From "Saints" to "Sinners" - LAS VEGAS!!

From “Saints” to Sinners – we finally made it to Las Vegas!

We got a super-site at the Circus Circus KOA – which basically meant that we got a patch of grass in their huge parking lot campground. The place was filled with rental RV’s – carrying Europeans taking advantage of the strong Euro and weak dollar. We knew that we had to bring the Brits to Las Vegas—an experience not to be missed. Who needs to travel when you can drive the Strip and see a giant gold lion (MGM), an Egyptian pyramid and a sphinx (Luxor), the Statue of Liberty/Brooklyn Bridge/Ellis Island (NY/NY), the Eifel Tower, Champs de Elyse (Paris LasVegas), the Forum, the Colliseum (Caesar's Palace), St Mark's Square, the canals (The Venetian) .... Each one trying to out-do the other....with fountains at the Bellagio that do a "water ballet" every hour, a pirate battle at Treasure Island, an erupting volcano at the Mirage - and a roller coaster flying through the lobby at NY/NY. The gaming rooms are beyond belief--they stretch for what seems like miles-with the sound and flashing lights of the slot machines going 24 hours a day. It's a shrine to greed and extravagance and the best people watching you'll ever find! I heard it called one of the "Seven Wonders of the Artificial World". And, it beats the Grand Canyon by a mile! We stopped at the Little White Chapel (where you can opt for a wedding in the chapel- or at the drive-thru window. They've married Michael Jordan, Joan Collins- and Brittany Spears (her first, but abbreviated marriage). You can even renew your vows... Jean managed to get a photo with “Elvis” before his next wedding ceremony.
We tried the slots – and Jean had the golden touch! While my “Super Jack-pot Party” wasn’t paying off as well for me (although, I did manage to win a bit), everything Jean touched turned into “JACKPOT”. We took in the “Fremont Street Experience” and when the show started, she was still collecting her winnings—a cup overflowing with nickels. Even a stop to play her last quarter as we walked to the parking lot ended with more winnings.

We couldn’t do Vegas without embracing the “tackiness” – so we did manage to down a few deep fried Twinkies and Oreos at The Mermaid casino and make our own DVD – our four heads atop dancing cartoon bodies singing “R–E-S-P-E-C-T”. And, of course, we had to find at least one classic dive bar…..The Double Down Saloon – “The Happiest Place on Earth”!

Famous for their signature drink – “Ass juice” (Outta our ass, into your glass”) and Schlitz beer.







A marvelous dive in the midst of gay LV, we walked into a dark, smoky bar and met “Boozy”, the bartender.

The guys had an Ass Juice (Boozy told us the recipe just had to be “strong, taste good, and look like shit”. The rumor is that it’s made by wringing out the bar rags. Didn’t try the Bacon Martini….










We also took a side trip to the “Gun Store” – where you could buy just about any gun imaginable (if you were a Nevada resident) and you could shoot any of them in their shooting gallery. Just pick your target—hooded black guy, Osama bin Laden… Jean was appalled.

While Jean took advantage of the sunshine and got a few rays outside, John and Gordon headed down to the Hoover Dam for the tour. On a visit to the “Biggest Gift Store in the World”, we secretly bought a remote controlled “Fart Machine”. For days we tormented Jean and Gordon with random farts during the night. They kept telling us that our A/C was acting up…..we finally let them in on the joke and they bought their own Fart Machine to take home and ‘impress’ their friends. On our last day, we went to the top of the Stratosphere and had lunch (well almost had lunch) at the revolving restaurant, the Top of the World. It was a great view of Las Vegas- but our meal took over an hour and a half to arrive and our $20 Kobe beef burgers were cold! Needless to say, we didn’t stay, but did take in the rides at the top of the Tower. At the 109th floor, you can take a plunge over the side of the building or spin over the edge on the “Insanity” and the “X-Scream”…or go to the 112th floor and take the “Big Shot Thrill Ride”.

Before we knew it, the Brits were gone and it was all quiet in the motorhome again. Chloe especially missed her morning buddies – she loved to pounce on them in the morning.