Viva Las Vegas...

First and foremost, I am not a Vegas person...as I believe I've mentioned a couple of hundred times here and elsewhere. The day before we leave, I tell my Vegas-born and Vegas-loving friend, Synthia that I'm going. She's says, "Oh! Lucky you!", then I shoot her a look that says, "Are you kidding?". She looks at me with disdain. "Oh, you're not a Vegas person?" Well, hm...let me think for a minute. Drunk people, heat, dirty, filthy streets, groups of people on street corners shoving adverts of naked strippers in your face...which also litter the ground. All while I choke on the second hand smoke and pay $9.00 for a beer. Heaven forbid! Well, our reason for coming back to Sin City, where we once said, 'never again', was for a wedding. Mr. B's sister. This was our only reason, but we decided to make the best of the city and actually had a pretty good time (despite the second hand smoke, the smut, the pounding music, the drunks...you get the picture). Hanging out with two of our favorite people helped. Good company will work miracles :) Arriving at our hotel

Check in

Waiting for the happy couple in front of the chapel

They arrive

After the ceremony, we head off to check out the reception site at my in-laws time share

Sites along the way

Yes, that's the cheesy version of the Eiffel Tower :)

At the reception site, long before the partiers arrive

Chess anyone?

We decide we're too early for the reception and head back to the hotel to change...

Hotels next door

New York, New York hotel

Back in our lobby-love the chandeliers :)

Our view over the pool and limo parking

Vegas sunset

Another view from our room

And another...the Aria, next door

I take a breather and put my feet up while the mister changes...

Back at the cabana for the reception. It was actually one of the most beautiful evenings I've spent in a long time. Warm, balmy and breezy.

A peek of the strip from the cabana...

A peek in the cabana as Mr. B is chatted up by another woman :)

After the reception, back to the strip where we decide to get into the nightlife...

2 a.m., back at our room, views out our window

The Aria, next door

Bright and early the next morning!

We passed on the $16.00 pot of coffee and headed to the local Denny's for a full breakfast. Back on the road home, we sat in bumper to bumper traffic for nearly 6 hours, broken up by a stop at the outlet center for a little Williams-Sonoma and Ralph Lauren retail therapy :)

All in all, it really was a good time...good company, a good Stella, a good couple of wins on the slot machines and a little shopping in perfect weather...but I'm glad to be home. Tomorrow-off to Orange County!

~ER~