Trash or Treasure?

I am writing this in the morning as I was too tired last night.

When we checked in to the airport yesterday morning, we we told we were actually going to Vegas via Chicago, so we saw the Chicago airport!

When we got off the plane in Vegas, we walked into the terminal and what do we see? Pokie machines! I would never have believed it if I didn't see it for myself. We got our baggage and found our transfer to the Bellaggio.

My immediate thoughts as we were driving towards and through the strip is that Vegas is just an amusement park for adults. I thought it was pretty trashy actually. That it was all a big joke, and therefore the joke was on us. I suddenly realised why all New Yorkers smirked every time we mentioned we were going to Vegas, but they would qualify it by saying everyone has to go once, and that we were staying at the best hotel there!

When we got to the hotel we couldn't yet check in yet, so my burning need to get some sleep would have to wait. My next priority then was to get some food so we walked across the road to the shopping centre. Even the shopping centre though is like an amusement park. Part of the roof is painted as if it is the sky, and the lighting also changes at this point and it actually feels as though you are outdoors at dusk.

After eating, we walked through some of the hotels and casinos, Paris and Caesar's Palace. Words cannot describe these places. And there are people swarming the place, lapping it all up. The pool at Caesars is amazing - there was even a replica of the Statue of David in the hotel.

Back at the Bellaggio and we check in and to our room...literally walking a kilometer to get there. We are on the 16th floor and overlooking the pool. The room is spectacular and so is the bathroom. Then the phone rings about a minute after walking in the door, and it is the tour company confirming our Grand Canyon chopper flight!

We draw the curtains to have a nap, but after 20mins I find I am not sleeping so I go and run the bath instead.

After my bath, I arrange to meet Ros back in the room at about 6.00pm and I go out for a wander. At the front I see the bus that takes you across the strip and to the North and South end shopping outlets. I decide to get on, and as I was waiting I saw two guys trying to sell their CD. I had a chat to them and bought one.

I got on the bus and went to the South end outlet and once again went mental and purchased a few (ok many) things.

On the bus back I spoke to three Aussies from Tasmania and they gave me heaps of tips about what to do, and not to do. Got back to the hotel and told Ros that I had to have an early dinner otherwise I would just fall asleep, so we went downstairs and ate. Got back and I think I was asleep before 9.00pm. Slept like a baby til 7.00am this morning. Awesome!


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