Viva Las Vegas.

After six nights and four days in Las Vegas I'm home.

It is bittersweet.

We left temperatures edging in and out of the 100 degrees and come back home to.. well, colder temperatures and falling leaves! I have to pack away my sandals, short sleeves and capris. Sigh. It is now fall.

I'm proud to say that while I was away I did NOT gain any weight! This is what I did.

I was very anxious about going through security with my bottle of Ionix Supreme, canisters of Isalean shakes and organized each days pills into our handy pill containers. I had to remember that Isaflush was WHITE and Accelerator was a brownish colour. I wouldn't want to take an accelerator at night! I was excited as it was to get away on a proper grownup holiday as it was! But, we made it through both ways and I am glad that I packed it all in my suitcase and not carryon bag because I made the mistake of throwing in suntan lotion at the last moment and was subjected to having the contents of my bags examined and swabbed! Whoops.

That night we arrived late and notified the clerk that we were tired from our flight and celebrating our honeymoon. She quickly upgraded our room and gave us a view of the strip which normally would have been an additional 60 dollars for the view alone. The room was clean, modest and much more contemporary then our last room which was like a dungeon.. The pillows and bedding was luxurious compared to the cheesecloth and pancakes last time! We ordered pizza from a local joint that so kindly slipped their menu under the door. Yeah, yeah. Not the 600 calorie meal I was supposed to have but I had just finished a cleanse and was ravenous.

The next day we took a walk down the strip to get the largest container of distilled water we could find to take back to the hotel room complete with spigot. Perfect for drinking and making our shakes. We packed along an immersion type hand blender and containers. An ice machine next door and it was perfect. Ionix Supreme sat in our champagne bucket filled with ice and more ice in the sink to hold the bucket. Every day we drank our shakes for breakfast and not one single breakfast buffet! We alternated shakes for lunch and dinner.


The next morning we went to the House of Blues Gospel Revival Brunch. You will work off the calories! Before I knew it I was dancing and waving around my napkin while singing I Believe! Say Yeah! It was wonderful. Amazing vocals and the musicians were a great treat. Amazing Grace made the hair on my arms stand at attention! The food was an ecclectic mix of southern, cajun, american, and nice salads, etc. All very good. Worth every penny.

Meals on the strip come with a price. Monetary and calorie wise. One day we ate at what is considered the best buffet in Vegas. Le Village Buffet at the Paris Hotel. It was simply wonderful! While dining on what would be rich food, I made sure to balance it with plenty of veggies and some fruit. I also ate items that I could not eat at home or that are not as redily available.

Go to the half price ticket outlets and you can actually get discounts on meals such as this buffet. We chose the lunch menu which is less expensive and save $10 on two meals. Magnifique!

My husband loved his cheap meal at the Tropicana for $5.99 spagetti and meatballs or meatloaf. This was not canned and each meatball was handmade.

A walk at night along the strip is a mezmerizing thing. The lights and the neon are captivating. The hum, the excitement. Yes, an adult playground. I wonder why people bring their kids to this place and even babies! That makes no sense to me!

One morning while I was there I was able to get tickets to the Folies Bergere for half price and we were seated in the orchestra section. Fabulous show and seating! It is the longest playing show on the strip for 50 years.

We went to the Rio to see the Masquerade In The Sky. A free show complete with dance numbers and tossing of beads off floats. Yes, I shook it for beads! It is no longer What Happens In Vegas Stay In Vegas since OJ and the Internet! It was great fun and we wandered through the casino.

I had heard about Margaritaville in the Flamingo and that day for lunch I had their infamous hamburger and Margarita. I was stuffed! I've noticed that I certainly cannot eat the quantaties of food I used to. Its a fun place and at night they have live bands.

One thing guaranteed that you will do in Vegas is walk. You will walk on the strip, through the casinos, through pedways, to the shows, to shop and nothing is a straight line. It was incredibly hot while we were there and the heat can be tiring. Everywhere is air conditioned and even the awning have misters as you walk by.

If you get tired, hop aboard the Deauce. A double decker tour type bus that runs along the entire strip not to mention Fremont Street and the Outlet Mall! You can get a 24 hour pass for five buck. Now, that's a deal! I know last time we spent far too much money on cabs and were GOUGED on the way to the hotel for $25 when it should have been no more then $10.

Treasure Island or TI hosts one of the most popular show and its no wonder with its gorgeous sirens dressed in pirate booty shorts, swash buckling hunky pirates, pyrotechnics, acrobatics and a sinking of a ship. Not to mention dance numbers to add to the cheese. All very entertaining.

One evening we went to Fremont Street for the fantastic overhead light show and a glimpse at real Las Vegas. Hold onto your wallet and be aware that pickpockets are around. That evening, one hour after we left we were talking to a fellow from Illinois that was robbed and the thug got off with $900. He admitted he was stupid to carry that much cash and has about 9 beer so he was easy pickings. I would go to Fremont Street during the day or early evening. Make sure you stay with your group and you'll be just fine!

Lots of interesting characters from not only Vegas but around the world. I chatted for an hour to a couple while waiting in lineup for an hour who were visiting from Ontario and they were all too happy to tell me the Do's and Don'ts of Las Vegas.

Stop by Bellagio to see the amazing chocolate fountain, dancing water, glass flowered ceiling and beauty of this grand hotel. The newer Wynn is gorgeous and I understand they have a fantastic water wall show of their own. Very luxurious hotels.

Join the Player's Clubs and you will recieve lots of complimentary goodies. Free slot play, cheap drinks, etc. Bally's gave us a long sleeved shirt from the Paris hotel! We were there one week and spent NONE of our own money on gambling!

Stay away from the guys in yellow tshirt clicking their girlie cards that promise a girl to your room in 20 mins. unless you're into that.


Ah shopping. We had intended to spend three hours at the Outlet Center and ended up spending the whole day there. Me, I didn't buy any clothing except for boots, gifts and lingerie. Oh, and then there was the Coach handbag! We spent some time also in the shops along the strip and dreamed of shopping in exclusive shops like the Canal Shops, Forum or Ventian. If you like mainstream shopping then the Fashion Show Mall is an amazing place and it has four department stores including Macy's, Dillards, etc..

There just isn't enough time! This is only a glimpse of what awaits you in the city that never sleeps.

I'm now doing a two day cleanse and ravenous....