Summer 2012 – Day 20
I have one of the nicest views of Las Vegas and the valley I’ve ever had (and I’ve been here a lot), so the very early morning scene (I put the pic in yesterday’s report) is spectacular. I just sat for the longest time looking out. In front of the Caesar’s Palace entrance is the long line of taxis waiting for the all-night clubbers to empty out and stagger to get into the back seats. Even at 4:30 AM I can see the I-15 with cars heading in both directions to work or where ever else they’re going so early. The long strings of lights are the main streets like Flamingo, Sahara, and Charleston that head off west as far as I can see. The Las Vegas valley is really laid out very simply into squares. It’s fairly easy to find everything and if you get lost, it’s fairly easy to get back to where you’re going.
Though I was up in plenty of time to write my report, I had a really difficult time getting on the Internet. Usually, you simply go on your browser and pay the hotel’s daily fee, but I couldn’t get on. I called the operator who started telling me how to log on, but I explained to her that I know what I’m doing, and that I’d need a tech to come to my room. She said he’d be there in about ten minutes. It’s almost 8:30 now and there will be no time for me to pack up the computer and get to a Starbucks and then back to Ballys in time to make the tournament. After about 30 minutes, he showed up with a new modem in his hands. Obviously, he knew what he was going to find. He told me that they’re replacing all the modems and had never gotten around to my suite yet (why each individual room had to have its own modem he didn’t explain). So, finally he got everything got up and running. I was hoping he’d give me a day’s password for the trouble, but no such luck. I got everything posted, took care of all the other morning necessities and hustled over to Ballys.
This morning Fox 5 was taping something to do with Jubilee I guessing
This video poker tournament is much like all others in that you have ten minutes to play as many hands as possible. They pay the top 50 scores with first prize $7500 down to 50th place with $50 (all in free play—not cash). There are approximately 1200 people playing. If you don’t catch a royal or at least some premium quads, you can forget it. In my ten minutes, I didn’t catch any quads at all though I’ll admit I had my chances not only being dealt trips many times but also dealt four-to-the-royal twice. No luck this time. I have two more days to give it a shot.
No big plans today other than play tourist. I was going to leave my car in valet for my two days here at Harrahs and just stay here. So, I headed over to the Bellagio to take the requisite pictures of this summer’s atrium. Along the way, I stopped to check the video poker schedules and they remain abysmal. Even at the $5 level, it was 7/5 BP and 8/5 Jacks. I did have $10 in points that I converted into free play, which I used on a Spartacus machine. I won $2. The casino floor is going through what I’m guessing is new carpet replacement because about the third of the casino was curtained off and all the machines were gone. The atrium, as always, looked and smelled wonderful. The Wynn’s, the Cosmopolitan’s, and the Venetian’s can try as they might, but the Bellagio remains the jewel of the Strip.
This year's atrium design...much like summers past
The corner shot
I then crossed the bridge to Caesar’s Palace. There was a nice pic op catching Bally’s and the Paris so, along with about ten other people, I grabbed it.
Standing just off the pedestrian bridge between Caesar's and Bellagio
It was already getting hot, so it was nice to go inside. Caesar’s floor plan hasn’t changed much in the past few years, but I my plan was to visit the newly opened Octavius Tower, so I followed the route past the Diamond Lounge and was saddened to see that the beautiful sports art store that had the huge pictures of sports legends and historical moments was gone. In its place: a Starbucks—what else?
The sports art store is gone and THIS is in its place--blasphemy!
I followed down the hall and was disappointed that all there was at the end were some elevators to rooms—no reception area, or bar, or anything else. I’m sure there must be another entrance somewhere that I’m missing. I’ll check it out again sometime. What I did find, however, was an access to the pool area with no key check-in. So, I meandered around the pool area for a while—enjoying the sights—as it were.
The pool area at Caesar's...beautiful day
It was already noon, and I had yet to eat anything today. I headed to the Forum Shops and in a tip-of-the-hat to my son; I had a club sandwich at the Cheesecake Factory (something we’d like to do on his birthday trips here). I sat at the bar (tip: avoid the lines and walk right into the bar inset on your left. There’s usually plenty of seating) I spent a good hour there chatting up with the bartender, Amanda, who was in her third Cheesecake Factory (San Diego, Dallas, and now Las Vegas). I told she was doing what I did last year on the Hit ‘em Nevada tour, and she’s Working ‘em All Cheesecake Factory. I gave her my card and suggested she check out the LVA.
It was time to gamble. I sat down at the best VP available in Caesar’s and that’s the 7/5 Bonus. The guy next to me was playing DDB for dollars and just as I sat down, he was dealt quad 3s with the kicker and five hands later, hit quad 5s. He cashed out with a big smile and left. I was still waiting for any quad. I did catch one but after time, the machine wore me down. This time around, not even a sniff at a Royal. I headed back to Harrahs and up to my room for a few minutes. Back down to the casino I tried some Pick a Pair poker and again had no luck. Finally, back at a 7/5 Bonus, I was dealt quad Aces with a kicker (rats-playing the wrong game), but it was good for a $100. I cashed out.
It was now 4 PM and I made my way up to the Diamond Lounge. The food spread was the same as yesterday, so I settled for a couple of chicken wings and some veggies washed down with a margarita. For whatever reason, margaritas have become my drink of choice. It will change—it always does. I’m not really a drinker and usually one is all I have. However, I’m not driving, I don’t want to gamble any more today, and I staying here in the hotel, so I decide to have another. The bartenders here pour very strong drinks. I watched as he made my third margarita, it was about ¾ vodka, and a splash of triple sec and some juice. I’m such a lightweight these days. I got so bad that I was talking golf with three other guys. I don’t know a thing about golf, but there I was nodding my head a laughing it up about this tough straight away here and this double-bogie there—you know—just “one of the guys.” Truth be told, I had a pretty good time.
I headed back up to my suite (last night, damn it) and was off to sleep even earlier than usual.
More tomorrow.
I have one of the nicest views of Las Vegas and the valley I’ve ever had (and I’ve been here a lot), so the very early morning scene (I put the pic in yesterday’s report) is spectacular. I just sat for the longest time looking out. In front of the Caesar’s Palace entrance is the long line of taxis waiting for the all-night clubbers to empty out and stagger to get into the back seats. Even at 4:30 AM I can see the I-15 with cars heading in both directions to work or where ever else they’re going so early. The long strings of lights are the main streets like Flamingo, Sahara, and Charleston that head off west as far as I can see. The Las Vegas valley is really laid out very simply into squares. It’s fairly easy to find everything and if you get lost, it’s fairly easy to get back to where you’re going.
Though I was up in plenty of time to write my report, I had a really difficult time getting on the Internet. Usually, you simply go on your browser and pay the hotel’s daily fee, but I couldn’t get on. I called the operator who started telling me how to log on, but I explained to her that I know what I’m doing, and that I’d need a tech to come to my room. She said he’d be there in about ten minutes. It’s almost 8:30 now and there will be no time for me to pack up the computer and get to a Starbucks and then back to Ballys in time to make the tournament. After about 30 minutes, he showed up with a new modem in his hands. Obviously, he knew what he was going to find. He told me that they’re replacing all the modems and had never gotten around to my suite yet (why each individual room had to have its own modem he didn’t explain). So, finally he got everything got up and running. I was hoping he’d give me a day’s password for the trouble, but no such luck. I got everything posted, took care of all the other morning necessities and hustled over to Ballys.
This morning Fox 5 was taping something to do with Jubilee I guessing
This video poker tournament is much like all others in that you have ten minutes to play as many hands as possible. They pay the top 50 scores with first prize $7500 down to 50th place with $50 (all in free play—not cash). There are approximately 1200 people playing. If you don’t catch a royal or at least some premium quads, you can forget it. In my ten minutes, I didn’t catch any quads at all though I’ll admit I had my chances not only being dealt trips many times but also dealt four-to-the-royal twice. No luck this time. I have two more days to give it a shot.
No big plans today other than play tourist. I was going to leave my car in valet for my two days here at Harrahs and just stay here. So, I headed over to the Bellagio to take the requisite pictures of this summer’s atrium. Along the way, I stopped to check the video poker schedules and they remain abysmal. Even at the $5 level, it was 7/5 BP and 8/5 Jacks. I did have $10 in points that I converted into free play, which I used on a Spartacus machine. I won $2. The casino floor is going through what I’m guessing is new carpet replacement because about the third of the casino was curtained off and all the machines were gone. The atrium, as always, looked and smelled wonderful. The Wynn’s, the Cosmopolitan’s, and the Venetian’s can try as they might, but the Bellagio remains the jewel of the Strip.
This year's atrium design...much like summers past
The corner shot
I then crossed the bridge to Caesar’s Palace. There was a nice pic op catching Bally’s and the Paris so, along with about ten other people, I grabbed it.
Standing just off the pedestrian bridge between Caesar's and Bellagio
It was already getting hot, so it was nice to go inside. Caesar’s floor plan hasn’t changed much in the past few years, but I my plan was to visit the newly opened Octavius Tower, so I followed the route past the Diamond Lounge and was saddened to see that the beautiful sports art store that had the huge pictures of sports legends and historical moments was gone. In its place: a Starbucks—what else?
The sports art store is gone and THIS is in its place--blasphemy!
I followed down the hall and was disappointed that all there was at the end were some elevators to rooms—no reception area, or bar, or anything else. I’m sure there must be another entrance somewhere that I’m missing. I’ll check it out again sometime. What I did find, however, was an access to the pool area with no key check-in. So, I meandered around the pool area for a while—enjoying the sights—as it were.
The pool area at Caesar's...beautiful day
It was already noon, and I had yet to eat anything today. I headed to the Forum Shops and in a tip-of-the-hat to my son; I had a club sandwich at the Cheesecake Factory (something we’d like to do on his birthday trips here). I sat at the bar (tip: avoid the lines and walk right into the bar inset on your left. There’s usually plenty of seating) I spent a good hour there chatting up with the bartender, Amanda, who was in her third Cheesecake Factory (San Diego, Dallas, and now Las Vegas). I told she was doing what I did last year on the Hit ‘em Nevada tour, and she’s Working ‘em All Cheesecake Factory. I gave her my card and suggested she check out the LVA.
It was time to gamble. I sat down at the best VP available in Caesar’s and that’s the 7/5 Bonus. The guy next to me was playing DDB for dollars and just as I sat down, he was dealt quad 3s with the kicker and five hands later, hit quad 5s. He cashed out with a big smile and left. I was still waiting for any quad. I did catch one but after time, the machine wore me down. This time around, not even a sniff at a Royal. I headed back to Harrahs and up to my room for a few minutes. Back down to the casino I tried some Pick a Pair poker and again had no luck. Finally, back at a 7/5 Bonus, I was dealt quad Aces with a kicker (rats-playing the wrong game), but it was good for a $100. I cashed out.
It was now 4 PM and I made my way up to the Diamond Lounge. The food spread was the same as yesterday, so I settled for a couple of chicken wings and some veggies washed down with a margarita. For whatever reason, margaritas have become my drink of choice. It will change—it always does. I’m not really a drinker and usually one is all I have. However, I’m not driving, I don’t want to gamble any more today, and I staying here in the hotel, so I decide to have another. The bartenders here pour very strong drinks. I watched as he made my third margarita, it was about ¾ vodka, and a splash of triple sec and some juice. I’m such a lightweight these days. I got so bad that I was talking golf with three other guys. I don’t know a thing about golf, but there I was nodding my head a laughing it up about this tough straight away here and this double-bogie there—you know—just “one of the guys.” Truth be told, I had a pretty good time.
I headed back up to my suite (last night, damn it) and was off to sleep even earlier than usual.
More tomorrow.
