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Las Vegas 2002 - Monday February 25

Our last full day in Las Vegas was Monday.

Today was our Hoover Dam day, but I was having a blast each day on the strip and didn't want to take the long drive out to Hoover Dam.  I love Hoover Dam but I saw it with Susan the year before.  And because of the 9/11 tragedy, they stopped the internal hard-hat tours.  I shared my feelings on going out there with Todd and he confessed that he felt as if he would have a better time on the strip also.  It was a tough choice to make but in the end Todd and I stayed behind while Frank and Paul rented a tiny car and headed out to explore Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.

The palm trees in front of the P.F. Changs at the Aladdin.

Todd and I hopped a Taxi to the Aladdin, and ate chicken lettuce wraps on the patio at P.F. Changs.  I love introducing people to Chang's Lettuce Wraps, quite possibly one of the most tasty new concoctions I've tried in the past couple of years.  The weather and temperature was absolutely perfect.  We left to go explore the strip to the south, visiting the Monte Carlos, the Luxor, and Mandalay Bay.

Dodge Viper for rent, about $500 a day.

There are several places to rent exotic cars along the strip.  You can find Dodge Vipers, Corvettes, Porches, etc.  My friend Chad Padera rents these cars almost every time he goes- he says the key is to haggle with them on a slow day- make them an offer and they may take you up on it rather than see the car sit idle all day.

At the Monte Carlo, Todd and I played a few rounds of Texas Hold 'em, a game Todd (and everyone else at the table) seemed to know all about.  We were sitting with a big group of people, both young and old.  I didn't care for the pace of the game, and it seemed that in spite of taking several minutes to finish each round, there was only one winner each time.  Black Jack seemed much more enjoyable to me, where its possible for everyone to be a winner.  Much to the disappointment of everyone who was winning my money, I suggested that we move on.

Todd and I also played just a few hands of black jack here and there, which I really enjoyed.  Being our last full day in Las Vegas, I made a mental note that tonight I was going to play seriously.  In fact, I heartily recommend saving the bulk of any gambling activities for the last day of any trip to Las Vegas, unless you like loosing your ass at the start of your vacation and being depressed the rest of the time.

The tug boats in front of the New York New York.

Inside the Luxor.

It was good to be in the Luxor again.  It's an impressive structure and I imagine it's a blast staying there.  It's a shame Frank or Paul didn't get to see the inside of the pyramid, but we ran out of time.  We really needed about 2 or 3 more days to really explore this town fully- there is just to much to see.

The Mandalay Bay.  Susan and I stayed here in the spring of 2001.  One of the nicest things about the Mandalay Bay was the fact that it was new, and that all the rooms have floor to ceiling windows, which allow for a great view.  Todd and I explored the Casino, which is massive and somewhat confusing, and found the souvenir coin machine, and won a couple of coins.

Outside view of the Luxor.

Todd, sharpening his blackjack skills on the computer.

Once it started to get dark, Todd and I headed back to the suite to wait for Frank and Paul to return from Hoover Dam.  I showed Todd the Microsoft-Bicycle Casino software I had on my laptop.  We mixed up a few cocktails and relaxed.

Another picture of Todd on the laptop.

Turn down service.  Boxed candies await on the bed.  I suppose there is nothing more pleasing to a dentist than knowing there are people out there falling asleep with chocolate stuck to their teeth.

I had read excellent comments about the service at the Mirage, and I was not disappointed.   We feel were well taken care of.  I called and asked for "squishy" pillows from housekeeping, and they went through their stockpile and found the soggiest ones that had.  I also asked for a few extra boxed chocolates when the maid was turning down our bed, and she gave me an entire stockpile. 

That night, we all re-grouped after after Paul and Frank took the car to MGM Grand to return the Emerils Cookbook he had bought for Sharon.  It turned out she already had that one.

Paul near the Rivera.

All together again, we worked out way north along the strip, stopping in the Riveria for a while.

The bronze babe statues, in front of the Riveria.

Inside the Rivera.

Frank.

Outside the Rivera.

The Circus Circus.

We left the Riveria and crossed the street to visit the Circus Circus.  It seemed to be much different than the way I remembered it from the year before.  It seemed much more elegant now, and not so noisy.  Well perhaps that is because it was very late and a weekday to boot.

While at the Circus Circus Todd and I played many enjoyable hands of blackjack with a nice couple.   Todd had them in stitches, he was being a real ham.  I was winning and the chips were starting to pile up.  At one point I was betting $75 a hand.  

Frank and Paul wandered off, and showed up at the table from time to time.  Frank watched us play several rounds and actually took over for me when I went to the bathroom.  I had a basic strategy card and was playing off that.  Then we got a new dealer and everyone started losing.

The Peppermill Inn, late at night.

********

Tuesday, February 26, 2002

The next morning and in fact the entire day I didn't bother taking any pictures because it was so depressing to be leaving.   We checked out of the hotel at noon, and took a taxi to McCarren International Airport, hugged goodbye and flew home.  Todd, Paul, and Frank's flight was delayed about 90 minutes.  Paul and Todd had a 3 hour drive from Dallas to Louisiana that evening, and I imagine they didn't get home until around midnight.

When I got to Chicago, it was snowing again, just like it was when I left.  In fact it snowed off and on for the next couple of weeks.  It's hard to imagine why anyone would want to live in Chicago when there are places like Florida, Texas, and Nevada (all states I really enjoy).  But complaining about it doesn't change anything.  I'm stuck living in an area where winter lasts 8 months, October to May.

I got home at 10:00 P.M. and in spite of having had a blast for 5 days straight, I was feeling very happy to be back in my bed with Susan, who was also very glad to see me.