Feeling refreshed after a great night’s sleep, I was finally ready to appreciate life. I had a great cup of coffee and an amazing view through a huge window that spanned the room. Bruce got up early to visit the casino while I took my time sipping my coffee and getting ready for the day.
Knowing I wanted to dress for the occasion, I bought a Queen of Sparkles dress on eBay. Of course, I needed a Kurt Geiger purse to match. If you’ve never heard of Kurt Geiger (which I hadn’t until then), he makes some of the most fun bags! I usually shop his clearance section or wait for a sale because, as much as I love a fabulous accessory, I do appreciate a bargain.
Y’all, people stopped me on the street several times because of that dress! It was sparkly, fabulous, and absolutely perfect for Las Vegas. It was a splurge, but at least I didn’t pay full price. I enjoyed every second of wearing it because I knew I wouldn’t get to wear it at home.
Then a man stopped me to compliment my purse and informed me that I simply had to have the shoes that went with it. Well, you’d better believe I ordered those shoes as soon as I stopped for lunch.
It’s funny how willing I am to please a complete stranger when fashion is involved. Apparently, all it takes is a little encouragement and a matching pair of shoes!
I met Bruce at the casino for lunch, French fries, and bubbly. I promised myself I’d eat some protein at my next meal. After all, we were at the Paris casino, and French fries just felt appropriate. When in Paris, right?
Our highlight of the day was visiting the Arte Museum. It was an immersive, interactive art experience, and it was the first time I’d seen anything quite like it. As with everything in Las Vegas, it was over the top—and it did not disappoint!
We spent the rest of the day walking around and sightseeing. Everywhere I looked, there was something new to see. I wondered what it took to create all the surrounding imagery. The entire city felt like a fantasy world, where nothing was quite what it seemed, and everything was designed to make an impression.
Before heading back to the hotel to change for dinner, I enjoyed a glass of bubbly at the Venetian while Bruce gambled a little longer. Admittedly, it was a great way to cool off! He was doing well, and I certainly didn’t want to ruin his mojo. I was perfectly happy to sit back, sip my drink, and take in the sights.
For dinner, we had reservations at Top Of The World at the Strat Hotel. For someone who is afraid of heights, I wasn’t mentally prepared for this experience. My heart was practically in my throat the entire time, but the views were spectacular! As we ate, the restaurant turned to give us panoramic views. We even watched a storm come across the mountains from miles away.
Unfortunately, the meal was the most disappointing part of the trip. They couldn’t accommodate my garlic allergy, which meant we spent a small fortune on what amounted to salad toppings. I was so hungry, I threw in the towel and ate the bread, which, of course, was delicious. While I would recommend the fantastic view, I’d have low expectations of the food.
By this point, after a meager lunch and a less-than-satisfying dinner, I was officially hangry. I can’t promise I was at my most pleasant.
After dinner, we climbed back into the “boot” and drove down to Fremont Street. I’d never seen anything quite like it! I didn’t take many pictures because I was afraid of accidentally capturing a naked person in the background. Let’s just say I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.
This was definitely not my favorite part of Las Vegas. I can officially check it off my list of been-there, done-that, never-doing-it-again experiences.
All I could think was: two steps forward, one step back.
But we survived, and we had plenty of laughs on the drive back to the hotel. I still can’t believe some of the things we saw! In hindsight, it was worth the conversations that followed.
With sore feet and my Band-Aids barely hanging on, we decided to call it an early night. After the food shortage I’d had that day, a snack was definitely in order.
Because let’s be honest: vacation snacks make everything better.
Day two was a little bit of everything—fashion, art, incredible views, questionable dining decisions, and a few experiences I won’t be rushing to repeat. But that’s part of traveling, isn’t it? Not every moment is magical, not every meal is worth the money, and sometimes the best stories come from the things that don’t go according to plan.
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