Viva Las Vegas: Part I

Last Saturday morning I left for Las Vegas with Debbie to attend ASHP's 44th Midyear Conference. We flew on a direct flight from Providence to Las Vegas- the flight was six and a half hours! (Thank goodness we didn't have a layover.) I was really surprised that there was a direct flight out of Providence- nothing against Rhode Island, of course. (Sidenote: On my last two trips back to Indy I flew with Southwest and had great service and no issues with delays. I was using U.S. Airways prior to these trips, but I would need more than two hands to count the number of delayed flights in the past six months (and not to mention the night I spent in the Cleveland airport!).)

The flight was only half full, so we had plenty of room to spread out. I did some work work and then a logic puzzle (*love* my puzzle book... Not only are they challenging, they are (in theory) helping me prevent dementia). Not too long after I started my puzzle, I started to get sleepy and decided to take a nap. Sleeping on a plane can be tricky business... I mean, you don't want to touch the person next to you, but unless you're used to sleeping sitting up, it's difficult to fall asleep. I'm in the group that puts their head down on the tray table. I know this probably not the most sanitary option, but what else can you do? I spray it down with hand sanitizer and use a scarf so at least my fact doesn't touch it. How do you sleep on the plane? Any suggestions for future flights? (Sorry about the tangent...)

This was my first time in Las Vegas, so it was a little overwhelming when we were taking our shuttle from the airport to the hotel. There are so many things to look at and take in! The conference was at The Venetian and Sands Expo Center, and Debbie was smart enough to have us book our rooms well in advance so that we could roll out of bed and not worry about staying in another hotel. (I initially did not think this was very important but quickly learned that even though the hotels are across the street from one another, it could take you thirty minutes or more to get from your room to the conference.) The lobby of the hotel was gorgeous (it even smelled nice!)- it looked like what I think someplace in Italy would look like (I can't wait to visit someday.) I don't think my pictures capture it very well, so I've included some pictures from the hotel's website, as well as some pictures that I took.

A view of the outside (more like a complex than a hotel) (courtesy of the Venetian)

I wish the weather had been warmer.... they have gondolas you can ride that go inside and outside of the hotel (courtesy of the Venetian)

I want a fountain like this in my front yard (hey, I can dream, can't I?)

There were several other places in the hotel that had the ceiling painted to look like the sky

The corridor leading you from the lobby to the casino (another Venetian picture)... I loved all of the detailed flooring

I was shocked when I saw my "room" because it wasn't much of a room at all. Technically the name of it was a "Luxury Suite," which was the least expensive option at the hotel. I'm pretty sure that this suite was almost as big as my entire apartment. There was a sunken living room (love that!), three flat-screen t.v.'s (one was in the bathroom), a fax machine/copier/printer combination, and remote-controlled Roman shades on the windows. The bathroom was done in marble and had a vanity, double sinks, a whirlpool bathtub (I don't really like baths, so this wasn't a big deal to me), a shower big enough for a small village, and a separate water closet (this is *definitely* something I want in my house!).

A bed fit for a king (I don't remember ever sleeping on a king bed... And having slept on a twin bed until I moved to Rhode Island, I am not used to so much room!)

Want to watch the morning news while you brush your teeth? Yes, you can!

This sitting area reminds me of my Grandma and Grandpa's house in Pigeon where my Dad grew up... there is a small stool and a matching mirror that I always loved as a young girl

Another bathroom view

After dinner on Saturday night, I waited in my room until a special someone arrived! Nick came to stay for a few days in Vegas. We both knew I'd be busy doing recruiting for a pharmacist to fill my shoes next year, but how could he pass up a free room right on the strip? (He didn't.) Debbie and I interviewed several candidates on Sunday, but Nick joined us for lunch. I'm glad Debbie got to meet him. After hearing so much about him, I think she felt like she already knew him. I'm interested to hear what someone thinks after he or she meets someone they've only heard about.... your mental image of someone isn't always accurate.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw Nick's garment bag... a trash bag (He is so practical! Thanks, Mrs. K!)

On Sunday night, a company that we do business with took a small group of us out to dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris Hotel. Debbie, Amy, Ron, Minh, Papatya, and I were treated to a three-course French meal. I did try a piece of meat that someone said was similar to salami, only to find out it was some kind of raw beef. I also tried a small piece of the blue cheese souffle (eeee!), but I wasn't a fan. For dessert I ordered an apple tart complete with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce. While it might have sounded like a knockout dish, I was disappointed with the real thing.... I whispered to the people closest to me that I thought the apple pies at McDonald's were better than this!

At least it was pretty!

After dinner, the company bought us tickets to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower (unfortunately not the real one) to look out over the city. They knew that Nick was waiting for me in the casino downstairs (well, I told them), so they invited him to join us. When he met us at the restaurant, the only place to sit was at the complete opposite end of the table from where I was sitting. He was such a good sport about it, even if I did kind of throw him under the bus.

The view from the top! I am still not sure what setting to use on my camera for these pictures, but this one was decent

I saw my first show of the Bellagio water fountains (a feat of engineering, as my brother says)- isn't this perspective wonderful?

I wish I could have heard the music a little better, but you can't beat this view.

It was cold and windy being up so high, but it is never too cold for a photo op

It is one-third the size of the real Eiffel Tower (on my list of places to see before I die)

After dinner, Nick and I decided we'd try our luck in the casino. Most of the tables at the Venetian were pretty expensive, so we took the opportunity of being at another hotel to our advantage. I've one been to one casino before, which was in the summer of 2006 in Arizona during my internship. I had never played any of the live games, so Nick helped to explain a lot of the rules to me. We ended up joining a roulette table, which I really liked (I think I might have done more talking to our dealer than actual gambling).

We ended up winning $50! Go lucky number 18!

To be continued...