After the deluge we awoke the next morning and set out to forage for some breakfast. The 4000 retail establishments inside the Circus Circus complex includes an amusement park, numerous casinos (the main one has live circus acts performing overhead), shops, restaurants, attractions but no Starbucks.
We settle on a bagel shop. In the middle of spreading my cream cheese, all the lights momentarily go out in the whole hotel. A generator kicks right in so there is no interruption in any of the activity. We head back to our room to prepare for the day. What we don’t realize is that the generator is intent on keeping the money making activities going but it does sacrifice some of the other amenities like illumination in your room, or running hot water or elevator service. After having to traipse to the main elevators (not the ones conveniently located by my room) we stumble upon a housekeeper who informs us that yesterday’s storms have impacted the Nevada power company & some of the casinos (on the shit hole side of town) have lost service. AWESOME!
Back to the room for cold showers and Don’s cursing while nicking his head from shaving in the dark. Today is our last hurrah as we have an 11:00 p.m. flight out of Vegas. We had opted for the latest checkout offered: 6:00 p.m. so we would still have another day in Vegas. My sister, Dawn, and her husband, Darren are world travellers and told us we must have a meal at Mon Ami Gabi. (when the Petronella’s say I must do something, I do it) So, I call and make a 3:30 p.m. reservation. This gives us time to try and make a stop at the World Famous Silver & Gold Pawn Shop. There is no filming going on today so we figure we may be able to actually get inside the place.
The line still wraps around the corner but it is moving pretty quickly as most folks just want to get a look. We get inside and are browsing all the stuff you have actually seen on the TV show. I decide I must make a purchase (or 2, Ok, three). While I am paying Don’s phone rings and he steps outside to take the call. (Don’s cellphone has been ringing constantly during this whole trip. I have threatened to throw it into Zion Canyon, bury it in Monument Valley & throw it off the south rim of the Grand Canyon. He has taken to hiding it in his inside jacket pocket because he has been around me long enough to know I don’t make idle threats)
When I come out of the shop I discover he is on the phone with my airline. It seems our flight is overbooked and they would like us to take a later flight in exchange for $150 in travel vouchers. I tell Don that I can go to the airport and volunteer and get $200 in vouchers so I will accept $200 each in vouchers and upgraded seating for my flights tonight. The airline agrees & we are now leaving Las Vegas at 11:30 p.m. instead of 11:00 p.m. Since I made about $200 in charitable donations at the casinos, I consider us winners.
We leave the Pawn Shop and decide to pick up our casino hopping that was interrupted from the night before and eventually we wind up at the Paris casino to dine at Mon Ami Gabi.
As per my sister’s instructions, we requested terrace seating and have an amazingly gorgeous view of the Bellagio’s Fountain Shows while we eat. Mon Ami Gabi bills itself as a French Steak House. Mr. Russo enjoyed a steak and I had some fish. The Petronella’s did not steer us wrong. The food was delicious.
(French Onion Soup & Heirloom Tomato Salad)
By the time we finished a leisurely lunch it was Friday rush hour on The Strip. We were gridlocked heading back to grab our belongings & meet our 6:00 p.m. checkout time. I called the hotel and explained our situation & they graciously gave us til 6:30 p.m. (Although I have been less than kind to Circus Circus in these entries I must say that 99% of the staff there went out of their way for us)
The good news was the power was back on so we didn’t have to finish changing and packing in the dark. The heavy Friday night traffic enabled us to get one more look at Vegas at night before we returned our car and headed off to the airport.
(Leaving Las Vegas)
Postscript: At 11:30 p.m. we left for Chicago & thoroughly enjoyed our extra leg room in our upgraded seats. We slept on the flight and landed in rainy, cold Chicago at 4:30 a.m. I enjoyed my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season in O’Hare Airport. We had a 3 hr lay over and I was able to make productive use of my airport time blogging. We finally arrived at BWI at about 11:00 a.m. & then drove home. Since my arrival, I have been busy cleaning up the mess created by 2 adult males & one 6 yr old. Don is driving Darren back to school. We need a vacation to recover from our vacation.
Check out Carmaggedon 3 – coming this Spring!
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