Greetings from Las Vegas. This is Day 5 of our trip report, covering Friday,
April 7, 2000.
Rosalyn's best friend when she left Canada nearly 35 years ago was a girl named
Lynn. Unfortunately, the two did not remain in close touch over the years as
life took them in separate directions. About two months ago, while sorting through
some stuff in the house, Roz came across Lynn's old phone number and called
to see if she was still at that number. Lynn answered the phone and the two
had a long chat, during which Roz learned that Lynn and her husband Dwight would
soon be taking a trip to the U.S. West Coast, followed by a few days in Las
Vegas.
If there's one place where paths have a good chance to cross, it's probably
Las Vegas. And so it was that Rosalyn learned Lynn and Dwight would be in Las
Vegas during our own visit here. We started immediately to make plans for spending
time together, and then the two gals would check in with each other via e-mail
as the time drew closer.
We spent the entire day today with Lynn and Dwight. This was their first visit
to Las Vegas, so our self- appointed mission, interspersed with tons of great
conversation, was to try our hands at being tour guides. They were waiting for
us at a side entrance to their hotel, Circus Circus, when we pulled up. Our
first stop was for lunch at the excellent Bellagio buffet. $14.95 each, including
tax. This buffet continues to impress and, having reported the complete list
of buffet items on two previous occasions, I'll just mention the ones we especially
enjoyed on this visit: peeled, chilled shrimp; fettuccini with mushrooms; grilled
teriyaki flank steak; roast leg of lamb; mashed blue potato; Cornish hen; blue-lip
mussels; incredible desserts, including delicious sugar-free cheese cake.
With all the conversation and catching-up we had to do, our time at the Bellagio
buffet stretched out to a most pleasant two-and-a-half hours. Lynn is a recently
retired Toronto district school superintendent, and she assured Rosalyn that
keeping busy in retirement is no problem, but in fact a labor of love.
Next we drove over to Sun City Anthem so that Lynn and Dwight could see where
we'll be living. We spent time in the sales pavilion, walked them through our
model, and then brought them to our villa. After Dwight and I used my laptop
to check the day's stock results, with Dwight showing me how to use Yahoo for
data on Canadian markets, Lynn went online to collect and answer her e-mail,
and we then drove them over to see our house under construction.
After our Sun City Anthem stop, we hopped onto I-215 to I-15 and brought our
friends to The Rio so that they could see our usual home away from home. We
timed our arrival just in time for the 6:00 p.m. Sky Parade, and there's no
doubt that Dwight and Lynn thoroughly enjoyed not only the show itself, but
also the high energy level they observed as we walked them through the property.
Next stop was downtown, so that Lynn and Dwight could see a Fremont Street Experience light show. Arriving at 7:15 p.m., 45 minutes before the first show, we parked in the Las Vegas Club garage and validated our ticket at the cashier window so that our parking was free. I always enjoy the Las Vegas Club, where I spent many happy hours, some of them profitable, playing blackjack over the years. And though I hardly am in there anymore, it's nice to be remembered and to exchange hellos with some of the veteran employees.
The pedestrian mall under the FSE canopy was alive with tourists and performers.
Two musicians were playing from the backs of small trucks sponsored by the nearby
Race Rock Café, and we were especially impressed by a young man who rendering
a scorching "Orange Blossom Special" on his electric violin. Another
impressive sight was a techno-artist producing the most incredible works of
art in a matter of minutes with cans of spray paint; this young man attracted
the largest crowd, and received a big ovation each time he finished a painting.
The 8:00 p.m. light show began, and it was the Odyssey show that many of you
are undoubtedly familiar with. We enjoyed it more than we have in the past,
while our companions were suitably impressed.
Not looking for a big meal after the excesses of lunch, we drove up to the
Sweet Tomatoes soup and salad restaurant in the Best In The West plaza at Rainbow
and Lake Mead. It was again a leisurely meal, as the food was incidental to
the reminiscences and the plans we made to welcome Dwight and Lynn as guests
when they return to Las Vegas as they are sure to do.
Returning them to Circus Circus, we said goodbye to Lynn and Dwight, knowing
that the friendship has been revitalized and that we will surely have them as
our guests in the future. Meanwhile, their Saturday plans are to see Hoover
Dam and then drive to the Grand Canyon before flying home.
A couple of minor notes before winding up this report: In view of all the questions
asked in these forums about how Canadians handle their currency exchange when
visiting Las Vegas, I asked Lynn and Dwight for some details on their own procedures.
They told us that while they bring some U.S. currency with them, exchanged at
their local bank back home, they mainly rely on a credit card and ATMs down
here. They pay for everything they can with their credit card, and their card
issuer applies the fair rate of exchange when their monthly billing statement
is produced. Same thing with the ATMs: They use it as a bank debit card down
here at the ATMs of their choice to obtain U.S. currency, and the exchange adjustment
is made when their transaction is processed by their card issuer.
Next item: An online friend wrote to say she heard that the vacation villas
at Sun City Anthem had already been sold. I told her I believed this was incorrect,
and that Del Webb was building even more villas to meet the demand from prospective
buyers who want to sample the lifestyle. It seemed logical to me that Del Webb
would not want to sell off these villas if they plan to use them for years to
come. The fact is, as I have now learned, that the 18 villas currently in use
HAVE already been sold to private buyers, who will collect monthly rent from
Del Webb as long as the villas are in service.
This means that the villa buyers will have to wait about 10 years before gaining possession of them, unlike the two- to three-year waiting period anticipated for the model homes that were sold off last October. Meanwhile, I was told, a total of 60 villas will eventually be built to accommodate the need. Del Webb is aggressive in getting its money out, so I'm sure that every villa constructed will be sold off at the earliest date they can do it.
End of Day 5.
