In the evening I joined Keith and Victoria for dinner at Shibuya, a Japanese restaurant in the MGM Grand. The restaurant had bamboo-like poles from floor to ceiling affording each table an element of privacy and a cocooned sense of cosiness. Relishing in drinks delivered to the table rather than having to fetch a can from the net under the boat, we traded stories and chatted over sushi and sashimi (my favourite!). The whole evening was so joyful, and all too soon it was over, and the sadness of farewells loomed.
That night I had no stars to fall asleep under but I did have a fully working bathroom yards from the bed!
The following morning, used to getting up at 5am, I struggled to sleep in and eventually headed back to the MGM Grand and Starbucks. I sat with my coffee and pastry surrounded by flashing lights, whirring and pinging noises, scantily clad women chatting on mobile phones, glitz and glamour, and couldn't believe how different it had all been 24 hours earlier. No cowboy coffee and the call of the conch shell today.
About to checkout of the Desert Rose Resort and head to the Monte Carlo, and I bumped into Keith who had decided to stay an extra day. So he hopped in the taxi with me, we left my case with the bellboy and we decided to hang out. I am not entirely sure who suggested it first, it am blaming Keith!!, but before I knew it we were hot footing it to the New York New York hotel and queuing for the roller coaster ride that loops and soars around the outside of the building! We figured that if we can survive grade 10 rapids then flying through the air at speed and looping the loop must be a piece of cake. I screamed and laughed, sometimes attempting both at the same time, pretty much from beginning to end. Afterwards it took me a while to stop my legs from trembling!
All too soon it was time for the last goodbye, and emotional outburst number 83! What have I become?! How is it that I can miss people so much that I had not even met 10 days earlier? I feel like there is a part of me missing.
Luckily a couple of hours later I had the distraction of Nick, who had flown in from Sacramento to meet me for two days. Within 5 minutes of arriving at the hotel he had already won $500, so I ordered him to pay for dinner! We ended up at a restaurant he had been recommended called Aureole at the Mandalay Bay, very posh, and we celebrated with a bottle of bubbly before he tried to convince me to eschew all French wine and drink Californian! We had a go on the slots, but I quickly lost all of my money (well what I was willing to lose), and then got the hump because Nick kept winning!
The following day after the final remnants of Colorado dirt was scrubbed from my feet during a well needed pedicure we ventured out to investigate the Bellagio and Ceasar's Palace. It is amazing to see all of the high end shops, selling ridiculously expensive items, one after the other, and obviously all making money. We did happen to wander into Tiffany's and leave with a couple of their eggshell blue boxes wrapped in white ribbon. I was beyond excited and felt highly spoilt.
We did find a quiet spot in the Bellagio, away from the hum of the casino, a small bar called Sensi that was great for people watching. We managed to sip a couple of cocktails sat beside a couple who had just been married by Elvis! After a quick change back at our hotel, we found our way back to the same bar and feasted on oysters, sashimi and sushi, with the most incredible elderflower and lavender cocktails, before heading to see Rod Stewart in concert.
Now this admission, about actually paying to see Rod Stewart, has caused a rift in the family, with threats of being disowned by my brother, it's a long story, but needless to say, CJ regardless of your disapproval I keep telling you that you are legally obliged to love your sister!
The concert, his 70th at Ceasar's, was slick and he rolled out all of his favourites. No bagpipes though.....! But watching him kick footballs into the audience was hilarious. When they landed it caused some full on scrummage that any rugby team would be proud of!
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