MID-STRIP MEANDERINGS IN THE MORNING
We got a bit of use out of our second day on the Vegas Monorail pass. We will probably skip trying to use that method of conveyance when visiting again. It's not terribly convenient as it travels so far behind the properties that one cannot really access the strip easily. We walked through the LINQ to get to the boulevard. I'd consider that establishment for a future stay.
We did want to get up to this area to visit the resorts. First, we started at the Venetian. That afforded us access in the area of TI (Treasure Island). It is less important to visit the area at night now that their pirates show no longer takes place. Additionally, it was startling to see the entire area by the Mirage being demolished. So, there's no longer a volcano either. In fact, that's what's being dismantled. A sign thanked the staff for serving Las Vegas for 34 years. Next, we continued down the trip stopping at Paris. We cut though casinos such as Harrah's to stay cool. We didn't go in the Flamingo as we walked into its garden to see the actual birds yesterday. Lastly, we boarded the monorail to return to the MGM Grand. It was lunch time, so we snacked on some Chinese food nearby.
Four nights in Vegas really means only having three full days. So, if we were to visit Las Vegas downtown, it'd have to be tonight. Rather than the hassle of the monorail, or an Uber, we went to the Deuce Bus stop near the MGM Grand.
There used to be closer stop, just across from the Excalibur. However, the Tropicana is now practically an empty lot. We could see the area from our hotel room. Two remaining towers are due to be imploded in October. They are making way for a new baseball stadium that'll be home to the now Oakland A's. (Sigh, more of old, brat-pack era Vegas disappears! We once visited their nice pool area to see the free, live parrot shows.) Room prices are way up for the middle-of-the-night implosions on October 9th because people are always ready for a good spectacle in this city.
FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE, DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS
We made it downtown to Fremont Street Experience without completely freezing solid. The outdoor temperatures in Las Vegas were too hot and the public spaces much too cool. The bus was no exception. I should've bought mittens on this trip. There was heavy traffic on the Las Vegas strip on a Monday evening. It took a hour although the little trip is advertised as less.
The street with the overhead display was packed. It seemed like a rowdier crowd and I'm sure it's always a lot of fun here. The display is now high definition. We saw a little tribute to Shakira at nine on the dot. There is always something showing to keep the atmosphere lively. We ducked into one casino for tiny burgers with fries. We went into the Golden Nugget to see, well, the golden nugget. We did on one previous visit. However tonight it was simply too crowded to find it.
Tomorrow we fly back to Vancouver. But we don't have to rush for a 17:05 direct Air Canada flight.
