I secure a late checkout but as I am all packed from the night before I check and go for one last time through the now icy cold streets of NYC. The weather is about zero degrees but with wind chill factor "feels like" minus eight degrees. Anyway I am reasonably well rugged up sans hat though.
A toasted everything bagel on which I ask for half egg salad and half chicken salad thinking he would put half of one on the left and the other on the right half. Nup. Half on the top and half on the bottom and squashed together. Oh well tasty anyway although I could only eat half it was so enormous with filling.
I then go and visit a Sony exhibit on the progress of technology which itself seemed quite dated.
I went to the Sony shop and enquired about an item and whether the price was the best they could do. The sales associate (their name not mine) went to the desk clicked a few keys and says "I have found it online at 42% less and can price match". How good is that for just asking?
I decide on a manicure and ten minute neck massage only to hear the tittering when I left a 10% tip which they felt was clearly inadequate. Some more walking taking every opportunity to enter any mildly interesting shops and warm up.
A mushroom soup and back to the hotel to get a cab to Grand Central Station and the shuttle bus to LaGuardia Airport.
Check in was smooth once I shifted three kilos from checked bag to on board bag mercifully only one bag as it is $20 for the first and $35 for the second. The flight was so full that the check-in clerk offered to check in my on board bag for free. Um no thanks!
Fort five minutes to go through security. Note to self, iPod Shuffle sets of metal sensors. On time departure and knowing the flight was full I play the disabled need early boarding card to ensure I get my bags stowed.
Ok so New York. I am guessing I have been there seven or eight times and have learned to like it more each time. The first few times were a couple of days in Times Square and I actively disliked the city. But each time I now go I tend to spend a week there and each time widen my search for new and interesting places like Chelsea, Seaport, the Upper West Side etc.. I always have regrets that I haven't done more like this time I didn't see a show and am pissed off that only today I noticed that Patty Lupone and Mandy Patinkin had a show together which I would have loved to see - oh we'll something for next time.
New York is one of the world's great cities and it makes me realise just how expensive Sydney has become. I went to supermarkets, delis and specialty food stores and almost every item was 33%+ less than Sydney. Even the Michelin restaurants while expensive at $215++ and $190++ didn't seem too bad compared to some average $120 meals in Sydney upscale restaurants and tickets to things like sporting events, operas, concerts etc..
Tipping does add to the cost landscape with most expecting 20% or 15% as a minimum. When I had my oysters the service was abysmal and the printed bill came with a 20% gratuity added in. When I paid $40 instead of the $42 (20% included) on the bill I was queried by the sever telling me I had paid short - that was annoying.
One thing I did notice was that I constantly held the door open for people and to a person nobody ever said thank you. I'll put it down to culture.
Anyway am on my flight to Las Vegas via Denver and arrive lateish at night which isn't a problem in a city like Vegas. I managed to get a great deal of a 50 sq mtr suite with spa and kitchenette at the MGM for around $A160 a night. The only trick will be to lose too much gambling although I really plan not to spend much time doing so. Have been washing every night but am looking to my Laundromat on Harmon complete with slot machines which sort of makes sense if you think about it - not for me though.
I do have a plan to do the Grand Canyon which believe it or not I have never done as it snowed when we last tried. Other things of nerves Human Nature doing Motown and seeing Cirque du Soleil Love (Beatles) for a third time. One of the best shows I have EVER see EVER.
Layover in Denver all OK and empty row through to Las Vegas. Usual 30 minute wait for luggage to appear - it has been as long as 60 minutes - and off to the car rental company. Usual 'balagan' $12 a day for the car and $12-$40 a day insurance. I have two travel policies so will rely on those. Note to self never ever ever ever use Fox car rentals. Every rental company is in a purpose built facility no not Fox a second bus to reach them.
Next morning i book a ticket to see Human Nature Motown Show which is very much my scene. Will try for at least one more show before I leave next Monday. I have decided for expediency as much as not wanting another plane trip to lee the car, drive to Los Angeles and spend a few days there before going to Miami to board the cruise. I haven't done the beaches like Malibu and Newport and would like to go to the Getty Museum for a long period than last time as it was late in the day when I went.
Out of the hotel around 11:00 and the march back to the MGM to collect my car. Yes folks walked through the casino and didn't spiel. Off to the Fashion Mall not really for shopping more for a coffee and meal. That's not to say the I won't shop merely it is not my primary intent. the mall has a Nieman Marcus, Nordstrom,Macys, Bloomingdales, Dillard's and other nice shops but a full retail not much interest compared to the 300 shop premium outlet just a few miles away. People complain that retailers are being damaged by the internet but some of it is self inflicted. I saw a new Parker Pen that I was interested in buying. Being a new model it was unlikely to be discounted on the internet. I offered to buy it at the $190 asking price of they included two refills normally $8 each. Sorry we can only do one sir and they let me walk - which I did. Anyway didn't buy anything nothing nada. They are even selling real estate in the Mall and look how cheap....about $1000 a square metre - that would translate to around $100k for a 100 sq metre apartment.
Note to self - don't ever do foreign exchange in a Mall in the USA - this equates to a 17%+ Margin - I should go into business.
I go to Wholefoods and do a shop with a plan to making dinner in the hotel. I buy two lovely pre-made soups and some salad things. Wholefoods have one of the best quality and assortments of salads, pre-made meals fruit and veg in the USA. Back to the hotel where I shake the salad dressing to mix it, the top pops off and it goes everywhere. Oh well so much for no cleaning and washing while travelling. All fixed and I enjoy the fruits of my labours.
I go and spiel for a little bit and am in front enough to be certain (as certain as a gambler can be) that I will leave here in profit. How bad are some gamblers - there are pits of roulette tables about 10 metres apart, some have one zero while others have two - same limits same everything including the number of players - 2.7% house edge versus 5.26% - why not lose your money twice as quickly.
The MGM Grand has a Joel Robuchon restaurant. I glance at the degustation menu, ok ok just out of curiosity. The cost here is $425 but there is smatterings of caviar which changes the equation. Anyway no plans for fine dining here so it was seriously out of curiosity.
Interestingly smoking in casinos is still allowed including F*^#ng cigars. Off to an early bedtime 23;00 well for Vegas standards anyway.
Hope everybody is well
XD
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