You know you're in Vegas when a bottle of water sets you back $3 (unless you buy it from someone selling out of a cooler... then it's just, "One dolla! Ice cold water, one dolla!" Looking back on it now, I wish I had stocked up on the dollar waters, but oh well.) And we can't even move stuff around in the fridge, because it tracks it based on weight, and you'll get charged as soon as something moves... Booo! At least the ice down the hall is free. I've been noshing on it all afternoon, since I can't bear to bring myself to shelling out as much for a water as I do for Starbucks...
Thankfully and sadly, Jeremy's conference (the whole reason we came) started up today, and they have drinks available to attendees. So he's starting a little room stock for us, which should help keep me hydrated (I woke up at 4 this morning, PARCHED! I had to drink lukewarm tap water--it was all we had, but boy did it taste good.... Jeremy says it has a funny chemical taste, but y'know what? When you're thirsty, it's the best water you've ever had.)
Sadly, though, he's gone most of the day so I'm all by my lonesome. I thought I'd be okay with that, since this city is cool to just walk around in, but we did that yesterday, and boy, I'm still beat. Walking around in 100+ degree temps (35+ for those who prefer Celsius) just sucks the life outta ya. We kept ducking into casinos for drinks and a few pulls on the penny slots (Jeremy won $6 playing $1 on the penny slots! Woot! We promptly spent it on Starbucks. Well, at least I was able to get a drink with that. :) Our whole goal for going out was to hike to Tropicana, which is only a couple of blocks down the strip on a map, but it took us over 2 hours to get there. Why did we want to go to Tropicana?? Because they're the only casino left on the strip that dispenses coins when you win. Everyone else gives you a voucher that you can then use in another machine, or cash out for cash. Really, though, who's going to play the penny slots, win, and cash out their $.20 winnings? Well, not us. :) But if it's in nickels, then you're more likely to keep your winnings instead of playing them away.
Well, wouldn't you know it... After all that walking, we found out they too had switched to a voucher system... BOOO! Not all was lost, though. They had cheap souveniers at least (even cheaper than what I was going to buy at CVS! Score!) And then we had to head back, because....
We saw Phantom last night! This is the "Vegas" version, so it was different than the Broadway show. Different doesn't necessarily mean better... Being a Phantom purist (I grew up listening to the Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman version) the changes were kind of annoying... The big changes included moving the "chandelier" crash to the end of "Don Juan Triumphant" (and so the lyrics in "Masquerade" were changed from "to a prosperous year! To the new chandelier!" to something else...) cutting out the rehearsal completely for the "Don Juan Triumphant" (the scene right before we see Christine go to the cemetary to sing to her dead father,) and rushing what dialogue their was. At least, it seemed rushed to me. Reactions that would normally take a few seconds to give were given immediately, and it sucked some of the magic out of it for me.
Couple of good changes, though. Since the theater was designed to be a "Phantom" theater, the sets were larger and more brilliant, the chandelier being raised to the ceiling at the beginning was awesome, as it was in 5 different pieces that all swung around above your head before settling into its final position at the end of the overture. And more pyrotechnics. Lots more than on Broadway.
Was it good? Yes. Better than Broadway? No. But I would have probably enjoyed it more had I not seen it on Broadway previously. I tried taking some pics after the show (none allowed before or during, obviously) but it was really hard to get a good shot of the chandelier, with the lighting as it was. But it gives you an idea of how much work went into the theater itself.
We've definitely been eating better since being in Vegas. They have a cafe called "Grand Lux Cafe" that is a spinoff of the Cheesecake Factory, and it's definitely a great bang for your buck. I had a Tuna Niciose Sandwich with Cauliflower Cheddar soup, and a "small" salad with REAL blue cheese dressing. And it was SO GOOD! I couldn't finish it all, there was so much food (hence the "small" salad... it was NOT "small" by any stretch of the imagination... unless you're used to eating the whole salad at Olive Garden, or something.) Only $11. I paid that today for a less than impressive chicken philly with fries. Needless to say, I'll be having my lunches at the Grand Lux from now on. Ya can't beat the deal, and I'm sure it was healthier.
Last night (and apparently, tonight as well, since we'll be dining with some of Jeremy's clients,) we ate at one of Mario Batali's restaurants. Normally, I would never consider it, since those celebrity chef restaurants tend to be really pricey, but we were satified with the pricing options, and ended up getting a lot of food for a decent price. And it wasn't stuff we'd normally order, either--walnut salad, lentils, aparagus (raw) w/ ricotta cheese (not the stuff you buy in the store, that's for sure!), marinated olives, and a pancetta arugula pizza (very rustic, stone oven style.) It was so good! And we managed to spend less than $50 before tip (this is Vegas, remember...) Now the question is, do we get the same thing tonight, or try other things on the menu.... Hmmm....
That's been our trip, thus far. Getting here wasn't too bad. Remember I said I had planned on blogging on the plane? Well, that didn't happen, because the stupid people sitting in front of us chose to put their seats back. No way I could have the laptop open on my lap like that. I tried sitting sideways, but that was even more uncomfortable. At least we got our headsets for free (and more snacks than everyone else... HAHA!) since the attendants (and pilot!) were very appreciative of the Lindt truffles we brought them (I didn't think we'd get anything, since you can buy Lindt bars from them as a snack, but I guess those are off limits to the crew...) One of the attendants even told the other who was passing out the headphones, "We won't charge them, they brought us chocolates," right in front of the other passengers! They gave us a look as they handed over their $3 each for their sets. :p It pays to show your appreciation!
Oh, and going through customs in Canada vs. once stateside was so much easier. They even have their own security checkpoint, so there was NO wait at all! And I learned that Canada doesn't consider the US an "international" destination, but a "trans-national" or something. I was confused because they kept telling me to go somewhere else when I would get in line for WestJet's international check in, and they kept saying, "No, you have to go over there." I know now, though. Next time, I'll get it right. :)
Arrival in Vegas was crazy, though. We waited in line for an hour to get a cab (only option, shuttles had stopped shuttling by the time we got there, and we didn't want to pay $70 for a limo,) which would have been less had I not gotten the bright idea to try to walk to the domestic terminal instead, but I digress... At least we made it to our beautiful room, with a nice view, and expensive water. :)
You wanted it, you asked for it---PICTURES!
Our Hotel suite (there are no "rooms" just suites...) Yes, there are steps there leading down to the sitting area. (Not shown, 32" LCD HDTV in hutch.)
Jeremy wasted no time trying out the bed after traveling for 8 hours... It may have been only 1 a.m. here, but we were on Eastern time, so it was 4 in the morning! (Not shown, 42" LCD HDTV on wall.)
The bathroom, complete with double vanity, a dressing table and bench, and separate toilet room. I plan on trying out that tub at least once before we leave! (Not shown, 19" LCD HDTV on wall, in case you want to watch the news as you shower... Or something.)
Las Vegas Blvd, a.k.a The Strip, as seen from the southern end. Our hotel is that pale building right in the middle of the pic, to the left of the "Eiffel tower" at Paris.
The statue of liberty, at New York New York, and yup, that's a roller coaster.
New York New York, one of the gaudy, but cool, hotel and casinos.
MGM Grand. They have a lion habitat inside, though I have yet to see any lions during either trip to Vegas.
Excalibur Hotel and Casino. They have a Tourney Dinner Theater every night here. Definitely one of the more gaudy places to stay, but fun.
The Chandelier at Phantom. That was the best I could do, sorry.
The Phantom theater, complete with dummy patrons in the box seats.
Ditto.
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