Of course it didn't collaborate. The Friday we were supposed to leave came and it was cold, rainy and the winds at our destination were predicted to reach 40 knots. So we went to plan B, take the airlines. I had made reservations for us with Southwest, in case we couldn't take our plane, and by 10:30 we were at the airport ready to go. By 1 pm we were on the ground in Las Vegas.
I hadn't been to Las Vegas in over 20 years and in that time the city has changed a lot. It had grown, and the first sign we saw of the growth was the taxi line at the airport. I expected to find the usual, a curb with a few cabs and a few passengers waiting. Instead we found one of the longest taxi lines I've ever seen, with hundreds and hundreds of people waiting for cabs. It was organized, though, and very efficient. The line kept moving and in fifteen minutes or so we found ourselves in the cab on the way to the hotel.
We were lucky and our room was ready, so we went up, unpacked, enjoyed our view of North Las Vegas from the 17th floor and then went down to the pool for a quick bite after which we went in search of the shuttle to the strip. We just missed it, unfortunately, and ended up having to walk to the strip instead.
Ah, the strip! I remember it as a place strewn with big, kitschy casinos surrounded by parking lots. Now, apparently, it had become a place jam-packed with big, kitschy casinos surrounded by parking garages. Still, walking down the strip was as much fun as I remembered.
That evening Katrina and I decided to stay in. We started with drink at one of their bars, where we engaged the bartender in a lively discussion about how to make the bar better. After that it was up to the 51st floor of the Fantasy Tower to have dinner at one of the many hotel restaurants. A very nice meal later we were back at the ground floor where I lost my two obligatory dollars at the casino before retiring to our room.
The next day we were back at the strip, though this time we took the shuttle which dropped us off at the Forum Shops, a very nice shopping mall that apparently used to have talking statues, but now looks more like having a nice walk through Rome in the evening. I found a store there that sold some really cool movie memorabilia, including autographed posters of Bond movies. Really nice stuff, but unfortunately out of my price range. Leaving the Forum Shops we braved the rain (yes, the same rain that kept us from flying ourselves had made its way to Las Vegas by then), walked past the street vendors selling $5 umbrellas and made our way to the Bellagio where Katrina wanted to check out the glass sculptures.
After our exploration of the strip we made it back to our hotel room to rest and wait for Marc and Stacey's arrival. And arrive they did, but their room was not ready so they went to one of the hotel bars to wait. We walked up to them, I tapped Marc's shoulder and when he turned I handed him his birthday gift, apologizing for forgetting to drop it off at his home the previous evening. I think he was surprised.
That evening we went out to celebrate his birthday with dinner at Bouchon, at the Venetian. The service at the place was excellent, the food was very good and we all had a good time despite the fact that I felt a little bit under the weather. There was only one thing that bothered me: if you are trying to recreate Venice in Vegas, don't add motors to your gondolas!
We ended up that evening at the Fremont St. Experience. Last time I was at Fremont St. it looked like it looks in Diamonds Are Forever: seedy casinos and lots of neon. Apparently in the last twenty years it has become a pedestrian-only street, with stages and bands all over the place, and street artists everywhere. All this under a canopy of huge LCD displays painting a show in the sky. It was noisy, it was crowded, it was fun. My favorite thing? Naked Kiss: four street artists that decided the way to make money was to put on thongs, platform boots, Kiss makeup and go pose for pictures with the tourists. Wonder what they were drinking when they came up with that idea.
Sunday we took things a little easier. We started with brunch at a place called Egg Beaters and then went off to take a look at Marc and Stacey's house. Then back to town where we hung out on the strip until it was time to go to the Laugh Factory to meet Marc's brother and sister-in-law to see Murray Sawchuck, a comedian / magician. It was the celebration of his two years on stage, and along with the tricks and jokes we got the company of Pia Zadora.
And that was it for our Las Vegas adventure. We headed back to the airport, went through security, had some nachos, caught our flight home and by midnight I was in bed, tired but satisfied.
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