We arrived on April Fool's day without mishap, probably 15 minutes early. Great flight and easy noon time debarkation. Only a short wait for checked baggage, then the shuttle to the rental center. As I mentioned before, took a short while to get the vehicle, but also got a $75 dollar discount, freely offered by the staff because she thought we waited too long. A good start to the trip.
We used our time at Tahiti Village. It's on LV Blvd just at the south of the airport, and checked in with no problems by 1 pm. TV is a family oriented place, but it really didn't register on me that it was spring break time on the west coast. The place was packed with families and kids, as well as with young singles packed 756 to a unit. Oh, well, live and learn. Still, it was an enjoyable place to kick back. We like it because it's a respite from all the bustle on the strip or downtown, quiet, and a nice place for quiet relaxation. The only negative to the stay had nothing to do with our accomodations, but had everything to do with the climate. I forgot that early spring was the full bloom season, and any vegetation that survives in Vegas was spewing pollen. Olive trees were ferocious. Adding to the condition was the wind, blowing across the desert at a consistent 20 mph. There was so much dust on April Fool's day that the mountains surrounding the valley were vague blurs on the horizon. And, thanks to the 'bad old days', I destroyed my sinuses with various chemical concoctions truly not meant for human nasal consumption. Well, the spring wreaked havoc on my upper respiratory system, and I was stuffed, dripping, sneezing and hacking in only a couple of hours. The moral of the story, kids, is "don't do drugs" because you'll regret it in Vegas in the early spring in another twenty years.
We met up with my sister and her husband at the Mirage about 4 pm. I only get to see her about once year, and after hugs and a great laughing visit (oh, yeah, and a couple of drinks), we hit the casino floor. While everybody else stalked the video slots, I settled in to the VP machines over by the deli. Odds aren't that good, but hit 4 aces in less than an hour, and was up by 200, plus the 75 rental savings, by dinner time.
The deli (Carnegie's) has taken a turn for the worse. They've saved some bucks by eliminating the seat-before-you-eat service. Had to order on foot at the counter, and then the order comes piecemeal. If you don't tell them exactly what you want, they give you exactly what you order. I don't mind waiting in line to order at a counter, but I prefer to do it at McDonald's, not at the Mirage in Vegas.
We stayed around a visited for quite awhile, waiting for my cousin and her husband to come in from LA. They were seriously delayed by several major accidents on the interstate. We expected them around 5. They got in after midnight. (They told us the next day that they stopped at Silverton for food and gambling.) We called it an early night because we'd been up early that morning for a three hour flight, and my sis was up even earlier for a 5 hour flight.
The plan for Thursday was to go tromping around town looking at weird schidt. We had to go see the Brain Trauma Center off Bonneville close to downtown. Astoundingly bizarre architecture. It's a sight to behold. But, it would really mess you up if you had a brain injury, went there for treatment, and came out of delirium to see the buildings. Hardly any straight lines, and everything is all curvy and sort of wavey.
We went on out to Red Rock Canyon. Very cool little day trip. Very uncool little 20 mph wind blowing lots of dust and a sunny 65 degrees and sinus problems. Sneezed about 500 times an hour and drooled gallons of unmentionable fluid from multiple facial orifices. But, it didn't really bother anybody but me and everyone that was with me. No problem!
Ended up at the Riviera well before dark. We just had to come see the old girl before she's turned to dust in a few months. No spectacular gambling news. Just had to go there for the nostalgia. Haven't been there in over 10 years, and won't be there for another eternity. I did get a swell memento ashtray, one of the classy ones without the silly Riviera logo, and a souvenier players card club that will be worth a bundle when my grandchildren's grandchildren sell it on ebay in about 80 years.
Ate at the Peppermill next door. Good food, good drinks, good company. Somebody oughta warn people about the portions. I thought I'd just nibble on some nachos and maybe eat a dinner later that night. They served the nachos in a freakin wheelbarrow, because they didn't have a serving tray big enough, or enough staff to carry that mountain of chips, cheese, beans, guac and jalapenos. Seriously, it was the biggest order of nachos I've ever been served. Good, too. Everybody was more than full by the time we were finished.
We ended our night at NY, NY. Had a lot of fun tromping around the place before perching in the casino. Found the VP machines by the bar near the valet parking. (Don't ask me for directions...it's over by the valet parking entrance.) Once again, pretty mediocre odds. This time, hit 4 deuces and then 4 aces a short time later. Walked away with another couple of hundred, after expenses. (Expenses consisted of parting with half of my winnings at the behest of my wife, who promptly gave it back to the "Big Apple" using the video slot or double diamond machines as a method of exchange...but...it's the least I can do.)
Got back to TV by midnight, just in time to sit out on the little bar veranda, have a couple of drinks and watch the full moon overhead. Sure glad I brought a light coat, because with the wind and early spring temps, it was just a leetle chilly. Fortunately, sneezing was down to about 200 and drooling down to less than a gallon an hour by midnight. A major improvement, and made my wife feel a lot better. By gum, with the Vegas crud on the upturn, and me being a couple hundred to the black, it was time to turn in and get ready to tear up Fremont Street tomorrow.
(Maybe some more to follow)
We used our time at Tahiti Village. It's on LV Blvd just at the south of the airport, and checked in with no problems by 1 pm. TV is a family oriented place, but it really didn't register on me that it was spring break time on the west coast. The place was packed with families and kids, as well as with young singles packed 756 to a unit. Oh, well, live and learn. Still, it was an enjoyable place to kick back. We like it because it's a respite from all the bustle on the strip or downtown, quiet, and a nice place for quiet relaxation. The only negative to the stay had nothing to do with our accomodations, but had everything to do with the climate. I forgot that early spring was the full bloom season, and any vegetation that survives in Vegas was spewing pollen. Olive trees were ferocious. Adding to the condition was the wind, blowing across the desert at a consistent 20 mph. There was so much dust on April Fool's day that the mountains surrounding the valley were vague blurs on the horizon. And, thanks to the 'bad old days', I destroyed my sinuses with various chemical concoctions truly not meant for human nasal consumption. Well, the spring wreaked havoc on my upper respiratory system, and I was stuffed, dripping, sneezing and hacking in only a couple of hours. The moral of the story, kids, is "don't do drugs" because you'll regret it in Vegas in the early spring in another twenty years.
We met up with my sister and her husband at the Mirage about 4 pm. I only get to see her about once year, and after hugs and a great laughing visit (oh, yeah, and a couple of drinks), we hit the casino floor. While everybody else stalked the video slots, I settled in to the VP machines over by the deli. Odds aren't that good, but hit 4 aces in less than an hour, and was up by 200, plus the 75 rental savings, by dinner time.
The deli (Carnegie's) has taken a turn for the worse. They've saved some bucks by eliminating the seat-before-you-eat service. Had to order on foot at the counter, and then the order comes piecemeal. If you don't tell them exactly what you want, they give you exactly what you order. I don't mind waiting in line to order at a counter, but I prefer to do it at McDonald's, not at the Mirage in Vegas.
We stayed around a visited for quite awhile, waiting for my cousin and her husband to come in from LA. They were seriously delayed by several major accidents on the interstate. We expected them around 5. They got in after midnight. (They told us the next day that they stopped at Silverton for food and gambling.) We called it an early night because we'd been up early that morning for a three hour flight, and my sis was up even earlier for a 5 hour flight.
The plan for Thursday was to go tromping around town looking at weird schidt. We had to go see the Brain Trauma Center off Bonneville close to downtown. Astoundingly bizarre architecture. It's a sight to behold. But, it would really mess you up if you had a brain injury, went there for treatment, and came out of delirium to see the buildings. Hardly any straight lines, and everything is all curvy and sort of wavey.
We went on out to Red Rock Canyon. Very cool little day trip. Very uncool little 20 mph wind blowing lots of dust and a sunny 65 degrees and sinus problems. Sneezed about 500 times an hour and drooled gallons of unmentionable fluid from multiple facial orifices. But, it didn't really bother anybody but me and everyone that was with me. No problem!
Ended up at the Riviera well before dark. We just had to come see the old girl before she's turned to dust in a few months. No spectacular gambling news. Just had to go there for the nostalgia. Haven't been there in over 10 years, and won't be there for another eternity. I did get a swell memento ashtray, one of the classy ones without the silly Riviera logo, and a souvenier players card club that will be worth a bundle when my grandchildren's grandchildren sell it on ebay in about 80 years.
Ate at the Peppermill next door. Good food, good drinks, good company. Somebody oughta warn people about the portions. I thought I'd just nibble on some nachos and maybe eat a dinner later that night. They served the nachos in a freakin wheelbarrow, because they didn't have a serving tray big enough, or enough staff to carry that mountain of chips, cheese, beans, guac and jalapenos. Seriously, it was the biggest order of nachos I've ever been served. Good, too. Everybody was more than full by the time we were finished.
We ended our night at NY, NY. Had a lot of fun tromping around the place before perching in the casino. Found the VP machines by the bar near the valet parking. (Don't ask me for directions...it's over by the valet parking entrance.) Once again, pretty mediocre odds. This time, hit 4 deuces and then 4 aces a short time later. Walked away with another couple of hundred, after expenses. (Expenses consisted of parting with half of my winnings at the behest of my wife, who promptly gave it back to the "Big Apple" using the video slot or double diamond machines as a method of exchange...but...it's the least I can do.)
Got back to TV by midnight, just in time to sit out on the little bar veranda, have a couple of drinks and watch the full moon overhead. Sure glad I brought a light coat, because with the wind and early spring temps, it was just a leetle chilly. Fortunately, sneezing was down to about 200 and drooling down to less than a gallon an hour by midnight. A major improvement, and made my wife feel a lot better. By gum, with the Vegas crud on the upturn, and me being a couple hundred to the black, it was time to turn in and get ready to tear up Fremont Street tomorrow.
(Maybe some more to follow)
