There advertisements all over the airport, and we could not resist!
We took a cab to our hotel, the Tropicana. It was a nice hotel, located on the strip. We had a sweet view from our room, and the hotel looked modern and polished. It was a white and clean inside; not gaudy like some of the other places, with gold and huge chandeliers and obnoxious oriental rugs.
View from our hotel room:
We headed over to New York New York because I wanted to ride the roller coaster. It was $14 to ride, and the line was not that long, maybe 45 minutes. I rode by myself, no big whoop, I waited for a spot in the first car. It was a a fun roller coaster, lots of loops and big drops. It was sweet b/c I rode it at nighttime so when the train was nearing the top of the first drop, I looked out and in all directions I could see the city spreadout and lights everywhere!
Here are some photos of the strip at night:
This Statue of Liberty at New York New York was made entirely out of Jelly Belly beans:
After the roller coaster, Karen and I walked around the hotels some more. Excalibur was pretty over the top, with its Mideval theme. There was a photo area where guests could have their photo taken with totally hot male-model types who were dressed up in robin hood costumes. It was tempting. We ended up at MGM Grand, on the blackjack tables. I was a little nervous, have not played blackjack since I stopped dealing cards six years ago. I ended up losing the $60 I bought in for, but it lasted me several hours. I didn't come back to the room until 1:45am Vegas time, which is like 3:45am StL time.
The next morning we stayed in our beds and watched some Dog the Bounty Hunter, waiting to go get some food. We walked north on the strip and ended up at a Mexican Cantina, and we got massive burritos for $8. And complimentary chips and salsa. Totally psyched on that.
We found a penny slot called Kitty Glitter, and it was pictures of Fancy cats and diamonds in the feed bowls. I loved it. Karen played a penny slot called Rock Lobster, and on every spin, it played the bass line to "Rock Lobster."
Karen got in on a poker game, and I hit the blackjack table, this time walking away with $135. Now, we came to Vegas b/c it was my birthday, and I had never been to Vegas before, but also, Off With Their Heads was playing at the House of Blues that night, and Jon Lewis put us on the Less Than Jake guest list. It was an early show, doors at 5:30, so we headed over to the LUXOR to hit up happy hour at the HOB bar. $2 bottles and 1/2 price appetizers. Probably the best deal in town, especially after we paid $47 for two bowls of lettuce, a mixed drink, and a beer at the hotel bar the night before. haha!
We chatted up two latino dudes who were in town from Utah and who were sitting next to us at the bar, then headed over the the HOB venue area. Saw Lewis and thanked him for getting us on the guest list and went on in to the show. OWTH is my favorite, I was very intoxicated, and I sang and danced up front so hard to all those songs. Of course, they did the same set as the StL date, but I don't care. All the jams, except for Until the Day I Die. I'm glad they have Hard to Admit on the current setlist. Vegas crowd was 'aight.
A lot more people started to filter in and by the time Less Than Jake came on, the place was totally full. Oh, beers at the venue side were $10 for a CAN OF PBR! highway robbery! but i ended up buying two b/c I had already gotten started. And I was in fucking Vegas. For my Birthday.
Show was totally solid. Thanked Lewis again and Karen and I headed over to the pit. She got on a poker game, and I hit the blackjack table. Could not get a dang cocktail waistress to come around, in hindsight, was probably the best thing that could have happened. I was way thirsty, but needed water, not whisky. Ended up losing the $135 I won earlier in the day, but I sat there for about two hours before I was out. The other table players were a lot of fun.
Went and found Karen, she had won a few pots, and was chatting up a cute young guy who was on the game, too.
Lewis was on a game a few tables over, and we stopped by there and said goodbye to him again, high fives and hugs all around, and grabbed a cab back to the hotel.
I got into by bed, the room spinning, and I was terrified that I was going to be sick the next day. We were leaving at like 7am, and I DID NOT want to be hungover and puking on the plane.
Luckily, I was not. Just exhausted but also totally satisfied, the kind of calm content that comes after a night of cutting loose or a binge weekend. Slept the whole way back home.
First time to Vegas was everything I wanted it to be! Already wanting to return.
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