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Published: January 2nd 2013
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Where do we start??
Well, easy....Happy New Year to all of you and your families and friends. We hope 2012 was an impressive year for you, and that 2013 will be even better...with great weather, great health...and a lot fo fun!
For me, 2012 was simply...special...as it is the first full year that I spend with Leslie AND Tiffany. So if you ask me, it may actually be my best year ever.
We started in Fiji, we are finishing in Las Vegas....do not even try to have me compare the two places!
Leslie is a veteran of Vegas, this being his 4th visit here. I may have bring many women here in the past....for the most important little girl, this is her first visit! And trust me, I had a lot fo smiles, a lot of "wow" too!
My last two visits with Leslie here were boys trips. Both time in summer when hotels are way less expensive. The little boy would be early in bed, and me enjoying few cocktails downstairs at the Wynn or the Bellagio. This time it's way different, I've got two
pre-teenagers....and there is no way I could hit the clubs between midnight and the ealry hours...and be ready to wake up at 8am!
We drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with a first stop at the premium outlets next to Palm Springs. Are they kidding me...only winter clothes around, and we are in California! Let me say, I didn't spent much money that morning!
Than came the traffic jams, on and off for 400kms in a row. Had planned to arrive in LV at 4pm, made it just past 5pm...and Tiffany started with the Wows once we hit the Strip. You cannot even imagine my smiles...and hers....and Leslie laughing while explaining every single building on the Strip!
Our first night was just off the Strip....with a huge suite and a kitchen. Note to all Americans reading this...your food culture may be less than average...pretty often...you have "Whole Food Markets"....and these are amazing supermarkets...maybe not cheap....but amazing! So on our first evening in Las Vegas, it's roast chicken, grilled apsaragus...and roast potatoes...and a nice Pinot Noir.
I know, this may sound insane...Las Vegas...top of the list for restaurants..why
do I cook! Well, we missed good chicken, nice asparagus...and nice Pinot Noir in Argentina! Note to all Argentinians...great Malbec and beef is fabulous...but sometime, it does lack in choice of different foods and wines...
You see, 99% of my entries in Argentina are about food...I hit Vegas...and we speak of food again!
For our 31st December, we stay at the Westin. Better view, better location...but no kitchen. I could find nice king crab, oysters, poke ahi tuna, and sushis... we even found the lobster tails, but they were not cooked. So one more visit to "Whole food market" before lunch time, and back to the "room" to cook everything before moving to the Westin.
We arrived in LV at 5pm...and by 2pm the next day, Tiffany hadn't entered a single casino! We spent our time buying food...books at Barnes & Noble, and doing our after-Christmas shopping at Best Buy...plus little sidetrips to the supermakets....
The last few words do tell you how Argentina could seem great...the only shopping in Buenos Aires is at La Martina (pretty cool brand, not even manufacured in Argentina)...or for beef, salmon, Torrentes
and Malbec...for any other shopping in Argentina...go on a plane! Ok, I may be too tuff, there are also the shoes, leather and great furs...
Our 31st December was a long day. After check-in at the Westin, we went to explore...Bellagio, Venitian, Wynn and few more. It's actually another Vegas for me, this time is the candy shops and the free shows at Caesar's and Treasure Island....trust me, way cheaper than Jimmy Choo!
One thing that doesn't change for me in Vegas is the amount of shows available. Tonight, we are doing Love, the Beatles by Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage. No pictures here, but the show was pretty amazing. These guys are nice as they launch new shows all the time, this one is 5 years old. Done already are O, Ka, Zumanity, Cris Angel and Mystere...next visits will be Zarkana and Le Reve ( none Cirque du Soleil)...I know, I'm kind of a fan.
The show was over by 9pm. The Strip was open only to pedestrian at that hour...and to way too many people ready to get drunk soon. We had a look at the fountain show
at the Bellagio...and it was time to head for dinner in our room with a nice view on the back of the Strip.
The Westin, as many other hotels around is opening their top floor on their parking lot. The roof is at the 8th floor, and we could see 6 of the 7th fireworks launched from the roofs of hotels. Actually, pretty disappointing fireworks...we are way too spoiled with Shanghai!
And yes, by midnight thirty, three of us were in bed...beautiful day...wonderful kids, I'm a happy dad!
Next day, we went for a last breakfast...than to explore the MGM...the lions are gone...snif...and few more properties around! Than it was time to head North...for a week of way less crowded places...more to come...with I guess amazing pictures!
Wishing you all a great 2013! For us, we already know that we will be homeless for around 7 months...that's just give you a small idea of what is coming next! "Settling"...that's on the program...in 2014!
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
And may you have a Happy New Year too!
I took my wife and daughters to Las Vegas for New Years Eve a couple years ago, and the crowds were too rude for my daughters so we were also back at our hotel before midnight. Enjoy your trip north. Too bad you're not coming to Colorado...it would be great to finally meet you and the kids.