Road Trip - curtains for Vegas

The three amigoes woke up on our final full day in Vegas feeling pretty rough from the night before so we decided some good hearty food was in order.  We headed to Hooters and had some burgers, chicken wings and desserts.  On the way out of the Hooters hotel we put $20 on black.  It never came up this time.

With the finances creaking like Mr Burns' bones we discussed the night out ahead.  To save some money we spoke to the PR guys outside LAX nightclub in the Luxor.  They agreed to put us all on the guest list, which meant free entry.  This was a boost and meant we had more money to spend on ten dollar drinks later.  I'd say that's tying the system, not beating it.

Before heading out Angus and I walked the strip while Mark1 slept off his Hooters chicken wings and cheesecake.

Angus and I cut through some of the hotels we hadn't been in yet, including the City.  Being an architect my frined was really enamoured with the design and scope of this hotel.  I was quite impressed myself, though standing in its shadow I thought it reminded my of Frankfurt.  Very central business district-like.  Inside was the usual opulence, but anything we'd seen yet was soon to be trumped.  Not by the water show outside the Billagio, basically water dancing to a Frank Sinatra number.  Luck Be a Lady of course, this is Vegas.

We headed down to Caesar's Palace and when we'd piked up our jaws we agreed that this was indeed the most extravagant of the venues we'd been to in Las Vegas.  Whereas the Luxor bamboozleed you with its maze of slots and hieroglyphic directions, the size of the Palace dictates that you will have to take a rest at a roulette table at some point, it's either that or your legs fall off walking.

We spent some time walking round the shopping precinct and before we knew it, we'd left Mark1 for four hours. 

We got back to the Luxor, had some dinner, went for a cocktail in the Hard Rock Cafe and the hit LAX.  Only four of us ended up going so I decided to drink for the three who never made it.

My only memories are this:

• High-fiving a barmaid because she had decided to only paint every second fingernail black, I saluted her non-conformity
• Hearing someone behind me proudly chanting the song of the children of the knight, Robert the Bruce - "here we, here we, here we f***ing go!"
• Enjoying some banter with the Scottish chanter and his girlfriend, they were also on a road trip, albeit larger than ours.  They told us where to stay in LA, so credit them there
• Realising that, while Americans can't party liek Europeans, they do LOVE that Guetta and Akon song Sexy Chick and go off their heads when it comes on

Em, that's pretty much it for in LAX.  I had the common sense to pull myself out before I was asked to leave.  I stumbled up the stairs and dropped myself into a half-coma.

When I got up in the morning it was time to pack.  But before that I had $27 in chips from Excalibur left - so one last chance to throw it all on black.  Which I did.  It never came up.

So we set off for Los Angeles.




Steving Las Vegas: enjoying a quiet moment with my tummy and a poly bag under a palm tree


Driving to LA took a while.  And I a very bad hangover.  I kept getting them in America, must've been the water I used when brushing my teeth.

When we got there my stomach felt as if my mouth had had an affair and run off with some younger tummy.  One that was more adventurous and able to handle exotic foods and gallons of booze. 

So we all got quickly dressed and my empty belly's groans were reduced to a murmur when we crossed the Strip to a bar and had a look at the menu.

Sadly, my stomach's grumbles were to become more audible as a succession of soon to be film stars apologised for our wait and promised that someone would see to us right away...

A little over an hour later and my stomach gave up from gorging itself on the Andre the Giant of club sandwiches.  With one segment left.  But I did tuck away a full baked potato.

Angus and Stevie: runners up to some bread and meat

The bar we were in had a rodeo bull and no cocktail menu, so naturally the girls ordered French Martinis.  But were served, fluorescent pink vodka.  After much debate Angus, a qualified cocktail maker, was invited to help the barman out.  We left soon after and headed in the direction of Whisky a Go Go, a bar where Love and The Doors had played in years gone by. 

But a random Scottish traitor sent us in completely the wrong direction so we stopped in for some late beers with oranges in them in another bar.  Sorry for not remembering bar names.

We stayed for no more than an hour before heading back to the hotel for a failry early night to preserve fresh bodies and minds for the next day, at Universal Studios.

Until those stories, I'm out like my strawberry frappucino at the Las Vegas gas station...