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Saturday, May 15, 2010

Goodbye Mexico, Hello Colorado











This morning brings mixed emotions. Excited to be going home and see the special people in my life, but sad to leave the majestic Caribbean water. I take one last walk on the beach where I meet some people who used to live in Russia. Since I have gone to Russia twice on mission trips, we have a lively disscusion on Russian politics, the beauty in Russia and how it differs from the USA. Then, its back to the room to pack and one last breakfast in the dining room. The servers there look sad to see us go. Their parting words are, "Come back and see us soon." After capturing many photo memories, we go back one last time to the room to gather up our suitcases before we start our trip home. On our way to the lobby, I run into our friends from Spain. This of course turns into another photo session, along with sharing of email and facebook addresses. Before, I know it, we need to leave for the airport. Once there, I am surprised at how fast the line to check in goes. I have horrible memmories of standing for what seemed like forever at the Cancun Airport waiting to check in for a flight home. After check in, we go to the terminal area and check out the duty free shops. Nothing seems appealing except for the resturant that is offering what like quart size margarita. We consider getting one but they are $12.00 and all the pesos have been spent. So, no marg. At 5 pm, we are in the air and on our way home. The flight home has a few issues. First, Tammi had bought candles with oil in them at the airport in Cancun. She makes it on the plane with them but finds out in Dallas she will either have to throw them away or check another bag in. She decides she does not want to throw them away so off she goes to baggage to take care of the situation. This leaves us barely enough time to catch our flight to Denver. Running and gasping for air, we make it to the plane just as they are boarding. The flight from Dallas to Denver is a little bumpy as we are coming in before a storm. The captain warns everyone that it might be rough. It actually turns out better than expected. Denver International Airport,(DIA), is pretty empty. This makes for a short wait to get a shuttle back to USA Parking.

I use my King Super card at USA parking to get a $1.00 off each day that I was gone. I also hand them my parking punch card which once it is filled allows me to get a freebie parking the next time I use it. Finally, at midnight,I arrive home to two attention needing cats and my dog, Ginger.

Note, the resort we stayed at charged $10.00 an hour to use the internet or $80.00 for five days. I lucked out when as the hotel manger gave it to me free since the arrangements for my stay were mixed up. I therefore, should have had this blog done in Mexico...but, when in Mexico, its hard not to subscribe to just having fun!


Sandy Tanner
Family Travel Consultant/Affiliated with All Inclusive Vacations
970.310.3625
www.familytravelconsultant.com
"All the World is a book, those who do not travel read only a page." St. Augustine

Playa Del Carmen- Day 3 of Mexico- Tuesday








Upon wakening on Tuesday morning, I decided I needed to share one of my favorite Mexico cities with my daughter, Tammi..Playa Del Carmen.

This town of 100,00 people does not seem near as big as it is. The city has attempted to keep it looking like a small fishing village by passing an ordinance limiting buildings to four stories. A few five story buildings were built despite the ordinance, however. Tourist activity in Playa del Carmen centers on Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, stretching from Calle 1 norte until Calle 34, a pedestrian walkway located just one or two blocks inland from the beach, which is lined with boutique hotels (Deseo, Basico or Casa Ticul) , or with a special mMxican touch (Barrio Latino, or La Tortuga) shops, bars, and restaurants. Over the years a European influence has come to Playa and can be seen by the interantioanl flavor of the restaurants and shops.

So, after a late morning at the Caribbean Marketplace, we took off for the city. A round trip cab fare cost $60.00. I assured my daughter the cost was well worth it as it is a very charming city. A word to those who have not traveled much, it is best to establish the price of the cab before you get in. Afterwards it is pretty hard to bargain. I had hoped to get to the city before afternoon as it can get quite hot there. Since I paid $30.00 to have my hair braided on the beach the day before, (makes getting ready to g places easy as well keeps me cool), I was anxious to get there early and find my favorite hat shop where I could buy a Panama hat and keep my head from burning. The drive to Playa took about 40 minutes. Getting there took longer as there is massive construction going on. The city is getting a couple of over passes. This is both a good thing and a bad one. Good because it will help with traffic congestion but for me, it means the possibility of my favorite fishing town becoming more like its neighboring city, Cancun.

I am amazed as we drive into the city as to how much it has grown since I was here in 2006. I am again amazed at how little the shop keepers will bargain. Is this because of a richer tourism crowd coming in or a result of the swine flu and bad media press of Mexico? I find my hat and pay $20.00 more for it than I did in 2003. Then its off to find a pair of flip flops that I have only been able to find in this area of Mexico. I can't even find this Caray brand on the Internet! They too have gone up in price. Tammi and I then find souvenirs for various people. We also find an all natural food restaurant to eat in. An excellent plate of Mexican food is brought along with the best strawberry margarita I have had on the trip! I always ask for sugar on the rim of my glass when I get a strawberry marg. which gives me a funny look every time. Salt and strawberries just don't work for me.

We then wander down into my favorite area...the wharf where the ferry comes in takes people to Cozumel Island. Why do I like this area? Because it is where the locals hang out. I love mixing with the people. I go into the Burger King to get a ice cream cone to cool off my over heated body and when I don't understand that the person who is on the other side of the room makes the cones there, the locals al jump to my rescue. I want to stay and hang out here and experience some night life but my daughter is anxious to go meet up with her new girlfriends...uggg!

So, about 6 pm we return to our resort. Over the next three hours till our 9 PM dinner time at L'Hermitage, the French restaurant at the resort, I take another long walk on the beach. I will have to give this up tomorrow as that as when we return to Colorado. I am sadden as there is something about the ocean that makes me feel alive. As I walk it, rains some. Its as though the sky is as though the sky is crying for me as well. At 9 PM , my daughter go into the restaurant. She orders the CONFIT OF DUCK. I order the POACHED DORADO FILLET,glaze vegetables and sauce chives. The service is slow here. I wonder if is because it is French. The French see eating as an experience, not just a meal. My daughter is impatient. Her duck is very good. I am a little disappointed in my choice. The wine, however, save its. Around 10:30 we venture over to the main lounge. My daughter takes off with her friends and I meet up with the Spanish newly weds. They are tired tonight. We chat a while. Tonight the disco tec is open. My friends are tired and decide to skip it. I am getting tired of the 20 something crowd so I go back to the room to pack up for our trip home the next day. After I finish packing, I decide, since I have never used the room service to order some food. I get a glass of milk and a piece of really tasty cream cheese pie...something to be said for room service!

Sandy Tanner
Family Travel Consultant/Affiliated with All Inclusive Vacations
970.310.3625
www.familytravelconsultant.com
"All the World is a book, those who do not travel read only a page." St. Augustine

Mexico-Monday-Day 2








This morning, I pulled my fun loving daughter out of bed, at 6 am to meet with the hotel staff about our accommodations. I explained to the hotel manager what went on the day before and how the room just was not what I expected. I was given warm apology and within 20 minutes was given a room that was within a stones throw of the beach! In other places I have been, when you change rooms it your job to move all your belongs to the new room. Not at the Paradisus Riviera Cancun. A staff person came up to the room, grabbed our bags and we were whisked away in a mini golf cart to our new room. The new location was awesome. Large room with a couch, table to eat on and two queen beds. If I stood on the patio located on the back of the room, I could lean around the corner and see the sandy beach and ocean. The room itself came equipped with a mini bar that had water, soda pop and beer. We were given big fluffy bath robes to use and a mini spa was in our bathroom. The room also came with an ironing board, iron, and hair dryer!

Not bothering to unpack, we dumped our things in the room and headed back to the beach. This was going to be my day in the sun. But first I needed to stretch and reconnect with the majestic ocean and the white sandy beaches by a long appreciative walk of one of natures many wonders. Being around the water brings out the little girl, and I am in absolute awe of the endless waves of water. Periodically I run into the waves smiling and gleeful like when I ride on the back of the grocery cart as I go out to the parking lot. As I walk, I feel very much at peace with the world.

An hour later, I meet up with my daughter. So different this trip is. My daughter is out catching up with the world of 20 something's and me, who is usually the one out there meeting new people and establishing new relationships is either walking the length of the beach, splashing in water that reflects like a mirror or laying by the pool enjoying a pina coloda or an ice cold bottle of water. Around 5 pm, my Spanish male friends show up. This time MIKEL, translates that his newly wedded wife speaks English and will be there shortly. A few minutes later, just as he promised, Raquel walks up.

Raquel is great! She scolds the boys and translates all the crazy Spanish drinking songs they sing. This of course, calls for more drinks and picture taking. We part after a while with the promise of meeting up and going to the disco-tech. First though, a nice dinner is in order at the Reef Grill. This delightful ocean front restaurant serves BEEF FILET 8 oz., RIB EYE 10 oz., T-BONE STEAK 12 oz., ARRACHERA 8 oz. ,PRIME RIB 12 oz. PORK, RIBS 8 oz.,SURF AND TURF BROCHETTE beef filet and shrimps, HALF CHICKEN, FISH FILET fresh catch of the day. Lobster can be bought for an extra cost. The rest, however, is part of the all inclusive deal and does not cost extra. The wait is staff is the best. Service is prompt and always served with a smile. After some picture taking of the staff, my daughter and I head to the disco-tec. Off she goes with her new found friends while I am beckoned to come join the team of Spaniards in a game that resembles Jeopardy. They have this idea that I am going to be an asset....not..we lose. We then find out the disco tec is still not open. Disappointment! We had been told it would be a karaoke type of disco tec. I can't sing but enjoy watching others and love dancing. So, I hang out at the bar with Raquel. She tells the bartender he must make her an unusual drink. He does this and calls it a Raquel special. She decided there must be a special Sandy drink...Special Sandy is not near as good as special Raquel. I find out from Raquel that her newly wed husband works at a car factory in Spain. Before they came to Mexico they went to NYC where Mikel, took pictures of every kind of car and vehicle he saw including the garbage trucks! He was just so fascinated by it all. After many more laughs and pictures, its time to say Bueno noches.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Continued- Day 2 Mexico









As you leave the airport to go outside, there are many Mexican attendants that will offer to help you with your bag. If you are on a limited budge, a smile and a polite no thank you, I can get my own bags is ok. Otherwise, these attendants will happily assist you for a tip.

After a 10-15 minute wait, our van pulled up and we were on our way. Our stop turned out to be the first one. I would have to say we were about 20 minutes away from Cancun. As soon, as we arrived, the Mexican attendants were out there helping us with our bags. Since I have been to Mexico many times and stayed at resorts such as the Riu', I was pretty immune to the expansive lobby and marble floors. My daughter, however, who had only gone with me once to Mazatlan and a 2 star resort had a look of absolute amazement on her face!

Checking in was a little rough. Our room was suppose to be garden view and it overlooked the jungle and tennis court. The refrigerator was not stocked with the appropriate drinks, the room key didn't work, and we never got our inclusive wrist bands that allowed us to eat and drink however much we wanted. We did get everything straightened out that day except being in the right room. As much as I tried to get this straightened out it wasn't working as Andre' said the resort rooms were full and he could not move us. He did tell me to come to the desk first thing on Monday morning and most likely could get moved. As, I mentioned, I have been to Mexico many times, and knew he was not putting me off. Mexico does not function well on Sunday as it is family day. I also, didn't know it till the next day, but Andre' was not only a new staff person but had been a lawyer until the swine flu hit Mexico.

After getting settled in our temporary room, my daughter and I dressed for the beach. Our room was at the front of the resort. On our way to the beach we walked down some open hallways that had pools of water on both sides. Water always makes me feel at peace so I liked this a lot. The resort itself, has marble floors, table size plants and bouquets of flowers every where. We get to the pool area and it is shimmering blue. The pool has a swim up bar, as well as a beach bar. We grabbed a drink, and off to the beach we went. Ahhh, the water...it always excites me to be at the ocean. the water in front of our resort was clear enough to see my feet....and warm...I should have born a fish! After we splashed around in the water, we met some Spaniards direct from Spain. They had met up with a Mexican hotel vendor who happily translated Spanish for us and after some discussion, thought we might meet up later at the disco-Tec.

Dinner consisted of a buffet the first night at Caribbean Marketplace. Amazing amount of food to choose from. Anything from traditional Mexican food to spaghetti. I choose the Mexican food as I can get spaghetti at home. There is, of course a sumptuous buffet of international cuisine to chose from but I am in Mexico. therefore, must have their food and fresh fish. I also must try a desert. I am always shocked when I try something that looks yummy sweet turns out to be more flat! How do they do that?

After dinner we go search out the disco tech. To our disappointment it is closed. But nerveless, we meet some new people from Canada. Our Spanish friends did not show up. After a few hours, I leave for bed. My daughter being 24, stays and hangs out with the people her age. I, am a little disappointed in not finding a new friend on my first night. But there is always tomorrow!

Flight Day 1 Dallas then Mexico!




Four am and I am up, showered and on I-25. Before, I left I considered calling Fort Collin, Colorado's local airport tansportation, Greenide, for a lift to the airport. Unfortunately, between going to my daughter's house for a birthday celebration the day before, taking the dog into the groomers, touching base with the people in my life, and packing, I forgot! Greenride, though, would have been a good way to go. For $35.00 this amazing Fort Collins company, can pick up clients right at their home and take them to the airport. Sometimes, I am told, you can get even luckier and be the only person going to the airport and get a free ride! To check out greenride got to www.greenrideco.com.

I never park right at the airport if I take my car. I use USA Airport Parking, which is located on Tower Road, just north of Pena Blvd. I also use the toll road, E40. The toll road use to have booths with attendants. These days, license Plate Toll customers will be sent a bill for their travel through any lanes. For those vehicles without an Express Toll transponder, cameras will photograph the front and rear license plates and a bill will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle for their tolls. No advance registration is required. The cost for a round trip if you exit at Colorado Blvd to go to USA Parking is $1.80 each way. To calculate your fee you can go to http://www.e-470.com/Default.aspx?pn=PayingTolls.


My daughter and I pull into USA Parking and off we go to the airport. My daughter, who is 24, got a talk from her dad about how important tipping is to drivers ect. Excited, and feeling rich, she generously tips our driver as we exit the van and head on into Denver International Airport, (DIA). Since I have never flown on American Airlines, I am anxious to see how they treat their customers in the wee morning hours. I am some what disappointed to see the sour looks and the lack of helpfulness I am greeted with. Our passports for some reason will not scan at the Kiosk. After several attempts, I let an AA preservationist know our dilemma. With a look of annoyance I am pointed to a line where an older gentleman kindly processes our passports and directs us to terminal C.

After, we clear customs, we board the tram and off to Gate C35 we go. Once at our gate my daughter, develops hunger pains. The hunger pains are followed by, "Oh my God, why does it cost so much to eat in the airport"? "Well, I tell her, this old/new airport has to generate income by charging a pretty good chunk of rent to vendors. They in turn have to make money...hence, we pay the bill!

At 7:10 am, we are in the air and on our way to the Dallas/Fort Worth airport where we have an hour and thirty-five minute layover. This of course, is not much considering we have to change concourses via tram. My daughter, who has not flown in a while, has to get the camera out and take pictures of us in the air. That leads to the discovery that we can take pictures out the window of the airplane wing.....This flight we discover, only gives away one drink.

At 10:10 am we land. After we land, we scramble to find a few Dallas/Forth Worth shot glasses for the boys at home who are sports fans. The cashier in the store who is from Central America, sees my Family Travel Consultant name tag and tells me how pretty the name Sandy is! What a nice mid-morning booster to my day, especially when he has to be in his 20s!

At 11:45, we are back on the plane. We discover once again, that we can take some amazing pictures of the wing of the plane...Its the little things that entertain us! We also discover our seatmate, Peach, is from Japan and on her honeymoon. Peach, is the translation she gives us for her Japanese name. Peach, is in her twenties and a very happy bride who is a swim instructor for children. Her husband also works as a sports instructor. We offer to switch seats so they can seat together instead of across the isle, but Peach declines. We discover that this young couple came on a flight all the way from Negishi, Japan to honeymoon for 4 short days at the Fiesta American resort in Cancun. Being fun loving girls, we were soon giggling and ahhing over each other's families pictures and Peach's wedding pictures that were on our digital cameras. What a way to catch a glimpse into someone's life in a foreign country! Sometimes modern technology rocks! Of course since we had our cameras out, we had to have pictures of the three of us. One is posted on this blog. Before landing, Peach and I exchanged addresses of the old fashioned nature!

Sandy Tanner
Family Travel Consultant/Affiliated with All Inclusive Vacations
970.310.3625
www.familytravelconsultant.com
"All the World is a book, those who do not travel read only a page." St. Augustine

Paradisus Riviera CancĂșn- Mexico Adventures- Trip preparation


Cannot believe it..tomorrow, my 24 year old daughter, Tammi and I will be leaving for a resort for 4 days and 3 nights in Mexico, called the Paradisus Riviera CancĂșn. I was fortunate enought to win some 3 free nights at a Travel Impressions trade show that was held at the Warwick Hotel in Denver. All, I am having to pay for is airfare which I found on American Airlines for $290.00 round trip. As hard as I try, I never am able to find time to pack untill the last minute....This can mean two things. One, I will either have too much "stuff", or I will not take something I dearly want....Yes, you are reading this right. I am a travel consultant who can help others plan and pack but do a horrible job of packing for myself. Back to packing. Since I know I will want to dress up for dinner as the Paradisus Riviera CancĂșn, has some quality places to eat at. There is the Tequila Grill Restaurant, mexican cuisine, ĂĄ la carte (reservation required). Then there is the Capri Restaurant Ă  la carte mediterranean menu (reservation required) and the Restaurant Sumire, Japanese Ă  la carte cuisine featuring a sushi bar and Tepanyaki tables (reservation required)
Gourmet restaurant Ă  la carte. Finally, there is the L´Hermitage specializes in french cuisine (reservation required reservation required and only for guests over 16 years of age); awarded "4 Diamonds by the AAA"
At 11 pm, I am finally packed for our 7:00 AM flight from Denver Since this an international flight, we will have to be at the airport two hours before check in. Time for sleep!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Leaving Las Vegas......


Four-forty am came pretty darn early. Lucky Cookie gets to stay an extra day. The shuttle arrives at 5:15 am. Spend my ride to the airport talking to a young girl from NYC. Can't believe we discussed politics that early but we did. At 7:40 am, I am on my way home. During the flight, I discuss with the man sitting next to me the good and bad of Lass Vegas. He lived in Las Vegas for many years but has since moved to Greeley. Among things discussed was how Las Vegas is CHANGING their image. A few years back they were promoting themselves as a family destination. Now it is the old saying of what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Treasure Island no longer has a kid show but a very risqué show called Sirens of TI. As the evening progress, more clothes come off the entertainers. The Circus area has more child related entertainment but is not located in the best of areas. We both agree, Las Vegas, despite the roller coaster on NYNY is not a place for young children. Even by the glitzy area of the City Center one can find street people handing out cards with half naked girls to call. The only place along the strip that seems to be ok for families is the Wynn/Encore area. As we got closer to Fort Collins I reflect on all the things I learned. First of all, if you plan a trip to Las Vegas, in addition to the price of the hotel you will most likely need to consider resort fees. These fees vary from hotel to hotel in what they cover. All hotels require a credit card or a certain amount of deposit money per day, to insure against damages. If you are a coffee drinker like myself, and want a coffee maker in the room, have your travel agent check to make sure it is included. Fees for the Internet vary as well. At the Rio, the charge is $12.95 a day. At Treasure Island it is $20.00 a day but does include some extras. Also, Vegas weather in March can be unpredictable. A lightweight coat maybe something to consider taking if you go at the beginning of the month. Good walking shoes are a must no matter where you stay if you are going to take in any of the strip. I always take an extra pair of shoes when I go out at night. That way, I can slip into something comfortable if we end up walking for quite a long way. On the upside, everywhere we went, people were very FRIENDLY. We also felt pretty safe but then again, we stuck to the strip hotels and didn't venture into unknown areas.

At 10:30 am the plane lands in the Loveland/Fort Collins Airport. As, I walk into the airport; I am surrounded by American patriotism as a soldier's family has come to welcome him home causing tears to rise in my eyes. Welcome home solider.

Day 4- Las Vegas and Milono Blanco shoes!




This morning Cookie and I woke up in our 12th floor room to the sun shinning! Whoopee, we said to each other. We both enthusiastically dressed for the day. We both threw swimming suits in our bag as Cookie had some free passes to get us into the pool at Cesar’s Palace. Cookie dressed in some Capri leggings with a skirt I over it. I had on one of my favorite green, brown, blue, and white halter top along with white pants, and heels, (I always take another pair of shoes to wear outside when we are walking). At 10:30 am we were ready to attack the strip once again. Chattering through the lobby, we descended into the outside, only to discover...it was as cold as yesterday! At first we sat down and waited for the shuttle to arrive. But, then we looked at each other and realized that it was too darn cold. Back up the elevator we went to change our clothes! This was not the Las Vegas trip I had visualized! I wanted sun darn it, and lots of it! I realized however, a trip is what you make of it. If I dwelled on the bad weather it would make learning about Las Vegas a horrible experience. So, I broke out the vast wardrobe I had brought, and settled for jeans, and my only souvenir, a very blue Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt and my white-netted jacket. I was determined I was not going to wear my winter coat.

Once again, we went out into the cold. Sitting on the bench waiting for my shuttle, I realized I was going to freeze to death! But, I was determined not to go back into the hotel room...I knew if I did, I may indulge in another couple of changes of clothes and we would not get any where before afternoon.
First stop was the Casino Royal. As we got off the shuttle the wind picked up and it started to rain. Brrrrr. We walked through a small shop as we went into the casino. In here were tons of people buying sweatshirts for $10.00 and jackets for $20.00. I decided that maybe while Cookie tried to see if she could win money to lengthen our trip. I was quite pleased when I found a cute little jacket for $20.00. I swear it was 20 mins or so before I got to the cashier as the line was so long! After paying for the coat, I ventured into the casino to see how Cookie was faring. She was quite excited, as she had just been given a car with $25.00 on it to try her luck at the new machines. I jumped in that line and soon had my own $25.00 card. It seemed like it was seconds and it was all gone! How could that be? Does anyone ever win? By this time Cookie was done as well so we headed off to the Venetian shopping mall. Now, I have to tell you, that is one incredible mall. It has a canal in it that has a gondola ride in it with man dressed in traditional Italian clothes and singing. The ride is open from 10 am-11 pm Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday it is open from 10 am to midnight. Same day reservations are taken in person at the Emorio d' Gondola. It also operates on a weather-permitting basis. Also found in the mall are living statues. If you have not seen a living statue before it can scare the beggeees out of you. When I was in England, I went to Stratford on the Avon. As I walking by this statue that was dressed like Shakespeare, it jumped out at me! I screamed at the top of my lungs. My Welsh friends captured it on their camera. I thought I would never live it down. At the Venetian, we wandered some from shop to shop. Since I am art gallery nut, I visited two different shops that were called the Regis Galerie. These shops were fascinating to me. They had beautiful paintings of Catherine’s Palace in Russia that I recognized from my trip to Russia in 1996. They also Fabian eggs as well as statues of everything you could think of including a mermaid that was as tall as my 5 feet seven frame. Besides this store I ventured into a dress shop that I saw a dress that I absolutely loved for $15,000. Yes, not $150, nor $1,500 but $15,000! As you might have guessed, it didn't go home with me. We then went to another shop that featured mannequins that looked like real people and dressed in Phantom of the Opera clothes. They also had masks for $1,200. I would post a picture of items in the store but taking pictures was not allowed. At this point I was getting tired and cranky and had broke my own rule of never wearing myself down with sight seeing so much that I feel like I am going to have a melt down. So the next order after stopping by the Tao night club and finding out their hours, we decided to go find a place to eat so I could sit down and not say or do something to my wonderful friend that I would regret. Yes, I am a you know what with no sleep and constantly on my feet. I mention this here because the number one mistake families do on vacation is overly pushing their kids to the point where the vacation becomes a strain on everyone.
It was decided then that we would walk down the strip to the Wynn, and the Encore and find some to eat. Once again we went out into the cold. This time however, it was no longer rainy but was cold and windy.
We finally found a place to eat at the Maggiano' Little Italy Restaurant. It is conveniently located in the Fashion Show Mall, right on the Las Vegas Strip. It has windows on three sides. We were seated next to a window that looked directly onto the strip where the lights of the Trump Tower and the Wynn, and Encore filled the skyline. What a view! The Restaurant has a 325-seat dining room and is ideal for a romantic dinner for two, a festive gathering or a group lunch. With John Gerarde serving as General Manager, the first recipient of Brinker International's General Manager of the Year Award, Maggiano's specializes in serving generous portions of authentic Italian-American cuisine, served family style. Their menu is large and varied, offering a vast selection of homemade pastas, signature salads, prime steaks, fresh fish and delicious desserts. Their lunch hours are daily 11:00 am -3:00 pm. Dinner is daily 3:00 PM-11:00 PM. Some reviews online that I totally agree with are "generous portions " "romantic dinner, great selection, good service, and good quality. Cookie and I ordered a plate of spaghetti with a meatball that we split. The meal also came with some fantastic bread. Our waiter, Cristol, not only provided fantastic service but also gave each of us a giant meatball with our meal. He also enlightened us when we ordered a half order and said it would be more than enough for the two of us. Along with the meal I had a glass of Merlot. My first in days as I don't associate casinos with wine but mix drinks. Since I am not much of a gambler, I didn't have that many mixed drinks either. The bill came to $21.00. Not bad for a great atmosphere and fantastic spaghetti. Before the meal was over, I acquainted myself with Joe and Barbara, the people who were sitting behind us. These lovely couple in their 70s who looked like they were 60, lived in Las Vegas. Joe was the first person who I met on the trip that had won any money at the casinos. Right before dinner the two of them had been at the Aria, and Joe had won $350.00! As we talked some more we discovered that Joe and Barbara had a daughter that lived in the suburbs in Denver. Before we left, I gave them one of my business cards and told them to stop in and see me when they come to Colorado for a visit.
After dinner, Cookie and I went over to the Wynn and Encore. I have to say, of all the places we had gone; the Wynn and Encore were my favorite. Not only were the resorts beautiful and elegant, but also the white ceramic floors with butterflies laid in them made them seem less like a resort. They also did not have the smoky smell that the others did. Instead they smelled like freshly dried sheets. I never did find out how they did this. In the Encore, we wandered through the mall. It was there, I froze in place as staring at me was none other than the Milono Blanco shoe store! Now you may wonder why this gets me so excited. Well I am a Sex in the City fan and Jessica Sarah Parker is always buying these shoes that cost in the hundreds of dollars. Not wanting to act like a tourist but not being able to help myself, I asked the store associate if they had any shoes featured on the show. Sure enough, they had the pair that was stolen on the show, ($700.00) price tag, and the blue wedding shoes featured in the movie, that could be mine for a mere $900.00! I was in heaven! After wandering through a few more stores, we found ourselves outside of the Frank Sinatra restaurant in the Encore. After chatting with the hostess, we turned to walk out and saw staring at us in the face Mr. Sinatra's Oscar and Grammy Awards in a display case. Above the awards was a picture of Mr. Sinatra with Donna Reed accepting a Grammy. What a thrill to see one up close!
As we began our walk back to Paris /Paris Cookie received a text from the Tao contact saying he would get us in for a free drink if we could meet at 10:45 Pm....ummm would we make it? But then, because our feet were sore the slot machines, got our attention. We were only going to play for a few minutes but then Barbara and Joe that we met at the Maggiano showed up. While Barbara taught me some about the slot machines, Cookie went our off to try her luck. By the time we left, I got Barb's email address, learned that the Wynn has the best pina colodoas, and was given a red card from the casino with a free $10.00 on it. Needless to say, I lost the $10.00 and seven more. Since we only ate one out a day, I tried to look at it as the lunch I never bought.... just not a gambler!
At 10 pm were on our way back to the Rio with the realization that there would not be enough time for me to pack, catch a few hours of sleep before my 7:40 am plane left and go to the Tao. Needless to say, I did try but it took till midnight to get all packed. Since the hotel shuttle only ran till one am, I decided to call it a night.

Las Vegas-Day 3 - Burrr..how did it get so cold?


Today we woke up to cold and windy weather and decided to just hang in the room for a while, blog while my dear friend; Cookie gives me a manicure and pedicure! She is awesome! At 2:00 pm, we finally ventured out at to a sometimes sunny but cold enough weather that my winter coat that I needed my winter coat when was outside. Disappointed, but not giving up on wearing summer clothes, I put on a summer top with jeans...good thing I am a terrible packer or I would not have thrown in some winter clothes. As we walk, we talk to people, and discovered from the locals here, that Vegas, like a lot of the USA, has been experiencing some weird weather changes this year.

Our first stop was Excalibur Castle. I had seen some unique duffle bags that had only cost $8.00.at the Magnet Max that I decided to get for my daughters. I also picked up shot glasses, at a small price of 3 for $5.00. Cookie had done some research on this shop and found out that although the store was in NEW YORK, NEW YORK, and a few other places. The cost, in the store at the Excalibur was a couple dollars less on all items in the same store at the other locations.

Then it was onto NYNY. Here we decided to venture into Coyote Ugly. At first, I didn’t see why a movie had been made on this bar all I saw was one single girl dancing on the bar, and a game of throwing a golf ball into beer was all that was going on. All of a sudden however, the girl on the bar started living up the crowd by bouncing comments off it, and pouring shot mixture down women’s throats. Then she got the crowd more excited by dumping $5.00 worth of music for the man who got to the jukebox first. When good old rock music poured out of the jukebox, I found myself enjoying not only the friendly atmosphere of the patrons, but also some of the crazy tactics the girl on the bar was employing. I would have liked to stay here longer but there were many more places to explore such as the new spa at the Aria Resort and Casino.

The Spa, as it is called, is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00PMA. The salon that is part of it is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 PM. For $30.00 per day, you can enjoy a day at the fitness center, swim in the outdoor pool, have some snacks, use the wet area, "Garbanyoku" heated stone bed, and Shio salt room, and outdoor therapy pool and all amenities. The also offer In Spa therapy, Cabana and pool side therapies, massages, facials, tanning, waxings, you name it for various fees. It was my understanding that the $30.00 is waived if you purchase one of the services that have a fee. After a quick tour of the facility, Cookie and I were off to explore more outside of the Aria. Instead, of finding the tram, however, we ended up on a level in the Monte Carlo where the smell of food reminded us we had not eaten all day. After grabbing a quick cup of coffee at a Star Bucks where I could use my gift card I got from a client, we decided on another cheap McDonald’s meal. Most people do not realize that you can eat healthy and cheap at McDonalds. For instance, I got a side salad and a spicy chicken sandwich. I took the bread off the sandwich and chopped it up and put it in my salad. The meal then cost a whopping $2.00. After eating, we set out once again, to find the tram. On our walk we ran into the Cupcake Cakery where the largest cupcake that I ever saw was on display! These yummy cupcakes are made fresh daily and contain no preservatives. The staff at the Cup Cakery, Dino and Layla and happily posed with us and answered all our questions about the cupcakes. The most popular cupcake is the red velvet with cream cheese icing. You can find all the cupcakes online at the cupcakery.com. Layla got into our enthusiasm so much that when went to take a picture, she gave us the huge cupcake to hold. Even though it was plastic, it looked good enough to eat!

Once again, we set off to find the tram. We almost missed it again, as it is not very well marked in that building. The door is off to the side and of course takes you up to the outside roof. Running up the stairs we ran into Bibi, a who cooks French food at the Aria. Bibi was from South Africa. When he first came to the states, he took a job in Philadelphia. Then, his mentor left and so he decided to move to Vegas. Bibi accomplished us to the Bellagio where we impressed with the richness of rooms. Bright chandeliers and rich white marble floors made this resort and casino seem very luxurious. It was here we parted with Bibi..But of course, not until we took some pictures with him. This is also where we decided to zoom into the restroom and change our look so we could go out dancing at Cesar' s Palace. I must say that we got some strange looks while were curling our hair in the bathroom. I thought about it, and I wondered if they thought we were some kind of street worker...Next for the walk to Caesars’ Palace. I absolutely loved way the front of Cesar is set up. Columns and a circular drive make you feel like you had just entered a different time in history. At first when we got into the hotel, it seemed very up scaled.

My opinion changed when I saw what is called the Pussy Cat Club. Here they had a girl dancing with pretty skimpy clothes in a cage. There was also a bar where shadow dancing was done. Thank goodness, Cookie had scored us some free passes to get us into the Pure Night Club as neither of the other two appealed to us. But, after seeing the young kids all lined up to get in and discovering it was local's night where all the people who are from Las Vegas get in free, we decided against going there as well. It was now almost midnight. The shuttle back to the Rio only lasted until 1:00 am. If we were to stay out later a cab would have to be taken back. So, off we went to see if there was anything at Paris, Paris that we could take in.

On our 15-minute walk there, we saw the Bellagio hotel show of water, music and light thoughtfully interwoven to mesmerize its admirers. ...It was actually quite impressive. The sidewalk in front of the water with the stonewall in front of the water was like a picture postcard of some far off city in Europe.


Arriving at Paris/Paris with sore feet, and a lighter attitude, Cookie and I set off to find some entertainment. What we found was dueling pianos. Well, dueling pianos was not what I thought it was going to be. I thought dueling pianos met they tried to out play each other...like break dancing. But, I discovered instead that dueling pianos is where they get the audience to put up money for songs. The song that the piano sit gets the most amount of money is played. Well, at almost one am, the top song of the night was almost a Bridge over Troubled Water. But, at the last minute, Bon Jovi, ruled the night. At five till one, we rushed out to the street and caught our shuttle back to the Rio.... another full day in Vegas had come to an end.




Today we woke up to cold and windy weather and decided to just hang in the room for a while, blog while my dear friend; Cookie gives me a manicure and pedicure! She is awesome! At 2:00 pm, we finally ventured out at to a sometimes sunny but cold enough weather that my winter coat that I needed my winter coat when was outside. Disappointed, but not giving up on wearing summer clothes, I put on a summer top with jeans...good thing I am a terrible packer or I would not have thrown in some winter clothes. As we walk, we talk to people, and discovered from the locals here, that Vegas, like a lot of the USA, has been experiencing some weird weather changes this year.

Our first stop was Excalibur Castle. I had seen some unique duffle bags that had only cost $8.00.at the Magnet Max that I decided to get for my daughters. I also picked up shot glasses, at a small price of 3 for $5.00. Cookie had done some research on this shop and found out that although the store was in NEW YORK, NEW YORK, and a few other places. The cost, in the store at the Excalibur was a couple dollars less on all items in the same store at the other locations.

Then it was onto NYNY. Here we decided to venture into Coyote Ugly. At first, I didn’t see why a movie had been made on this bar all I saw was one single girl dancing on the bar, and a game of throwing a golf ball into beer was all that was going on. All of a sudden however, the girl on the bar started living up the crowd by bouncing comments off it, and pouring shot mixture down women’s throats. Then she got the crowd more excited by dumping $5.00 worth of music for the man who got to the jukebox first. When good old rock music poured out of the jukebox, I found myself enjoying not only the friendly atmosphere of the patrons, but also some of the crazy tactics the girl on the bar was employing. I would have liked to stay here longer but there were many more places to explore such as the new spa at the Aria Resort and Casino.

The Spa, as it is called, is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00PMA. The salon that is part of it is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 PM. For $30.00 per day, you can enjoy a day at the fitness center, swim in the outdoor pool, have some snacks, use the wet area, "Garbanyoku" heated stone bed, and Shio salt room, and outdoor therapy pool and all amenities. The also offer In Spa therapy, Cabana and pool side therapies, massages, facials, tanning, waxings, you name it for various fees. It was my understanding that the $30.00 is waived if you purchase one of the services that have a fee. After a quick tour of the facility, Cookie and I were off to explore more outside of the Aria. Instead, of finding the tram, however, we ended up on a level in the Monte Carlo where the smell of food reminded us we had not eaten all day. After grabbing a quick cup of coffee at a Star Bucks where I could use my gift card I got from a client, we decided on another cheap McDonald’s meal. Most people do not realize that you can eat healthy and cheap at McDonalds. For instance, I got a side salad and a spicy chicken sandwich. I took the bread off the sandwich and chopped it up and put it in my salad. The meal then cost a whopping $2.00. After eating, we set out once again, to find the tram. On our walk we ran into the Cupcake Cakery where the largest cupcake that I ever saw was on display! These yummy cupcakes are made fresh daily and contain no preservatives. The staff at the Cup Cakery, Dino and Layla and happily posed with us and answered all our questions about the cupcakes. The most popular cupcake is the red velvet with cream cheese icing. You can find all the cupcakes online at the cupcakery.com. Layla got into our enthusiasm so much that when went to take a picture, she gave us the huge cupcake to hold. Even though it was plastic, it looked good enough to eat!

Once again, we set off to find the tram. We almost missed it again, as it is not very well marked in that building. The door is off to the side and of course takes you up to the outside roof. Running up the stairs we ran into Bibi, a who cooks French food at the Aria. Bibi was from South Africa. When he first came to the states, he took a job in Philadelphia. Then, his mentor left and so he decided to move to Vegas. Bibi accomplished us to the Bellagio where we impressed with the richness of rooms. Bright chandeliers and rich white marble floors made this resort and casino seem very luxurious. It was here we parted with Bibi..But of course, not until we took some pictures with him. This is also where we decided to zoom into the restroom and change our look so we could go out dancing at Cesar' s Palace. I must say that we got some strange looks while were curling our hair in the bathroom. I thought about it, and I wondered if they thought we were some kind of street worker...Next for the walk to Caesars’ Palace. I absolutely loved way the front of Cesar is set up. Columns and a circular drive make you feel like you had just entered a different time in history. At first when we got into the hotel, it seemed very up scaled.

My opinion changed when I saw what is called the Pussy Cat Club. Here they had a girl dancing with pretty skimpy clothes in a cage. There was also a bar where shadow dancing was done. Thank goodness, Cookie had scored us some free passes to get us into the Pure Night Club as neither of the other two appealed to us. But, after seeing the young kids all lined up to get in and discovering it was local's night where all the people who are from Las Vegas get in free, we decided against going there as well. It was now almost midnight. The shuttle back to the Rio only lasted until 1:00 am. If we were to stay out later a cab would have to be taken back. So, off we went to see if there was anything at Paris, Paris that we could take in.

On our 15-minute walk there, we saw the Bellagio hotel show of water, music and light thoughtfully interwoven to mesmerize its admirers. ...It was actually quite impressive. The sidewalk in front of the water with the stonewall in front of the water was like a picture postcard of some far off city in Europe.


Arriving at Paris/Paris with sore feet, and a lighter attitude, Cookie and I set off to find some entertainment. What we found was dueling pianos. Well, dueling pianos was not what I thought it was going to be. I thought dueling pianos met they tried to out play each other...like break dancing. But, I discovered instead that dueling pianos is where they get the audience to put up money for songs. The song that the piano sit gets the most amount of money is played. Well, at almost one am, the top song of the night was almost a Bridge over Troubled Water. But, at the last minute, Bon Jovi, ruled the night. At five till one, we rushed out to the street and caught our shuttle back to the Rio.... another full day in Vegas had come to an end.

Today we woke up to cold and windy weather and decided to just hang in the room for a while, blog while my dear friend; Cookie gives me a manicure and pedicure! She is awesome! At 2:00 pm, we finally ventured out at to a sometimes sunny but cold enough weather that my winter coat that I needed my winter coat when was outside. Disappointed, but not giving up on wearing summer clothes, I put on a summer top with jeans...good thing I am a terrible packer or I would not have thrown in some winter clothes. As we walk, we talk to people, and discovered from the locals here, that Vegas, like a lot of the USA, has been experiencing some weird weather changes this year.

Our first stop was Excalibur Castle. I had seen some unique duffle bags that had only cost $8.00.at the Magnet Max that I decided to get for my daughters. I also picked up shot glasses, at a small price of 3 for $5.00. Cookie had done some research on this shop and found out that although the store was in NEW YORK, NEW YORK, and a few other places. The cost, in the store at the Excalibur was a couple dollars less on all items in the same store at the other locations.

Then it was onto NYNY. Here we decided to venture into Coyote Ugly. At first, I didn’t see why a movie had been made on this bar all I saw was one single girl dancing on the bar, and a game of throwing a golf ball into beer was all that was going on. All of a sudden however, the girl on the bar started living up the crowd by bouncing comments off it, and pouring shot mixture down women’s throats. Then she got the crowd more excited by dumping $5.00 worth of music for the man who got to the jukebox first. When good old rock music poured out of the jukebox, I found myself enjoying not only the friendly atmosphere of the patrons, but also some of the crazy tactics the girl on the bar was employing. I would have liked to stay here longer but there were many more places to explore such as the new spa at the Aria Resort and Casino.

The Spa, as it is called, is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00PMA. The salon that is part of it is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 PM. For $30.00 per day, you can enjoy a day at the fitness center, swim in the outdoor pool, have some snacks, use the wet area, "Garbanyoku" heated stone bed, and Shio salt room, and outdoor therapy pool and all amenities. The also offer In Spa therapy, Cabana and pool side therapies, massages, facials, tanning, waxings, you name it for various fees. It was my understanding that the $30.00 is waived if you purchase one of the services that have a fee. After a quick tour of the facility, Cookie and I were off to explore more outside of the Aria. Instead, of finding the tram, however, we ended up on a level in the Monte Carlo where the smell of food reminded us we had not eaten all day. After grabbing a quick cup of coffee at a Star Bucks where I could use my gift card I got from a client, we decided on another cheap McDonald’s meal. Most people do not realize that you can eat healthy and cheap at McDonalds. For instance, I got a side salad and a spicy chicken sandwich. I took the bread off the sandwich and chopped it up and put it in my salad. The meal then cost a whopping $2.00. After eating, we set out once again, to find the tram. On our walk we ran into the Cupcake Cakery where the largest cupcake that I ever saw was on display! These yummy cupcakes are made fresh daily and contain no preservatives. The staff at the Cup Cakery, Dino and Layla and happily posed with us and answered all our questions about the cupcakes. The most popular cupcake is the red velvet with cream cheese icing. You can find all the cupcakes online at the cupcakery.com. Layla got into our enthusiasm so much that when went to take a picture, she gave us the huge cupcake to hold. Even though it was plastic, it looked good enough to eat!

Once again, we set off to find the tram. We almost missed it again, as it is not very well marked in that building. The door is off to the side and of course takes you up to the outside roof. Running up the stairs we ran into Bibi, a who cooks French food at the Aria. Bibi was from South Africa. When he first came to the states, he took a job in Philadelphia. Then, his mentor left and so he decided to move to Vegas. Bibi accomplished us to the Bellagio where we impressed with the richness of rooms. Bright chandeliers and rich white marble floors made this resort and casino seem very luxurious. It was here we parted with Bibi..But of course, not until we took some pictures with him. This is also where we decided to zoom into the restroom and change our look so we could go out dancing at Cesar' s Palace. I must say that we got some strange looks while were curling our hair in the bathroom. I thought about it, and I wondered if they thought we were some kind of street worker...Next for the walk to Caesars’ Palace. I absolutely loved way the front of Cesar is set up. Columns and a circular drive make you feel like you had just entered a different time in history. At first when we got into the hotel, it seemed very up scaled.

My opinion changed when I saw what is called the Pussy Cat Club. Here they had a girl dancing with pretty skimpy clothes in a cage. There was also a bar where shadow dancing was done. Thank goodness, Cookie had scored us some free passes to get us into the Pure Night Club as neither of the other two appealed to us. But, after seeing the young kids all lined up to get in and discovering it was local's night where all the people who are from Las Vegas get in free, we decided against going there as well. It was now almost midnight. The shuttle back to the Rio only lasted until 1:00 am. If we were to stay out later a cab would have to be taken back. So, off we went to see if there was anything at Paris, Paris that we could take in.

On our 15-minute walk there, we saw the Bellagio hotel show of water, music and light thoughtfully interwoven to mesmerize its admirers. ...It was actually quite impressive. The sidewalk in front of the water with the stonewall in front of the water was like a picture postcard of some far off city in Europe.


Arriving at Paris/Paris with sore feet, and a lighter attitude, Cookie and I set off to find some entertainment. What we found was dueling pianos. Well, dueling pianos was not what I thought it was going to be. I thought dueling pianos met they tried to out play each other...like break dancing. But, I discovered instead that dueling pianos is where they get the audience to put up money for songs. The song that the piano sit gets the most amount of money is played. Well, at almost one am, the top song of the night was almost a Bridge over Troubled Water. But, at the last minute, Bon Jovi, ruled the night. At five till one, we rushed out to the street and caught our shuttle back to the Rio.... another full day in Vegas had come to an end.

Singles, dating and travel


Lately, I have been meeting people who have found their soul mate in the most unusual way. They didn't meet online in a chat room, nor did they meet on match.com or e-harmony. So, how did they meet their soul mate? Through travel of course. My friend, Craig, who is from Nebraska and his beautiful wife, who is from Sweden and was living in Sweden at the time, met in Cambodia. No, they weren't a tour together nor working, but were wandering around Cambodia. The couple is happily married and living today in Fort Collins.

Another friend, met her husband, on the plane. Yes, the plane. He was on a business trip and she was on her way home from one.

I recently came across this Princess Cruise press release where Tracey Pettit , met her future husband on a crusie. In her story, Pettit, from Rocklin, Calif., tells of meeting her husband while on a Christmas cruise to the Mexican Rivera aboard Regal Princess. “I was standing at the bar in the Bengal Lounge … and I turned to find a tall man with broad shoulders and bedroom eyes… twenty minutes later, as he walked out of the bar, I said to my sister “I’m going to marry that man. … it sounds ridiculous. It sounds like something that only happens in the movies. ”We feel very blessed to have met on a Princess ship, and we always tell people that we met on the Love Boat.”

On a personal, note, I dated a couple of different men that I met on the plane. I didn't find my soul mate but needless to say, but both were great guys. One even showed me the sights of NYC!

So, if you are tired of being single, and tried all the usual ways of dating, maybe its time to book a trip and explore the world....you never know who you will meet or what new experience you may encounter!

Las Vegas-Day 2 Sun at Last





Traveling with someone new can have ups and downs. tThis morning, I discovered that Cookie is a night owl who likes to sleep in. I thought I was a night owl..but discovered I am more morning...luckliy, Cookie and I both know how to compromise! This morning we also have come up with a new plan of attack for Vegas. Since we are off the strip, at the Rio, and taking shuttles, we decded that we are going to take our night outfits, make up ect with us today. This, will save time and our feet!

In Sunday's blog, I mentioned changing hotels. Since the weather is not warm today and we got a good rate here, we are staying put, for now. The downside, besides, the coffee maker, is the internet service is costing me $13.95 for 24 HOURS. But,the upside, is they DO NOT charge for resort feees. Yes, resort fees. Various hotels have extra fees for telephone, in room safe, pool usage, fitness center, ect.

Monday, was started with a trip to the City Center Mall..what a gorgeous place! When you walk inside, designer trade marks are on the expansive walls, in bold letters. These being Prada, and Fendi. Next,

A Travel Adventure -LAS Vegas Day 1





Well, I finally made it with my fellow travel agent, Cookie to Vegas. I flew out on Allegiant Air, my friend flew out from Denver on Soutwest. My flight was late a half hour due to fog. But otherwise, very easy and simple to fly out of FC-Loveland airport. Cookie flys with her little blue furry cookie monster who gathers flight wings from different airlines to wear in his fur. You would be amazed at how many grown men who fly our skies want their picture taken with cookie monster!

Cookie had some wonderful conversations with flight attendants involving her travel Cookie Monster. One flight attendent's mom used to work at the Play Boy Bunny Club in Las Vegas. The flight attendants I flew with were friendly and had a keen sense of humor. Cookie and I met in the Las Vegas airport. Pretty big airport that is easy to get around.
Our room at The Rio, is fantastic...great view of the strip and on the 12th floor. Downside to the room is no coffee maker! There is a refrigerator but nothing else. Also, the pool is closed till the 12th of March. We have been thinking about changing hotels if the weather gets better.

After checking in, we dumpedout the contents of our bags. I have a confession to make here. I over pack. If I didn't my round trip plane ticket on Aligent Air would have been only $75.00. But since, I just can't pack without having the right shoes, ect, I had to check in a bag which cost me $40.00. The upside of that is, I didn't have to dump anything out or pay more for a heavy bag! I can help other people travel, but never been to pack lightly for myself.

Cookie's bag was filled with snacks for us, (yep, I felt guilty), and Italian binkis that she was hoping to market at the swimming pool.

Semi organized, we left the hotel room and headed for the strip. To get there, we had to take a shuttle. Amazingly enough, it showed up, right when we sat down. The shuttle service is free. Most people, however, tip the driver a dollar or two.

After we arrived at the strip, we walked for miles and miles. By this time it was wet, raining, and cold. On the upside, I should lose some weight....I am a weird person who has been known to lose weight on vacation. I hope this is that vacation where the weight comes off! Since it was too cold to dress up, and we just wanted to explore, capris jeans with a nice top and sandels was in order. I didn't think I looked super spectacular in what I had on but I managed to get hit on a few times, and in the strangest of places...McDonalds!
My fellow travel agent and I agreed that cheap meals were what we both could only afford, so Mickey'D's was what we settled on for dinner. A hot fish sandwich, side salad, and ice cream hit the spot! A conversation with the guys from the East Coast, led us to an outside dance club/bar at Carnival Court. This bar is one where bartenders are able to balance many things on their forehead as well as juggle glasses and bottles. After watching a few dare devil tricks, we started waundering through the casinos.

Some have really good prfromaces that are free. One we saw was a Elvis impersonator on the casino floor in the Imperial Palace. We also chatted with the men on stilts in Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, and listened to tourists as well as locals do karoke. In addition, we took in part of the Planet Hollywood mall, and the Pink Flamingo where the was a young girl with not a lot of clothes on dancing on a stand in front of the door. Good thing she was moving around or she would have frozen her petunias off! We then stepped into Sephora in the mall, where I discovered that they give away some free samples of perfume that they make for you.
Since I had not too long ago, watched a movie on Cocoa Channel, I had to get a free sample of Chanel #5. I hope I have not found a new expensive addiction!

Our trip to the other side of the strip proved interesting. In both elevators there were homeless men trying to get out of the rain and cold. The first man was eating, awake and friendly. The second one was asleep. I did not want to go in but my friend didn't get the unsafely part of being in an elevator with a man who was asleep. I am not a snob who was bothered by the man being homeless, as I have worked overnights as staff in the homeless shelter in FC. But my concern, I told her later, was what if the man woke up, had some flashback of some sort, and saw us as someone or something else? We had no way to get away as we were in an elevator. Any way, I hope I educated her some on safety.

After we got back to the Rio, we went to their midnight show of Masquerade in the Sky that was free. It was terrible. Half naked girls, some guy with no shirt, some singing that was hard to understand, and it lasted all of 10 mins! I guess in the past it used to be pretty spectacular with Arial floats and beautiful Mardi gras costumes. We did get beads as Cookie, jumped up and ran and got some that they were throwing out of floats that were attached to the ceiling that they were riding in.

At one am, we were on the 51st floor at the Voodoo Club at the top of the RIO. The trip up consisted of a ride in a glass elevator that is attached to the outside of the building. This is not for the faint of heart! The view of the Trump Hotel, and the strip was spectacular! We ended up chatting with some people who were from Orlando. I saw an opportunity to network and when the girl said she always wanted to take her boys on vacation to Colorado, I whipped out a card and told her to email me!

The down side of the night was when I started getting tired and begun to see some empty faces. Then, I knew it was time to go to bed.
Stayed tune for March 8th adventures!