So the holiday is coming to an end and shortly we will be making our way to Las Vegas airport. We have done so much (as you have possibly read) and I cant say it's been cheap. Being a good financial type person, I've actually been saving for this for 2 years, a little each month. I like the little pots that Intelligent Finance let you fill with money online.
Anyway, the experience of 17 days in the USA has been extraordinary. So I intend following up the holiday with some thoughts on this vast and surprising country. Watch this space.
A couple of closing thoughts on the holiday however:
Gambling: I have not mentioned the gambling too much, but we've done some obviously. I was tempted to enter one of the poker competitions that are everywhere, but felt that I wasnt experienced enough with the game. Most tables had a $30 buy in, but in the Wynn, the amount changed daily and were as high as $2700 (a random sum it seemed to me). The more private "high stakes" areas had limits that were not shared with us common people.
Tattoos: I did a rough tally that two-thirds of American guys under 30 in Los Angeles and Las Vegas have tattoos on show. I don't mean little ones like mine, I mean BIG impressive ones. It must be a right of passage along with losing your virginity, to get a tattoo.
Drinking: We have seen now trouble due to drinking on this holiday and that's a bit surprising in Las Vegas as you can find $1 drinks everywhere. The only drunks we have seen were British. What a surprise.
Smoking: In California, smoking is frowned upon, in Las Vegas, you can still smoke indoors which seemed strange after a few years of smoking ban at home.
World Cup: To my surprise, adverts for the World Cup are everywhere and there is plenty of opportunity in the casinos to bet on it, so I hope that the USA enjoys the event.
Food: They don't do small portions.
See you all in the UK, but to end with, a silly picture...
Love the pic. This ought to sell particularly well in Soho! Have a safe and non-boring return flight home, Stephen. Thanks for your valuable observations during your stay. (The gambling scene there looks very much like the lure of a spider's web. Once you're in you can't get out.) Looking forward greatly to your post-return reflections.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the posts Stephen. Have enjoyed reading about your holiday, and looking at the pics. San Francisco definitely looks like a place I would love to visit. Glad you had a great time, safe journey home.
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