Ya know, I lived in Vegas for two years. It brought a smile to my face reading you "discovering" things I took for granted. I use to comute on the MGM/Bally's monorail, use to shop in the Venetian and Forum shops, hell even worked at Harrah's (you could have met Mobius and Ouschlander, I think they still work there).

Next time Rob, let me know you're headed there, I'll tell you where to go and what is good.

By the way, Second to the great wall of China, is the Luxor light, which can be seen in space. Also the Sphinx in front of the casino is twice (at least) the size of the original.

Next time take Lex to the Venetian. In the mall there you can ride a Gondala while some dude sings to you in Italian.

If you ever go to yhe Strat again, bring a gun. It IS located in crack-whore town. So is the Sahara (unfortunatly). Avoid Circus Circus unless you like dealing with teens on LSD or PCP (as well as screaming kids).

As for the id'ing, if you are in a bar or casino after 1am, you'll be carded all the time. Why? Because 1am starts people going to bed in Vegas (it happens) and the night crews are bored, so they do what they can to past the time).

Spearamint Rhino is one of the better clubs and is very nice (from what I hear, never got to go). Avoid Cheetahs (even if you are a big Showgirls fan...)and the Library(it is the name of a club).

The Character of Bededict from the remake of Ocean's Eleven is based on a guy named Wynn. He owns the Desert Inn (though it was rennamed to The Wynn towers or something).

There is a bar on Tropicana (behind NY NY) called Ocean's 11. While there is a great pub on Topicana (closer to where I used to live) near UNLV called the Crown & Anchor.

Never leave Lex alone at a bar in Vegas and ESPECIALLY at the Monte Carlo or the Casino Royal (date rape drugs are on the rise) $50.00 and no questions asked will land you a bartender willing to slip something into your lady fair's drink. If you do drink at a bar...and send Lex to get it, have her order something with caps and tell the bartender to leave them on. It is amazing that some people get drugged while holding the bottle the entire time.

The flamingo has a pool anyone can get into and is haunted by Bugsy too!

Had you booked this trip a year ago, you guys could have stayed with me for free. But alas, I am now on the East Coast.

120 degrees? This time last year we were breaking 130 in the shade, but it is amazing how easy it is to be in, with no humidity.

Glad you two had fun (Sorry Rob, your pictures show you just as white and pasty as you have always been, despite your numerous trips to the pool. Lex, however, was hot!) Next time you plan on going, let me know and I'll let you know more about Vegas from an insiders point of view.

...and don't be decieved. It is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there. Even though there is 24/7 Gambling, drinking and nudie girls...you DON'T want to live there!!!