USA Road Trip - Day 28 (Las Vegas, Nevada - Day # 1)

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Well let’s start by finishing last night’s activities here in Las Vegas. We were having a welcoming drink at the 5 o’clock somewhere bar out the front of the Flamingo Casino which is right next door to the Linq where we are staying. After enjoying a cold beer I wander inside looking for the restrooms. Well they are not easy to find so I have to go deep inside the casino past all the tables and slot machines and finally get there. I find my way out through a different exit of the casino and back on the strip and I am a few hundred metres away from where I left Kerry ! Later she wants to know where they are so I show her the way. Now we are both inside the casino, the air is filled with smoke and I is dark. We decide to play a slot machine and find our way to the 1c machine and the stakes are high as we stick a $1 bill inside. You know the drill here, you lose, you lose, you lose and so on. We are down to about 80 cents credit and I win with some fancy combination. It’s 5 cents ! Soon enough Kerry is on a roll and wins 5 cents in two separate pulls (yes this machine had he old fashioned handle on the side to pull on). We are almost back to $1.00 and wondering is it time to cash in our winnings ? But no, let’s play on. Soon a fellow sits next to me and he is drinking vodka or something like that straight from a bottle. The drinks are so expensive here you just bring in your on bottles off the street and away you go ! Anyway our $1.00 stake was lasting what seemed forever so got greedy and started laying 5 cents inn one go. Isn’t that high stakes eh ! Seriously, I have never had so much fun for a buck in all my life. Back to our room only to find we needed to call housekeeping as room was not cleaned properly but three ladies came around2.30am and we finally go to bed. Now that was a long day ! Now let’s start today by saying we got up a bit late. I think it was 10am or so. We decided to go to breakfast in our Hotel but there was at least 20 people waiting in line at around 11am so we ditched it an headed out on to the strip. We decided to head up the strip and first stop was the Tix4Tonight stop. We wanted to get tickets for Jerseys Boys show at Paris Resort but they were sold out already, so we booked for tomorrow instead. We also bought a buffet dinner discount voucher for Mirage Resort which is directly across the road from The Linq and we will go there on Thursday night as we are seeing a Cirque De Solei show at the Mirage that night. The last thing we bought was half price tickets to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. We then had a look in Walgreens Pharmacy which sells everything from snacks to souvenirs, grocery items, beer and wine. Oh it also sells pharmaceutical item as well ! We were now getting quite hungry so we went to the Outback Steakhouse for brunch. Kerry had a Sirloin Steak Salad which was a huge meal. I had a bowl of soup which was Chicken with Mexican stuff and a side garden salad. The waiter gave us some bread which was freshly cooked to munch on whilst we waited for our meals to arrive. Yummy ! We both thought the salad was like we have at home and unlike what we have experienced here so far (a bit dry and lacking in favour). Our bill was $27.22 for lunch, although Kerry was unable to finish her meal and I really did not need the side salad I ordered either ! We were planning on going straight to Madame Tussaud’s but we were told that the Jersey Boys tickets had to be collected from the Paris Box Office which is in the other direction and that is where they allocated seats so we headed down the strip. When we got there we had a look around and were both impressed at how the casino area looked after what we witnessed last night. It was not smoky at all, and high ceilings very quaint and theme in French styles. We got out tickets and found out that Tix4Tonight only get a small allocation of tickets each day so whilst they had sold out for tonight, the box office had plenty of seats left. Remember that for next time. After that we then went to Planet Hollywood next door and walked around Miracle Mile Shops. We were both keen for a coffee at this stage of the day and were looking at restaurants menus as we might use this area for dinner tomorrow night as it’s next door to where the Jerseys Boys show will be on. We are quite familiar with this area as it’s next to the Marriott Chateaux where we stayed for Christmas back in 2010. We noticed that the La Salsa Cantina was about to start happy hour at 3pm so we waited a few more minutes and went in. Kerry had her coffee which she said was delicious and I had a Dos Equis beer as it was only $3-. Next headed across to Aria resort complex of buildings, where I had a coffee in Starbucks. Kerry watched a couple of ladies waiting outside the Manderin Oriental waiting for valet and said they looked like they were rich. Soon enough a chauffeur driven Black Mercedes pulled up to pick them up. Kerry can pick up the finer things quite easily which is why she married me I guess ! Next we walked to the front of Monte Carlo (all new), then New York New York which was all very nice and we went inside where it was very nice too (although pool area was small), then went to The Park area which only opened a week ago and saw the T-Mobile arena which just opened and hold 20,000 for concerts (lots of good shows starting here soon). Then inside Monte Carlo which we thought of staying at one stage. An older style inside but location is very good with NYNY area updated next right door. Pool area was really nice and expansive. Legs are now getting weary so used tram to go to Bellagio an walked through here and saw flower display (upmarket guests stay here with lots of bloke wearing suits). Walked from here to Caesars Palace and walked all the way through to front and back on the strip and are across the road from The Linq. We are now extremely tired and looking for The Cheesecake Factory for dinner as we know from our Houston experience it has extensive menu and good food. Googled it’ location last night and I thought it was back of Caesars Palace but having trouble getting 3 G coverage here on my phone as roaming has switched from AT & T to T-Mobile, but eventually realise it’s next door in Forum Shops. We go inside passed the replica Trevi Fountain and what a challenge reading the maps inside here, but eventually found it. Only a 5 minute wait and we are sitting down around 7.30pm. We have been walking Las Vegas since 11am and are buggered. Our waiter is Stephon a nice guy who brings out some cold water and some bread to start on. It’s brown and not looking rea nice but one bite and it is beautiful. Kerry ordered an appetizer of Basil Tomato Flatbread and I went for the Luau Salad. Kerry finished before long and I asked for more bread and this time we have 3 pieces and 2 are brown. However I am taking some time to devour my meal and I will not get to try and more bread. The photo shows my meal and it is a bit hard to describe but I will do my best. It was huge ! OK you want more ? Well the salad was moist and full of flavor (unlike earlier in the day). Tried a Blue Moon Draft 22 oz which tasted like orange ! Kerry had a try and I got the predictable look of disgust. I eventually finished and now it’s time to take the long walk back to the strip as The Cheesecake Factory is right at the back of the forum shops so it’s another 15 minute walk to get to the strip, crossed at the lights on the corner and we are at the Linq promenade which is between The Linq and Ballys and a recent addition to the strip when they built he High Roller ferris wheel. We walked down the promenade to have a look around and there is quite a few dining choices here. Back inside our casino an upstairs where Kerry crashes on the bed. Her body has given up. My knees are a bit sore after all the walking. You are not supposed to walk from one end of the strip to the other let alone explore a few casino’s and all the shops as well in one day. Anyway I’ve got to stay up writing this blog or I will get too far behind. We won’t be getting up to early tomorrow and we definitely won’t be walking too far either! Day 2 in Las Vegas beckons. It was a beautiful day outside, sunny and warm at 25 degrees.

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