OK, along the Strip. And it's only one pyramid but what a pyramid (take the Virtual Tour). I'm sure the ancient Egyptians could have never conceived of anything like this. It cost $700 million to build but then Las Vegans don't have slaves like the ancient Egyptians had. Anyhow, as we stopped at the Valet Parking Baggage Check-in, an earnest attendant swept our bags out the trunk breaking the spring that keeps the trunk lid up in the process. He apologized profusely and tried to fix it but I told him not to worry about it, I would take care of it later. We went in and surveyed the scene. The lobby is immense and jam packed with statues, hieroglyphs, paintings, plantings, it's just an ancient Egyptian sensory overload. Wandering around slack jawed our mouths agape we made our way to check-in. There were about 20 long lines to choose from so I chose one. I always choose the wrong one, you know what I mean. You think yours will move faster than the others but it never happens. So Marylou had an idea and she got in the next line over figuring two lines are better than one. We would race to the counter. The first one there gets to pay. No, wins. Whatever.

     We neared the counter and the guy in front of Marylou jumped out of line as his pal, over one more line, had made it to the promised land first so Marylou beat me. I joined her and we spoke to a very charming and efficient female desk clerk. When she checked our reservations she said, "Ah, Marylou Boileau, I have a message for you. Happy birthday from Michael!"  We thought this was a nice surprise. Then the clerk said since it was Marylou's birthday she would upgrade us to a jacuzzi suite for half the regular price. Only $100. instead of $200. a night. We said, "Thanks, but no thanks."  We just wanted to get a room in the pyramid as they have two separate tower buildings to the side. So we asked if we would be in the pyramid and she said sure on the 2nd floor. I thought this was too low so I asked her to to a Sly Stone and take us "higher."  She did. Putting us on the thirteenth floor. I can't believe that they have a thirteenth floor but I guess the ancient Egyptians weren't superstitious.

     So we surrendered our credit card, got our key cards and got on the inclinator and went up to our room. What a cool ride. When it starts you feel a slight push to one side and when it stops you are pushed to the other, really wild! The room was great. I opened the curtain and we looked out on the giant sphinx and obelisk and palm trees right in front of the pyramid. What a view! So we plugged in the tape player. Put on some Johnny Clegg & Savuka, unpacked and called Dawn at the Aladdin as we had gotten a phone message from them. They were in the bar unwinding. Apparently the had been unwinding for some time as Dawn sounded pretty unwound. They had gotten a free bottle of champagne on the plane because they mentioned that they were going to Vegas to get married. So remember whenever you are dealing with a service industry, it's your birthday and you're getting married! You never know how much free or reduced price stuff you can get.

     We told Dawn we might meet them later but not to wait for us. They were going to the Aladdin buffet for dinner. At $20. a head we thought we could do better. So we did a walk around the pyramid to see the sights, got on the enclosed moving walkway that takes you across the street over to the Excalibur and to the $9.99 buffet there. After lots of shrimp, prime rib, chicken, ribs, etc., etc. and then the desserts, cake, ice cream, cheesecake we returned to our room stuffed and tired. It was 8:30 PM. Not knowing if Dawn and Dip and party were still going and knowing we wouldn't be able to go for much longer and that it was a bit of a ways up the strip to the Aladdin we called it a knight.

     The next day we rose. Marylou went down to the food court got us coffees, muffins and bagels which we scarfed down for breakfast in our beautiful room. We were touring the casinos today. We left the pyramid. Took the monorail to the Excalibur. Crossed the street to the MGM Grand. Not so much grand as tacky, if you ask me. Took their monorail to Bally's. Walked over to the Bellagio to see the art collection. We were disappointed to find that the collection that we had read about featuring a few Monets and Pollocks had been liquidated when the casino/hotel had been sold. The sale and dissolution of the art was news to us. They had another collection in its place but looking through the catalogue, little offered us interest. So we passed. They told us to come back next week when they would be displaying the collection of Steve Martin. We said ok, sure. This Bellagio was something though. A lot of the other hotel/casinos were really just garish. Like Mouseland for adults with no taste. But the Bellagio was quite the opposite. Veeerrrrryyy classy. The tile work in the public bathroom alone was impressive. The rooms must really be nice. The whole place exuded a Mediterranean air. The pool area looked like right out of Italy. Momma mia, this is the place for me if we ever venture to Vegas again.

     We called the Aladdin and asked for Joe Dip. He checked out we were told. So we tried Dawn's name hoping that Joe hadn't chickened out and split. Yes, Dawn had a room but when they rang it there was no answer. Oh well, lets keep seeing the sights. We walked the Strip for a bit. The Paris casino was neat from the street. Then we went to Caesars Palace and walked through the Forum Shoppes inside. They were all lined up down walkways with a arched roof painted like open sky with clouds that seemed to move as you walked down the avenue. Every now and then the corridors would converge on a large courtyard like room with a display of statues that would come alive every so often and act out a short vignette, anamatronically. Wild, it is Mouseland for adults. We stopped at a Jewish Deli, Roman slaves no doubt, and had lunch. I had pastrami on rye. Marylou chicken or tuna salad, I think. My sandwich was immense but I finished it stuffing myself yet again. The vacation mentality and all. Over indulge now, make up for it later. Let's hoof it for a bit and see some more.

     Up the street we visited the Mirage to see Siegfried and Roy's animals. The white tigers we lounging behind a glass curtain in their sumptuous den. We followed the large signs through the casino done up in a rainforest motif to Siggy and Roy's "Secret" garden but balked at the admission price. Hit the bricks again and crossed the Strip to the Venetian. Walls and ceilings covered with Renaissance looking paintings, not bad. A canal with gondolas and singing gondoliers! It was reminiscent of Venice but way to clean. All in all not too offensive. The same partly cloudy sky covered corridors lined with shoppes. If you don't want to gamble your money away you can spend it on overpriced clothes and souvenirs. Cool! Time to take a chance on Joe and Dawn again so we walk down to the Aladdin.

     Surprise! They were there. So we joined them in their room and then moved to another room one of the wedding group was in where the party was. The attendees included but weren't limited to Dip and Dawn, Augie, John and Deb, Mike and
Lynn, Juvie and Mary and others who came and went. Lynn and Mary were Dip's sisters who were getting married as well but at a different ceremony. While in Vegas, huh. We drank beer and champagne and generally had a good time all telling of their experiences since leaving the wilds of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Florida. The rooms were very nice as the Aladdin had just been torn down and completely rebuilt. Every room had a computer terminal on-line free of charge, just gamble please and not on the computer, with a new fangaled flat screen LCD monitor and everythang! At the Luxor they had one little room where you could pay for internet access. I guess you got to be young to be with it.

     So we had a great time partying with our friends for a couple of hours. We made plans to do the Fremont Street Experience with them later that night. Made the trek back to our hotel room for a little rest and change and then it's back out into the immersive neon world that is Las Vegas.
 

Hangin' in the den
 

justa like Hitaly at Bellagio