Las Vegas

New Las Vegas Shoes

We used to come here several times a year. I like to play the slots and Hector likes to lay by the pool and go to the spa. But the past couple of years it's felt like a real extravagance, so the last time was last summer for Bobby's fun 50th birthday bash.

So Mark and Arturo got offered 3 free nights at Bellagio as part of a Players Club promotion, so I called and they offered it to us, since we're members, too. That shows they are really trying to drum up business because there is no chance in hell that we gamble enough to get comps. We came in on Saturday and got a great corner room, 7th floor, pool view, big window above the jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. It often takes a little work to get a good room. Hector likes to pick out a Latino desk clerk for check-in, then proceed to become their long-lost best amigo. I love to see people breeze in and try to act like a hot shot at check-in. Nobody can shut you out like a Las Vegas front desk clerk.

I always have an eye out for who's in town; it's always fascinated me that foreigners seem to love to come to Vegas as much as [many] Americans do. Each time we're here there seems to be a particular country heavily represented, and this time it's the French. I mean, they are everywhere. I used to think it was really funny to see French people just at Paris Las Vegas, since it's such a garish American copy of the real thing, the kind of thing you'd think French people would just LOATHE, but they stay there. There's always many Mexicans and Asians here, of course, just like all over.

I hear how Vegas is really taking it hard in the recession, but there seems to be lots of people here right now, although the upscale stores here at Bellagio are deserted and MANY restaurants, even upscale ones, are offering good deals for 3-course prix fixe menus. We're seeing no shows this time. I just bought a pair of sneakers at d. fine downstairs and the sales clerks were all over me, like pigs on shit. By the time I left, they had pulled down half a dozen silk jackets off the rack, offering 40%! NO, 50% OFF!! It was like fleeing from the market in Marrakech.

Tonight we're eating at Aureole, at Mandalay Bay, tomorrow morning we head back home. I haven't won anything, Hector did pretty well at a 1-cent slot machine. The most you can hope for is to spend a bit less than you planned, that's my Las Vegas motto.

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Post script:

Days later and we're home sweet home now. Our dinner at Aureole was good, but very inflated. Service was apathetic, except for the sommolier, who was charming. Can't say I'd recommend it. Eat at Joel Robuchon at MGM instead. Reminder: never book Las Vegas departure before noon.