Drove to Las Vegas Blvd this morning at about 7:30 after stopping at the grocery store to stock up on stuff for the room, like snacks and microbrews. Yes I bought two six-packs before 7 a.m.
Then we hit Dunkin' Donuts where I turboed my coffee (added a shot of espresso - can I do that in RI?) and we drove about 20 minutes or so to get to the strip.
Drove around for a while, looking at the hotels and trying to figure out where to go and where to park. Everything is in bright lights - even the sign for CVS (open 24 hours! film processing!). Seems like overkill to me, but hey, it is Vegas. Or Begas as TJ calls it.
Wanted to see the fountains at the Bellagio, so we park there and look for them, can't find them. Get directions, see the fountain area, but it doesn't go off until 3. TJ is still psyched because there is an area with a bull made of leaves and a giant Asian statue.
Walk from there to the M&M store, 4 floors of M&M merchandise, after saying no to the time-share guy, Sheldon, who was practically ready to give us his first born child if we took a tour of a place.
Didn't buy anything M&M, didn't want to. TJ ignores the giant fuzzy red costumed M&M out front but once we leave is obsessed with knowing where he is now. "Where's the M&M? Where? Where?"
Short distance away is the MGM Grand, which we know has the lions at 11. We get there and it's only 10:15. Oh boy, what should we do? There's a sign for a monorail, let's follow that. Ooops, meltdown along the way..."I want apple juice!" so we do a u-turn and end up at a buffet. I am never eating again. Still full now. Yummy desserts in funny little containers.
Walk over to see the two lions behind the thick glass, who allegedly cannot hear any of the casino binging and banging, just the four waterfalls in their habitat. You can actually get into a tunnel under them, so I am now the proud owner of some photos of a lion from a very strange angle.
Take the monorail back to Bally's, which is supposed to be across from Bellagio. A lie. We walk and walk and end up at a sign that says "monorail - Bally's" which is where we started.
Las Vegas is the City of Escalators. They are everywhere. TJ loves that! It would not be easy to maneuver a stroller.
So many sights to see! Interactive ads projected onto the floor. Stomp on the "bubbles" and they pop, then turn into fish, then sparkles. TJ and I love it! Stomp on it for at least ten minutes. People walking by, giving us the isn't that cute smile.
Walking at one point, TJ says "Mommy!" - I look and he's standing there bare-legged with his Sponge Bob boxers on - his pants have totally fallen down around his ankles.
He and Julia have crossed new territory lately - he is into making her laugh and she loves it more than anything.
Suddenly she is pulling herself up all the time. She slept so soundly last night and was so chill in the backpack all day long. Dream baby.
Back in hotel now. We like not being on the strip. Our view is mountains and Las Vegas Boulevard and at night, thousands of lights, like Christmas. There is a complimentary shoe shine and I already packed up my short black boots for them to shine up.
High of 50 for our time here. Isn't the desert supposed to be hot?