30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

On 12th November, 2005 I marked what I felt was an important milestone
in my life. It was 30 years to the date that I first arrived to the USA
for Australia. My parents decided to uproot their family and pursue
a different lifestyle from the one they had in Australia. However, all but
I returned back Down Under.

I decided to mark this occasion with a celebratory trip to Las Vegas through
Thanksgiving week.

Left Atlantic City on NJ Transit train to 30th St. Station in Philadelphia.
$7.25 one way ticket, $2 Jitney ride to the station. Train half packed.
Went past one of my old hunting grounds - Graden State Park. Grandstand now
demolished. Not far from the train track a discarded statue of 2 horses.
I'm not sure if this the one of Spend a Buck.

Packed lunch at 30th Street Station downed with a hidden Guinness - Brilliant!

Layover 30 minutes and the #1 SEPTA train @ $5.50 OW gets me in Terminal E @
Philly International Airport. Checked in one bag and squeezed through security.
Southwest departs with 15% capacity to Pittsburgh. Non eventful flight but I'm
definitely not used to stewardesses wearing khaki pants - Much prefer to see
a knee once or twice from seat eye level - But what do you expect from a cheap
flight!

45 minute layover in Pittsburgh. More passengers "deplaned" than boarded for
Vegas. 5 hour schedule flight - Steward announces no Jet Stream interference
so might get there in 4 hours. Crackers and peanuts from Southwest
supplemented with good sandwich from home. Got some snooze as leg stretched
across 3 unused seats!

Arrived Las Vegas McCarron Airport Saturday night 55 minutes earlier with
perfect landing. Thanked pilots - Whooppee!
40 minutes wait for check baggaged - Duh! Found a trolly during intermission.
Saved $3.

Followed signs to Ground Zero. This traveller is going use Public
Transportation not pricey Ground Transportation. CAT #108 bus arrives as I
get to Bus Stop. $1.25 and a rolling ride to Downtown Fremont Street.
100 yards and checkin' at Binions formerly The Horseshoe - Poker's shrine!

Up to the 15th floor - Huge bed but on the Fremont St. Side
Quick shower and down to the Sports book to see who won during the day.
College Football that is. Californians in Vegas going beserk as Fresno
State takes the lead against #1 USC. No avail. USC wins. Spread loses!

Get in the $4-8 TexASSSSSS Holdem Game. 15 minute wait. No cards to
bluff. Get AJo. Flop J-Crep-Crep. AK bets. NP bets. I raise. Bet to river
and collect. Up for an hour - Nothin' else and too tired to play
coherently. So time for beddy-bye!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

That was one of the strangest trip reports I've read.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 2
 

One of the plans of this trip was to buy a cheap bike or rent one.
However, the suggestions proposed on some lists indicated that rental for
a bike might be more than the room I was renting @ Binions.
So, some research indicated that a Flea Market could be the best place
to get a bike.

And on the next day, Sunday after a healthy breakfast @ Binions Coffee Shop
I headed on the CAT#113 to Nth Las Vegas Blvd to BroadAcres Swap Meet.
The bus packed up fairly quickly at the DTC Bus Terminal more than any other
that was standing waiting for passengers and it was quite obvious that about
90% of the CAT cliental were heading to this bazaar.

It took a couple of minutes but scene was quite obvious that I was heading
across some hidden border because 5 minutes into the ride I felt like I was
in Tiajuana and not Las Vegas. The Latinas were dressed up in high heels
with their beaus (in Cowboy boots and hats). Surely these folks didn't
get dressed for a bazaar but to some church mass. Not to be!

20 minutes into the ride the bus detoured onto Pecos and 95% of the
passengers "debussed" and headed to what looked like a massive garage sale.
Kind of reminded me of the old bazaar that use to be held close by the
Respublikanskyj Stadion (Olympic Stadium) in Kyiv in those early days of
YKPAIHIAH Independence. $1 entrance fee - And you're definitely in a different
country.

The Mexican music was blaring. A festival of some sorts to be shopping for
goods in the good ol' USA. For those interested in soccer, as I am - There
were more booths selling Cruz Azul, Tecos, Chivas and America (not Yankeeland)
shirts and souveniers than anywhere I had seen. Do you think these folks
will be cheering for the Red-White-n-Blue come next June when the World Cup
roles around in full force???

Anyway, after a fairly long walk around I found the area where most of
sellers were flogging the used wares and I spotted a Beachcruiser no
different to the one I had recently had stolen on The Broadwalk. $30 and a
deal was made. The market was worth the visit and the buying experience.
Good prices and plenty of cultural alignment.

The CAT buses in LV are excellent in that they have bike racks up front.
Something NJ Transit should have on ALL their buses. The Atlantic City
area does support bike racks because of the touristy locale but other
areas are not so bike friendly. I wonder if $5/gallon gas will force
some city planners to think about this.

Back to Binions for a bit of a rest and then into a session of $2-4 TH
and then a move up into $4-8 which quickly turned into a route when I
got pocket 5s - Flop came 2-3-5 rainbow. I was ready to call "Presto"
but the turn came anudder 5 - So I had to play as if I had nuthin'.
Nice collection - after 3 more hands and I left with a smile went to
the Sportsbook which was packed with every mug shouting at the NFL games.
I don't know about the Raider fans but they know how to cause a
riot in a casino. A couple of old guys had their eyes on the feature @
Hollywood Park. - Why bother????

Went to the bike, which had its own park spot in the Binion garage with
security observations. Took it for a cruise. Got to the supermarket known
as Albertsons. Don't look for it in the downtown area coz it ain't there!
Supplemented my hotel room with plenty of goodies and went out onto
Fremont Street to feel "The experience".

Enough with that and more later!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

[ QUOTE ]
That was one of the strangest trip reports I've read.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I thought until I read his second one.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That was one of the strangest trip reports I've read.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I thought until I read his second one.

[/ QUOTE ]

The way this is going, I expect to learn what Thanksgiving dinner is like at a LV soup kitchen.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That was one of the strangest trip reports I've read.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I thought until I read his second one.

[/ QUOTE ]

The way this is going, I expect to learn what Thanksgiving dinner is like at a LV soup kitchen.

[/ QUOTE ]

You have to admit, though, it is different!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

Next time you go to Vegas let me know, I want to hang out with you!
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 2
 

Something tells me a trip to the Western Hotel and Casino is coming up quickly!
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

These are tremendous reads. If this is actually all true it suddenly becomes a hundred times better.

Swede

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

[ QUOTE ]
These are tremendous reads. If this is actually all true it suddenly becomes a hundred times better.

Swede

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure it is. Wow this is like 1000 times different from how I do Vegas. Kind of freaky.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 2
 

When you were a kid, did you used to make meat helmets in the spring?

Great trip report.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 2
 

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, after a fairly long walk around I found the area where most of sellers were flogging the used wares and I spotted a Beachcruiser no different to the one I had recently had stolen on The Broadwalk.

[/ QUOTE ]
You are aware that it probably IS the one you had stolen...?

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 2
 

This trip report rules. I love how on his first day in Vegas he takes a bus to a Mexican swap meet to purchase a bicycle.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

Thanks to you guys here @ 2+2 who are enjoying my version of Vega$!


The next morning I was up early for a ride around the vicinity
Main/Fremont Street area with a good exercise. There is not much
traffic to interfere with the workout. Even the vagrants and
transients who prefer to sleep on the steets were not that
visible at this hour. Or maybe its because its starting to
get cold at this day of the year in the morning and they do have
find some covered shelter.

The ride included an Area which I called Law Office Alley - around
the famous Foley US Federal Courthouse. You wouldn't of thought
that the area was lawyer infested because the office are all
coverted residential houses, with manicured lawns or desert fauna.

After some breakfast and a quick check up of the Binions
Sportsbook where only a couple of folks were getting ready for
the Calder and Philly cards. Amazing that this sportsbook continues
to have its "scoreboard" manually updated in ink while the new
casinos of the Bellagio, Wynn, Caesars and Bally's are like sitting
in front of an electronic scoreboard.

I took a ride to the place where I can desiminate this information -
The Las Vegas Public Library. Although I could not use their
computers since Nevada resident library cards were requested
they do have a WIFI connection - Fantastically convenient!

Here, I had my first what I believe, YKPAIHIAH or maybe Slavic sighting.
Not far from the computers was a room where a class of "English
as a Second Language", 1 strikingly blonde, attractive woman was
sitting in the front row of the class which house anudder 30
Hispanics. After the class broke up this woman was closer identified
by the English accent which she had and no doubtedly I would have
picked YKPAIHA, Russia or somewhere in between as her place of
origin. If I were to place a future bet, I'd also say she was a Mail
Order Bride who had a pretty good position in the ol' country.

Back to the gambling! Which is what every *dumb* tourist should be
doing in Los' Wages! For today (Monday) I wanted to experience the
class poker experience of Bellagio. Definitely a much different
kind of player than the one who is sitting a Binions.
Had to wait for the game to start in the Racebook and was tempted
to play the Cal shipper @ Turf Paradise, Arizona. To dark to read
the Daily Racing Form which was left by some loser. Pass.

Into the $4-8 game I go and no sooner that being I get A2o as BB
I get A on the flop and the get runner-runner A-A and burn
some high classed lady from LA with Quad Aces. The playing gets
better as it is obvious that the table is full of rookies who
want to burn their money and have a good time. Well up in 2 hours
I leave for my well earned cultural tour of the Art Gallery which
had Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet and a couple of other tongue-twisters.
Then downstairs back to the Strip for the sightseeing tour and to
see the Fountains dance in front of the Bellagio to the tune of
Viva Las Vega$.

The corner of The Strip and Flamingo has got to be the most
photographed area of Vegas. With Paris casino and an Eiffel Tower
duplicate, Bellagio with fountains, Caesars Palace and Roman
antiquity and Bally's this place is inundated with traffic and
tourists.

The trip back on the Double Decker CAT#302 which are specially
priced @ $2 a ride back to downtown was infiltrated by a
confirmed YKPAIHIAH (Ukrainian) sitting. I was speaking with my
friend on the bus and while we were exitting and elderly couple
walking behind us said that's YKPAIHIAH they're speaking.
I guess its a rarity so I confirmed that we were. And the folks
confirmed that they were 4th generation YKPAIHIAHs from the fine
province of Manitoba and that could understand the language of
their forefathers but didn't speak it. What they did say was that
they were lucky to be in Vega$ because they left Winnipeg with
2 feet of snow! And now you can understand why the City of Las Vegas
has grown so large!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

This is seriously great stuff. Hope you are having as much fun on this trip as it sounds like.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

To you guys who think that I will end up in soup kitchens - Well sitting here at Las Vegas Library amongst a group of gentlemen who have been outsourced in life - I'm not in that category.

However, life can take many twists and turns just as what happens at a poker table. I had my lows back in OZ and life with a demanding ex-wife. Now I have 4 properties around the world and I will spend my money how I want.

Enjoy your Turkey Days - Lads!

For I am having a great time and doing what I want!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

This thread owns. I will not ruin it further by writing anymore.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

[ QUOTE ]
Now I have 4 properties around the world and I will spend my money how I want.

[/ QUOTE ]

The surprises continue.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

FWIW, the way I interpreted the soup kitchen comment was not that you would go there out of necessity, but that you might visit there to experience yet another slice of Vegas life not normally seen in standard tourist visits.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

i found this trip report much more entertaining than most - i know what donks look and act like but i had no idea vegas had a bazaar

i did laugh at the soup kitchen line though

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 2
 

Brudder, this is the best trip report ever... and I've been lurking for a LONG time...

Glad you're having fun!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

[ QUOTE ]
I leave for my well earned cultural tour of the Art Gallery which
had Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet and a couple of other tongue-twisters.


[/ QUOTE ]

Nice hand, sir.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 2
 

[ QUOTE ]
Brudder, this is the best trip report ever... and I've been lurking for a LONG time...

Glad you're having fun!

[/ QUOTE ]
B.A.
Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 84
Loc: Atlantic City & East Brunswick...

You think YOU'VE been lurking for a long time!

Also: Los Vegas has a Library? This report is Solid 24k Gold.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

I hope you get to sing from those boats at the Venetian! Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

awesome trip report - keep it up!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

pardon my ignorance but whats YKPAIHIAH ?

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$
 

[ QUOTE ]
pardon my ignorance but whats YKPAIHIAH ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Y=U
P=R
H=N

YKPAIHIAH = Ukrainian

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 3
 

How did I miss this gem of a thread?

I've been to Vegas a million times, and I haven't done any of this stuff. You, sir, know how to get around.

More stories please.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 4-6
 

After the morning exercise on the bike, breakfast and the regular
quick visit to the LV Library, the plan was made to travel to the
furthest outpost west to see what kind of building explosion
Las Vegas was really experiencing.

The CAT#206 takes the route directly west and you will find how
the desert has been turned into miles and miles of stripmalls
and condominiums mostly gated for security. Traffic also in this
area has compounded.

After lunch the trip back to the strip was directed to the
approximate location of the Fashion Show Mall and the new casino
complex built by Steve Wynn. After a bit of sightseeing walkaround
of this new billion dollar complex and a look at the hoarded
Ferarris it was time to sit for a TH $4-8 session.
The wait was slightly longer than at the Bellagio the
previous day. The room was moderately packed. After a 10 minute
wait I got in and was initiated into the most aggressive game
thus far on the LV circuit thus far. A mixture of tourists with
local Asians who I feared were partners. The elderly tourists in
the game were the ones suffering and were the ones who eventually
went broke. I held my own in a 2 hour period with a $20+ profit
after my 78s improved from two pair to a boat on the river which
nailed the Asian who had a flush - Tuff !

The drive back to downtown was less subdued. Dinner was the Hot
Stew at the Binions snack bar which is highly recommended.

On Wednesday, the bike didn't make it through the day. When I
came to the bike rack I noticed that it had a flat front tire.
Oh- The shame. A three-cornered-jack had pierced the rubber.
With no tools it was unfortunate that I had to abandon this
valuable source of transportation.

So instead of a ride to the LV Library I had to settle for
a brisk walk. I returned for lunch and then a quick session
(1 hr) at Binions, which was full of locals who were waiting
for 2pm Tournament. A really tough game. Got a AKo and
flopped a AKx and managed to hold onto win a pot that was enough
to put me into the black. And with that I left for the
2:00pm Poker session that is regular held by the Las Vegans
at the Coffee Shop.

A good 3hrs session of discussion on varied topics including
Legality of Internet Poker, Taxes and the Professional Gambler,
and How to Play Several Hands which was brough up by a player
who experienced them. Excellent and informative. I must
commend Linda Johnson and those who working diligently to
avert the forces of the Kyle Bill.

After the session I took a brisk walk to Las Vegas Municiple
Swimming Pool (This pool is heated while the pool on the
27th floor of Binions was not) - Which is close by. For $2
I had a refreshing swim. 2 lanes were open for the casual
swimmer.

Returned back to Binions and had a quick bite to eat at the
Snack Bar. I found that the food there was fairly good quality
and reasonably priced. Then anudder round of $4-8 HE. Here
I finally hit a table of superlative players who were priming
before the 8:00pm tournament. Binions has 4 tournaments every
day including one at the wee hour of 2:00am just in case you
can't sleep at night. The 8:00pm one is the most lucrative
and I found myself down for the first time on the trip.
Nonetheless, I did manage to fight myself back with some
nicely suited connectors and a A6s which also hit as a
nut flush. So sometimes its not what you win but what you
can save. And I was pleased to leave the table only down
$20 on the session and up $1 for the day. Hence, on this
occasion I'll take that as a big victory!

With that, since my budget on this trip diminished only by 10%
and that Thanksgiving Day was upon me I decided to splurge a
bit and rent a car.

I tried to make arrangements at Fitzgeralds (a casino on
Fremont St that had Enterprise Car Rentals) but they were booked
out and closed on Thanksgiving. However, the Concierge was
kind enough to contact the next door neighbour, which happened
to be The Four Queens and there, Budget Rental Car was only to
welcome to have my business. At a going rate for a Compact Car,
I added minimal insurance they duly upgraded the car to the
latest Chevrolet Malibu. Believe me you better have some
sort of insurance in this city because I saw 4 accidents
including some ethnic turn incorrectly into a One Way street
and nail a new MAX bus - Two Airs bag inflated a broken
windshield and an upset female bus driver. So for a package of
about $79 I had Turkey Day planned on the scenic route of
Red Rock Canyon in the western area of Las Vegas.

On a crystal clear cloudless day this area was profoundly
exhilerating to see. A great place for biking, both motorized
and not. Had my Turkey sandwich overlooking Red Rock. Joined
by some motercyclists. Gave them so good quality chocalate -
Ah - The comradary of the ride! Continued on to Bonnie
Springs and a look at past life in the neck of the woods -
No thanks! Back to Red Rock and went into the area managed
by the US Land Management and National Park Service. Bonus -
Government workers took the day off and left tourist in for
free! 13 mile cruise around some unique desert country.
Didn't try any mountain climbing coz I didn't want to be
a statistic.

Out of the National Park and back to the encroaching
urban sprawl. Took the ring road towards the south end of the
Strip. Not much traffic on Turkey Day - Lucky, coz enough
construction going on to make driving a nightmare around here.

Out to the Vegas Outlet Mall for some last minute shopping or
early Xmas bargains.

Last check of the casinos. Mandalay Bay come on down! Enter the
casino from the self park a headless statue of no other than
Vladimir Illich to greet me. Bad sign! Wont play poker with
such a sight! Go into the Sportsbook. Broncos down to the 6yd
line against the 'Boys in OT. Huge eruption in the gallery!

Onto the Luxor for some pyramid action. Poker room too small
to try anything tonight. So we'll try Excaliber! No HE $4-8
game. So back to the car and one great cruise down the Strip
in a maze of traffic and neon lights going nowhere fast!

*FANTASTIQUE*!

A Thanksgiving to remember!

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 4-6
 

[ QUOTE ]
*FANTASTIQUE*!

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 4-6
 

You, sir, are a man who knows how to enjoy life.

nh

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 4-6
 

Awesome trip report!

Thank you Brudder, for taking the time to post it.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Return Trip and Grade Report
 

The last day in Vega$ was over in a flash. The plane was departing
McCarron @ 7:10am. The rent a car became my transport to the airport.
Had to get up at 4:45am and in reality it wasn't a problem because
I never recovered from the 3 hour time difference to the East Coast.
Had to top up the car with gas and get something to eat for the
flight back home.

Returned the car to Budget located on Paradise and the Shuttle was
there waiting to take me to the terminal. Friday on the Thanksgiving
Day weekend especially at this time of the day was quiet.
Nonetheless, McCarron has got to be close to the busiest airports
in the world and the phenomenal growth in the area plus tourists
wanting to burn their greenbacks has made it a model of efficiency.

Plane departed on time with about 15% occupancy. No problems
coming into Pittsburgh for a 40 minute layover and then onto
Philly. The same crew did the whole flight and in fact were
returning to Pittsburgh where they would stay over.

Got into Philadelphia as the sun was setting. Baggage return was
quick. Now for the return train ride through 30th Street station
and NJ Transit to Atlantic City. Return tickets already purchased.

At home 8:00pm and enough time for a sauna and a jacuzzi and
ofcourse a Brandy and Coke!

Here is my final report card:

Las Vegas as a place to visit: A {No doubt about it!}
Las Vegas as a Poker destination: A {Great choice and so many
options}
Las Vegas as a future place of residence: B {Really it has a lot to
offer in climate, location, economy. I find it far more promising than
Florida or the Gulf Coast - New Orleans or Mississippi especially
after the Hurricanes of late. The problem is so much growth that
traffic and smog may overbear the delicate environment}

Binions as a place to stay: C- {I think I made a poor choice here
even though I want something reasonably priced and close to poker
availability - The room was adequate but the noise factor from
the refrigeration and Fremont St. put a damper on my sleeping
ability. Of course I didn't come to LV to sleep but a good
peaceful sleep is not available at the hotel}
Binions as a place for poker: B+ {Plenty of tournaments and $4-8 HE
going on most of the time}
Binions as a place to eat: B {Coffee shop wasn't bad and I was
please with the snack bar}

Public Transportation in Las Vegas: B- {Apart from the Strip the
other buses especially those that don't travel downtown could be
less frequent than expected. On the outer perimeters of the city
expect delays. A good plus for the CAT system is that they do
go to McCarron for a cheap $1.25 which is much better than
Philly or JFK}

Public Amenities in Las Vegas: A {Excellent library with WIFI
connectivity and an accessible municipal swimming pool}

Bike riding in Las Vegas: B {Too bad my bike got a flat tire.
CAT has bike racks - big plus. Excellent places like Red Rock
to ride - Just be careful of the cars and traffic}

I hope you enjoyed my expose and thoughts of the trip that I
had.

Re: 30 Years in USA - Trip to Las Vega$ - Day 4-6
 

[ QUOTE ]
A mixture of tourists with
local Asians who I feared were partners.

[/ QUOTE ]

did anyone else read this and think he meant a partnership between local asians and tourists?

thanks for the trip report!