TR 1/9-1/11, MB & Orleans -- part I

Posted by misterKeno on 01-11-2005

Okay, here we go.

Cast: misterKeno & steve

About 12 days before my departure date, i call my friend Steve--to see if he can offer me a ride to/from the port. He says 'yes' & for me to furnish him the times & flight numbers n such. Well, later that day--Steve calls to inform me 'i just got back from a travel agcy & i'm goin!'. So, that's that.

If you're still 'around', then i guess you're still in good spirits reading my TR. And, i tip my hat to you.

Sun 1/9/05, noon, Steve arrives & we're off to the port. Steve's dad is driving. Oh, his dad didnt come, just furnished the ride. Soon we're @ the port with light rain & i really dont see why people use curb-side check in. It's outside, its wet, its rainy, its windy. Blah. Plus---its similar to MANY airports, only two people working it. We go inside--there's about 90 people in line at the ticket counter, BUT, about 14 SWA folks workin it. Line goes by FAST (much better than the fools standing on the curb).

I printed my boarding pass Sun morning at about 730am & got #25 (in the A group). (((( Of note: my printer blew up that morning, and the boarding pass printed blue w/ a ton of blue smudges and blue lines ALLLLL over the printout. So you could------ummm------well, sorta see my name on it. And, kinda make out the bar-code. Lady @ ticketing had a good laugh over it & printed a nice one for me.

Go upstairs and security line is about 200 people, took about 8 minutes. Off to our gate w/ 91 minutes before departure. Then learn that our flight is delayed 10 mins. Then it is delayed 30 mins. Then is delayed 42 mins. So, we're in the air eventually, lol. Couldnt see a darn thing except @ the very beginning & very end of the flight. Plenty of clouds & well, i'm sure you know bout the snow & rain for the sierra's & californians. As the plane came in on final, i kept watchin the luxor, but no beam up top. Jeeeesh. I guess i wanted to see that.

Get off the plane---take tram from C-gates to baggage claim. Steve has only a duffle bag. I have one piece of checked baggage. Steve's package came w/ a hotel. He's not as savy bout LV as i am--and i guess his travel agency talked him into a cheapie pkg w/ the Westward Ho. I suggest that he jump a shuttle for 4.75, and skip a $$$$$ cab ride. He's outta there & i'd be in touch with him later. I go to carousel #16. Of course the one wayyyy in the back.

((( this TR goin okay...ya riiiight along w/ me ? Or gettin nervous or mad ? )))

I see my flight # up on the display atop the carousel. But, i soon learn that your flight number HAS TO BLINK or you're standin there for no good reason, lol. So, after 35 mins--my flight BLINKS, and my suitcase comes. I just wanted to get to my hotel. Walked out the nearest door & jumped in a Showtime Shuttle for 4.75. Only one fella was aboard. I was worried that we wouldnt be rolling soon. But clerk kept her word 'we sit for 15 min max, then roll, period'. So, with 4 passengers, we get goin. Trop. Excal. then my hotel MB. Oh, i looked out the window of the shuttle-----the beam on the Luxor was (finally) now lit. It's raining pretty well, but oh well. I'm in LV.

I get outta the shuttle, and i take two steps & my luggage is taken away INSTAMATICALLY, lol. Go into check-in. It's set up with 'you pick what line you want', instead of LOOOONG winding satin bank-ropes. So, i picked a young fella. Actually all the clerks looked young. 25 or younger. I wanted to try a trick of some kind, lol. I didnt evenTHINK of gettin some $$ ready w/ my credit card til the last second. Fidgeted around....and...

Checking in Sir ?
Yes.

Okay, i have you for one night in a NS king room.
Sounds right to me.

Do you need my CC.
Yes, i do.

::: folded a 10 into quarters, set the CC down near his keyboard w/ the 10 showin ::::

Do you have a view of 'something', ive never been here before.
Let me look.

Umm, do you have a fiji room? (((i think someone said those were good )))).
Absolutely, i can put you on the 25th floor with a strip view in a Fuji room. Normally, its thirty extra dollars, but i'll waive it. You're all set--elevators are down there. Have a good night.

Got upstairs, called downstairs for my bag.........hung up the phone, and in about 2 mins, my suitcase was there. Not bad. Did some unpacking. Did room picts. I'll post them or host them somehwere.

It's about 6:15pm, i decide to gamble so i

(((( yea, looks like you had to wait a while b4 i got to gambling, lol ))))

..so i go downstairs looking for some dice. Four tables open, all @ $10 min. I didnt really wanna be doing that all trip, but bought in for $80. Choppy table...i played for about 40 mins. High of $130. Low of $0. Walked around, looked around. The island bar was crowded. Later that night it was PACKED, plus a band was playing. Got myself familiar with the layout of the place.

Back up to the room to call Steve. Called 'O' & asked 'do you have the # for the Westward Ho' --- 'one moment', its ringing, 'Westward Ho, how may i help you'. I'm thinkin oh greeeeeeat, what's this gonna cost. I was just gonna write the # down, and go downstairs and use a payphone. Anyhoo, talked to Steve, we agreed that we'd be on our own til tomor -- skies looked threatening and we were both just a bit tired, plus he had already ate.

I checked out the t.v. -- about 40 channels. No keno channel. Jeeeesh. But, to be honest--i'm not sure if MB 'has' keno. Ummm, i guess i'll sum it up here & now, i really didnt care for the MB casino due to the minimums & NOOOO drink service. Mind you--i played for one dice session & one slot session of 35 mins. But, that's a good TEST IN MY OPINION. I cliked on 'view your hotel bill', and my phone call appeared. $1. Not bad for a local 7 minute call.

I wanted to call home to check in on my mother. I called 'O' to get the rates. Lady says 'oh you're nuts, long distance is $7.25 for the first minute then AT & T rates plus 40% for add'l minutes. So, i agreed with her & went downstairs & made my call. No answer @ home. The payphones keep your $$$$ anyway, lol. Blew me away. Lady next to me says 'yea, that's how it is here'.

About 7:15pm, im hungry. Sorta felt like a buffet. Went into the MB buffet for my 'walk-thru'. Very glad indeed that i did this. Poorly lit buffet. I dont think it was dinner ambience, just poorly lit. Price was $24. The selection looked 'fair'. Seafood selection looked abundant. But, i dont do seafood, except for scampi or Fish n chips, lol. So, i passed. I figurued, heck, if i want A BUFFET, its gotta be aladdin. Cabbed it over there. $24.95 plus tax. Yea, kind of steep----but i knew i was gettin good stuff. About 30 people in line, line took about 7 minutes. Seated & began chowing down. Nearly everything was either really good or great! They were carving roasted sirloin or prime rib or turkey. Mex--usuall stuff from previous visits. American sectioin had 'shrimp in a lemon, butter sauce'. Sorta like scampi, but small shrimp---but a good flavor. Desserts, insane selection. This was my 1st ever dinner buffet there. I think for dinner they go ALLL out on desserts. Italian had good pizza, ravioli, some sausage pasta thingy. Then thatone station w/ the long kabobs--tandori chicken, then a beef one. Really good. Fresh fruit. Strawberries---ripe and BIG (hard to find this time of year). Well, i ate more than my fair share, lol. Place was busy & loud, but oh well...not really accoustics for intimacy. Good service, plates taken away, etc.

Back upstairs to begin some gambling int he aladdin. The casino wasnt crowded at all. Only one roulette table open. $1 chips, bought in for $100. Played for nearly an hour--had one good hit, but eventually gave it back. Offered a drink in about 2 min of sitting down & drink came in about 7 minutes. Walked around some more. $10 & $15 min for BJ. But, no one was playing.

Cabbed it to Luxor. Never been there--mostly wanted to see the inside of the pyramid, lol. Cab fare $6.20. Went inside, found the guest elevators. I just HAD to ride one for the heck of it. 'Room key, please'. So, i began to turn away--then he got distracted by some fella who dropped something, so i dashed into one! Funny feeling, you can just barely feel em moving sideways. But, when they stop, you can see everyone's body shift. I chose 16th floor...walked along the railing--got a kick of the view. Hmmm, what if someone jumped? Walked down the hall. Maybe i'm blind--but i didnt see an elevator at all 4 corners...so i walked the other side--dang it--that's a long walk. Back downstairs for some Luxor gaming. Bought four rolls of quarters & sat down at Sigma Derby. Five players playing. This STINKS!!!! The machine does not payout coins. That is sooo stupid. The excitement is when ya hear the ring & look around to see 'who got it, who got it'. It's just a credit thing that adds up for a TITO. Stinks !!!!!! First time ever i'd see a machine ruined w/ 'that'. Went to the bar right next to it. W/ 3 rolls of heavy metal. Put a $20 in for some VP. Ordered an amareto sour, tipped a handful of quarters. Ordered another. Hit a straight flush w/ a duece for 'something', i dunno. Bartender was a cool fella. I still dont understand what the golf pencil in the little shot glass w/ piece of paper is for if the drink is free and/or you're tipping--so i STILL ignore those. I figured one more drink--then i'm 'out'. Asked if he had Patron---he says 'anything for u bud', made me a 'rita. Goooood drink.

Posted by Bluejeans

Clouds make for a boring trip..oh well at least you weren't delayed to long. Minutes do seem like hours when your headed to Vegas though. lol
I got hungry reading about your dinner at the buffet....yumm....
You are so funny...but you did get to do something you wanted....ride the elevator at the Lux.
On to the next part....

Posted by Grant

Great detail, easy read too...

Ready for next parts