It’s hard for me to believe that my first trip to Vegas was 20 years ago. My GF at the time and I stayed at the Riviera while most everyone else on our charter flight was staying at the brand new Mirage, Excalibur, or Luxor.
As we wandered through the halls of the hotel up the street from the Riv I saw the old pics of the Rat Pack, the Beatles, and Elvis among many others. They were the coolest crowd I’d ever seen and embodied everything us “glam rockers” wanted to be, minus the hair. Something inside me clicked & I understood that “cool” was much more than long hair, ripped jeans, and flannel. There’s just something so awe inspiring about old school Vegas. I didn’t get to experience it first-hand but I get it, and will always wonder what it would have been like to be there in person.
It was here that I played my first hand of black-jack, had my first rum & coke, and hit my first $100 “jackpot”. Years later my 13 year old son and I had our first racing and rollercoaster experience together here as well. I have so many wonderful Vegas memories that until today I don’t think I’ve given this sweet old lady her proper respects.
There’s something to be said for the Cosmo, Aria, and Planet Hollywood and I’ve enjoyed each of the “new” hotels in their own way. After today though, there will be another hole in the Vegas desert that’s full of too many already.
I wish I could have made it in for the May AOD, but even more.. I wish I could have been there to say “good-bye.” I’ll be raising my Las Vegas pint glass high tonight in her memory. It will be full of rum with a splash of Coke and a Malibu float.
Here’s to you, Sahara… gonna miss you, girl.
As we wandered through the halls of the hotel up the street from the Riv I saw the old pics of the Rat Pack, the Beatles, and Elvis among many others. They were the coolest crowd I’d ever seen and embodied everything us “glam rockers” wanted to be, minus the hair. Something inside me clicked & I understood that “cool” was much more than long hair, ripped jeans, and flannel. There’s just something so awe inspiring about old school Vegas. I didn’t get to experience it first-hand but I get it, and will always wonder what it would have been like to be there in person.
It was here that I played my first hand of black-jack, had my first rum & coke, and hit my first $100 “jackpot”. Years later my 13 year old son and I had our first racing and rollercoaster experience together here as well. I have so many wonderful Vegas memories that until today I don’t think I’ve given this sweet old lady her proper respects.
There’s something to be said for the Cosmo, Aria, and Planet Hollywood and I’ve enjoyed each of the “new” hotels in their own way. After today though, there will be another hole in the Vegas desert that’s full of too many already.
I wish I could have made it in for the May AOD, but even more.. I wish I could have been there to say “good-bye.” I’ll be raising my Las Vegas pint glass high tonight in her memory. It will be full of rum with a splash of Coke and a Malibu float.
Here’s to you, Sahara… gonna miss you, girl.
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