Vegas Baby !!!!

Again a fitful sleep, but only cos I wasn’t sure the alarm would work, checking out was at most, a 2 minute deal, and then patiently waiting for the Disney Express to take me back to the airport for my flight to Vegas.   As it turns out, the bus being late wasn’t an issue as the flight was also delayed by a good half hour and then left later anyway . 

The airport was packed and check in and screening took extra long.  Then  there was nothing to do but wait for the rest of the travellers to arrive, which they did about an hour later.  By then I’d found something for lunch and we all caught up on their flight and my down time.

The flight to Vegas was gorgeous.  The terrain was just stunning ranging from wildly rugged mountain to dead flat desert.    And it was so quick we literally had been served our drinks and they announced the start of the decent.  In less than an hour we were landing on the tarmac in full view of the strip, within full sight of New York New York and the Luxor… so odd  pointing out Vegas landmarks from the plane window.

Getting our bags proved a longer exercise, and my poor limy lovely is looking decidedly worse for wear with a dent that looks like with a bit more of a prod would turn into a decent tear.  But it got here, and I guess that’s the main thing.  We waiting in the searing Vegas sun for the shuttle and the poor man having to load all our bags did so with a few choice words ( and I think it was my case that made him  utter it – more because the luggage space was full and he had to lift it above his head to get it in) then we were off and running to the Flamingo.

Oh. My. Lord… what a kerfuffle was check in.  WE were organised… but they were not.   Apparently a conference had meant that they’d over booked our room type and we agreed to a lower category and a room credit… That whole performance took them a good hour and half to rectify and by 6.30 pm we were in our rooms finally and settling in.  Giving me time to write this J

The rest of the travellers were literally fit to drop with little more energy left but to drag their cases up to their rooms and collapse for an hour before meeting down at the buffet.  

The room is nice enough, but with no fridge ( and I’ve never seen a Vegas movie without a mini bar) its going to be a trip down to the main floor for drinks of any kind.   Cold water included.

Our view is looking over the inside of the resort, meaning the pool and flamingo enclosure and Jacuzzi… and its going to be a bit confronting to wander down through the restaurant and other areas to go for a swim… there is no ‘side entrance’ to any of that area so hope no one minds some extremely white legs and ‘that’ll do’ bathers wandering past them while they eat.

I’m looking forward to taking a walk tonight to see some of the lights and take some photos.    The size of the hotel is mind blowing and everything smells of smoke as there aren’t any areas where you can’t smoke including the eating places… so burn hazards are going to be very real.   I am thankful I have packed plenty of antihistamine cos ciggy smoke is not something I can take much of. 

And you can’t do Vegas without a buffet or two and the one at the Flamingo was excellent… with most of us rolling our way out of the restaurant to head in different directions once we’d eaten. 

After the buffet a group of us walked down the strip and took in this pulsing city…. It truly comes alive after dark and we hurled ourselves into the seething mass of humanity surging along both sides of the strip to take in some sights and go pick up tickets for tomorrow nights show.

Its true what they about Vegas… there is surely nothing like it in the world.  With a constant taste of smoke in my mouth that bit is going to be hard to swallow for a non smoker,  and I hope I don’t get emphysema from my time in Sin City, but draw back I must as there is no escaping it… even the rooms smell of smoke as this last bastion for smokers exists purely on hedonism and to hell with the costs. 

Some of the spectacular scenery on the flight from LAX to Vegas.

Just landed on the tarmac and in the background is Luxor Casino and New York New York Casino to name a few...

Out in the grounds of the Flamingo Casino where we stayed

oops... got sidetracked by one of countless slushie bars on our way to the Mirage Casino