Laura noticed that there were tons of ants crawling on the stone rail she was leaning on. We quickly left and headed inside to eat. The buffet was exquisite… $40 but exquisite. I think I had spicy tuna temaki, king crab legs, salmon, rack of lamb, ribeye, some lobster thing, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I’d have to say, this isn’t dinner at the Venetian, but for $40 and for a buffet, it certainly filled me up and made me a happy camper.
All through dinner though, Laura kept picking ants off herself, which freaked me out. What was worse was that I found one on myself. *shudder* I hope they’re all dead now.
By the time we finished, it was around 10 so. I told them we wouldn’t get home til about 11/ 11:30, which was true. We walked on the other side, near Harrah’s this time and the Flamingo. Had carricatures drawn by some Chinese art guys. It’s $5 per person but $20 for a group. Completely ridiculous. So I started talking in mandarin asking how that made sense, so they gave it to us for $15. Then, they took 50% off the frame. What can I say? That’s how I roll.
At 11:30, it was getting way too late. We hastened back to the hotel, found out Laura didn’t pack a dress, and all got ready. I wasn’t sure which club we were hitting yet, and some places don’t allow for jeans. So we hopped in a cab. The driver said that Pure was impossible to get in at 12:15, and we should try our luck elsewhere. So we went to LAX at the Luxor, which opened on Labor Day. It was pretty new and just plain pretty.
The Luxor is so lush and Egyptian. I’m jealous that Ty’s going to stay there, especially with all the cute, half naked girls (a lot of lil Asian things) running around. In any case, Wawi wanted to show the VIP passes, since we spent money on them. I thought that wasn’t a good idea because you should never show your cards before you’re asked to. So I just flirted my way to the front, waited 10 minutes or so, and waltzed right now. No security. No cover. It was great. :) In fact, we didn’t wait in the normal line or the VIP line. I just bluffed my way in. Muahahaha…
I never get in that way, so I thought it was a great coup. Did a lap. Went and got drinks. Laura was pretty tired and just annoyed or something, and Wawi had traveled all day, so I decide to treat them to a round of drinks. $9 for water. Ridic-u-lous. But whatever. Vegas is meant for spending money. We danced for about an hour or so, and it was getting rather boring. There wasn’t anywhere to sit unless you got a table, and $300 a table is not worth it, when there are only three of us.
So at around 2 am, we headed out to sit in the lobby. I wanted to go to Pure because by then, the line had to be shorter. I was dead, but whatever. After a Redbull and a Corona, Laura and I sat, while Wawi gambled at some cute machines for $2. Clearly, Laura was tired, and Wawi said we should head back, since we had to get up early.
So we walked out into the lobby. I tossed 2 pennies into the pool. I wish I could share my wishes, but I shan’t or they won’t come true. There was some drunk girl walking to the door. As soon as Laura asked if she could bring the glass outside, the girl dropped and shattered the glass all over the lobby marble.
We got in a cab. Headed home.
Next day: got up. I had already packed, so I just hung out, while the girls got ready. We went to check out and put our suitcases in storage. Ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant, where there was a Turkish waiter, who loved to talk. Wawi shared a beautiful story about how she and her then boyfriend (at age 21) smuggled a Persian kitten back to Spain.
We walked to the Venetian and inside to see the mall with the ceiling painted like a blue sky and canals that ran in between the shops just like in Venice (Grand Canals Mall?). It was gorgeous. I bought a candle from Tao (the club/restaurant/lounge/whatever) and Laura picked up a cute tee.
Stopped by a couple of shops, including a magic shop with really cool card tricks and an Italian mask place that had the most exquisite china masks. I really wanted one.
Finally, we stopped to rest at Mario Batali’s Enoceta San Marco restaurant inside the Grand Canal Shoppes. The bartender just moved from NYC 7 months ago and managed three of Mario’s restaurants. He was delightfully entertaining and told great stories about how he’d torture and train his female bartenders because most of them were only in it for the money and not for the art. The drinks were nice experiments, and I got a double shot of tequila. Why not? It was the last day.
So we left. Went to the gift shop. Wawi picked up a gift for her boyfriend Alfonzo. I picked up two 40s and a pack of cigs. (Sad, ain’t it?) We headed back to the pool and tanned/napped until 5pm. Quickly we got our stuff and headed for the airport.
The line wasn’t too bad at the terminal, so we ended up getting food from Chilli’s. At that point, I was dead. Not only did I not get any sleep, but I also felt like I was the one working all the logistics and bargaining and being “on” all weekend. Utterly exhausting. Wawi and Laura could tell I was irritable, so I tried staying quiet, and they tried to not say anything.
The flight was fine. I drove both of them home without a hitch. Wawi gave me the ceramic pig statue that I thought was really cute when I went to her place the last time.
I finally got home at 11pm and couldn’t fall asleep until past midnight.
…. and that was my Vegas trip.
Nothing too crazy. Didn’t drink, eat, or party too much. In fact, I’ve gone out so much more even in SF recently (i.e. I went home when the newspaper trucks were dropping off the morning edition). Didn’t meet any interesting or cute boys. BUT I had so much fun. Got some sun. And can’t wait to go back in October.
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