I got lost in Pitt Meadows last week, I was so lost that I wasn't even in Pitt Meadows, I was in Maple Ridge on a dark rainy windy night, just me and Tiggs and the unreliable GPS that lead me down a dark road that ended suddenly and turned into gravel and potholes. This Adventure Travel
experience may have been a sign of things to come. I slammed on the brakes, skidded in the gravel, sent Tiggy hurtling off the seat and on to the floor, we were both a bit stressed. Eventually we made our way back to civilization and found a gas station and a helpful lady who pointed us in the right direction. Note to self, next time get address and general directions before setting out to fetch Danny.
Thursday morning dawned hopeful, sunny, and a no-gps-required drive across the border. A pleasant stop at an american IHOP, a feature breakfast, a stop at Fred Meyer to buy books (my book was the story of a woman who developed early-onset Alzheimer's disease, really I should not be surprised at how my story ends), and we were off to the Bellingham airport.
Two and half restful hours later we landed in balmy Las Vegas, went to the Flamingo and checked in immediately. Pleased to find that our comp room was ideally situated on the 27th floor (there are 28) by the elevators with a spectacular view of the Bellagio fountains. Could this really be free? Hard to believe our good fortune.
First assignment was to get Scott's player card sorted next door at Bill's Gamblin' Hall. Another pleasant surprise, points earned in October could be redeemed for free meals.
Second task was to secure show tickets. I dropped the gambler (no not Kenny Rogers) off to gamble and headed to the half price ticket booth. Picked up a voucher for a ticket for that night's performance of Legends at Harrah's, and vouchers for three tickets to Friday night's performance of Viva Elvis at the new Aria hotel. In order to get good seats I had to go to the venues and exchange the vouchers for actual tickets, so off I went.
It was quite a journey to the Aria, up past the fountains, through the Bellagio lobby, down around the back, up through the Vdara (new casino in the City Center complex), down around to the Aria and to the Elvis theatre. Managed to secure eighth row seats in the 'couch' section. Huge burden off shoulders. Tickets two and three were for Arlene and Darlene (yep they're twins, yep that's their real names), big Elvis fans and frequent show attendees who will not settle for bad seats.
Next stop, back the way I came, with a brief stop for a chat with a valet who LOVED my sparkly Guess watch (take THAT all you haters), past Vdara, through the Bellagio, up the escalators at Caesar's Palace, across past Bill's and the Flamingo in to Harrah's to get my ticket for the Legends show. Sadly noted the sign saying 'Michael Jackson is ill and will not be in tonight's performance' *eyes water*, if only they knew just how 'un-well' he really was...
Back to fetch Scott and time for the buffet. Included was a brief stop of indulgence at the chocolate fountain to dip mini rice krispie squares. No time to linger I was off to the show. I sweet-talked the elderly usher and was able to move my 'cheap ticket' up to a row five ticket. Who wants to see the "Legends" of Vegas from 20 rows back? For the next 90minutes I was entertained by Liberace, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Tom Jones and Rod Stewart.
Next stop gambling and cocktails, then bed. Friday morning up early and off on a shopping mission after a stop at Bills Victorian Room for the steak and eggs special (felt compelled to use up those point credits). Caught the bus heading down Flamingo, got off at Target, wandered around and then walked a mile to the Boulevard Mall. Found a few items and then walked back up to Target and caught the bus back. Time for a nap before meeting up with the twins.
Met up in Caesar's Palace for our 6pm reservation at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. Fancy menu, fancy prices (was tempted to flash my Bill's card and ask them to give it swipe just for the heck of it). I had a white peach margarita, followed by the sixteen spice chicken with pesto pureed potatoes. Very tasty, but really can anything hold a candle to mini rice krispie squares swirled in a chocolate fountain? After dinner we embarked on the walk to the Aria to see the Elvis cirque show.
My first cirque show and quite possibly my only cirque show. I was entertained, not even tempted to doze off despite the comfy couch, but after an hour or so of jumping and tumbling and skipping and cavorting, one has seen enough. Soon again we were walking the very familiar journey back to the strip. My feet were ready for bed but my mind was compulsively drawn in to the blackjack table at Bill's were I met up with Scott and did some gambling. Consumed many margaritas but resisted the urge to overindulge and made my way to bed. Was awakened several hours later when Scott came in, he'd made his requisite visit to the front desk after trying unsuccesfully to use his room key at door 26062, we of course were in room 27062.
Saturday we were drawn again to the buffet, strawberry crepes, cotton candy and the chocolate fountain called my name. I had a busy day of shopping ahead with Arlene and Darlene, they cruised by and collected me around the corner from my hotel and we headed out on a mission to DSW (discount shoe warehouse, and Darlene's most favourite shopping destination). I had NO idea what the next three hours held for me. Yes, three hours, in ONE store. Next door to DSW was PetSmart so I went over for a browse. It was pet adoption day and the store and sidewalk were lined with dogs in cages hoping ot be adopted. It was heartbreaking and I had no choice but to retreat to the shoe store. Three hours later we left, I had a purse and two pairs of sandals, Arlene had boots and runners, Darlene had sandals aplenty.
Next stop another mall, more hours, more shopping, more walking. Finally we had seen all that was there and had earned a dinner break at Red Lobster. A late night stop at Target then a short drive back to the strip were again I was seduced by the allure of the tables and spent a few hours losing still more money.
Sunday dawned bright and beautiful and I awoke early to begin packing for our return home that night. We checked our bags at the bell desk, Scott headed out for a final day in the gambling trenches and I ventured out walking in the sunshine. All day I was feeling anxious and couldn't figure out why. Eventually I went to my favourite japanese restaurant in Bally's and sat down to sort things out over a chicken teriyaki combo box. Still feeling unsettled I went back to collect Scott and we headed out early to the airport. The moment we walked into the airport I suddenly realized that I'd left the passports and car keys in the room, in the desk drawer by the fridge. I left Scott with the luggage and rushed out, across the four lanes of shuttle buses and 'dropping off' cabs, through the other terminal and out to the taxi line for 'departing' cabs.
I felt fairly confident as the taxi raced to the Flamingo that I'd grab the stuff and be back for our flight in moments. At the taxi driver's suggestion I called the hotel (ugh roaming charges!) and was told that nothing had been turned in, the room had been cleaned and I should go to the front desk and get a key to go and check in the room myself. Got the key, headed up the elevator, raced to the room, rushed in straight to the desk, threw open the drawer and it was EMPTY, totally EMPTY.
Rushed back down to the front desk, was told that I'd have to file a report with security. A Report?! How is a report going to get me on a plane and start my car and get me back into my house?!! Front desk lady offered to 'walk' me down to security...we met up with Mr. Security in the basement, all 600 sweaty pounds of him, mopping his brow with a handkerchief in the airconditioned room. He advised me that it was shift change for the housekeeping staff and that nothing had been turned in, he suggested I might want to look in my luggage. I resisted the urge to fashion my points card into a weapon (I do watch an awful lot of 'Lockdown - RAW' on the learning channel) and to plunge it into his vast expanse.
He encouraged me to wait on the bench in the hall while he went to check the employee lockers. Really I think he went out for a donut, waited a few minutes, then shuffled back in to tell me that he didn't find anything. He better not have popped over to the chocolate fountain at the buffet.
Dejected and stressed, I headed back to the airport, meeting a pleasant australian girl along the way who paid for the cab we shared and offered further assistance to drive us to the Canadian border if need be. She was booked on the flight leaving after ours. We were able to check in for our flight, being the very last to do so, and made our way to the gate while pondering how we'd get home from Bellingham sans vehicle. Seated separately on the plane, I sat down to finally crack open my new book, which had a much greater impact given the recent turn of events.
A few hasty text messages later and my most favourite ex mentee/manatee Harpreet told us she'd drive down and be waiting for us when the plane landed. Ah, I did train her well! and sure enough she and her sister Amritha were there to collect us and bring us home. Some fast talking and explaining at the border and soon we were at home wondering how to break into the house while listening to the calming hysterical barks of two lonely dogs. Just then our tenant Steve drove up (with key!) and let us in.
I spent the next few moments visiting with Holly and Tigs, about to log on to report our passports lost/stolen. Then my phone rang, it was big ol' Mr. Security himself telling me that our passports and keys had miraculously appeared twenty minutes after I'd left. So let's see....I left the hotel at 5pm, flight departed at 620pm, landed at 9pm, arrived home at 10pm and he was JUST CALLING NOW?!!! ARGH! In any event he assured me that 'our shipping guy' will have these in the mail to you tomorrow.
But the story does not end there, because my car, Sandra was still sitting cold and alone at the Bellingham airport.
Monday morning we were on the road again (nope not with Willie Nelson) spare key on the MukMuk keyring, heading down to fetch Sandra. We arrived at our destination at 5:20am, I leapt out of the truck ran across the parking lot arms open wide (picture movie scene) and turned the key in the door. It did NOT open. Nope, keys no longer open car doors, only key fobs open car doors and we didn't have one. Really? was this happening to me? in the wind and the rain in the dark?
Off we went to a gas staton to seek advice and call a tow truck driver, who apparently was not that busy at 5:25 on a Monday morning and soon enough he was there to open the car door. I jumped in, patted Sandra's dash, turned the key and started the car! Wahooooooooooooo! off we went back across the border and home sweet home.
Now we watch the mailslot and hope for our package to arrive soon, please Mr. Flamingo, please.
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