OUR FIRST DRIVE IN THE DESERT
Less than a week into my new life in the southwest, the travel bug hit. I had been back in the US for a few weeks and was itching to start a new travel blog. Lucky for me, Carolina's 30th birthday provided a fantastic excuse to hop in the car and drive through the desert. Final destination: Las Vegas. Driving through the desert was a new experience. There seemed to be a lack of straight, flat roads, so cruise control was of little help. The scenery was beautiful, albeit dry (not a surprise given it's the DESERT!) I made sure to fill up my tank whenever we passed a gas station, given the 100-mile stretches with not a rest stop in site. The six hours from Phoenix to Vegas seemed long, but boy were we happy when we crossed the Hoover Dam and were welcomed into Nevada by the first Casino sign bling!!
CELEBRATING IN STYLE Since Caro hadn't started school yet and I didn't have a job (still don't!) ;-) we were fortunate to do this trip mid-week, which was a huge money saver. We stayed at the MGM Signature for less than what it would have cost us to stay at a budget motel had we gone during the weekend. Here are some highlights: -The cute lead bartender at Emeril's restaurant. We sat at the bar and he provided fun free drinks and shots once he found out we were celebrating Caro's birthday! BAM! -Walking the strip at night. It was pretty cold (though not nearly as cold as back home on the East Coast). Posing by the fake Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building never gets too old or cheesy.
-Gambling small. Caro gambled a big $1.00 and I gambled a whopping $5.00. Hey, like I said, we were on a budget! -Free passes to Studio 54...what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas... More thumbnails ...
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