Day 28. 30.4.16. Las Vegas, USA.

A much needed sleep in today. Awoke at 5.30, but bac to sleep till 8.45 – heaven! We got organised and down for breaky, I’d had a muesli bar, so was only in need of a cuppa tea. They actually do a nice ‘hot tea’ here – a two mug pot, with two teabags, honey and lemon on the side – all for $4 USD.  There was no ‘half n half’ UHT milk on the table, so I asked for some, they were busy and I got a large glass of milk delivered to the table , despite my protest, the server indicated to use it, which was tricky and made a mess.  Had to subsequently ask for the $4.95 charge for milk to be removed! 

We met Suzie at 11ish, in readiness to be picked up by her friends Lisa and Tony, who Suzie and Keith had met some 20 years ago when they were all working in Perth. They collected us in their very nice Black BMW 700 Series and took us out of The Strip to their local casino the JW Marriott Rampart Casino and Resort near their suburb of Summerlin.  It was a pretty casual affair, they certainly weren’t dressed up for the occasion and we enjoyed the ‘buffet’ which has pretty much everything you could imagine, from breakfast to lunch including salad and dessert bar, with Chinese options, gefilte fish, roasts etc. I enjoyed a really tasty Chinese meatball soup with some other Chinese tidbits, a salad plate and some brisket (mainly ‘cos they always talk about Mrs Wolowitz’s brisket on Big Bang!.) We taste tested a range of desserts as well, my favourite was the ‘wedding biscuits.’

Lisa and Tony delivered us back to TI about 3.30. It was interesting to hear about Vegas life from a local. They had some strong views re political race, and believe that Hilary will be indicted before the election.

Lisa and Tony foster birds prior to them finding their ‘forever’ home. Some exotic birds including Macaws, Parrots and some others who I had never heard of.  They are often pets who are surrendered, legal pets, but no longer able to be cared for, or outliving their owners etc.                                               

Once home we had some daylight to kill before our night time activities. We found the ‘Mob Museum’ located out near Fremont Street, we caught a cab and spent a most interesting 4 hours in there. It was a really well set out and curated exhibition that told the history of the Mafia across America. It looked pretty new and subsequent research shows that it opened on 14 February 2014, a date which commemorated the 1929 Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago, which saw several members of Bugsy Moran’s gang were lined up against a wall and shot by members of Al Capone’s gang. The  museum actually houses the Chicago wall, which has been rebuilt brick by brick, with bullet holes.

Really enjoyed the time at Mob Museum. Learnt a lot.

The reconstructed ACTUAL brick wall against which the gang members were shot in the Valentine's Day Massacre.

There is a good story to these tins. I thought is was a good take off of Andy Warhol's Soup cans...but see the next pic for full details.

Tinned tomatoes, take on a whole new meaning.

We had heard there was a Mafia connection, when we visited the Hotel Nacional in Cuba, Here it was all over again.

The 'Cuba Connection' explained.

We left just on 8.00 and hotfooted it to Fremont Street to see the lightshow, we caught the end of the 8.00 show. 

Fremont Street Experience. The sound and light show.

Fremont Street Experience. The sound and light show.

Fremont Street Experience. The sound and light show.

Fremont Street.

One of the original Casino's the Golden Nugget.

And another of the oldies - Binion's.

Next we took a cab to the Stratosphere to view the lights of Vegas, there was a $22 cost to go to the observation deck, so we inquired about a meal at the revolving restaurant, we got a booking and enjoyed great 360 degree views of the Vegas lights as we revolved around during our meal of the most delicious asparagus soup with a peach daiquiri. Then we took a quick trip to the outdoor observation deck. It is ‘prom’ season, as there was a bunch of kids have their prom party as a private function, they were up on the observation deck all dressed up to the nines and going on the various ‘rides’ that are up there. During dinner I briefly saw a few bodies fly by the windows, there is some ‘skyjump’ where people are dropped over the side…not for me that’s for sure! NB: there was also a prom function taking place at the Mob Museum as we left.

View over Vegas. that light pointing into the sky, comes out the top of the Luxor Pyramid.

Lights of Vegas.

Looking down The Strip.

The Strip.

We then headed back to The Strip, to watch the Bellagio Fountains. We saw a couple of small ‘shows’ then a Japanese inspired special “Kabuki” light and sound show.

Bellagio Fountains in action.

Bellagio Fountains in action.

Paris and Eiffel Tower.

Looking towards 'home'

More Fountains.

Squiggly water. All in time to music.

More fountains.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show.

Kibuki show. - Commercialisation is everywhere.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

Fishing competition. People were interacting with their phones.

The Koi show.

The Koi show.

The Koi show.

View by night.

Finally walked home, as the cab line at Bellagio was enormous.  Everything is miles away on The Strip, as the hotels/casino properties are just so huge. Home about midnight having ticked off the list.

Sorted some photos, which I haven’t touched for about four days and caught up on some journal, which is 2 days behind as well.

Bed was good, yet again.