Trip report 4/21-5/8 2014

Miscelaneous ][:

I received many more compliments than usual about my outfits on this trip. I chalk it up to my preference for unusual skirts. I acquired this habit two years ago when I got my first high-low skirt (that's usually a mini-length on front gradually reaching midi-length in the back; or midi to maxi). I have a few, of course. They've been popular for a while. But I have many more unusual ones.

There's the rose red skirt with flattish, but noticeably in relief fabric roses sewn all about. As I've mentioned before, I wore it for my birthday lunch with Doc, Mrs. Doc and Dan, and it also caught the eye of at least one man who asked me to dinner.

One which is nothing but lining covered with short tiers of off-white tulle attracted the most attention. A waitress at the Ditz even expressed her desire to get one just like it. I was amazed how her face lit up when I told her it could be easily found online. She stopped to take down the website address. Lots of other people said nice things about it, including several men. IMO that means they found either me or my outfit attractive. Women will let you know they like something you're wearing. But men don't care about such things unless they feel some attraction.

My fingernails also received some attention. Curiously both times when I wore nothing but clear nail polish. The first time happened at Sephora when I was buying foundation. So I got to talk about what moisturizer I use on my fingernails.

I think I've covered everything but the trip back and a few odds and ends concerning travel to/from the US

Downsides:

How did I forget this?

Anyway, first I caught a cold which decided to manifest itself on my birthday. It got really bad by Saturday, WoVCon day. I had a dreadful night before the big day, hardly sleeping more than forty minutes at a time. By Saturday afternoon, I wanted nothing more than to collapse. Yet I carried on because I'd made dinner plans with friends, and because when would I see many of these people again? Still, since plans were being drawn tentatively up for Sunday, I let it be known I'd be ensconced in my room the next day.

But either the flu meds finally kicked in (Walgreen's equivalent of Day Quil), or the cold backed down in the face of stiff resistance. I had a good night's sleep for a change and found it easier to breathe. Still, the post-nasal drip hung around for a full ten days. I managed to deal with it without smearing makeup all over. Still, I had to do more touch ups than I like, and at more awkward times.


On other bad news, the banks of multi-game, multi-denomination, single-hand VP machines at the 4Q next to the Keno lounge no longer offer 9/6 JoB. Now they're 8/5. "Ouch!" she said. The $0.25 machines by the table game area do still have 9/6, complete with signs advertising the fact. It's sad seeing good games removed Downtown.


On neutral news, at several Downtown casinos I saw a game advertised as "One-Deck 21." I don't pay much attention to BJ or BJ-degenerate games, so I don't know exactly what it is, but once I caught "6:5" written on the felt. Do you suppose it was 6:5 "blackjack" advertised honestly? Or some variant of "Spanish 21"?

Travel:

When travelling to the US, the airline provides the forms one needs to fill out. Curiously this time I got only the customs form and not the migratory form. I asked on the plane when they were handing them out again, and was told these are no longer needed. Indeed, on arrival they weren't to be found at the immigration line, and the immigration officer only asked for the customs form. That's great. I hated that long form with the little spaces.

As usuall I breezed through immigration, waited a long time for the luggage, and breezed through customs.

On the return trip the Showtime shuttle arrived on time, but the driver picked an odd route back. Or maybe not. I just really don't know Vegas well outside the Strip, Downtown, and bits of Sahara and Flamingo. Also I'm a bit biased, because the driver insisted there was no such airline as Interjet, and I must be confused and really meant Jet Blue.

I had more time at the terminal this year as comapred to last. Terminal 3 is a lot nicer than the old T2. Look up the thread on airport reviews at DT for details. One thing I'll mention is that there is a closed-off slots area at oen end where smoking is allowed. That's great, and very useful to know. Next time I won't need to hang around the concourse so much.

WiFi at McCarran is pretty good, if you pace yourself and don't try to stream Netflix, and free. Inside the terminal, past security, there are a few charging stations, with both electrical outlets and USB ports. There's a narrow metal shelf and seats, so you can use your laptop or tablet comfortably whiel it charges. This also means, ignore the fast-charging machines in the concourse.

The flight back was perhaps half-full and completely uneventful. As usual I brought a snack in with me, as Interjet provides only a minute bag of chips and up to two drinks (to be fair they give you the whole can of diet Pepsi). Next year I plan to eat a proper lunch at the terminal. The flight is at 6 pm, I arrive at the terminal at 3 pm, but with the time difference, immigration and customs at Toluca, I arrive home around 1 am. A big meal around 4 makes more sense.

Immigration in Toluca was brisk, but I got stopped at customs. Let me explaint he mechanics. You do fill out a customs form, which the customs officials dutifully colelct and pay no mind to. Then you press a button in a randomizer machine and see whteher you get a green or red light. If red, you get searched. First they run your bags through an X-ray scanner, then they open them and look inside.

I'll explain a bit more about this later.

In the old days all bags were opened and inspected, and bribes ran freely.

These days there is the random process I mentioned, plus a $300 US allowance free of import duities. In addition, clothes, toiletries, cosmetics, medicines and such for personal use cause no duty, and ditto books, CDs, DVDs and such. I had nothing that would cause me trouble, or so I thought. But the customs officials, both women, were very thorough. Though they overlooked the pockets on the outside of my suitcases.

I did bring 2 cartons of cigarettes (a co-worker asked me for them). I learned later the limit per adult is one carton. In any case, I had them in the outside pockets they overlooked, and would have been well within the allowance. They also eyed my Channel perfume, but said nothing. I'd obtained it in mexico, but had no way of proving it.

That's about it.

Oh, there's the latest fad street performance on Fremont St: the levitating character. It's a neat trick, which took me all of five minutes to figure out. But it looks good and the trick should not be apaprent on photographs, if you want to show the folks back home. I will say the people who use it are careful not to give the trick away.

Quote: Nareed

They also eyed my Channel perfume, but said nothing. I'd obtained it in mexico, but had no way of proving it.

Was it Chance by Chanel?

Quote:

Oh, there's the latest fad street performance on Fremont St: the levitating character. It's a neat trick, which took me all of five minutes to figure out. But it looks good and the trick should not be apaprent on photographs, if you want to show the folks back home. I will say the people who use it are careful not to give the trick away.

This was ubiquitous on the strip as well. I didn't figure it out, but I didn't spend too much time trying, either.

Quote: AcesAndEights

Was it Chance by Chanel?

No, it was a knock-off ;P

Actually I should hang my head in shame at making a typo with a designer brand...

Quote:

This was ubiquitous on the strip as well. I didn't figure it out, but I didn't spend too much time trying, either.

I won't spoil it, but next time just look at the hand grabbing the staff. Don't waste any time looking for wires or hidden supports.

Quote: Nareed

No, it was a knock-off ;P

Actually I should hang my head in shame at making a typo with a designer brand...

I hope this isn't creepy, but while we were chatting at the craps table at the California, I recognized the distinct scent of Chance, which is what my ex-girlfriend from college wore. Anyway, weird coincidence.

Quote: AcesAndEights

I hope this isn't creepy, but while we were chatting at the craps table at the California, I recognized the distinct scent of Chance, which is what my ex-girlfriend from college wore. Anyway, weird coincidence.

Unless you're sympathetically typoeing, it wasn't me. All I wore was Chanel No. 5. I got it for "free" with rewards points on a credit card.

BTW one other downside of having a cold is that I couldn't even smell my own perfume.

Quote: Nareed

Unless you're sympathetically typoeing, it wasn't me. All I wore was Chanel No. 5. I got it for "free" with rewards points on a credit card.

BTW one other downside of having a cold is that I couldn't even smell my own perfume.

Hmmmm....I must be projecting a different memory, and when you mentioned Chanel, my brain tricked me. Anyway. Moving on!

I left out a useful tidbit. There is a $2 fixed fee ATM on the way to the Downtown Grand, right outside the Jerky store. I can vouch it only charges $2. Other ATMs I tried charge dme at least $5. Whether this was standard or due to my card being frmo Mexico, I've no idea.

Of course, this $2 ATM is not precisely well-located. For one thing the street is a bit empty and from time to time you see homeless people hanging around. So use common sense and proceed at your own risk (at that I've been wary of empty streets since I was robbed in one years ago).

Quote: Nareed

I left out a useful tidbit. There is a $2 fixed fee ATM on the way to the Downtown Grand, right outside the Jerky store. I can vouch it only charges $2. Other ATMs I tried charge dme at least $5. Whether this was standard or due to my card being frmo Mexico, I've no idea.

Of course, this $2 ATM is not precisely well-located. For one thing the street is a bit empty and from time to time you see homeless people hanging around. So use common sense and proceed at your own risk (at that I've been wary of empty streets since I was robbed in one years ago).

Good to know. $5 is pretty standard in Vegas. The best I am aware of on the Strip are at Casino Royale. Those ATMs only charges $1 plus anything your own bank charges.

Quote: tringlomane

Good to know. $5 is pretty standard in Vegas. The best I am aware of on the Strip are at Casino Royale. Those ATMs only charges $1 plus anything your own bank charges.

I wish I'd known that.

I assume it's the ticket-redemption amhcine/ATM combo. Or is it some stand alone ATM?

Hi...the ATM of which Tringlomane speaks is a stand alone one right next to the cashier at Casino Royale.

Thanks for the tip about the one outside the Jerky store.
I spend much of my trips downtown as well.


I usually find a desk and a makeup table to be pretty interchangeable.
They are usually similar in height.


Last Spring when I was staying at the Four Queens my solution to finding free WIFI was to walk to the Art bar at the Downtown Grand every morning. While you cannot log on to the Grand's own wifi, that is only for guests, I did find other free options that I was able to connect with.

Like you I never succeeded in connecting to the Fremont Street WIFI unless I was actually out on the street itself.

Thanks for the trip report!

T 44!

Nothing to add except that I like your web site, Blonde4ever.

Why thank you. I am happy to hear that.