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#1 |
Why Aye,Man!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: At the moment,'Merika
Posts: 101
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Well,Las Vegas has come and gone.
We were very much less than impressed with the place, cutting our 2-3 day planned stay to less than 24 hours. When people ask me about visiting places, I often give them the advice to 'look up', so that they dont see the mundane stuff at street level, and that they'll usually spot some interesting or at least some historic architecture. I'd say that 'looking up' in Vegas is almost a must, if you want to retain any kind of sense of awe about the place. For at street level it has to be one of the dirtiest,greasiest and sleaziest places I've ever been. Firstly, we made a bad choice of motel.Not from the point of view that the staff were awful (moderately), the place was under reconstruction (and the noisy carpenters started work around 5.30am) or that the breakfast was poor (coffee only.And I scalded my hand on the machine).It was more that it was a block off from the strip. A block in Vegas seems a lot further than a block anywhere else.Particularly when Persistence decided that we must sally forth to the strip at 1pm, when the temperature had only reached 105. Once we'd dodged the hoboes, the pan-handlers, the traffic and then yet more hoboes, we were more or less continually assaulted by Latin men and women offering me the sexual favours of their sisters/cousins.Who, strangely, according to the cards they were giving out by the handful, all seemed to be white and blonde. A tip, however, for these purveyors of the flesh trade.Dont offer me a hooker double-act for $100, when you're also offering me solo ladies of ill repute for $35 each. The MGM Grand seemed like a fair refuge from the pimps, and indeed we spent a pleasant hour wandering the malls, and feeding the slots.We lost money, of course, but not a lot, and it seemed worth it for the air conditioning and the mere moderate levels of overcrowding and jostling. That was more or less the last pleasant hour we spent in Vegas.Its probably an OK town if you're going to spend your entire vacation within one of the many splendid casino resorts, but its hell on earth out on the strip.I took a few snaps, then gritted my teeth for the next 4 hours of endless sweaty trudging hell. The horror of the experience was compounded by going dress shopping.Indeed, we (I) finally did find a dress for Persistence, but only after we'd been through 70+ shops. Of course, she denied it had been that many, until I pointed out that she'd visited around 50 in the 'Miracle Mile' shopping arcade, most of which had not merited a second glance from her.And the dress we (I) finally selected (to put a stop to the endless charade/parade), she had already walked past 3 times without giving it a look. "Could you stand it if we look for some shoes now?" Answers on a postcard, please.They would likely be more polite than my reply.
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They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things.They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning ...They overdo everything - they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else. Aristotle circa 350 BC |
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#2 |
still says videotape
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
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You've just reinforced my instinctive Vegas avoidance. Thanks for that. Go see something attractive now.
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If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis |
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#3 |
Why Aye,Man!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: At the moment,'Merika
Posts: 101
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Instructions received and understood.
After a very wet day wandering the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, we've just booked up a helicopter trip for the morning. Persistence is bouncing around the room like a bouncy thing, as she's been wanting to do this since we first talked about this vacation.Now we just need the weather gods to be ungrumpy.
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They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things.They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning ...They overdo everything - they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else. Aristotle circa 350 BC |
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#4 |
“Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo”
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Posts: 21,393
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I can't agree more.
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Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012! |
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#5 |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
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Reminds me of some language lessons we had to do in Japan - booking overseas tours. I did them so many times I got bored as hell and got mischievous.
Where I was supposed to say "I'm interested in your Grand Canyon Helicopter tour", if the student was an sexy woman (as they often were) I would insert a little pause: "I'm interested in your Grand Canyon .... helicopter tour." Not enough that anyone could notice, but enough to amuse myself. As you were.
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Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
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#6 |
I hear them call the tide
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Perpetual Chaos
Posts: 30,852
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Shoulda listened to us -we told you four hours tops for Vegas!
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The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart |
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#7 |
Why Aye,Man!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: At the moment,'Merika
Posts: 101
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Yeah, I even had to give up going to the 'Pinball Hall of Fame', our need to escape Vegas was so bad.That, and a big chunk of one of my teeth dropped out....can't decide if it was from cultural outrage or fear and loathing.
The display of fountains outside of the Bellagio was pleasantly noteworthy.That accounted for about 5 nice minutes, in addition to the hour spent in the MGM Grand. The Heli ride over the Grand Canyon was very much worth it. Flying over really does add a lot to the place, which was already looking pretty damned fantastic in today's lightly cloudy weather. Persistence surprisingly suffered from a digestion malfunction, and had to make use of the in-flight little paper bag, which amused the 4 Italians we were flying with, no end.Even with that happening,she was still grinning ear-to-ear at the end of the flight (even with a few flecks of lunch left upon her chin). We took the 50-minute tour which came out $388 for the 2 of us, but then found an online coupon which reduced that to $350.Also, at the end of the flight, you get the option of buying a photograph of you and your significant other/partner/spouse/fellow jihadist which is snapped in front of your sky-chariot seconds before the ground crew loads you into your seat...that's another $20, which I got Persistence to fork out for, she was in that good a mood. I was frantically hammering away with the camera for most of the flight, I think I accumulated about 200 shots before we were done.I did stop to look at some of the scenery, but found myself getting a bit teary-eyed because it was just that damned beautiful, so went back to hastily lining up more shots, which I'll post some of once I sort through my backlog. The pilot, sadly, remained silent throughout the entire experience, and I had to keep half an eye on him for evidence of a forthcoming psychotic episode. Instead, we had some music piped through our headphones interspersed with a fairly bland commentary in English, then repeated in Italian for our fellow passengers. Also, I must ask...is anyone aware of why Arizona appears to have been invaded by many many French?'Twas most amusing watching all the miscommunication betwixt them and the staff of a McDonalds earlier tonight. Ugh, I'm in danger of breaking into Shakespearean...it must be time for bed. ![]()
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They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things.They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning ...They overdo everything - they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else. Aristotle circa 350 BC |
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#8 |
Radical Centrist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
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Vincent: Yeah baby, you'd dig it the most. But you know what the funniest thing about Europe is?
Jules: What? Vincent: It's the little differences. I mean, they got the same shit over there that we got here, but it's just – it's just there it's a little different. Jules: Example? Vincent: All right. Well, you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don't mean just like in no paper cup, I'm talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald's. Know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris? Jules: They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese? Vincent: Naw, man, they got the metric system, they wouldn't know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is. Jules: What do they call it? Vincent: They call it a "Royale with Cheese". Jules: "Royale with Cheese". Vincent: That's right. Jules: What do they call a Big Mac? Vincent: A Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it "Le Big Mac". Jules: [in mock French accent] "Le Big Mac." [laughs] What do they call a Whopper? Vincent: I don't know, I didn't go in a Burger King. |
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#9 |
Come on, cat.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area
Posts: 7,013
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Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good. |
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#10 |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
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I was gonna ... but then..
Undertoad beat me to it. Then Jinx beat me to the next one. Ahh, I luv youse all. ![]()
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Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
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#11 |
Why Aye,Man!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: At the moment,'Merika
Posts: 101
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Finally sorted through 900+ images.I really should learn that the longer I leave it, the more of a pain in the ass it is to do.
We're holed up in Cedar City,UT today.It seems to be one of those free weekends at the National Parks, as we found out yesterday when we visited Zion, so we're waiting until tomorrow to visit Bryce Canyon. In the meantime,have some sceneries. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Check out my highly trained attack squirrel moving into position to mug Persistence. ![]() Hawthorne NV finally finds a sensible and happy use for bombs. ![]() ![]() The Museum of Kinetic Sculpture, at Ferndale CA.Every year, the residents of Ferndale hold a mad 3 day human-powered multi-terrain sculpture race.The best of the surviving vehicles/sculptures make it into the Museum. ![]() We spotted a Marmot basking in the sun at Lassen Volcanic NP.We took a quick vote and decided we like Marmots. ![]() Finally, a pic of Las Vegas, which Cellarites have my permission to use on relatives, to save themselves the horror of having to visit there themselves. ![]()
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They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things.They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning ...They overdo everything - they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else. Aristotle circa 350 BC |
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#12 |
I hear them call the tide
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Perpetual Chaos
Posts: 30,852
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excellent. And I'm not buying the squirrel excuse for that pic.....
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The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart |
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#13 |
to live and die in LA
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 2,090
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When do you hit LA? Need any suggestions for things to occupy your time on the left coast?
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to live and die in LA |
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#14 |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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You'll like Bryce, unless it's too crowded. The terrain is spectacular in any weather, and unlike the Grand Canyon, on a less mind boggling scale. Bryce is like the top third of the Grand Canyon and Zion like the middle third. I'm talking depth not length.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
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#15 |
Why Aye,Man!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: At the moment,'Merika
Posts: 101
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Bryce was as excellent as Zion was disappointing.
Not that I really think Zion is a bad NP,it was just badly overcrowded.Also, save yourself a couple of hours if you go there by missing out the 'Emerald Pools' hiking trail. Persistence and I slogged up and down hills to see 3 pools, of which we could easily find a dozen as good/better at home. Bryce more than made up for it.It delivered jaw-dropping scenery by the truckload. We spent our last night in Utah at Kanab, having spent a couple of nights there a couple of days previous.Last night was by far the best tho. We found a terrific hidden gem of a motel, the Sun-N-Sand, which from the outside looks like Norman Bates' dream home.Inside, its a bit worn, but very clean. The owner, Wayne, although he looks like an extra from a Pirate movie, is an absolute hero.We mentioned we preferred beer to tea, and he suddenly said 'Dont drink any beer you've bought in Utah, its swill.'. He explained that they have under-strength beer for Utah, and that suddenly cleared up a problem I'd had the night before.No matter how many cans I drank, I couldn't seem to get drunk. 'Yep,it'll just give you a headache and make you need to pee.' We went and settled into our room, and 20 mins later,there's a knock on the door.Persistence opened it to find Wayne holding a couple of cold bottles of Bud which someone had sneaked over the border for him ![]() We sat out on the doorstep, journalising and emailing the folks back home, and he trotted up with another couple.We retired to bed quite happily. The breakfast he laid on was similarly heroic, ranging from fresh water-melon to a beautiful carrot-cake an admirer had brought him, and had the most excellent coffee I've had over here.(And in proper mugs too, none of yer plastic cup rubbish). I've never seen anyone work as hard and as cheerfully for our cash,$45 had us covered for the night.He has single-handedly put almost all other motels we've stayed at to shame. Before we left, we gave him a pack of Tetly Tea-Bags, explaining that that is what British people call 'Tea', and it is what empires are built upon ![]() The guy is an absolute gem, and if you're ever in need of somewhere to stay in southern Utah, I commend him unto all Cellarites. Today has been a long drive, down from Kanab to Tucson, where we'll be visiting 'The Boneyard' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospa...neration_Group - the USAF's storage facility for aircraft they're not currently using. On the way into Tucson, we happened to pass Pinal Airpark, a similar facility for commercial airlines. We're down to around 16 days left over here, and we're starting to face some hard choices about what we can do versus what we want to do, with the time remaining. PS: Must mention, we hit a new high temp. for us today.As we passed through Phoenix, the car thermometer hit 115.
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They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things.They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning ...They overdo everything - they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else. Aristotle circa 350 BC Last edited by diminished; 08-19-2009 at 12:59 AM. |
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