, but it is magical!
Newport beach was fun. We walked along the beach looking at the beach houses, where we found turtles in someone's yard. I was exhausted and slept on the beach for about an hour. I saw it - The Crab Cooker. Anyone who watches the OC would know what it is. I wanted to go in, but I didn't.
Nick, one of my room mates and I bought 40 bagel bites and ate them all. Now that I look back on it, this disgusts me.
Sunday was a neat day. We performed at an Episcopal church. It was interesting to see how others worship, but it felt as if something was missing. Then we performed at a fireside where Peter Vidmar, a famous gymnist spoke to us. It was a good day.
I was excited for Monday. We were in Las Vegas. On the way the choir stopped at Upland High School, in California and listened to another choir accomplish an amazing feat, Tuvan Throat Singing. Then we were finally off to Vegas. We stayed in a dump - Americas Best Inn and Suites, seriously the cheapest place in vegas, $30 a night. At night there was a security gaurd walking around. It was in a creepy part of Vegas, just off the strip, across the street from the MGM Grand.
As I said before, PHANTOM was amazing. I have never seen the play before, but I loved it. I want to go back again to see it. The stage was specifically made for that one play! The chandalier was HUGE and it scared me when it fell (Spoiler Alert!).
The Venetian and Pillazo were cool. We had a nice, ahem, buffet. The food was ok, but the ambianse was supurb! The mall there was expensive. Name brand designers filled the stores. One book store Alyssa and I found had rare books, one such being $28,000!
The Venetian has a real canal much like Venice where you can have a Gondola ride. Entertainers fill the mall - Ents, magical walking trees, the woman of the fountain, with water coming from their heads and fingers and the best was the real statue, a man (or woman?) standing still, creeply winking at times at certain people.
At Madame Tusauds, a wax museum, I saw all my friends. I saw James Bond, Indiana Jones, a friendly preacher, Ryan Seacrest and a creepy looking Simon, Spider-Man, Abe Lincoln and Barack Obma! The figures were creeply like the real person. I swear I saw one move, or maybe that was my imagination.
Overall, Beln was ok. She was crazy at times, but isn't that normal? My favorite was when she came behind me and started to hum the PHANTOM theme song. As she walked away she told me that it would be scarier if a chain smoker did it. I don't think so!
Tour '09 was seriously the most fun I have had in a while. I am sad that my senior year is almost done, although I am ready to graduate and be done with the drama that is high shcool. Thanks to all the people that make this possible and thank you to my friends. I will never forget the fun of TOUR '09!

Now for the PICTURES...