sonntex
11-01-2005, 03:17 PM
I am really pissed. (Can I say "pissed" on this board. Well, I just said it because I am really big-time pissed-off.) Here's why I am so pissed. I was writing this trip report and was about half way thru the second day and the electricty went off. Lost everything. Have to start over. Jeez....
Well, here goes again.
Thursday afternoon, 2:15 Dallas time, we take off for DFW airport. 40 minute drive for us. Parked right by our gate, got thru security w/no problems with our carry on luggage (we've learned what not to pack), and waited for boarding on America West. Boarded about 4:20, flight took off at 4:45, got a whole can of Pepsi, arrived at McCarran at 5:30 L/V time (smooth flight), streaked to the Thrifty car-rental stand (we're blue chip members, so no check-in), picked up our mid-size Chrysler Sebring w/no hassle, then sped to the Rio valet. Checked in and went to check out our newly renovated 600 sq.ft smoking room on the 4th floor of the Ipanema Tower. View was bad; air-conditioners and the Gold Coast and Palms. Oh, well.
It was evident that the room had been newly redone. It smelled of new carpet and the bedspreads and drapes looked new. The love seat looked as though it had never been sat on. 32" TV with a lot of cable channels. Fridge, but no coffee pot.The bathroom was teeny. There was a make-up vanity just outside the bath which I commandeered and relegated hubby's stuff to the very narrow shelf in the bath. He was a little pissed about that. (There's that word again. You gonna edit me, Steve?) The closet was larger than most, but not enough hangers for the many unneeded clothes we brought. We got all unpacked and took off to register in the slot tournament. Couldn't because they stopped registering at 6:00, so had to go for late reg the next morning at 10:00. More about that later.
We were starved because by this time, it was 7:00 L/V time and 9:00 Dallas time. Hubby was craving the Seafood Buffet. I wasn't too thrilled about it. It was his second time to eat at the buffet and my third. Streamed right by the line as we are Diamond members (hee, hee). He stuffed himself on all kinds of fish; I ate my usual, salad and salmon. One thing about this buffet though, it does have great desserts. Since I eat little of the standard fare, I sample several. The sugar-free lemon meringue pie is fabulous. The only lemon pie I like better is the one I make myself.
After this scrumptious meal:( (now he's bored with it, too, goody, goody) we headed out to feed the slots. I stopped at my favorite 3 coin quarter Triple Diamond while he looked for a 2 coin $1 machine. My old stand-by was cold tonight, so I go to another Triple Diamond-cold.. Tried a few other machines, but not much luck. So now I take off to look around and watch a few tables. Lowest minimums were $10. Found hubby, who was very glum. (Guess why) So maybe tomorrow.....
Got back to the room - had cookies waiting. Nice midnight snack.
Friday morning, 7:00. Rise and shine time. Got dressed and sped over to the the worldly World buffet for breakfast. Same old stuff. Pancakes were tough and luke-warm. Syrup was hot though. Everything was the usual old tried and true breakast buffet. The service is good though. We stuffed ourselves as we would not be eating again until our 6:00 reservation at the Range. By this time, it was about 9:30 and I headed over to stand in line for the slot tournament registration. The line was already long. Bless their hearts, they started letting us in at 9:45. Got checked in, got a free gift, Lenox candy dish with some chocolates to go in it, was assigned machines in the 2nd session, 11:30, hurray, the one I wanted. Waited around until my session began, watched the machine I was assigned. It did bad for her. Did me wrong, too. Score was pitiful. Maybe better tomorrow.
We decided to investigate the Silverton. Heard a lot about it, but never been there. Took a wrong turn and ended up on Dean Martin something or other which I think is really Industrial going south. Figured it would get us there, so just stayed on it. And there it was. The Silverton in all its glory. Hubby got confused at the light and turned left (bad decision). Ended up on I-15 going south and travelled half way to Jean before we could find an overpass to turn around and go back north. Believe me, it's not a very scenic drive. Did see where they are building the new South Coast. Looks like it will be really big. Have to try it when it gets built, now that we know how to get there.
Well, good ole hubby got it right this time and we motored right up to the Silverton valet. We didn't go in the Bass Pro Shop but it looked huge. We're not sportsman so there was not much interesting to us in Bass Pro. Besides, hubby deals in 4-wheelers and the Bass Pros are always around at shows and stuff where he goes, so it is all old stuff to him anyway. One thing, I liked was the big aquarium in the entrance. I have been to Shark Reef; this one was more impressive to me. It was very clean and lots of different kinds of fish. They were feeding the fish while we were there and the fellow was telling all about the different fish. I thought that was pretty neat. We wandered around the casino, got players cards, and fed a few quarter machines. We were not very impressed and would not go back unless they made us a good deal. Went to valet to get our car. We were there such a short time that they had not parked it yet.
From here, we went to Harrahs and parked then skipped off down the strip to the Venetian. I had been there once before; hubby, never. Got players cards and looked around. It is really pretty inside. I like it and would love to stay there sometime. He found a 2 coin $.50 triple diamond machine which is his favorite. (Not many $.50 machines in Vegas. You have to play those multidenominationals.) I found a 3 coin quarter triple-double machine which is my very favorite. I play these at the riverboats all the time, but haven't found many in Vegas. We messed around for a while, winning a little, losing it. (I really like the Venetian and will go back there often since its a short walk from Harrahs where we usually stay.)Then headed back to Harrahs. Took a detour thru Casino Royale and he put a few dollars in a 5x dollar machine on my players card. Earned me 18 cents. Whoop-de-doo.
By now, it's about time for our meal at the Range. Had reservations for 6:00 but they let us in 20 minutes early. Had a great table with a good view of the strip at sundown. Dinner was good. Service, excellent. (Reported on it on a restaurant thread.)
He played a little at Harrah's. I didn't. Headed back to the Rio. Had tickets to Penn and Teller. Penn talked a lot and Teller grinned. How did Teller get into that box? They explained some of their illusions, but not that one. Teller did a neat thing with a flower and shadow. Apparently, Teller is the real magician and Penn talks. Good show, but we will probably not go back for a long while. I do have to say this, Penn is a very good bass player.
Now on to the real entertainment. The slots. Hubby found some 98% $1 slots over by the registration that he sat and played for while. I went over to the $1 slots by the buffet, which are locals favorites, and actually won a few hundred. Went back later and gave it back, though. (Shame on me.) Went back over to the Masquerade side and played my old stand-by Triple Diamond again. Still cold. By this time, my day's wad was low, so opted for a good book back at the ranch. Cookies were waiting again. Ate one then read myself to sleep and didn't hear hubby when he came in at 2:30 am.
Saturday morning, rise and shine again. This morning we opted for breakfast at the Sao Paulo. I must say I was surprised and impressed. The best breakast I have ever had anywhere (reported in the restaurant threads), except for maybe the buffet at the Range which Harrahs puts on for the slot tournament players. We ate a lot again since we would not eat again until 6:00 at the slot tournament banquet. We sat around the Sao Paulo and drank coffee, read the paper, worked the crossword, (and tipped our waitress bigtime) until time for my turn in the slot tournament. Got there in time to see the gent playing my machine rack up over 17,000 points. Hey, I say. Maybe it's still hot. NOT I got only a few over 6,000. My score for both sessions was a little over 12,000. Ended up in place 341. The absolute worst I have ever done in a slot tournament.
There was a football game on TV by now, so you know where HE was. I wandered the casino, winning a little, losing more.
6:00 rolls around and we trek over to the Tournament Banquet. Since, I knew I didn't win anything, I wasn't too excited about going, but we went anyway. The deco was neat. All Halloweeny. We got seated and they brought our salad. BAD. I call them weed salads. The only thing I recognized was the baby spinach, but the salad dressing was good. The main course was roasted chicken breast w/mixed baby veggies and mashed potatoes. The potatoes were very good, but the rest was mediocre. Then dessert. Chocolate mousse with chocolate sticks sticking out of it depicting a spider. Was okay. We ate because we were hungy, not because it was good. It was typical convention fare. As soon as we finished the meal, we vamoosed and returned to the slots for a while then got packed to leave on our 10:50 flight.
Got a couple gallons of gas (40 cents more a gallon than we are paying in Texas), then on to check in the car and get to McCarran. Everything went smoothly, except we got separated in the airport. Thank goodness for cell phones. He was hungry so he stopped by the Taco bell. Boy, was that good tasting after that banquet fare.
Flight was uneventful. Got my full can of Pepsi again, drank it and then went to sleep. Pilot lofted it way up there and we got into DFW 20 minutes early. Got off the plane quick, and walked the few feet to our car, paid $48 for airport parking, and took off home on a deserted freeway. It was 2:30 am. We love AWA. It's easy to get to their gates at DFW and they are always on time. Easy to get out of McCarran, too.
We have decided no more Slot Tournaments at the Rio. We'll stick to the ones at Harrahs. They treat you with better food and they are better organized.
Good to be home and planning our December trip. Already planning where we are going to eat and all that jazz. Going to see Jubilee next time on some free tickets from Paris.
Bye for now, talk with you around the theads.:D
Well, here goes again.
Thursday afternoon, 2:15 Dallas time, we take off for DFW airport. 40 minute drive for us. Parked right by our gate, got thru security w/no problems with our carry on luggage (we've learned what not to pack), and waited for boarding on America West. Boarded about 4:20, flight took off at 4:45, got a whole can of Pepsi, arrived at McCarran at 5:30 L/V time (smooth flight), streaked to the Thrifty car-rental stand (we're blue chip members, so no check-in), picked up our mid-size Chrysler Sebring w/no hassle, then sped to the Rio valet. Checked in and went to check out our newly renovated 600 sq.ft smoking room on the 4th floor of the Ipanema Tower. View was bad; air-conditioners and the Gold Coast and Palms. Oh, well.
It was evident that the room had been newly redone. It smelled of new carpet and the bedspreads and drapes looked new. The love seat looked as though it had never been sat on. 32" TV with a lot of cable channels. Fridge, but no coffee pot.The bathroom was teeny. There was a make-up vanity just outside the bath which I commandeered and relegated hubby's stuff to the very narrow shelf in the bath. He was a little pissed about that. (There's that word again. You gonna edit me, Steve?) The closet was larger than most, but not enough hangers for the many unneeded clothes we brought. We got all unpacked and took off to register in the slot tournament. Couldn't because they stopped registering at 6:00, so had to go for late reg the next morning at 10:00. More about that later.
We were starved because by this time, it was 7:00 L/V time and 9:00 Dallas time. Hubby was craving the Seafood Buffet. I wasn't too thrilled about it. It was his second time to eat at the buffet and my third. Streamed right by the line as we are Diamond members (hee, hee). He stuffed himself on all kinds of fish; I ate my usual, salad and salmon. One thing about this buffet though, it does have great desserts. Since I eat little of the standard fare, I sample several. The sugar-free lemon meringue pie is fabulous. The only lemon pie I like better is the one I make myself.
After this scrumptious meal:( (now he's bored with it, too, goody, goody) we headed out to feed the slots. I stopped at my favorite 3 coin quarter Triple Diamond while he looked for a 2 coin $1 machine. My old stand-by was cold tonight, so I go to another Triple Diamond-cold.. Tried a few other machines, but not much luck. So now I take off to look around and watch a few tables. Lowest minimums were $10. Found hubby, who was very glum. (Guess why) So maybe tomorrow.....
Got back to the room - had cookies waiting. Nice midnight snack.
Friday morning, 7:00. Rise and shine time. Got dressed and sped over to the the worldly World buffet for breakfast. Same old stuff. Pancakes were tough and luke-warm. Syrup was hot though. Everything was the usual old tried and true breakast buffet. The service is good though. We stuffed ourselves as we would not be eating again until our 6:00 reservation at the Range. By this time, it was about 9:30 and I headed over to stand in line for the slot tournament registration. The line was already long. Bless their hearts, they started letting us in at 9:45. Got checked in, got a free gift, Lenox candy dish with some chocolates to go in it, was assigned machines in the 2nd session, 11:30, hurray, the one I wanted. Waited around until my session began, watched the machine I was assigned. It did bad for her. Did me wrong, too. Score was pitiful. Maybe better tomorrow.
We decided to investigate the Silverton. Heard a lot about it, but never been there. Took a wrong turn and ended up on Dean Martin something or other which I think is really Industrial going south. Figured it would get us there, so just stayed on it. And there it was. The Silverton in all its glory. Hubby got confused at the light and turned left (bad decision). Ended up on I-15 going south and travelled half way to Jean before we could find an overpass to turn around and go back north. Believe me, it's not a very scenic drive. Did see where they are building the new South Coast. Looks like it will be really big. Have to try it when it gets built, now that we know how to get there.
Well, good ole hubby got it right this time and we motored right up to the Silverton valet. We didn't go in the Bass Pro Shop but it looked huge. We're not sportsman so there was not much interesting to us in Bass Pro. Besides, hubby deals in 4-wheelers and the Bass Pros are always around at shows and stuff where he goes, so it is all old stuff to him anyway. One thing, I liked was the big aquarium in the entrance. I have been to Shark Reef; this one was more impressive to me. It was very clean and lots of different kinds of fish. They were feeding the fish while we were there and the fellow was telling all about the different fish. I thought that was pretty neat. We wandered around the casino, got players cards, and fed a few quarter machines. We were not very impressed and would not go back unless they made us a good deal. Went to valet to get our car. We were there such a short time that they had not parked it yet.
From here, we went to Harrahs and parked then skipped off down the strip to the Venetian. I had been there once before; hubby, never. Got players cards and looked around. It is really pretty inside. I like it and would love to stay there sometime. He found a 2 coin $.50 triple diamond machine which is his favorite. (Not many $.50 machines in Vegas. You have to play those multidenominationals.) I found a 3 coin quarter triple-double machine which is my very favorite. I play these at the riverboats all the time, but haven't found many in Vegas. We messed around for a while, winning a little, losing it. (I really like the Venetian and will go back there often since its a short walk from Harrahs where we usually stay.)Then headed back to Harrahs. Took a detour thru Casino Royale and he put a few dollars in a 5x dollar machine on my players card. Earned me 18 cents. Whoop-de-doo.
By now, it's about time for our meal at the Range. Had reservations for 6:00 but they let us in 20 minutes early. Had a great table with a good view of the strip at sundown. Dinner was good. Service, excellent. (Reported on it on a restaurant thread.)
He played a little at Harrah's. I didn't. Headed back to the Rio. Had tickets to Penn and Teller. Penn talked a lot and Teller grinned. How did Teller get into that box? They explained some of their illusions, but not that one. Teller did a neat thing with a flower and shadow. Apparently, Teller is the real magician and Penn talks. Good show, but we will probably not go back for a long while. I do have to say this, Penn is a very good bass player.
Now on to the real entertainment. The slots. Hubby found some 98% $1 slots over by the registration that he sat and played for while. I went over to the $1 slots by the buffet, which are locals favorites, and actually won a few hundred. Went back later and gave it back, though. (Shame on me.) Went back over to the Masquerade side and played my old stand-by Triple Diamond again. Still cold. By this time, my day's wad was low, so opted for a good book back at the ranch. Cookies were waiting again. Ate one then read myself to sleep and didn't hear hubby when he came in at 2:30 am.
Saturday morning, rise and shine again. This morning we opted for breakfast at the Sao Paulo. I must say I was surprised and impressed. The best breakast I have ever had anywhere (reported in the restaurant threads), except for maybe the buffet at the Range which Harrahs puts on for the slot tournament players. We ate a lot again since we would not eat again until 6:00 at the slot tournament banquet. We sat around the Sao Paulo and drank coffee, read the paper, worked the crossword, (and tipped our waitress bigtime) until time for my turn in the slot tournament. Got there in time to see the gent playing my machine rack up over 17,000 points. Hey, I say. Maybe it's still hot. NOT I got only a few over 6,000. My score for both sessions was a little over 12,000. Ended up in place 341. The absolute worst I have ever done in a slot tournament.
There was a football game on TV by now, so you know where HE was. I wandered the casino, winning a little, losing more.
6:00 rolls around and we trek over to the Tournament Banquet. Since, I knew I didn't win anything, I wasn't too excited about going, but we went anyway. The deco was neat. All Halloweeny. We got seated and they brought our salad. BAD. I call them weed salads. The only thing I recognized was the baby spinach, but the salad dressing was good. The main course was roasted chicken breast w/mixed baby veggies and mashed potatoes. The potatoes were very good, but the rest was mediocre. Then dessert. Chocolate mousse with chocolate sticks sticking out of it depicting a spider. Was okay. We ate because we were hungy, not because it was good. It was typical convention fare. As soon as we finished the meal, we vamoosed and returned to the slots for a while then got packed to leave on our 10:50 flight.
Got a couple gallons of gas (40 cents more a gallon than we are paying in Texas), then on to check in the car and get to McCarran. Everything went smoothly, except we got separated in the airport. Thank goodness for cell phones. He was hungry so he stopped by the Taco bell. Boy, was that good tasting after that banquet fare.
Flight was uneventful. Got my full can of Pepsi again, drank it and then went to sleep. Pilot lofted it way up there and we got into DFW 20 minutes early. Got off the plane quick, and walked the few feet to our car, paid $48 for airport parking, and took off home on a deserted freeway. It was 2:30 am. We love AWA. It's easy to get to their gates at DFW and they are always on time. Easy to get out of McCarran, too.
We have decided no more Slot Tournaments at the Rio. We'll stick to the ones at Harrahs. They treat you with better food and they are better organized.
Good to be home and planning our December trip. Already planning where we are going to eat and all that jazz. Going to see Jubilee next time on some free tickets from Paris.
Bye for now, talk with you around the theads.:D