Welcome to Las Vegas

We returned to Las Vegas via the interstate highways without further detours. We got a taxi outside the car rental center to take us to our hotel casino, Aria.  The driver was a Californian who had been in Las Vegas for about 6 years. An artist, a veteran, and a truck driver at various phases of his life. He was actually quite friendly, extremely nice, and informative. I asked him to stop at the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign and he explained he would have to do a U-Turn to do so. I said fine. While my mother and I hurried to take pictures at the sign he actually stopped the meter from running. I didn’t expect that. He pointed out sights on the Strip and told us not to venture too far into the side streets as that is where the “colourful folks” were. Of course my mother took it to mean we were not going to be safe. Sigh.

At Aria I payed extra for a basic double Queen room as the room I got via Priceline was a basic King. I also had to pay a resort fee for complimentary free wifi (shoddy), fitness center access (good), welcome drinks (limited) amongst other “perks”.  I was unimpressed with the room actually.  It seemed small, and it was in need of a dusting. In the bathroom, there were a few strands of hair on the floor and on my bedspread a small stain. My mother, who is quick to find fault with everything, commented about the dust but didn’t have too much else to say so I raised no fuss.  What was cool though were the gadgets and automation settings that allow one to control the lights, the curtains, the TV, the thermostat from a central location.

After settling in we went for a stroll up the strip to MGM where we signed up for an MLife Players Club, tried to figure out a slot machine unsuccessfully, and watched the miserable lions in the Lion Habitat.  Then we walked across the street to New York New York where I had a 16 oz mango rum outside Coyote Ugly.  We then strolled around Excalibur before returning home to Aria and calling it a night.