October 4-14, 2017 - Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada Trip Preview

Albuquerque, NM, and Las Vegas, NV, Trip Preview

October 4-14, 2017

It's time for Reagan to travel again. After successful cataract surgery and healing plus staying home August and September, I am ready to travel. Thanks to Tom and Nancy Anderson inviting me to visit with them in Albuquerque for the 2017 International Balloon Fiesta. I depart one week from today, Wednesday, October 4, to spend five nights in Albuquerque and four nights in Las Vegas returning home Saturday, October 14. Oh, yes, I will be traveling on Amtrak's Southwest Chief Chicago to Albuquerque. Here is a brief preview of my itinerary. 

Balloon Glow at the Fiesta

Wednesday, October 4 - Early morning American Airlines flight to Chicago, shuttle to Chicago's Union Station, and board Amtrak's Southwest Chief for 3 PM departure via Kansas City, MO, La Junta, CO, and Raton, NM.

Thursday, October 5 - Arrive late afternoon in Albuquerque, NM, if on time. Tom will meet me and transport me to the Hyatt Hotel where I will stay five nights. 

Friday, October 6 - Monday, October 9 - Tom has planned activities for each day I am in Albuquerque attending some of the Balloon Fiesta activities, sightseeing, and some friendship time including going to the theater Sunday afternoon. Since Tom has to work, I will be traveling on New Mexico's commuter Rail Runner train on Friday to Santa Fe, NM, to explore on my own and meet the Andersons on the way back for dinner. By the way, I met the Andersons while riding the Durango and Silverton Railroad in Colorado in 2012. Tom is from Arkansas and a graduate of Arkansas State while I am from Louisiana and a graduate of Louisiana Tech University. In the early 1960's our schools were both in the Gulf States Conference for sports. Also, Tom is a veteran of the U.S. Navy while Nancy is a nurse. I am very excited and so looking forward to renewing our friendship and participating in all the activities Tom has planned for my visit.

Tuesday, October 10 - Friday, October 13 - Early Tuesday morning Tom will pick me up at the Hyatt and drive me to Albuquerque Airport for my Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas, NV. On arrival I will travel to Caesar's Palace Hotel to stay for four nights. While I enjoy all the sights and seeing all the hotels, my main activity while in Vegas will be to attend some of the great shows. I already have tickets and will be attending:

• Tuesday - Circus 1909 -The Golden Age of Circus at the Paris Hotel
• Wednesday -Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur Hotel
• Thursday - Cirque du Soleil "O" at the Belagio Hotel (My favorite Las Vegas Show)
• Friday - Criss Angel MINDFREAK LIVE! at Luxor Hotel

Saturday, October 14 - Flying American Airlines Las Vegas to Nashville via Los Angeles - a very close connection in LAX with only 50 minutes scheduled for the connection.

Blog Posts - I plan to post one or two photos each day on a short blog post either via my Iphone or my laptop from the hotel at night. After returning home, I'll post a blog post when I have updated Reagan's Photo Galleries with all the photos.

  Remaining 2017 Travel Plans

December 4-17 Amtrak California Zephyr Trip -- Will fly Southwest Airlines to New Orleans for four days and then ride Amtrak's City of New Orleans and California Zephyr from New Orleans through Chicago to Reno, Nevada. After three days in Reno, I'll return on Amtrak California Zephyr to Chicago for one night and then fly home on American Airlines. Best thing is using Airline miles and Amtrak points for most expenses and good amount of train time(five nights).

2018 Travel Plans

I have done some "day dreaming" about 2018 but have not made any decisions about 2018 travel pending completion of the cataract surgeries and allowing my budget to catch up. One good possible trip in April is Amtrak trip New Orleans to Seattle and on up to Vancouver, Canada, for a four night Via Rail Canadian trip Vancouver to Toronto.  

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. 

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

************************************

EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.

Nashville Zoo September 2017

Me Crossing the Rope Bridge at the Spider Monkey Treetops Exhibit

Nashville Zoo September 2017

Since I have not traveled during last half of August and all of September while getting cataract surgery, I decided to take my "new eyes" out for a visit to the Nashville Zoo of which I am a member. The zoo continues to grow and have added a new spider monkey treetops exhibit and added rhinos to the Savannah area which use to be home to the elephants. The elephant were sent to the elephant retirement place in Southern Middle Tennessee while the elephant housing was being renovated. Since one of the elephant died while away, the zoo has decided to replace the elephants with rhinos for now. Additional new homes for the tigers and other jungle type animals are still under construction so did miss seeing them. 

Check out the photos I took while visiting the zoo in the gallery listed below. The photos are a mixture of new and old including some of my favorites including the kangaroos. Just click the title below the photo.

Nashville Zoo September 2017 Photo Gallery

Only three weeks until I travel to Albuquerque, NM, to visit with my friend Tom Anderson during the annual Balloon Fest. Just found out this week that Tom's wife Nancy has been offered a six month nursing education opportunity back in Honolulu beginning October 1 so she will not be in Albuquerque when I visit. Tom has thoroughly planned a great and busy time while I am there.  

Cataract Surgery Update - The cataract surgeries to remove the cataracts from both eyes and replace with new lens implants to correct distance and astigmatism were successfully performed by Dr. Bernard Chang and my eyes have healed and recovered nicely. My vision is much improved. 

Remaining 2017 Travel Plans

I am looking forward to my October visit to Albuquerque and have now added a new Amtrak December trip on my favorite train - the California Zephyr. I have enough Amtrak guest reward points, Southwest Rapid Reward points, and American Airlines Advantage miles to do most of the rail fare and all of the airline flights for free. 

October 4-14 Albuquerque Balloon Fest and Las Vegas -- Will fly American Airlines to Chicago October 4 in the morning and board Amtrak's Southwest Chief that afternoon 3 PM.  The Southwest Chief will arrive afternoon of October 5. My friends, the Andersons, will pick me up and deliver me to my hotel for five nights. While in Albuquerque, the Andersons will be my host and together we will take in all the balloon fest activities and experience my first time staying in Albuquerque.  One of the must do activities will be to ride the commuter train the Railrunner from downtown Albuquerque to Santa Fe and return.  By the way, I met the Andersons while riding the Durango and Silverton Railroad on my 2012 Colorado Road Trip.  At the time they were living in their RV but now have a one bedroom apartment in Albuquerque. 

After five nights in Albuquerque, I will fly Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas and four nights at Caesar's Palace. It's been a while since I last visited so I have already purchased my front row seat to see Cirque Du Soleil's  "O' at the Bellagio. I'll fly American Airlines home to Nashville Saturday October 14.


December 4-17 Amtrak California Zephyr Trip -- Will fly Southwest Airlines to New Orleans for four days and then ride Amtrak's City of New Orleans and California Zephyr from New Orleans through Chicago to Reno, Nevada. After three days in Reno, I'll return on Amtrak California Zephyr to Chicago for one night and then fly home on American Airlines. Best thing is not much money required and good amount of train time(five nights).

2018 Travel Plans

I have done some "day dreaming" about 2018 but have not made any decisions about 2018 travel pending completion of the cataract surgeries and allowing my budget to catch up. 

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. 

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

************************************

EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.