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The last Vegas post? Hurrah I hear you cry??
The last day in Vegas we had all of the day to ourselves and were only meeting up later in the evening for dinner and a show. Danielle and I decided to hop on the monorail and go downtown to the other end of the strip. We had heard there was a slot machine place down there which was luckier than the big casino's.
The monorail was quick, efficient, clean - and driverless. A fact that didn't become apparent until we were actually ON it and read the brochure. Still, we made it without mishap and came off at the Hilton, near to the Circus Circus Casino. It was immediately apparent that this end of the strip was much quieter and less 'touristy' (if that's a word, if not, it is now! :P).
We wandered up to the Slot machine place and, after promptly losing twenty bucks, we had a stroll round the Circus Circus casino, which was less than impressive compared to some at the other end of the strip. Then we decided on lunch, which was taken in a nearby food court. It made a pleasant change from the BK or McD chains and was obviously where the local workers came for their lunches too.
As we headed back towards the monorail, we stopped off in a greek casino (I forget the name), to use the restrooms and the only other person in there appeared to be the counter clerk who never even looked up from his newspaper to acknowledge our presence. Safe to assume then that this was one of the less frequented casinos.
A short monorail trip back, we got off at the MGM again and wandered up to the Luxor casino. This place was magnificent, styled like the Pyramid at Giza, complete with the Sphinx and Obelisk outside. Inside it was equally impressive with statues and complete wall friezes, replicating ancient Egypt.
Knowing the law of the pyramid, I guided Danielle as near to the centre as we could get before trying our luck with the slots. Of course, we found out the law of the pyramid must only apply to genuine Egyptian ones, not at Vegas.
After getting some photos, we wandered back along the street and headed towards Hooters, purely as a social experiment of course! ;p Needless to say, we didn't hang around there long and came back to our own hotel for a break before it was time for dinner and the show.
Leaving early, we managed a half hours last minute souvenir shopping before heading to meet everyone else for dinner. Wayne and Linda were first to turn up, with the others following shortly thereafter. For a brief moment, we became concerned when Ben didn't turn up on time as he is a punctual guy but it turned out that he and the tech guys had sneaked in early for an administrative tete-a-tete.
Dinner was, as ever, completely exquisite and we had to debate with ourselves whether we could manage another mouthful, it was just so good and we didn't want to leave any. We were joined for a while byt Rownie, Ben's mother in law and baby Jason, who kept us all entertained with his facial antics and huge smile. A happier baby has rarely been seen - and why wouldn't he be with such loving parents and a devoted gran.
After dinner came the show - Ka by Cirque De Soleil, which was conveniently located within the MGM. Words defy me to describe this, as it was an experience, not just a show. From the moment we entered the theatre, men were launching themselves off of balconies above us and veering away at the last moment. (I think they were actors and part of the show but, who knows!!?).
Just prior to the show starting, two of the main characters made a man from the audience stand up, as he had brought in a camera, cigarettes and cell phone, all of which were not permitted in the theatre. After showing us all the offending items they threw them into a fiery pit - before throwing the man from the audience in with them!!
The flames burned brightly as the rest of us hid away our cameras, having 'got the message'. It was a great way to send it though, I thought.
The show was a dizzying, amazing symphony of action, lights, sound, music and special effects that intuitively followed a storyline. A second pair of eyes would have been helpful to take it all in as, at times, it seemed people would appear and when you looked again they were gone. Also, with some of the special effects, you only became aware of something being there (in one case a HUGE grasshopper?) after it had been there, moving, for ages.
The stage set itself was awesome as the stage moved back and forwards and tilted and had actors jumping between it and a thin walkway at the edge of the stage. With some of the moves being made, I still find it hard to understand how half of the cast did not seriously harm themselves, but they were all there to take their very well deserved bows at the finale.
All in all an amazing show and a great night. I'm sure my fellow bloggers and all present would accompany me in thoroughyl reccomending the cast of Cirque de Soleil and Ka, if they ever come to a town near you!
After the show it was time for a few handshakes and hugs and final farewells between us all as we slowly drifted away to our rooms or to have one last hopeful attempt in the casino. None of us really wanted to end this at that point and it was clear in most of our minds just how awesome this whole thing had been.
Most of us had only one regret - that we hadn't had more time to chat to the others and get to know them better. None of us had struck the jackpot in the casino's though, so we had to go home or join those sitting on the strip with cardboard signs.
The next day, we had a last look at Vegas from the balcony, and headed downstairs to get the limo that Ben and his wife had arranged to take us to the airport. We were joined in this by Paul and his wife Sarah and our room neighbors, Ry and Shannon.
In summary, the Vegas trip was an amazing, awesome, experience which I'm honored to have been part of. If I didn't have photos to prove it happened, I might have just been wondering about my sanity right now but happen it did. I know. I was there. :)
The excitement of going to Vegas was doubled for Danielle as this trip had been her first ever time flying, but she discovered that she loved it, despite some initial nerves and doubts. For me, it was the whole package. From being included to go, meeting such genuinely honestly good, nice people, getting to see the sights and sounds of Vegas but, most of all, being able to share all of this with Danielle, there is nothing I could dream of that could have made any of it better.
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Posted by scotslad60 on 2007-11-12 07:57:00 | Rating: | Views: 169
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Wow Jim !!! I could see it all again in my mind...Thanks !!!
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Posted by Wayne
on 2007-11-12 08:13:12
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Just beautiful.xx
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Posted by bubblydi
on 2007-11-12 09:01:04
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This where nice that read.
Hope your few this nice.
have a nice day.
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Posted by Ottehey
on 2007-11-12 09:04:51
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I've relived it quite a few times since too, Wayne.
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Posted by scotslad60
on 2007-11-12 11:41:02
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Thank you Di. Just telling it how I saw it. :)
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Posted by scotslad60
on 2007-11-12 11:41:26
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TY Ottehey. Hope you have a good one too.
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Posted by scotslad60
on 2007-11-12 11:41:55
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I'm still not over it, Jim. It truly was a one of a kind time.
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Posted by Pauligan
on 2007-11-13 06:10:14
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Least we have some great memories but I dont want it to go too soon either paul. Definitely a one of a kind. Glad we could share it with you and sarah :)
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Posted by scotslad60
on 2007-11-13 09:01:55
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