.....hopefully, stays in Vegas. I'll get the bridge action out of the way first. It was not pretty, as in, Art and I didn't make any more points after the first day, and, indeed, often came in last. There were times we realized we were doing poorly, other times we thought we were doing well only to find out, no, we were not. It was truly disheartening. On the bright side, Art and I got through 3 normal weeks of bridge misunderstandings in a mere 4 days!!!!
Las Vegas itself was something else. I had not been here since the 80s, when Peter and I stayed overnight on the way to Santa Fe.Except for one night last year, those of you with good memories will recall, when I went down for one night to celebrate Hank's 65th birthday, and on that visit, I never saw the strip at all.)
I know it has been said, but it really is like a playground for adults....
....we did have some nice meals, including this one at Beaches at the Tropicana....
....although I am here to tell you that the days of cheap meals in the casinos are gone gone gone....
In spite of all the lights, there is the occasional wonderful desert sunset....
This was our ride for the trip, Art's Chrysler Seabring. The nights are so balmy - the top was down for the whole trip
Lest you think we did nothing but play bridge, we did (on Hank's recommendation) make time one afternoon to go to the Mob Museum. It is in the old Las Vegas (by the way, did you know that "las vegas" means "the meadows"? Ironic. isn't it?) courthouse, where the actual Keefauver hearings on the mob were held....
This was the actual courtroom used by the commission.....
....and the following advice should be given on purchase of any phone or computer.....
The museum was really well done; I highly recommend it if you are visiting. The pawn shop from the t.v. show was right around the corner, but there was a line a block long, so we passed.
Art even took some time to play the slots...
On our last night, we went out for a special dinner at Binion's Steakhouse, in old Las Vegas. It is where we went for Hank's birthday last year, and I wanted to go again.
It didn't disappoint!!!!
Overall impression? Noise. There is noise everywhere, in the casinos, on the streets, everywhere. So, I am glad to have gone, Art and I got on well and, overall, had a good time. But I don't need to go again any time soon, and I was glad to get in the car on Friday morning for the ride home....
Saturday, I was off to meet friend Ken at the Palm Springs Art Museum, for their Dia de Los Muertos celebration. After a brief walk around the museum....
....getting up in time for a reunion with Geoff at Tropicale, which I have to say is still my favourite watering hole, cheapest, strongest drinks on the West Coast for sure and maybe any coast....
We went back to Geoff's house (nearby) for another glass of wine and some supper, and some quiet conversation - the one thing Tropicale is not conducive to...
....and so, to bed.
Today was Dottie Domestic day in the Desert, with the added bit of my Sunday New York Times and a few hours at the pool. (and yes, I know it is monsooning in the Pacific Northwest....)
I'm truly ready for my first week at home in the desert.....
Las Vegas itself was something else. I had not been here since the 80s, when Peter and I stayed overnight on the way to Santa Fe.Except for one night last year, those of you with good memories will recall, when I went down for one night to celebrate Hank's 65th birthday, and on that visit, I never saw the strip at all.)
I know it has been said, but it really is like a playground for adults....
....we did have some nice meals, including this one at Beaches at the Tropicana....
....although I am here to tell you that the days of cheap meals in the casinos are gone gone gone....
In spite of all the lights, there is the occasional wonderful desert sunset....
This was our ride for the trip, Art's Chrysler Seabring. The nights are so balmy - the top was down for the whole trip
Lest you think we did nothing but play bridge, we did (on Hank's recommendation) make time one afternoon to go to the Mob Museum. It is in the old Las Vegas (by the way, did you know that "las vegas" means "the meadows"? Ironic. isn't it?) courthouse, where the actual Keefauver hearings on the mob were held....
This was the actual courtroom used by the commission.....
The museum was really well done; I highly recommend it if you are visiting. The pawn shop from the t.v. show was right around the corner, but there was a line a block long, so we passed.
Art even took some time to play the slots...
I didn't, but couldn't resist posing.....
On our last night, we went out for a special dinner at Binion's Steakhouse, in old Las Vegas. It is where we went for Hank's birthday last year, and I wanted to go again.
It didn't disappoint!!!!
Overall impression? Noise. There is noise everywhere, in the casinos, on the streets, everywhere. So, I am glad to have gone, Art and I got on well and, overall, had a good time. But I don't need to go again any time soon, and I was glad to get in the car on Friday morning for the ride home....
Saturday, I was off to meet friend Ken at the Palm Springs Art Museum, for their Dia de Los Muertos celebration. After a brief walk around the museum....
....and the festivities...
...I was really too pooped for our anticipated Mexican lunch (I had a bad night, ever had one of those?), so, Ken having given me a rain check (what does that even mean in Palm Springs?), I headed home for a much needed nap....
We went back to Geoff's house (nearby) for another glass of wine and some supper, and some quiet conversation - the one thing Tropicale is not conducive to...
....and so, to bed.
Today was Dottie Domestic day in the Desert, with the added bit of my Sunday New York Times and a few hours at the pool. (and yes, I know it is monsooning in the Pacific Northwest....)
I'm truly ready for my first week at home in the desert.....
