Las Vegas Day Six: I’m my own Cooler

Mark’s winnings thanks to 22 and lacrosse.

Thanks to my conking out pretty early the night before, this would be a take-it-easier day since energy for the final evening took priority. We were also going to have the opportunity to meet my co-worker Tony’s family and have a meal with them. After our “obligatory” trip to the Apple Store to post Day Five’s activities (and it needs some more proofreading as I’ve gone over it, how embarrasing!), we ditched the computers to the room’s safe and headed back to Rio. Somara wanted some pictures of Prince’s Club 3121 because she couldn’t take her camera earlier. Rio’s security was very agressive during the concert too, we saw some attendees get pummeled. We hoped Prince’s boutique would be open as well, no luck. The other gift shops stated that the Club 3121 was only guaranteed to be around for six months.

We didn’t get a very good look at Rio the previous night neither. My last trip only covered the Tilted Kilt (José wanted to eat there, they don’t have one in Orlando is my guess, just Hooters) and the Voodoo Lounge on the top of the main tower. With this time to kill, we had a better chance to scope out how well Rio has held up since 2003 and what I remember of it in 1997. For one of Harrah’s better resorts in Vegas, I think Rio has remained a clean, contemporary and vibrant casino. Adding Penn & Teller and Prince has helped them out greatly. Rio and Harrah’s (on the Strip) both have a Mardi Gras theme but Harrah’s feels cheap and dated. It’s mostly occupied by an older crowd that is probably thrilled over Wayne Newton’s holiday show. Rio is hipper and probably gives Palms (the most overrated casino in my opinion) a run for the money. I wasn’t having any luck contacting Tony over his cellphone (his battery died) so we killed some more time there. When I found a five-dollar craps table, I had the next hour mapped out. Sadly, the table wasn’t just cold, it was freezing. I got knocked down pretty quickly and never really recovered like the two games I had at TI. I should’ve quit sooner since I got ill in the stomach which was annoying. It’s just a game but I figured I’m just being a sore loser. I’ve spent as much money at Waterloo Records without batting an eye. The only guy doing well on the table was betting against the shooters. Probably should’ve taken his advice yet his strategy seemed like a grind. I held up my rule of one hour, cashed out but still tipped the employees. I would like to try again at Rio since they had more liberal wagers like the ones demonstrated by the instructor at the LV Hilton. The MGM casinos are stingy as another patron told me.

The gambling at Rio wasn’t a complete bust. There was a five-dollar roulette wheel for me to place Mark’s bet. He was the guy who made the Brooklyn Bridge joke and he did call me while I was posting Day Five (typos and all). After our conversation regarding the timeshare (positive), he asked if I got his e-mail to place his bet on 22, his jersey number in lacrosse. Everybody else was losing, maybe Mark would continue the trend. Nope, he was a winner. Sadly, the only one out of four, maybe five we covered. Just seems the lawyers keep getting richer. One belated discovery we made at Rio was the shuttles they have to Caesar’s Palace, the Flamingo (the place founded by Bugsy Siegel) and Paris and they’re free, a new lesson or advantage for Vegas V.

The Romans did conquer Egypt which would includethe Upper Kingdom so this guy is plausible. I think he was a US soldier due his very serious demeanor.

We wandered back from Caesar’s Palace in a rather indirect route back to our room at TI so Somara could take some better photos of Paris and other landmarks. Having steak for our last evening meal was an objective yet the prices felt rather overwhelming for one reason or another. Then I remembered José telling me about the improved buffet at Caesar’s Palace (oddly the locals don’t say CP like they do with Treasure Island’s TI). He was correct and they had decent prime rib to scratch our steak itch. I was pretty stoked over the made-to-order pasta plates and risotto along with some impressive fish. Worth the price, especially when I realized that all I had consumed since waking up was a latte. We did some wandering around CP, the Mirage and then returned to TI.

The decorations at Mirage. Insert your own AC DC-based joke here.

With it being our final evening in Las Vegas, it would include our final gambling session. I decided to challenge Somara to a Video Poker Tournament (I think I’ll rename it a duel since there’s only two of us) rematch. Same starting money, 20 bucks, first one out loses. I shifted my strategy to go with wagering the maximum amount per hand. This was definitely not a plan for the faint of heart. I had dipped to as little as five dollars remaining after 20-25 hands and blammo, the Charlie Brown Christmas Miracle arrived with a four-of-a-kind putting me in the $30+ range. I pressed my luck and finally cashed out at $40, doubling the money (a drop in the bucket after craps). I shouldn’t have egged Somara on, she wanted to beat my $40 but never got over the $37 hurdle and then lost it all. It’s not that big of a deal. I think for the next duel which will declare a winner (we’re tied at one each), we’ll set a time limit or pay out as the other winning condition to overcome her guilt. Say the first one out loses or first one to double the starting money wins.

Then came roulette. Sadly, not one victory for good ol’ 27, the Maggi number. We got 21 and 26 at $10 a crack. Even the wins at Aladdin in 2003 and 2005 aren’t serious omens I would heed. It always just feel good to come back in the green, especially if it’s a significant amount.

GAMBLING FINAL RESULTS
Somara: -$23.71
Steve: -$149