Wow! That was my week's holiday that just flew past at 100 mph! Time here is so weird. When everyone left last night I felt really homesick and just wanted to get out of Vegas asap. However now I am confronted with doing just that (flight is in 1.5 hrs) I don't want to go home! Not so much because I love Vegas - it has been BRILLIANT but I don't need to be coming back - more so that I don't want to step back into my everyday life just yet! I guess the fact it is Christmas in 9 days has escaped me - looking out at Vegas Strip with the mountains as a backdrop bathed in glorious sunlight beneath a perfect cloudless clue sky does make the idea of an English Christmas seem fairly out of reach!
I managed to get all my 'extras' into my suitcase bar by Nikes so was pretty chuffed. Especially as Colby managed to avoid taking her Birthday Jacqueline Lantern (plastic pumpkin to you and I) home so I had to take the contents of that too (which includes a baseball cap signed by three World Champion Bull Riders from the rodeo. Unfortunately none of us have heard of them or know which one is which). Steph will be furious as she stole the said Jacqueline out the back of a truck on the way to the In and Out Burger and was kind of aware Colby did not really want it as every attempt made to leave it with her throughout the week failed!
After my marathon hike to Stratosphere yesterday I was dead but after an hour of packing I walked back to Margaritaville and met Colby, Steve, Laura and Emma where we drank some beers and watched the rodeo finals in a bar that was wall-to-wall cowboys. Thenwe called in at Coyote Ugly bar which was crap initially then 2 beers later became excellent. Then a brisk march back to the Luxor where they got their bags and left for Philly leaving me half drunk and no one to party with! As it turned out I needed to extra time to repack (swipe 2) and ended up dead to the world about 10pm - that walk certainly tired me out! Colby and Co did lunch at the Wynn which would have been fun but expensive and I am Officially Broke now. I found Macys on the way to Stratosphere so finally was able to get my cheap Levis, $30 each! Bargain.
Right, some screaming kids behind me who had better not be on my flight else I will kill them. I'll worry about no money when I get home, right after I worry about no petrol eh! We are already planning where to have the next Big Birthday, being my 40th. Amsterdam was suggested by many of the Yanks.....we will just have to see. Wherever we go it will be hard to beat this trip I must say.
Right, I have finished the vegas blog you will be glad to know. Next stop - the Old Biddy Christmas Lunch Blog !!!!! See you Thursday, can't wait. I will be the one in Pradas!! Love me xx
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Saturday 15th December - The Party Finishes
10'20 am - Steph just left! I am so sad to see her go, she has been a Total LA Legend this week. We did the Strip yesterday, her in flip flops and ass-skimming skirt invoking 99% of men we passed to stop and quite literally stare open-mouthed at this vision of youth and beauty (the wives of said men doing the standard 'David/Roger/Andrew - STOP dribbling and come away, you are old enough to be her father' !), then we bumped into Ronnie (a native New Yorker with the driest sense of humour ever) so we did the Moving Statues show in the Forum. Luckily we were early so we armed ourselves with very large vodka tonics (Steph wanting a foot long one with 32 shots in it but alas lacking the $40 required to buy it!). We quaffed our drinks, were taking the mickey out of everyone walking by when we heard 'thunder' and started shouting 'the show is starting', only to realise the 'thunder' was in fact the noise of a large btrash bin being wheeled past us. Needless to say the large drinks had hit the mark and we quite literally were crying with laughter. The security guard was not impressed and kept glowering at us, had it not been for Ronnie's unique 'I am from NY and don't take me on' aura we would have been chucked out no probs.
Last night we all did Fremont Street on the bus. Steph and I were hungry when we got there so had a sneaky McDonalds, only to locate everyone 2 mins later in an Italian which was apparently where we had all agreed to have dinner. Steph and I had no recollection of thisbut in fear of being abused again for not remembering stuff we did not confess the McDonalds and proceeded to eat a 2 course meal. Talk about stuffed! Then we kicked about the local casinos (Golden Nugget etc) and we had ourselves a foor long drink each finally. We called Charlie to leave her a message on her mobile (no one has been able to contact her since she left for NZ in October) only to discover she was on the end of the phone!! So we had a long and involved three way conversation with her and I cried when we said goodbye (But she IS my niece and I DO love her so it is ok!).
Wed night we did Cirque du Soleil which was fab, unfortunately we'd been drinking since midday so I have only a vague recollection. Apparently we went to Mirage casino after which I hotly contested the next day only to be shown a photo of me at Mirage. Damn these cameras! We had an In and Out Burger which was delicious, it was on the freeway though so we jaywalked there which was a tad scary and took forever. I insisted we got a cab back which embarrassingly took about 3 mins!!!! One unhappy cabbie.
Colby's birthday we ate at the House of Blues (21 of us, one large table of fun) and then did LAX nightclub (owned by Nicky Hilton and some tosser called Kriss Angel who is a magician who is based at our hotel and who films his show every night and barges past everyone who gets in his way - one of whom was me hence my extreme hatred). Will thought he met two Aussie guys he had made friends with the night before called Andrew and Luke (he was v drunk), only to discover half way through the conversation they were in fact Dutch. 'Wait a minute, you're not Australian! Ok, no matter - you can be Andrew and you can be Luke'. The look of complete confusedness on their faces was brilliant. Steph and I once again crying with laughter. Am sure this does not come across as hilarious now but honestly, it was one of the classic moments.
We went to Wynns hotel which is my new favourite - fab. We got lost in the Venetian for ages (ventured into the Anti-Ageing Convention at one point) (I joke not) and then got mesmerised by the Gondolas. I thought the Gondoliers were wax works but Colby threw a sweet at one and it moved and swore at her so we guessed they were poor humans instead! (Such is the standard of wax out here that people look worse than the waxworks).
We had breakfast in Tropicana one day after Will and Steph had done 30 hours of drinking. The Tropicana is dead old and very green in decor, so green in fact that Steph fell asleep at the table. then went home and threw up in the foyer of the hotel!! Nothing to do with alcolhol or lack of sleep or the stack of terrible spicy food she ate for breakfast, it was the awful decor that was responsible....
Endless photos were taken at every opportunity (Steph has most of them), we had a fashio show in a our room waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive Wed (they got in at midnight so we were wasted by then as you can imagine), Steph trashed my room so I had to leave an apologetic note for Elsa the cleaner which they all thought was just hilarious, I also made my bed every day which again caused much mickey to be taken from me. None of them have ever been hotel cleaners, they have no idea!!
Julia (wife of Ronnie the NYorker) fell in love with a $4250 Oscar de la Renta dress, and last I heard had nearly persuaded Ronnie to buy it for her. This is a particularly amazing fact as Ronnie had a fit at the $6 Starbucks bill on day one. Julia retalitated by having a $200 facial which he has yet to find out about! So getting him to even CONSIDER spending all that money on a dress was some feat! I must find out if she got it....
I have withdrawn cash from every ATM on the Strip I think. The bank have helpfully cancelled my main card so I am holding my breath every time I withdraw on my other one hoping it does not run out! This place is sooooooo expensive.
Will was going home Thursday night at which Colby had a fit so he paid $100 to put his flight back 8 hours and then she didn't even see him as she spent time with everyone else! Will not amused. Steph and I very amused!
So, we have had wall to wall fun and I have aching cheeks from laughing all the time. I have spent a fortune, barely slept, drank my body weight in vodka every day and just loved every minute of it! However now the party is over and I am on day 6 of being in Vegas, I have had enough and am looking forward to going home. This place is amazing but I think it is a clear 'been there done it' place myself.
I am off to walk the 4 miles to Stratosphere and back to (a) see the whole city from 800ft up, and (b) to waste the rest of the day. Will catch up with everyone else this evening before they all fly out tonight (as Steph left I realised I do not have Colby or anyone elses' mobile numbers so cannot get in touch with any of them today! Doh). Homeward bound tomorrow. Yippee. Goodbye Las Vegas, it's been an absolute party! Love me xxxx
Last night we all did Fremont Street on the bus. Steph and I were hungry when we got there so had a sneaky McDonalds, only to locate everyone 2 mins later in an Italian which was apparently where we had all agreed to have dinner. Steph and I had no recollection of thisbut in fear of being abused again for not remembering stuff we did not confess the McDonalds and proceeded to eat a 2 course meal. Talk about stuffed! Then we kicked about the local casinos (Golden Nugget etc) and we had ourselves a foor long drink each finally. We called Charlie to leave her a message on her mobile (no one has been able to contact her since she left for NZ in October) only to discover she was on the end of the phone!! So we had a long and involved three way conversation with her and I cried when we said goodbye (But she IS my niece and I DO love her so it is ok!).
Wed night we did Cirque du Soleil which was fab, unfortunately we'd been drinking since midday so I have only a vague recollection. Apparently we went to Mirage casino after which I hotly contested the next day only to be shown a photo of me at Mirage. Damn these cameras! We had an In and Out Burger which was delicious, it was on the freeway though so we jaywalked there which was a tad scary and took forever. I insisted we got a cab back which embarrassingly took about 3 mins!!!! One unhappy cabbie.
Colby's birthday we ate at the House of Blues (21 of us, one large table of fun) and then did LAX nightclub (owned by Nicky Hilton and some tosser called Kriss Angel who is a magician who is based at our hotel and who films his show every night and barges past everyone who gets in his way - one of whom was me hence my extreme hatred). Will thought he met two Aussie guys he had made friends with the night before called Andrew and Luke (he was v drunk), only to discover half way through the conversation they were in fact Dutch. 'Wait a minute, you're not Australian! Ok, no matter - you can be Andrew and you can be Luke'. The look of complete confusedness on their faces was brilliant. Steph and I once again crying with laughter. Am sure this does not come across as hilarious now but honestly, it was one of the classic moments.
We went to Wynns hotel which is my new favourite - fab. We got lost in the Venetian for ages (ventured into the Anti-Ageing Convention at one point) (I joke not) and then got mesmerised by the Gondolas. I thought the Gondoliers were wax works but Colby threw a sweet at one and it moved and swore at her so we guessed they were poor humans instead! (Such is the standard of wax out here that people look worse than the waxworks).
We had breakfast in Tropicana one day after Will and Steph had done 30 hours of drinking. The Tropicana is dead old and very green in decor, so green in fact that Steph fell asleep at the table. then went home and threw up in the foyer of the hotel!! Nothing to do with alcolhol or lack of sleep or the stack of terrible spicy food she ate for breakfast, it was the awful decor that was responsible....
Endless photos were taken at every opportunity (Steph has most of them), we had a fashio show in a our room waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive Wed (they got in at midnight so we were wasted by then as you can imagine), Steph trashed my room so I had to leave an apologetic note for Elsa the cleaner which they all thought was just hilarious, I also made my bed every day which again caused much mickey to be taken from me. None of them have ever been hotel cleaners, they have no idea!!
Julia (wife of Ronnie the NYorker) fell in love with a $4250 Oscar de la Renta dress, and last I heard had nearly persuaded Ronnie to buy it for her. This is a particularly amazing fact as Ronnie had a fit at the $6 Starbucks bill on day one. Julia retalitated by having a $200 facial which he has yet to find out about! So getting him to even CONSIDER spending all that money on a dress was some feat! I must find out if she got it....
I have withdrawn cash from every ATM on the Strip I think. The bank have helpfully cancelled my main card so I am holding my breath every time I withdraw on my other one hoping it does not run out! This place is sooooooo expensive.
Will was going home Thursday night at which Colby had a fit so he paid $100 to put his flight back 8 hours and then she didn't even see him as she spent time with everyone else! Will not amused. Steph and I very amused!
So, we have had wall to wall fun and I have aching cheeks from laughing all the time. I have spent a fortune, barely slept, drank my body weight in vodka every day and just loved every minute of it! However now the party is over and I am on day 6 of being in Vegas, I have had enough and am looking forward to going home. This place is amazing but I think it is a clear 'been there done it' place myself.
I am off to walk the 4 miles to Stratosphere and back to (a) see the whole city from 800ft up, and (b) to waste the rest of the day. Will catch up with everyone else this evening before they all fly out tonight (as Steph left I realised I do not have Colby or anyone elses' mobile numbers so cannot get in touch with any of them today! Doh). Homeward bound tomorrow. Yippee. Goodbye Las Vegas, it's been an absolute party! Love me xxxx
Wednesday 11th December...The Party Starts
9'10 am - got woken at 6am by the phone - Colby! (She of the 30th birthday) Was like we saw each other yesterday, not six months ago. Chatted for an hour (she was stuck in traffic on her way from Aiken to Philadelphia delivering a trailer before flying from Philly to Vegas, only Colby) and I am now Officially Excited at everyone arriving today! Put the phone down, it rang immediately and it was Will (another good friend from the US), who is in Colorado skiing and on his way here this morning.....can't WAIT for them all to get here and to start partying, my jetlag is over and I am ready to rumble at last. Steph (who is actually my niece Charlie's great friend who I met in March and she is now my great friend too, she is quite literally the American Charlie. I have never been in the same place with the pair of them but apparently it is a sight to behold - both 20, both blonde, both gorgeous, both very loud, both slightly deranged and both party animals with the ability to scream at such decibels that dolphins form schools at the nearest coastline in response) has already been busted for being 125lbs overweight with luggage so she is 'pissed' as they say here. Classic.
Got to go get coffee and lurk in the foyer for Will and Steph to come in, they are sharing my room so we need to smuggle them in illegally. Who knows when I will get back to you blog-wise, but whenever it is I will definately have stories to tell!! Love me xx
Got to go get coffee and lurk in the foyer for Will and Steph to come in, they are sharing my room so we need to smuggle them in illegally. Who knows when I will get back to you blog-wise, but whenever it is I will definately have stories to tell!! Love me xx
Tuesday 11th December - What a Difference a Day Makes!
12'05 pm - Starbucks, Excalibur. I know this is not the nicest hotel but it is (a) linked to mine, (b) on the way to the Strip, and (c) seems to be the one place I am able to find on first go!
Woke up with cracking headache at 2am and have yet to shift it which kinda sucks. Mind you after my Bloody Mary in Bellagios I did a marathon shop in the Forum Shops (part of Caesers Palace) (have the slogan 'For Those About to Shop, We Salute You' !) - unreal. Better than Bond Street (all the designers, 150 + shops) but odd lighting that makes you feel like it is about 6pm at night all the time, which is rather disorientating at 1pm! Had to make Emergency Purchase #2 - Nike Shox - as my feet were dead man! And the saddest thing? I chose the ones I bought purely on the strength of some little black girl of about 7 had them on and boy did she make them look hot! (Naturally I don't quite offer them the same je ne c'est quoi as she did...) Taking fashion advice from a child - not good! Please shoot me on sight if I ever appear in any form of Disney branded clothing eh.
How I am going to get all my stuff home I have no idea, went mad in Abercrombie & Fitch, it is so cheap it is almost free! $60 for a hoodie...so I bought 3 as I 'do'. Bought some odds and sods as gifts too, bizarrely (or maybe not so considering where I am) the old souvenir trail is pretty crap here. At least I know enough of the US to order hot tea and specify NOT Earl Grey. I don't know anyone who drinks Earl Grey, why they think it is all we Brits drink I have no idea. (I tell a lie, I do know someone who drinks Earl Grey but he is Australian and thus knows no better!!)
The worst part of here is that it is such hard work to get Outside, it takes me ten minutes from my hotel room to achieve this (and that is after much much practice, it started off running at about 25 minutes..!) I think the headache is a combination of post-flight, post-finish-work relief, neon lighting everywhere and the endless beep beep beeping of a million slot machines - plus cigarette smoke, amazed at how many people smoke here... you can smoke anywhere and everywhere which is very odd in Modern America. Needless to say the smokers make the most of it and are chaining it to the max!
Observation: there are as many anorexic people here as there are obsese. I have never seen so many stick thin legs!
Feeling better so am off to try and replenish my depleted paracetamol supply, the CVS has two whole aisles of pain relief but not a paracetamol amongst them.
6'30pm - Luxor Hotel Room. Did Shark Reef Aquarium @ Mandalay Bay hotel - good though short (the Aquarium not the hotel, that would be very very tall), the green sea turtles were amazing. What was not amazing was the bit where you have to walk across an expanse of glass with the turtles/sharks/rays etc etc swimming underneath your feet. I hate these things (I once had a nervous breakdown in a pub where they had a well that you could choose to walk over, I was pushed onto it and practically passed out with fear), but I had no choice, it was the only way out. There were tens of kids running over it, not bothered a jot, and there is me, on my own, sweating and clutching on the side of the wall with white knuckles! Just as I plucked up courage and was making my wobbly way across with eyes closed, some child ran past me and stopped in front of me, meaning I took it out (eyes closed remember) and thus child screaming, parents glowering at me and me babbling my apologies over my shoulder as I high tailed it out of there!
Having regained most of my composure I then wandered round to the Cowboy Expo - they have the World Championship Rodeo Finals here this week so it is wall-to-wall Cowboy. (Many many of them in black Stetsons, which makes me think of my trip to Oz and an older male friend of mine saying 'never trust a man in a black hat'.....he'd be having a fit if he were here amongst so many Untrustworthy!). The cowboys are a sight to behold, the cowgirls even more so, but the biggest most amazing sight is the tack they stick on their horses! You have never seen so much bling in your life. I never even imagined dyeing Ostrich leather bright pink, these guys have done it and made saddles out if it. Was sorely tempted to get Jacks something pink and glittery to put on Abba (her dressage horse) but resisted, as I know I would Never Be Forgiven!
Found shortcut from Mandaly Bay to my hotel which is great, it takes you past some decent shops too which is always a bonus in my book. I have also found a bookshop about which I am very excited, as I have finished the Kite Runner and cannot face the flight home without a book!
Am trying to summon up the energy to go out this evening to Fremont Street on the bus, as it is only $5 for 24 hours apparently and Fremont Street is the 'original' Vegas and has an amazing light display. It is very easy to stay in and watch tv however! I am so crap. Square eyes as my parents would say. Talking of which my Mum had her ankle operation yesterday so I phoned my sister to get an update (all ok thank goodness) but the phone call cost me $100!! Ouch. Mind you much of that could have been saved had we not chatted about her dog, the weather, our brother etc etc!
7'45 pm - Pyriamid Cafe, the Luxor - I did venture out but only as far as downstairs in the hotel for supper! Sad I know but there are a couple of valid (I beleive anyway) reasons ; 1. being my poor little toe is killing me as I have a huge blister on it, due to walking miles in unbroken in (but gorgeous) boots. 2. the second I stepped out of my room I was overwhelmed with tiredness and 3. I got lost again and couldn't find the shortcut to Mandalay Bay so ended up at the place I ate at on Sunday! 500 restaurants and I choose the same one twice! So here I am, Coke in hand (red wine here does not agree with me, even the Aussie ones) and one Shepherds Pie on order. Perfect. The background music (currently Lady in Red) is competing in vain against the zillion slots plus some very loud Manilow eminating from the buffet which is the floor below...all v bizarre and not in the least relaxing. I guess that is the aim of a 24/7 party place though, don't let people come down in case they stop spending money. It reminds me of what a cruise must be like, where you get all kinds of people in one place with vastly different ideas of how to enjoy themselves - some all tarted up at every opportunity, others dressing for 'comfort' and the long haul at the slots. What gets me about the food joints is that they are all selling mediocre food (even by my bland standards!) at inflated prices, yet people take doggy bags away! What the hell are you going to do with cold beefburger and chips in a basic hotel room??? It's like they know they have been ripped off but cos everyone is so perpetually NICE they can't complain so their solution is 'it's mine so I'll be taking it' ! Strange. Love me x
Woke up with cracking headache at 2am and have yet to shift it which kinda sucks. Mind you after my Bloody Mary in Bellagios I did a marathon shop in the Forum Shops (part of Caesers Palace) (have the slogan 'For Those About to Shop, We Salute You' !) - unreal. Better than Bond Street (all the designers, 150 + shops) but odd lighting that makes you feel like it is about 6pm at night all the time, which is rather disorientating at 1pm! Had to make Emergency Purchase #2 - Nike Shox - as my feet were dead man! And the saddest thing? I chose the ones I bought purely on the strength of some little black girl of about 7 had them on and boy did she make them look hot! (Naturally I don't quite offer them the same je ne c'est quoi as she did...) Taking fashion advice from a child - not good! Please shoot me on sight if I ever appear in any form of Disney branded clothing eh.
How I am going to get all my stuff home I have no idea, went mad in Abercrombie & Fitch, it is so cheap it is almost free! $60 for a hoodie...so I bought 3 as I 'do'. Bought some odds and sods as gifts too, bizarrely (or maybe not so considering where I am) the old souvenir trail is pretty crap here. At least I know enough of the US to order hot tea and specify NOT Earl Grey. I don't know anyone who drinks Earl Grey, why they think it is all we Brits drink I have no idea. (I tell a lie, I do know someone who drinks Earl Grey but he is Australian and thus knows no better!!)
The worst part of here is that it is such hard work to get Outside, it takes me ten minutes from my hotel room to achieve this (and that is after much much practice, it started off running at about 25 minutes..!) I think the headache is a combination of post-flight, post-finish-work relief, neon lighting everywhere and the endless beep beep beeping of a million slot machines - plus cigarette smoke, amazed at how many people smoke here... you can smoke anywhere and everywhere which is very odd in Modern America. Needless to say the smokers make the most of it and are chaining it to the max!
Observation: there are as many anorexic people here as there are obsese. I have never seen so many stick thin legs!
Feeling better so am off to try and replenish my depleted paracetamol supply, the CVS has two whole aisles of pain relief but not a paracetamol amongst them.
6'30pm - Luxor Hotel Room. Did Shark Reef Aquarium @ Mandalay Bay hotel - good though short (the Aquarium not the hotel, that would be very very tall), the green sea turtles were amazing. What was not amazing was the bit where you have to walk across an expanse of glass with the turtles/sharks/rays etc etc swimming underneath your feet. I hate these things (I once had a nervous breakdown in a pub where they had a well that you could choose to walk over, I was pushed onto it and practically passed out with fear), but I had no choice, it was the only way out. There were tens of kids running over it, not bothered a jot, and there is me, on my own, sweating and clutching on the side of the wall with white knuckles! Just as I plucked up courage and was making my wobbly way across with eyes closed, some child ran past me and stopped in front of me, meaning I took it out (eyes closed remember) and thus child screaming, parents glowering at me and me babbling my apologies over my shoulder as I high tailed it out of there!
Having regained most of my composure I then wandered round to the Cowboy Expo - they have the World Championship Rodeo Finals here this week so it is wall-to-wall Cowboy. (Many many of them in black Stetsons, which makes me think of my trip to Oz and an older male friend of mine saying 'never trust a man in a black hat'.....he'd be having a fit if he were here amongst so many Untrustworthy!). The cowboys are a sight to behold, the cowgirls even more so, but the biggest most amazing sight is the tack they stick on their horses! You have never seen so much bling in your life. I never even imagined dyeing Ostrich leather bright pink, these guys have done it and made saddles out if it. Was sorely tempted to get Jacks something pink and glittery to put on Abba (her dressage horse) but resisted, as I know I would Never Be Forgiven!
Found shortcut from Mandaly Bay to my hotel which is great, it takes you past some decent shops too which is always a bonus in my book. I have also found a bookshop about which I am very excited, as I have finished the Kite Runner and cannot face the flight home without a book!
Am trying to summon up the energy to go out this evening to Fremont Street on the bus, as it is only $5 for 24 hours apparently and Fremont Street is the 'original' Vegas and has an amazing light display. It is very easy to stay in and watch tv however! I am so crap. Square eyes as my parents would say. Talking of which my Mum had her ankle operation yesterday so I phoned my sister to get an update (all ok thank goodness) but the phone call cost me $100!! Ouch. Mind you much of that could have been saved had we not chatted about her dog, the weather, our brother etc etc!
7'45 pm - Pyriamid Cafe, the Luxor - I did venture out but only as far as downstairs in the hotel for supper! Sad I know but there are a couple of valid (I beleive anyway) reasons ; 1. being my poor little toe is killing me as I have a huge blister on it, due to walking miles in unbroken in (but gorgeous) boots. 2. the second I stepped out of my room I was overwhelmed with tiredness and 3. I got lost again and couldn't find the shortcut to Mandalay Bay so ended up at the place I ate at on Sunday! 500 restaurants and I choose the same one twice! So here I am, Coke in hand (red wine here does not agree with me, even the Aussie ones) and one Shepherds Pie on order. Perfect. The background music (currently Lady in Red) is competing in vain against the zillion slots plus some very loud Manilow eminating from the buffet which is the floor below...all v bizarre and not in the least relaxing. I guess that is the aim of a 24/7 party place though, don't let people come down in case they stop spending money. It reminds me of what a cruise must be like, where you get all kinds of people in one place with vastly different ideas of how to enjoy themselves - some all tarted up at every opportunity, others dressing for 'comfort' and the long haul at the slots. What gets me about the food joints is that they are all selling mediocre food (even by my bland standards!) at inflated prices, yet people take doggy bags away! What the hell are you going to do with cold beefburger and chips in a basic hotel room??? It's like they know they have been ripped off but cos everyone is so perpetually NICE they can't complain so their solution is 'it's mine so I'll be taking it' ! Strange. Love me x
Monday 10th December: On The Strip
12'30pm - having my first Bloody Mary of the day...in Bellagios! Pretty damned good one too. Cost me $11 mind you which is $2 more than at the Luxor (my hotel) (the Pyramid), buy hey, we are talking mid-strip here!! It's a beautiful day though a cold North Wind, I even had to buy sun block (no desire to repeat the whole Bridget Jones suntan episode of March!)
This is the wierdest place I have ever been to in my life. Literally anything goes. For example, I just saw a group of Asian ladies in full ballroom dresses and accompanying make up, sitting having lunch like they were dressed in jeans and t-shirts like most everyone else! Everyone wears full-on sunnies (thank God for the Pradas, I am more than holding my own in the Sunglass Stakes with those babies) at all times, despite the fact it is pitch black inside all the casinos. Lots of slow steady steps required to navigate darkened casino in full sunnies. Good cover for being drunk midday though!
The vodka is on tap here like we have Coke. I am liking that. The hotels all link to each other and are individually bigger than airports. I have got lost so many times already! Been to Excalibur (not so nice), MGM Grand - MASSIVE. They have lions (yes real live lions) in the lobby. Nice casino there. Bellagio however is my favourite so far, it really is gorgeous and very opulent. Dior, Versace and Vuitton have boutiques here. At the Luxor we have Starbucks and Luxor Branded Crap boutiques! Not sure where to have lunch, maybe Ceasars Palace. Who knows in this town, probably McDonalds knowing me!
Some totally normal skint-looking dude sporting a tracksuit and fake sunglasses (I can tell) just asked where the High Stakes Poker Lounge was. Just goes to show you really can't judge people by their tracksuits! I have yet to play a slot machine or in fact make any wager whatsoever. Am toying with the idea of making this my aim for the week - Do Vegas Without Gambling. Different - and I have marginally more chance of succeeding than I do with my other aim of getting married!
Talking of which I saw a real live bride and groom last night which was kind of cool. My plan to get spliced here myself has been shelved most of you will be glad to know. Turns out David is still rather annoyingly married to Posh! Damn her.
Off to console myself with another BM. Laters dudes xxx
This is the wierdest place I have ever been to in my life. Literally anything goes. For example, I just saw a group of Asian ladies in full ballroom dresses and accompanying make up, sitting having lunch like they were dressed in jeans and t-shirts like most everyone else! Everyone wears full-on sunnies (thank God for the Pradas, I am more than holding my own in the Sunglass Stakes with those babies) at all times, despite the fact it is pitch black inside all the casinos. Lots of slow steady steps required to navigate darkened casino in full sunnies. Good cover for being drunk midday though!
The vodka is on tap here like we have Coke. I am liking that. The hotels all link to each other and are individually bigger than airports. I have got lost so many times already! Been to Excalibur (not so nice), MGM Grand - MASSIVE. They have lions (yes real live lions) in the lobby. Nice casino there. Bellagio however is my favourite so far, it really is gorgeous and very opulent. Dior, Versace and Vuitton have boutiques here. At the Luxor we have Starbucks and Luxor Branded Crap boutiques! Not sure where to have lunch, maybe Ceasars Palace. Who knows in this town, probably McDonalds knowing me!
Some totally normal skint-looking dude sporting a tracksuit and fake sunglasses (I can tell) just asked where the High Stakes Poker Lounge was. Just goes to show you really can't judge people by their tracksuits! I have yet to play a slot machine or in fact make any wager whatsoever. Am toying with the idea of making this my aim for the week - Do Vegas Without Gambling. Different - and I have marginally more chance of succeeding than I do with my other aim of getting married!
Talking of which I saw a real live bride and groom last night which was kind of cool. My plan to get spliced here myself has been shelved most of you will be glad to know. Turns out David is still rather annoyingly married to Posh! Damn her.
Off to console myself with another BM. Laters dudes xxx
Mid Flight
10'50 am - Bloody Mary and the Simpsons Movie - life sure is sweet! (Even though I had to pay for my drink, poxy BMI flight).
12'15 pm - Curry only option left for lunch! Crap. Hate curry. Also failed to open salad dressing pouch effort so had hideous 'starter' of dry lettuce leaves. Good job I am en route to the US, home of decent bland fayre! (To add insult to injury the wine is Argentinian and £3 a shot!).
4'20 pm - Eating a Fruit Bonbon in desperation. Had fitful sleep. Entertained myself brilliantly by opening my window blind, letting a shaft of blinding sunlight fall across the faces of 3 sleeping people in the middle seats....got them all to wake up! Love it. Almost makes up for shite movies, shite food and non-existant &&&((*&^ alcohol service!
7'15 pm - WOW. Scenery spectacular from plane. Huge snow-capped mountains and fabulous sunshine. Just saw a terrible promo video for Vegas on the plane, they are selling it already! Never seen that done before. Am v v v excited now! Wish me luck for the dreaded customs!
Me xxx
12'15 pm - Curry only option left for lunch! Crap. Hate curry. Also failed to open salad dressing pouch effort so had hideous 'starter' of dry lettuce leaves. Good job I am en route to the US, home of decent bland fayre! (To add insult to injury the wine is Argentinian and £3 a shot!).
4'20 pm - Eating a Fruit Bonbon in desperation. Had fitful sleep. Entertained myself brilliantly by opening my window blind, letting a shaft of blinding sunlight fall across the faces of 3 sleeping people in the middle seats....got them all to wake up! Love it. Almost makes up for shite movies, shite food and non-existant &&&((*&^ alcohol service!
7'15 pm - WOW. Scenery spectacular from plane. Huge snow-capped mountains and fabulous sunshine. Just saw a terrible promo video for Vegas on the plane, they are selling it already! Never seen that done before. Am v v v excited now! Wish me luck for the dreaded customs!
Me xxx
Sunday 9th December 2007, 0930 - Vegas Bound
Managed to forget everything I have ever learned from all my work travels - lounged around all day yesterday being 'on holiday' only to realise at 7pm (after 2 glasses of wine) I had forgotten to get petrol. Bugger. No worries, I'd just have to get up slightly earlier than the 4am I had planned in order to fit in a fuel stop. At this point I felt I should think about throwing some clothes into a suitcase, which was when I realised I had no idea of where I had efficiently stowed my suitcase - the last time I used it was for the South Carolina trip which was not only way back in March but also before I bloody moved!
Some 25 minutes later as I was consoling myself with glass of wine #3, I remembered I had a loft and that was where I had stowed said case. Result! I won't go into detail about retrieving said suitcase from loft but put it this way, I don't care how much a loft ladder costs I Am Getting One Installed.
I then spent the next two hours debating what I needed for the next 7 days - this was my first 'smart' holiday for years, not a Three Day Event (or horse) in sight! So my usual must-haves of waterproof coat, selection of baseball caps and waterproof/thermal Timberland work boots meant I had a load more suitcase room to fill, yippee! Nonetheless I did my standard trick of applying the 'sod it' approach and ended up not being able to close the lid at first swipe. Removing all items of clothing I have possessed for > 1 year but never had the balls/occasion/waistline to wear still left me with a little overflow so I bit the bullet and hefted out 3 of the 4 pairs of stilletos I had packed (1 pair of which I can quite literally only stand up in. Walking is Not An Option). This move helped enormously and I have thus managed to fit in a Different Jumper For Every Day. Despite the fact I am going shopping tomorrow for a whole new wardrobe! I will never learn, I am still haunted by the enforced purchase of the infamous Yellow Samsonite Hardsider when I came to see my brother in Philadephia back in 2001, due to the ridiculous amount of clothes purchased! Ah well, life would be fairly god damned boring if we all learned all the lessons we should.
On which note, having staggered to the airport on mere petrol vapour (due to the dodgy people hanging round the petrol station at 4am) (I got up at 3am in the end - couldn't sleep for fear of over-sleeping), meaning several mental pygmies who should have been on the receiving end of a Demonstration due to their totally inept driving escaped as I needed to conserve valuable vapour - I realised I had left my bloody sunglasses at home! So, had no choice But to Buy New Ones...mm mmm wait til you check out my Pradas! Be-yoo-tif-ul!! AND I saved at least £45 by buying them Duty Free! (I am smirking at the Financial Ones amongst you who will be right now shaking your heads and saying Out Loud to your PC 'you cannot SAVE money by SPENDING it' !!! Newsflash - YOU SO CAN WHEN YOU ARE ME!
Anyways we have just taken off which is cool. What is not cool is the fact the flight is packed. What is cool is (for once) is being a Lone Traveller meaning I have scored 2 seats to myself. What is not cool is realising I have no paracetamol in my hand luggage and now have an instant headache, au natrelle! Off to continue reading The Kite Runner (what a fantastic book). Laters dudes Me xxxx
Some 25 minutes later as I was consoling myself with glass of wine #3, I remembered I had a loft and that was where I had stowed said case. Result! I won't go into detail about retrieving said suitcase from loft but put it this way, I don't care how much a loft ladder costs I Am Getting One Installed.
I then spent the next two hours debating what I needed for the next 7 days - this was my first 'smart' holiday for years, not a Three Day Event (or horse) in sight! So my usual must-haves of waterproof coat, selection of baseball caps and waterproof/thermal Timberland work boots meant I had a load more suitcase room to fill, yippee! Nonetheless I did my standard trick of applying the 'sod it' approach and ended up not being able to close the lid at first swipe. Removing all items of clothing I have possessed for > 1 year but never had the balls/occasion/waistline to wear still left me with a little overflow so I bit the bullet and hefted out 3 of the 4 pairs of stilletos I had packed (1 pair of which I can quite literally only stand up in. Walking is Not An Option). This move helped enormously and I have thus managed to fit in a Different Jumper For Every Day. Despite the fact I am going shopping tomorrow for a whole new wardrobe! I will never learn, I am still haunted by the enforced purchase of the infamous Yellow Samsonite Hardsider when I came to see my brother in Philadephia back in 2001, due to the ridiculous amount of clothes purchased! Ah well, life would be fairly god damned boring if we all learned all the lessons we should.
On which note, having staggered to the airport on mere petrol vapour (due to the dodgy people hanging round the petrol station at 4am) (I got up at 3am in the end - couldn't sleep for fear of over-sleeping), meaning several mental pygmies who should have been on the receiving end of a Demonstration due to their totally inept driving escaped as I needed to conserve valuable vapour - I realised I had left my bloody sunglasses at home! So, had no choice But to Buy New Ones...mm mmm wait til you check out my Pradas! Be-yoo-tif-ul!! AND I saved at least £45 by buying them Duty Free! (I am smirking at the Financial Ones amongst you who will be right now shaking your heads and saying Out Loud to your PC 'you cannot SAVE money by SPENDING it' !!! Newsflash - YOU SO CAN WHEN YOU ARE ME!
Anyways we have just taken off which is cool. What is not cool is the fact the flight is packed. What is cool is (for once) is being a Lone Traveller meaning I have scored 2 seats to myself. What is not cool is realising I have no paracetamol in my hand luggage and now have an instant headache, au natrelle! Off to continue reading The Kite Runner (what a fantastic book). Laters dudes Me xxxx
The Week That Was Vegas...
hey all...I am back from Vegas - what the hell has happened to the weather in my absence? It has gone from about 10 degrees to sub-zero! I mean it was cold in Vegas but as in 'only twelve degrees' which was pretty much negated by the clear blue skies and bright bright sunshine!
Anyways, I have been a very good Blogger and kept a little notebook full of comments about what I did on hols, so I can share some of the insights with you! Cos believe you me, the amount of vodka I drank does mean had I not jotted some things down as they happened they would have been lost in the mists of hangover.... thank god also for photographic evidence cos there was a classic argument one day where I swore blind on my mother's LIFE I had not been into Mirage casino...only to be presented with a photo of me in Mirage, a mere 12 hours earlier! You get my drift. I didn't cry and tell anyone I loved them but I did achieve several Blackout Nights!
Right, I am going to end this Intro and start writing the first Notebook entry..... I hope the following few posts give you some insight into The Week That Was Vegas! Love me xx
Anyways, I have been a very good Blogger and kept a little notebook full of comments about what I did on hols, so I can share some of the insights with you! Cos believe you me, the amount of vodka I drank does mean had I not jotted some things down as they happened they would have been lost in the mists of hangover.... thank god also for photographic evidence cos there was a classic argument one day where I swore blind on my mother's LIFE I had not been into Mirage casino...only to be presented with a photo of me in Mirage, a mere 12 hours earlier! You get my drift. I didn't cry and tell anyone I loved them but I did achieve several Blackout Nights!
Right, I am going to end this Intro and start writing the first Notebook entry..... I hope the following few posts give you some insight into The Week That Was Vegas! Love me xx
Friday, December 7, 2007
Two More Sleeps to Vegas!
Hey Kids
Cannot believe in just two more sleeps' time I will be on that plane to Vegas! It has been such a long time since I booked it (never done that before, always been a last minute holiday kinda girl) I really cannot comprehend this Sunday is The Day!
My only sadness is that I go out a mere 12 hours after the magnificent Ricky Hatton fights in Vegas at the MGM Grand - man, talk about bad timing! I LOVE Ricky and I LOVE Boxing and Boxing + Vegas + Ricky would have just been amazing. C'est la vie, you lives and you learns eh. What I must not forget is the euphoria I felt at 4.15 tonight when I walked out of the office, not to return until 2008!! Now that does go some way to alleviating some pain re Ricky I must say!
So, next time I blog you lot I will have Been To Vegas, and I am hoping very hard that when I return I return a Married Woman......am sick of being asked whether I am married/divorced etc, so fully intend to marry some random stranger in Vegas and then when next asked if I am married, I can legitimatey respond 'No, seperated' !!! Perfect. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Right must go as have loads to do before departure. Can't wait to see you all on 20th.......assuming I don't win millions on the roulette wheels and never return! Me xxxxx
Cannot believe in just two more sleeps' time I will be on that plane to Vegas! It has been such a long time since I booked it (never done that before, always been a last minute holiday kinda girl) I really cannot comprehend this Sunday is The Day!
My only sadness is that I go out a mere 12 hours after the magnificent Ricky Hatton fights in Vegas at the MGM Grand - man, talk about bad timing! I LOVE Ricky and I LOVE Boxing and Boxing + Vegas + Ricky would have just been amazing. C'est la vie, you lives and you learns eh. What I must not forget is the euphoria I felt at 4.15 tonight when I walked out of the office, not to return until 2008!! Now that does go some way to alleviating some pain re Ricky I must say!
So, next time I blog you lot I will have Been To Vegas, and I am hoping very hard that when I return I return a Married Woman......am sick of being asked whether I am married/divorced etc, so fully intend to marry some random stranger in Vegas and then when next asked if I am married, I can legitimatey respond 'No, seperated' !!! Perfect. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Right must go as have loads to do before departure. Can't wait to see you all on 20th.......assuming I don't win millions on the roulette wheels and never return! Me xxxxx
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