eastbank:::

We got up about 7:30 and took the shuttle to the airport. It was only about 20 minutes and 6$. It’s nice the Venetian contracted with the operator. An Auntie Annie pretzel and one last spin on the slots later (won 2.75) we were on our way to San Francisco.

De-boarding the Ted flight was a unique experience. There was no mad rush to get off. It went quietly and orderly. BART was no problem into the Powell station. Some walking uphill later and we settled into the small room before exploring a small bit of chinatown. E was delighted with the soup noodles with roast duck and everything else was great as well. I had thought we just picked a random place but was told that the sign is the meats hanging in the window and not hidden away in the kitchen in embarrassment.

On the way to chinatown we discovered a coin laundry so we stuck the last weeks stuff in there and waited at the complementary napa wine tasting in the hotel lobby. The red was nice during the wash cycle, and the white during the dry. The lobby is very cozy with the christmas tree, warm victorian stylings, and a fireplace. Then it was bed … at … 7:30.

Penn & Teller last night was totally great! I got my pic taken with Penn!

In addition to being the last day in sin city it was the was Las Vegas Outlet mall day. There was a Levi’s and Adidas shop, which was where we spent most of the time. We both picked up some Hush Puppies that look great and are really comfortable. It was, however, hell waiting for the bus to get away from the place as it was freezing and took forever (the traffic on the strip was backed up because, as the driver said, “this is the holidays, and this is Las Vegas”).

After a deposit of the spoils and a rest in the room, we braved the walk back to the MGM for Ka, a Cirque du Soleil show. The stage and effects were amazing, but I would have preferred a more ‘amazing feats’ normal type show over the more artsy approach of this production. Wolfgang Puck’s Bar  Grill fed the evening. My small ravioli-type things as well as the roast chicken was rich and delicious, as well as bigly portioned. The long last walk home was punctuated by stops at several casino’s to temper the even more freezing weather.

We got back quite late since we got a bit caught up at the slots at various venues, so after hitting the sack at 6:30 this morning after having some room service of chicken pot pie, french onion soup, and roast chicken, I fiddled with the computer and waited for E to arise about 3pm before heading out for Christmas dinner. It was mexican wild mushroom enchiladas and it was quite brilliant, even if non-traditional and my first time for such food for this holiday. Tonight, Penn & Teller show over at the Rio.

We got up early and went over to Paris where they have Le Village Buffet. It’s about 15 dollars and includes most things you could want. The eggs were not watery, the bacon was not soggy fat, the omlets were cooked properly as were the crepes, the hash browns were not greasy. Their fruit select is restricted to typical American stuff but I suppose that is to be expected. The only nasty thing was the eggs Benedict - I could not even cut it - so it could not even be tried. It was quite great and we left stuffed.

We then went on over to the join the shuttle bus to go over to the outlet mall in Primm. We picked up some nice stuff from Burberry and the Gap for really great prices. The only thing bad about it aside from my being generally kicked into a high state of anxiety by the smell of manufactured clothing type places was some of the other shoppers. Everyone was arguing with the salespeople about why something is 12.99 when they thought it was 11.99. This is all going on in front of me for at least 10 minutes while trying to get my 20$ Burberry shirt, and as the line grew and grew. Argh City!

Anyway, after that we explored the Venetian and I got a gracie card for their casino rewards thing. We wandered around outside after that and did the rewards thing at Harrah’s since they had a promotion going on. Unfortunately it was for new members and they said I went to New Orleans in 2004 so I’m not eligible. Hmph. On well, E got the deal and also a nifty set of winter hat, gloves, and scarf. There is this one cent slot there that if you get a devil in the first, third, and fifth row it does some bonus round stuff (if you do max bet - like 90 cents). We ate at Flavors buffet before heading hope and it was entirely unacceptable … and 21.99.

So we got up on Saturday and packed before heading off to Narita airport. There is some new “EZcheckin” system around now that is not quite easy. You have to scan your passport into a machine and stuff prints out behind the counter while the screen says to wait for an agent who doesn’t actually come without asking.

The flight went pretty great since we got two seats together without others in the row. The only isssues were the flight was long and there was a screaming child most of the time. The veggie food was a bit like mush barley that was grainy. There was no tv in the seats on this United flight and the one way way in front actually didn’t work.

We had a transit of about 6 hours in LAX and got a bit lost trying to get out of the airport to do something for the time and ended out wandering the gates for most of the time. They had a half-decent burrito place. It was packed there with so many people waiting to go away for family Christmas … something like 50 people waiting on standby everywhere. The staff were quite rudeish and finally got on the speaker and said “LOOK PEOPLE every place with water in Hawaii is covered with families, friends, lovers, co-workers, and dog walkers and you asking me about getting on this flight are not going to work … so STOP asking. We’ll call you. I’m also leaving and don’t even think about asking the next person either.”

We finally got off on a small plane for the less than hour flight to Vegas. Sitting next to us was an Air Force guy in uniform who kept touching eveything and looking shocked that his phone … yes, his phone … didn’t work (never having been near an aeroplane). He told the flight attendant he didn’t want anything to drink but when I ordered a giner ale he beckoned me to answer an urgent question: “I don’t understand the drink you ordered.” He then got one and liked it. He apologized that he was out of it because of the unexpectedly huge 2 hour time difference between Texas and California.

We got here and were bombarded with overpowering rose scented gaudyness. The suite is great though with a nice view (pix later). For dinner we went over to the Hilton which is falling apart and had Benihana. It was the only time I’ve ever had a bad meal there and we were sitting with some high school wrestling guys and their coach. That was okay until a huge group of heathers converged upon the place and chattered boomingly in that way that only that type is capable of. On the way back we got to experience the Strip covered with guys and gals pushing prostitute flyers in your face. Got to get a 7 dollar bottle of water downstairs before turning in after the very long day.