Viva Las Vegas

We embarked on our grand adventure Sunday August 27th. Let me tell you that that was one of the longest days of my life. The week leading up to it was torture too, work was very slow...having an office job with not a lot of work tends to make the minutes seem like hours. But finally, the day to leave for Vegas has arrived and we left our house with Karey at noon-ish. The border line up was a 15 min. wait...good thing we left with plenty of time to spare so that we wouldn't miss our flight. One time, I took the quick shuttle down to SEA-TAC airport for a flight at 1pm. The bus left downtown Vancouver @ 7am and we arrived at the border at 8ish. Due to a great number of other tour busses there, we didn't leave the border until 10am and we had also waited for a couple of passengers to show up for 20 min...they simply disappeared and so they got left behind. The quick shuttle is not as quick as it makes out to be, we had to stop at the bellingham airport and then downtown seattle. We finally arrived at the airport at 12:25pm. I was able to check in...go through security and be at my gate with 20 min. to spare (running a lot of the time). So, when I heard that everyone was very concerned about not getting to the Bellingham airport in time and making the flight and wanted to leave extra early for a flight that was at 7:50pm...I was less than enthusiastic. I cannot stand waiting around for things, I hate it! I knew that the only thing that we might have had to worry about was the border wait but even I knew that wouldn't be very long. What could I do, I was a passenger and only one against 5 others. Also, if anyone has seen the bellingham airport you know what I am talking about...there is no way you can miss your flight..checking in an hour early is even recommended i heard from a friend who recently flew out of there. Okay, so enough about the longest day of my life. The random driving around the Washington countryside was fun and so was playing mad lib in the state park there. I can't remember the name right now. Karey and Nikki are good times.

Vegas!!! We stayed at the Mandalay Bay hotel and karey, Randy, Scott & I went to the Mandalay Bay beach. It has a wave pool, where you can body surf and it has a lazy river. Scott and Randy both brought their tubes and so we used those, or floated without them. It was soo fun and relaxing. The four of us went to the beach every morning and that is how we started our day. Except for Tuesday, Randy & Scott were on their way to the Grand Canyon with Sarita & Nikki. The groups were like this, Nikki & Sarita most of the time, Karey & I, then it would be Karey, Nikki & Sarita and Scott, Randy & I. Mostly because the boys and I have been to Vegas plenty of times and we wanted some new adventures..mostly shopping. I hope Randy & Scott didn't feel like tour guides. They did a lot of the same things that they have done the many times they have been there. I was able to do some new things, like go shopping in the Aladdin, saw the Thunderstorm in the Desert Passage with Karey. I also went to two outlet malls on either side of the strip. I took the Deuce for the first time. The Deuce is the bus on the Strip that is a double decker bus that announces "Have fun, get out of the sun and ride the Deuce! $2 for a ride or 5$ all day" That $5 gets you a 24 hr bus pass and I used two of those when I was there. The Deuce only let me down once but I forgave it the next day. The northside of the strip is a little ghettoish and even in the daytime it doesn't seem safe. I went to the Coca Cola shop and the M&M factory I had bought some gifts for people..and I was so tempted to drink a coke...they make it look so delicious but I settled for some clear cards instead. We went on the gondola at the Venetian and were serenaded (well i don't think I can call it that) with "That's Amore". Ahh, the life of a venetian..or a tourist at least. We went to the Bellagio for dinner (the buffet..al we could afford in that hotel). Soo yummy. I have eating at the buffets down! I was able to sample everything...the seafood is disappointing there though. What can you expect living on the westcoast with fresh seafood anytime I want it. All the water in Vegas is heavily chlorinated and the taste and the smell permeates everything you eat, you wear, etc,. The seafood tasted like chlorine water...gross. But everything else was fantastic!! I also ate at the Aladdin Buffet (supper) and the Excalibur buffet (lunch) and Mandalay Bay Buffet (breakfast). Not all on the same day though.. i like to eat but not that much. The Paris had these Eiffel Tower plastic cups that can hold about two litres of liquid. I got a virgin Pina Colada in one (you get to keep the Eiffel Tower cup) and seriously, the guy poured in one litre "milk" carton of ready made pina colada mix into the "tower" and that is what I had to drink. It was heavy, delicious and by the time I drank to the top of the base...i was done. I never wanted to see another liquid again. I was able to keep the cup and experience something different, et voila...I did. There are a lot more things to talk about but I think I will just add some pictures later and let them tell the story. The Bellagio fountain is soo beautiful and just watching those, sets my mind at ease. I love water...I love it, love it, love it! We also went to the Temple. A little bit of the good to wash out the evil..haha kidding. I love Las Vegas, I still haven't seen it all.