E phatlaladitšwe: 08.07.2017
This morning we actually wanted to sleep in. Suddenly we were up at 6. We dozed a bit.
Since we booked our hotel room without breakfast, we had a wide selection of restaurants in the casino. We decided on classic American. On the way to breakfast, we had a bit of small talk in the elevator with an older couple from Colorado. So far, all Americans we have met have been super friendly and almost everyone asks you what your name is, where you come from, and how you're doing.
For breakfast, we had a large plate of scrambled eggs with onions, ham, bell peppers, and a kind of potato pancake, along with toast and a bagel with cream cheese for each of us. Quite rich. I also had as much coffee as I wanted, unlimited refills.
Since we are staying in a casino in Las Vegas, we couldn't resist trying our luck at the slot machines and the roulette table. After losing a few dollars, we actually won $25 with an $8 bet, which we immediately cashed out. Better safe than sorry.
The temperature outside settled at a pleasant 43 degrees Celsius this morning. We simply grabbed some towels and lay in the shade by the pool, enjoying the peace and quiet. The pool itself was very warm, but that's not surprising given the temperatures. Walking barefoot on the tiles just burned your feet.
After a long afternoon nap in the air-conditioned room, we headed to the shopping mall. You can't even begin to describe the size of the mall. Everything is just huge - countless stores for jewelry, shoes, clothes, food, drinks, and you walk and walk and still haven't reached the end. Since we skipped lunch, we had a fantastic pizza with bread as an appetizer for dinner. Once again, we had a great waiter, just like at breakfast. Everyone introduces themselves and is super friendly. "If you need anything, just let me know" is a standard phrase of every motivated waiter. Their behavior also determines the amount of the tip. Through a brief chat with the lady at the cash register, we learned that 18% is customary for the total bill, 20% is for a good waiter, and 22% is for one with whom you have been completely satisfied. That adds up quickly. All prices on the menus and in the stores are always given without tax, I haven't been able to find out why yet. But in the end, taxes are always added, which vary in amount from state to state. California had 8.75%. Nevada has 8.15%.
Time flies in the mall. We visited many stores and before we knew it, 3 hours had passed.
On the strip, it was slowly getting dark, so we walked through the casinos on foot for the first time, starting from the north side. Our first stop was the Venetian. A complete replica of parts of Venice, even with the Rialto Bridge and a huge canal with gondolas outside and inside. Around it are simply many shops and slot machines. Absolutely mind-blowing.
Next stop was the interior of the Bellagio. Here, there were a large arch, many flowers, and ceiling decorations to admire - in front of the casino, a huge water show with fire and large fountains. We didn't make it much further than yesterday. The path winds through bridges through all the casinos or past them. It's impossible to simply walk straight down the street and see everything.
Back in our casino, we wanted to try our luck once again. Unfortunately, without success. Our $25 went down the drain at roulette. But it's not a problem, we haven't reached our self-imposed limit yet, so we will play again tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow evening, we'll try starting from the southern end of the strip to see and reach the last casinos. And during the day, we'll take a trip to Red Rock Canyon.
We hope you're all doing well. Have a great day and we're going to bed now.