Strip Jack Poker

This morning arrived way too early and before I knew it I was down in the buffet experiencing their magical breakfasts. 

              

I do believe that all you can eat breakfast may well be my favourite.  Its kind of fun sitting in a huge room surrounded by glass that has flamingos on the other side.  And it wasn’t long before I was outside taking my first photos of the flamingos that live on the property of the same name.   But while they are a little whiffy, they are also quite beautiful and I can easily lose a lot of time taking photos of these odd birds.

Today was ‘discover and shop’ day, so to that end, our jetlagged band of sisters, headed to the southern end of the strip this morning to see how much we can boost the US economy.   And boost it we did.  We caught the monorail – something that I am not convinced is all that handy given that it only takes you to the back of whichever casino the stop is at, so then you have to walk a billion miles through their gaming rooms to even make it out onto the strip again.   This of course, is so that you are tempted to drop a coin or seventy into the slots on your way through and maybe you won’t leave. 

Serious time can be lost just catching the monorail from one place to another.

The first of our stops was into M & M world.  OMG.  4 floors of merch and it was impossible to choose what to take with you.   Cos despite the fact that in the real world you wouldn’t dream of using an M & M teapot, for some reason, surrounded by all this stuff, you suddenly needed it along with M & M pjs, M& M leather jacket and possibly an M&M watch, necklace or earrings.    I only bought one item which was very restrained of me, but I really enjoyed the 3D movie on the top floor and the Nascar  M &M vehicle also housed on the top floor. 

From here, we conveniently walked through the base of the building right into World of Coke, which given my addiction, was probably more financially dangerous ground. However, our time was shorter here, and I couldn’t decided ( which usually isn’t my problem) and left there with nothing but a few photos and the memory of all the things I wished I had bought later.

From here, we fought our way across to the other side of the strip through the crowds and what felt like 40 C heat ( and it possibly was)  to the air conditioned sanctuary of the NY NY casino.  Now this was possibly my favourite casino along with the Venetian.  This place was magnificent inside and out.  The exterior looked for all the world like the NY skyline except for the massive roller coaster – which a few of us brave souls rode – complete with bridges and the Statue of Liberty. 

Inside, the shops were literally like you were walking through a NY streetscape with cafes and bars all the way along.  The roller coaster is purported to be very rough, and quite hairy… and I can assure you, it was exactly that on both counts.  I was quite cocky about not taking my hoop earrings off as they’d been on a lot of roller coasters in their day and I was sure they’d make it through.  Well… let me tell you, that when I got through the ‘crazy’ that was the coaster, I felt my ears to prove a point and I was heartbroken to discover one missing.  Resolute that I took the chance and lost the bet, I stood up to collect my bag and my dignity and underneath my bottom was the luckiest earring in the whole world.  I should have put a few bucks into a machine right there and then!!!  It must have fallen into my lap when we were inverted and wiggled its way under my butt from where it had no chance of escape. 

But I didn’t, and resorted to retail therapy instead, leaving more than a few bucks at the vendors along the way and feeling much better for it.

Lunch was at a typical NY pizza joint and my first peperoni of the trip.  

From here we made our laborious way from NYNY further up the monorail track to another indoor shopping mecca where the stripper school was housed.

Now I’m not going to say too much about this as what happens in Vegas, should in some instances stay in Vegas… and I might want to utilise some of the skills I learned at this quite serious class.  I am now a card carrying graduate of  Stripper school 101 and the art of lap dance, pole dance are not outside the realms of my possibilities now.  Along with knowing how to ‘turn the light switch on and off’ and the much revered ‘hello kitty’ were skills practiced.  And while this was quite a hoot, and run by a 40 something ex-stripper that it should be illegal to be that fit and healthy at her age to be, there were some in the class who clearly saw this a career path and were taking it all too seriously…

We of course, have the bruises to show for it, and the laughs to go along with it.    Candy Banks at your service. 

From here, we wended our lengthy way back through the Paris casino ( also just breathtaking) for a swim in the lovely pool at the Flamingo before preparing for the night out.

Tonight we ventured back to the MGM Grand and bought MASSIVE margarita’s and squeezed into TINY seats to watch one of the most spectacular shows I’ve had the pleasure to watch.  We saw LOVE – the Beatles Story, and my love of the Beatles combined with live shows was just almost orgasmic.    I was just blown away by the acrobatics and the music, and being able to be part of the show when a massive parachute was fed up over the rows of audience and being part of that was awesome. 

 LOVED LOVE with my whole heart.   I’m definitely a Circque convert.

From here we wandered into BB Kings house of Blues for some kick arse music and dinner.  WOW… what a way to finish the night.  Its no secret that I am a MASSIVE blues music fan – it kind of gets me where I live.  So this place rocked my world and I’d happily have paid to just sit and listen. 

It was VERY late when my head finally hit the pillow, but looking  back, I am one of the lucky ones, as we had a couple of our number pull an all nighter and fronted up for our pre-dawn meet up for our trip to the Grand Canyon a little second hand.

A great day, and while it was scorching hot anywhere outside, our jetlagged bunch made a hell of a fist of the day.  

The beautiful Flamingo's the Casino is famous for. 

NYNY Casino exterior - and the roller coaster that almost claimed one of my favourite earrings.

A panorama of one of the merchandise floors at M&M world.

The Miracle Mile shopping centre.  The roof looked for all the world like the night sky.  And in behind that lovely lady on the pole was our venue for Stripper school. 

The streetscape looking back past the Flamingo to Ballys to Paris... Sin City at its spangly best.