ferretbite

Vegas 2008 Part Deux began with an early arrival to the Airport. I'm not talking 4 hours but seven. Because it was the only way we could get there on time to check in, we stayed in the most awkward sitting positions I can remember. It was also a tad cold, or so a lot of people in the airport seemed to think. I was good until my legs began to hurt from being sitting all day. So I went for a walk and a cruller. And cocoa.

At some point, I took out my MacBook and proceeded to watch the season finale of Dexter. While I waited for the stupid thing to download, I ran into this guy:





So what about him? Well, he's a japanese guy who has lived in the airport for the past three months or so. He sleeps near the fast food area of Terminal 1 and goes about his business. Which seems to be loitering, drinking coffee and eating burgers. He doesn't like the attention he gets so I decided to snap just a couple of pictures at a distance. Nobody likes being photographed at 3 AM in a foreign land by a random stranger while trying to take a nap.

And so at 4:15 we proceeded to move on to the gates. Where we patiently waited until it was time to board, around 7 AM. The plane was not very crowded. The result of the combination of tough times with a very early departure on Monday, I suppose.

The flight was uneventful as one might expect, until we reached Vegas. See, people always say past times were better but I'm pretty certain if one had tried to land an airplane with such weather conditions twenty years ago or so, we would have made the news as part of an air tragedy.

The ride to the hotel was quite short, although the driver was very chatty. I learned that he was in the Air Force, and for some reason he seems to have a grudge against real estate moguls such as Mr. Wynn because they buy people's homes to make huge casinos and shit. Personally, I don't see the issue especially because this practice is the reason he has a job but hey, I wasn't about to argue with him, and he was a very nice guy too.

We entered the Venetian and this charming cuban girl called Jessica welcomed us and, $ 40 later, she gave all four of us a room upgrade. A view of the Strip, and a higher floor, as well as a few other complimentary items. Needless to say, this is a practice that needs to live on, so I'll do my best to perpetuate it on my next visit.



Told you I had a nice view.

I didn't much like gambling there, slots were not very "friendly" and the tables were a bit crowded. Interestingly enough, my luck changed as soon as I transported myself to the Bellagio. I love that place and it seems to love me, because whenever I visit, I leave with only slightly more money than I had coming in. The Palazzo & the Mandalay Bay? That's another story. My good luck made it possible for me to give out some cash for my mother and sister to burn at the slots as well as the Fashion Show Mall. And the Premium Outlet. And then some other places.

Went to a couple of shows too. For obvious reasons I can't show you pictures of them, but here's what I thought of them both:

Went to see Criss Angel's BeLIEve on Monday. It was good vaudevil. He's a very good illusionist and a decent showman, and even my parents enjoyed it, which I did not expect. Sister kinda hates the guy, but she agreed that the show was good. Seats were good too. On the way back we stopped by the Bellagio to see the fountains. And they took forever to start. I don't really get the idea behind water jets and lights but people seem to like that kind of thing. I'm more for fake dismemberment and electrocution of magicians.



And on Tuesday, I took dear Sister to the MGM Grand to see for herself "what the fuss about K is all about", in her own words. It was pricey but just like the last time, worth every cent. And although we didn't get front but third row seats, I think I prefer it that way, you get a slightly better view. I got to see all the shadow puppets this time. Funny story, I spilled something on my nice sweater right before we left so I had only another shirt on as well as my SG T-Shirt. And like I said before, I think Industrielle spotted me among the crowd. I like to think so. She was great, next time you're in Vegas, go see her fly, you won't regret it. The show is fanfuckingtastic.

Oh one more thing, WHY is there always a douchebag who doesn't seem to understand that "no pictures allowed" means you can't use your camera inside of a fucking venue? And why must the said douchebag always sit near me?

The culinary experience was good. Mostly buffets, with the exception of a quick bite at this tiny joint at the Venetian, and I suppose the Grand Lux Caf. But the nice experience came on thursday at the Bouchon. The lights are a little dim, but the gigot d'agneau was excellent.

By popular demand, a bottle of some red Bourgogne was ordered. I do not like wine from that region. Might as well offer me a nasty Chianti, while you're at it. I wanted a Bordeaux wine but 3 trumps 1. Dessert was good though I did not love the cheese. Too few choices. And none too memorable. I would strongly suggest getting a table there. A word of caution, scoring one can -and probably will- be a bitch.

Hookers. They're supposed to be everywhere. And to be fair, they truly are. On top of my paisanos handing out cards on the Strip, you occasionally get the pretty girl that approaches you with an offer to "show you a good time". Or so I was told. Well, it happened.

Here I was going about my business carrying some shopping bags when this girl approached me and decided she wanted to have a casual conversation with me. So I listened to her politely and excused myself, though not before she handed me a paper with her number. Exhibit A (number has been edited out because I'm not a facilitator of prank calls):



I thought that I had made it abundantly clear that I wouldn't hire her but an hour later or so, on my way out to play some money, she came on to me again. She was tenacious. I finally told her I really didn't want to waste her time. I discussed this with LolaBlu shortly thereafter. Anyway she disappointedly thanked me and let me go on my merry way. I was a happy pet monster strolling down the frozen Strip.

As I came back to my Hotel, significantly less rich than I was the day before, I ran into her one more time. She apparently ran into someone less elegant or maybe less intelligent who thought she was actually interested in his conversation because she was exiting the elevator area looking mildly disappointed. Like all opportunist hunters in nature, she gave it another try. But it became clear pretty soon that she had chosen the wrong prey. Even with her discount rate, I apologized for passing up on the offer. She gave me a kiss and asked if she could keep my umbrella what with the rain and stuff, and I happily obliged.

In case you haven't heard, it snowed in Vegas. And I mean it really snowed, not just some really cold rain or anything. No. It was snowing. And I can prove it...

That thing that looks like raindrops is actually snowflakes shot from the window of my suite.




Even the sirens of the Caesars Palace had snow on their asses.



Same view I showed you before, only at night, with snow:


And the only picture with daylight I managed to not accidentally delete. The roof tiles are supposed to look orange not white. And some crazy man went swimming earlier that morning:

The way back home began at the airport where I turned the $1 I had left into $60. Take that Vegas! I'm a menace! HA!!!

We flew on board of what I thought was the tiniest most uncomfortable aircraft in the history of ever:


Then switched flights at Hermosillo, where the airport smells like cow shit and we were almost left behind. In the end all was well, except that I was hungry all the way down to Puebla. My reward was a feast of tacos. Which I surprisingly enough didn't regret afterwards, though I think it may have been because I was so very hungry.

I spent all saturday in the arms of a girl I had not seen in nearly three years, it was very nice. I might share more about this eventually. Unless I decide against it. Either way don't expect anything terribly explicit or indiscrete. But you should know that by now.