Vegas Bites

Rhys has it spot on when he calls Vegas the polar opposite of the Grand Canyon. The only purity to the city is impurity, a state it has perfected. Some quick bites from Sin City below.

Top However-Many Things about Vegas

• Hearing hundreds of languages and accents in one place. People appear to flock here from around the world!


• Having the opportunity to practice my Japanese (with a gambler from Nara), Thai (to a blackjack dealer from Thailand), and Chinese (to a blackjack dealer from China).


• No antes on blackjack tables.


• Gorgeous suite at the Stratosphere - we got upgraded for very cheap because our reserved room wasn't ready.


• Strawberry EXTREME!


• The Star Trek machines - you logged in and saved your progress, so it was like you were working toward goals while gambling. Dangerous and addictive!


• The Venetian, with its "open skies."


• Seeing robot waitress who could not walk in heels.


• The strip at night in all its neon glory.


• Dancing fountains at Bellagio, Volcano at Mirage


• Free drinks everywhere


• Naked card collecting

Worst However-Many Things about Vegas

• Being sick in Vegas (Eagle knows this better than I ever will, though)


• The uber-severe blackjack dealer-ess, who looked like the scary old lady from the Dark Crystal.


• Crap service at the Stratosphere - no one working there seemed to know what was going on.


• Stupid timeshare scam artists accosting you at every entrance and exit.


• Siren's Call at Treasure Island - omg lame.


• The worst blackjack player - IN THE WORLD. He was at our table and had no idea what he was doing - all the other tables were full. He seriously a. tried to stay on a six and then again on a TEN, and b. kept hitting 10+ hands against 5s and 6s (often taking the bust card and screwing the table in the process). YIKES!


• Sad, old casinos squatting in the shadows of their newer and more successful brethren.


• Not winning.


• Missing my dad in Vegas by one day!


• Missing the Star Trek Experience exhibit by ten days!


• Strip-jaded faces in strip-jaded places.


• Forgot to hit the Oxygen Bar and Bodies exhibit. D'oh!

No, not substantive, sorry! California is fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. The weather is cool and lovely, In N' Out was a treat, we're staying with the nicest dude in Long Beach, and we're going to Huntington Beach today. Life is good.