THE STRIP

THE PLAN FOR TODAY WAS HIKING ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP. MARY AND I HIT THE PAVEMENT IN FIRST PLACE, BUT CAME IN LAST ………

SO WE WERE ON THE STRIP WHEN WORD OF THE FIRE AT THE MONTE CARLO SPREAD. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS ON THE I-15 SIDE, BUT THE BLACK SMOKE WAS ROLLING OFF THE TOP OF THE 33 STORY MEGA HOTEL.

THE FIRE FIGHTERS HERE ALL LEARNED THEIR LESSONS WELL IN THE MGM FIRE OF THE 80’S, AND EVERYONE WAS SAFELY EVACUATED WITH ONLY 13 MINOR INJURIES. SHUTTING DOWN TRAFFIC ON THE STRIP WAS A EVENT IN AND OF ITSELF WITH THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES SCREAMING DOWN THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET.

NEXT STOP WAS THE ROUND, OUTSIDE BAR AT HARRAH’S FOR SOME LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND LIBATION. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE AFTERNOON BARS.

HIKING SOUTH ON THE STRIP, UNCLE HANS HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, “ THIS IS A TOUGH GROUP TO KEEP TOGETHER, BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK APART”. WE HAD 12 FAMILY MEMBERS SPANNING THREE GENERATIONS.

THE NEXT OFFICIAL STOP WAS THE HARLEY CAFÉ FOR A FEW SNACKS, AND THEN ON TO ANOTHER PERSONAL FAVORITE, THE PIANO BAR AT NEW YORK NEW YORK. YOU ALWAYS ENJOY THESE DUALLING GRAND PIANOS AND WISH YOU’D PRACTICED WHEN YOUR MOTHER MADE YOU TAKE PIANO LESSONS…….

SO WHERE IS THE BEST VANTAGE POINT TO WATCH THE FOUNTAINS AT THE BELLAGIO? HOW ABOUT ON THE OUTDOOR PATIO AT THE FONTANA BAR INSIDE THE BELLAGIO? UNCLE HANS CLAIMED HE’S NEVER IN HIS LIFE PAID $121.00 FOR ONE ROUND OF DRINKS.

AT THIS POINT THE GROUP SPLIT UP, MARY AND I HEADED OUT TO THE PALMS TO WATCH PAULIE DEAL AT $25 CRAPS GAME AND THEN MADE OUR WAY BACK TO OUR HOTEL DOWNTOWN TO CRASH AND BURN.

THE LATE NIGHT REPORT WILL HAVE TO FILED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.