Viva Las Vegas

The Belagio Lightshow
The Venitian

Dessert at Picasso

Belagio Lightshow

Can you believe it? Miss B and I went to Las Vegas! Yes we did! And the crazy thing is Kate was there too making it perhaps the most unlikely three people ever to go to Vegas on the same weekend. But we were there and it really was a good time. Mind you the 36 hours was just enough and we were SO happy to be back in San Francisco. We got a feel for the place and had a lot of fun all at the same time. We survived, gambled a little, drank a lot, and went for a lovely dinner at Picasso in the Belagio.

The purpose for the trip was to see friends of mine from college whom I hadn't in a very long time. One gal, it had been 18 years. The great thing was it felt as though I had just seen them yesterday and not much had changed. They were crazy as ever and we couldn't believe how long they held in there on Friday night after starting so early in the afternoon. We got in around 8pm and it was perfect. Just enough of the evening left so we could have a blast but not get so wasted that Saturday was a wash. We went to some country bar on Friday night initially (that almost killed Miss B and I) but then moved onto a dance club with good music and we were able to get our "jig" on for many hours with lots of alcohol consumed. There were so many funny things I had forgotten about from college and so much of it came back in our conversations, recalling the drunkenness of yesteryear. We stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton, the home of Barry Manillow. We didn't see him though, but kept our eyes constantly peeled in the event he was hanging out in the corner or something in the casino. He wasn't.

We did end up one day walking around the MGM Grand, New York New York, Mandalay Bay, and eventually did some gambling at Excalibur. Miss B played roulette while I watched. Hit up the 5$ minimum table and did not end up being the big winner. I bet on college football and walked away with a decent chunk of cash, just betting on the win or lose, no odds or point spread. I then pretty much lost what I won on "The Wheel of Chances" table. Miss B rocked that one but eventually lost what she won too. I'm pretty sure that's how it works in Vegas.

Funny thing is we had heard on NPR that penny slots had made a comeback. I put all my pennies in a bag and took them to Las Vegas with me thinking I could put them in the slots. The slot machines don't take or give out coins anymore. Ever. So there I was with $10 worth of pennies and no where to go. I did cash them in at the hotel bank so at least I didn't have to bring them home with me! Hooray. I learned something new in Las Vegas.

Can't say I am itching to go back. I would consider another trip under different circumstances next go around to really make it worthwhile. But overall, it was a good first trip and could possibly be convinced into going again. I do have to say that staying at the Hilton was great. They have a monorail now that runs 24/7 (one every 9 minutes!) and it gets you everywhere you need to go! So much better than taking cabs.