sightseeing

[faygo]

Good Luck, Steve. Will wait for a very positve trip report. 

[EDC1977]

Steve: best of luck to you. winning trip or otherwise, have a safe and fun trip. Smart cookie you are. Sun-thu rates cheaper! Post that picture of the dealt RF with a 10X multiplier!

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

  
SWA delivered us on time to McCarran and while my wife , mother and daughter played catch up on family news and gossip I couldn't help but notice the baggage claim area was deserted except for 3 or four flights of luggage. A veritable ghost town of an air port.  I know that S/West rents only the hinterlands of any airport to keep costs down but this was ridiculous.  Deserted, scary and spooky but for the moving raft of desperate limo drivers seeking a fare.   Seeing I was towing 3 females with massive amounts of luggage one chauffeur of foreign extraction and unctous manners offered to help and deliver us  to Binion's for the modest sum of $50.  At the time his offer seemed like a gift directly from  God until I noticed the sign in the airport at the exit posting limos at $40. I politely inquired concerning the discrepancy and he replied, "My English, sir, is  insufficient to adequately address the question to your  satisfaction.  Please follow me to the awaiting limosine. "     Hmmm?  How odd, an excellent  command of English and yet unable to answer a simple question. I discovered too late he had an even better knowledge of psychology and a perfect understanding of greenbacks.    The service was impeccable and by the time we were set out at Binion's  the ladies insisted we hire this particular driver for all our transportation needs while in town.  I politely declined on the grounds that this fellow was an obvious impostor and a pirate to boot.  Nevertheless I've seldom been able to refuse any reasonable request from my wife and I had no chance with reinforcement from my mother and the daughter,  veritable harpies in concert.   I whined to no avail and eventually capitulated agreeing to one trip down the strip the following evening with this robber baron.  Anything more would be dependent on my shrewd deal making skills.  End result: $80 including tip  for the ride from McCarran's to Binion's.      My only excuse is there was enough luggage to load a train car and more than enough to get a Mack truck and forty foot trailer an over weight ticket. This driver performed a miracle and for that I guess he should be well compensated.  No denying that I'm a complete and utter rube.  Shadowman and the forum gang have worked hard  to teach me  how to be the "Man About Town",  all things Vegas, and a player ( In my mind I'm like suave and debonair James Bond whenever he's in a casino) but on the first trial I'm taken advantage of by confidence man masquerading as a limo driver before I get out of the airport.  Score Vegas,1    Got electronical troubles......software, hardware.......DSL.....one of the many magic boxes?  Hope to return later if anyone is intrerested.   

[marie meijer]

Oh yeah, Steve, We want to hear about what you won where, what games you played and what entertainment you ended up seeing. Funny limo story!Looks like a milestone of 500 posts here and I find that hard to believe.

[faygo]

Oh yeah, Steve, We want to hear about what you won where, what games you played and what entertainment you ended up seeing. Funny limo story!
Looks like a milestone of 500 posts here and I find that hard to believe.

 
Gabby!! 

[faygo]

Oh yeah, Steve, We want to hear about what you won where, what games you played and what entertainment you ended up seeing. Funny limo story!
Looks like a milestone of 500 posts here and I find that hard to believe.

 
Gabby!!

[marie meijer]

ty, I think?? 'Takes one to know one! Hey faygo, 100 play, today: Dealt quad 3s w A and almost tossed the kicker. Did you see that the COPA (Tigers home at Comerica Park) made FORBES list of top 2009 15 best baseball stadiums! 

[faygo]

ty, I think?? 'Takes one to know one! Hey faygo, check out 100 play, today only! Dealt quad 3s w  A and almost tossed the kicker. Did you see that the COPA (Tigers home at Comerica Park) made FORBES list of top 2009 15 best baseball stadiums! 
 
marie , didn't see the list but I knew it was done beautifully.  BIG  plus , so close to the casinos.

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

Congats, Marie on the big 500 and many more.    After checking in and making an appointment with the hostess,  we went across the street and drank iced tea at the Carson Street Grille (Nugget) to people watch and confirm my sightseeing plans.  While at the Nugget, I  ogled the bathing beauties,  the red fish , the sharks and other bottom dwelling scum sucking creatures soon to be on the fabulous Nugget buffet.  But I digress.      The only full pay machine was a slant top JOB @$5 a credit across from the host"s desk.  Also in the high limit area.  Maybe $1 machine at the host's.  Everything else was 8/5, 7/5 and worse.  6/4 at the bars? Sumptuous though.  The Nugget is definitely the top place downtown to stay.  Maybe not so great a gamble.       Back to Binion's to locate a bank of FPDW.   Spotted them just like the site said.   4 machines not too far from the cashier, coffee shop and rest  room.   Wait for me , my pretties, like McArthur , " I shall return!"     Next to my old nemesis the 4 Queen's where they have floor planned different 25 cent machines, added some, changed some, got rid of a bunch.  No tempting pay tables in the bunch.   A bank of 5 cent 9/6 JOB still across from the sports book with 25 cent, 50 cent and $1.  DW pay table was  ..... ..9/4/2/2/1.  I didn't  learn the strategy for that pay table.  Is this NSUD"s ?   Saw a lot of this pay table in various casinos even on the strip. Played some nickel JOB to help my daughter get started. Cashed out  even.  Has anyone ever played all the way through a $100 worth of nickels  9/6 Job in one session and lived to tell the tale?  Good coffee from the cocktail servers.  Also please note that ST. Pauli non-alcohlic beer is available for those who like to indulge but refuse to have their accuracy impinged.      The Fitz has a lot of Bonus Poker and stuff.   I still haven't picked up these games.  The upstairs bar has 9/6 JoB multigames if I remember correctly. The McDonald's there still has excellent coffee and in the middle of the casino is a Dinkin' Donut's, (Southern Maid)?  It had good coffee also.  Yuuummmy!  Worth going to the Fitz for a cuppa joe.   You will be hounded by bums but you won't be disappointed.  Buy a bum a cup of java just for the heckuva it.  It will make you lucky.   Aside :  McDonalds at the Plaza when the Fitz's is down for cleaning (closed) and vice versa?      The  Fremont is slowly changing out the classic old coin dropping machines for TITO.  With the gang in tow, we stopped and played some 25 cent  9/6 JOB just to cash out and hear the coins fall into the tray.    Ahhh nostalgia.  Then we schlepped the bucket over to the cashier for bills. All for the sake of my daughter who will probably never remember these antiques.  Thank God for TITO.      Back to the 4 Whores for a  Vegas prime rib at a great price for our party at the Magnolia.   The meal was slow in arrival.  The Queens is ok by me.  I thoroughly enjoy their establishment, their gaming, their food and beverages.  The service is usually very good.  Now if we could just get them to cough up some comps it  would become my stay and play choice.      By this time the flight, the cupidity of the  limo driver,  the glitz,  and the glamor of downtown had worn every one out and off to sleepy time we went...................     Except I went to the FPDW down stairs at Binion's to get acquainted with the gaming entertainment.   I circled the machines a few times like a shark closing in on  its prey.  I introduced myself in my most impressive James Bond imitation. I complimented the machine on its cleanliness and obvious refinement.  I bragged on its lineage.  I noted it's colorful screen.  "No reason to be coquettish, my dear.   Soon we'll be the best of friends," I murmured.  I caressed  the buttons carefully and noted any stickiness or potential resistance.  I playfully poked at the draw/deal button.  I stroked the bet max  button.  I ever so slyly brushed the denomination slot.  I sat down.  Before I was half way through my seduction repertoire that machine was begging me to insert my.........  player's card.                  to be continued.....?

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

  Be that as it may, after about 2 hours of play I was $26 ahead and ready to sleep awhile.   Monday we toured the lions of MGM,  NYNY, Luxor and finally went to the Excalibur for the tournament of Kings.  The limo driver from the airport met us afterward with a chilled bottle of Spumante for the trip down the strip.  Wonderful lights.  Breathtaking.  It was a lovely ride and I for one was definitely ready to hit the hay when we returned to base.   This time the driver ransomed my family back to me for only a hundred bucks.  I considered myself lucky and said nevermore.  Tuesday 2 A.M I awoke refreshed and ready to game.  Because of the horrendous glare on the monitor I changed to the machine on the opposite side.  No good. Same lighting vexation.  So I extended my arms as much as possible and soldiered on.  This session ended with another small win of about $36.  Hooray for me.  Vengeance for past years massacre at the 4 Queens.    Tuesday evening we toured the Bellagio's fountains, Chihuly's glass art ceiling, the conservatory, the chocolate fountain, sat and gazed at the lovely pool and gardens and finally went to see the fountains again at sunset.  Exquisite.  Crossed the street to Paris and ate sandwiches in the little shop on the Rue de Bally's?  Those sandwiches cost as much as the buffet at the Main Street Station we had for lunch.  We then  traipsed thru Bally's and called it a night.  I threatened to recoup sandwich expense by forcing the ladies to bus back to the hotel but mutiny ensued and we compromised on a cab.   Wednesday 4A.M. , same glare ridden machine.  I took a beating so horrendous it defies description.  It thoroughly discombobulated me.  Shook the core of my being. If I was to game any more this day I would have to dip into my reserve fund.  It was so bad, I considered taking a Grand Canyon tour just to save money.  For 3 days gaming I'm now in the red. So much for my modest wins of day 1 and 2.  That cold deck frightened me into playing nickels at the , dare I say it,  4 Queens, my arch enemy.     But that afternoon the Queens were good to me.  Playing 5 cent JoB I earned 50% on my money and restored my confidence to try the Binion's again tomorrow morning.  God bless those Queens.  Love the Queens.    Wed. P.M. went to the Mirage to see the white tigers.  Arrived too late, attraction moved to the Secret Garden and is closed for the night. So we'll just hang around and watch the volcano.  Sorry,  volcano is feeling gassy and will be out of commission for maintenance the entire week.  Ok no problem, we'll finally get to see Terry Fator.  Uh, yeah there's a problem don't recall specifically their excuse, instead went to Starbucks and had a cup of the life giving elixir that is still legal in all 50 states not counting Utah.  While drinking the coffee, lattes, frothies, smoothies etc. we discussed the vicissitudes of fate and casino attractions and decided to go to the Palms because the daughter wants to check out her competition at the Playboy Club.   Ahhh! the Palms, sight of some of my greatest video poker wins.  In the past I got 2, count 'em 2 Quad Deuces.  Woo-hoo! Score.  My mother finds a Mega Bucks and proceeds to rake in the dough while the daughter and I go to the doorman and door lady? of the Playboy Club to pay $10 bucks each for entry? What?  Cover charge? In this town?  Whereupon, the doorman says, " Sir, pants are required in addition to the cover charge",  and me standing there in my designer swim trunks could only reply, "Young man,  Hefner made an entire career out of wearing nothing but pajamas and you expect me to wear pants!"  Ha Ha,   Take that snooty young whippersnapper. My daughter was mortified and paid to enter if only to escape being seen with me.   She later reported that there were plenty of Bunnies,  few customers but that the customers did in fact wear pants.  The competition wasn't so tough was what I gathered.  Apparently being the Last Playboy club doesn't have the cachet one would think.  Plus the onerous requirement of pants can't help.  Getting rid of the snooty punks at the gate and replacing  them with a middle aged decrepit Captain Kangaroo look alike who would let the old timers in for free with no pants would be a big help.  Talk about Parteee!  Wooo-Hooo!  So the Mirage was a bust but the Palms was a hoot even though I was so dissed by the kid at the Playboy gate that I had to drown my angst in 2 Big Macs, an order of fries and a large coke, make it a diet.   I was in the full grip of ennui and I forgot to play VP as the daughter returned momentarily from the Bunny Club with her report.   Thursday.  Last day for video poker dreams to come true.  Slept in until about 5 A.M. Completely rested. Must return home today. Must finish off Binion's or at least earn some points, comps,  whatever.  With my confidence restored since the session at the Queen's the day before, I attacked with full force.  Slash and burn.  An overwhelming force of  strategy and pluck in the face of inferior odds...............I won.  2 wild Royal flushes plus a bunch of  other good hands and I had  won back Wednesday's horrorful losses and posted a small profit.   The profit for all 4 days was , drum roll please,  ........$8.  Ta Dah!  And I'm grateful.  My beating by the 4 Queens a 2 years ago is greatly assuaged by her restoration of confidence by playing her nickel slots.    So this fall, next year, whenever, I'm looking forward to returning to my last scene of triumph and tempting the fates again. I will continue to practice and have done the math for how many hours of play it might take to earn a RF and am willing to tough it out as long as the money holds even or better.  I'm  game at least until my goose is cooked.     The best part of the trip was Oscar the Bellman's offer to get us a ride to airport which I gladly accepted after all the nefarious dealings with the various henchmen and ne'er do wells that call themselves professional drivers.   Within moments up pulled a gleaming black stretch limo with the most courteous and professional driver. The cavernous trunk was packed with the Himalaya of luggage by Ricco the professional chauffeur.   We were whisked away with consummate skill, precision and grace.  Kudos Oscar, Bravo Ricco!  Good Luck and God's Grace until we meet again.