20260909 USA Adventure - Nevada, Las Vegas

Another smooth journey with American Airlines, and it’s only on our third flight that I realise complimentary drinks are available! A very pleasant Bloody Mary while enjoying some amazing views of the Nevada desert below. Vegas slaps you in the face like a wet Daiquiri the moment you land. Slot machines, bright lights, loud music — and this is just the airport! A slight f*ck-up with the hotel transfer. I thought an Uber would be cheap and easy, but apparently not at 3pm! Ended up paying $75 for an executive SUV, which admittedly was beautiful, but the ride should have cost me around $25. Lesson learned! The hotel, however, is awesome — the best of the entire trip so far! Main Street Station Hotel, Casino & Brewery, situated just off Fremont Street in old Vegas. Close to all the action but far enough away from the noise. Quick wash and straight out to the Fremont Street Experience! A wide pedestrian street absolutely pulsing with lights and noise. The entire street is covered by a massive canopy lit up with spectacular projections, while zipliners race through the sky above us. This is Vegas, baby! A couple of beers in different casinos before a light dinner, then back to the hotel. Mornings in Vegas are an experience in themselves. People are still drinking from the night before — this place really never sleeps! Tried to find a sports bar showing Man Utd later, but no luck. Did, however, come across some of the biggest screens I’ve ever seen, literally the size of an apartment building! Breakfast, followed by a visit to the Mob Museum, exploring the history of the Mafia in Vegas and beyond. Very interesting stuff. Another beer, then back to the hotel for a rest. The afternoon heat is absolutely excruciating! For the evening, we took advantage of one of the best deals in Vegas: the Deuce bus. Just $8 for 24 hours of unlimited rides up and down the Strip. First stop, the Venetian to see the canals, followed by the Bellagio for its famous fountains. Dinner in a little restaurant street, where we found a BBQ bowl loaded with pulled pork, beef brisket and chicken. Delicious and absolutely enormous! It fed both of us, with enough left over for Grace’s lunch the next day. With half a day still left on our Deuce passes, we headed out to the famous Las Vegas sign the following day. Quite unimpressive, to be honest, but a fun ride nonetheless. An added bonus was a stop at the Hard Rock Cafe, where Grace found plenty of stuff on sale! The evening was reserved for gambling. No need to go far — we stayed in our own hotel and hit the tables! The place also has a fabulous microbrewery, serving $3 glasses of 7% Carlsbad IPA. Loving it! We sat down for Blackjack, a game we both understand. Grace hit 21 on her very first hand, but sadly, that was the high point of her luck. I, on the other hand, was flying! Finished $50 up, although I should have made more. All this while enjoying two rounds of viciously strong Bloody Marys on the house. Great people around the table, too, which made it even more fun. Eventually, we cashed out and headed for more beer and some superb prime rib, paid for out of my winnings. What a fantastic night! So, that’s a wrap for Vegas — a wonderful, exciting stop on our American adventure. Back to the airport, this time for $25 plus tip. Much better! Next stop: San Francisco! 😎✈️🇺🇸🗽🌎🍻🥃💪