viva las vegas

over the easter holiday we took mama boots on a trip to las vegas.  the drive from sf to lv took about 8.5 hours, and surprisingly, michelle did not complain about the drive.  sure there were multiple times when she asked, 'are we there yet?' but even i was asking that...not out loud of course but i could not wait for the drive to be over! 

we stayed at the four seasons las vegas which is the best smelling hotel i have even been in!  amoy spa!   you'll notice this as soon as you walk in and all over the common spaces like the lobby and the hallways - that minty, relaxing smell.  after walking down the strip and through smokey hotel casinos, i looked forward to coming 'home' to our hotel at the end of each lengthy walk.  check in was easy, no waiting in line but we had to wait about 15 minutes for our room to be ready.  it wasn't too long so we walked around the lobby and took a peek at the pool.  the pool wasn't too big, they didn't need a big pool since the guests can use the pools at the mandalay bay.  the four seasons occupies the top 5 or 6 floors of the mandalay bay so we had easy access to the casinos and the restaurants there, but we also enjoyed the peace and relative quiet of the four seasons.  it was the best of both worlds.

 we spent friday afternoon in the pool and walked 1/4 of the strip before dinner.  after dinner, michelle was ready to crash so we headed back to the hotel. 


walking the strip with a four year old can be interesting.  we shielded her eyes from the many pornographic business cards and publications that littered the streets.  we would distract her from looking at equally provocative billboards.  there were people handing out cards for 'gentlemen's clubs' and i would have to say, they have been pretty respectful of people who were walking around with children.  yun nga lang, sa sobrang daming nagkalat na larawan ng mga babaeng hubad, it would be impossible for older kids not to see them.  michelle's too young to focus on what's on the ground.  the lights of vegas held her captive, thankfully!

the next day (saturday), we went to the mandalay bay and spent almost two hours going around and around the lazy river.  it was so much fun!  pati kaming dalawa ni paul, para kaming mga bata nag eenjoy ng paikot ikot lang sa pool.  after that, we went back to the pool at the four seasons and paul and michelle played a little bit there.  i have had enough of the sun (takot umitim) so i asked for a chair in the shade and continued to read 'the girl who played with fire'. 

we took a nap after lunch then got ready to watch the lion king at the mandalay bay.  i've seen this show before with lai and chel when it first toured san francisco and i was blown away by the costumes they used.  michelle would cover her eyes whenever the hayenas were on stage but after a while, she got used to them.  this is one thing paul and i kinda struggle with.  michelle avoids conflict.  any kind of conflict.  on one hand, it's good.  hindi sya pala-away.  but on the other, she needs to know that the world isn't perfect and that there are conflicts all the time.  we're still thinking through how to explain this to her in a manner that she will really understand.  ayaw na ayaw nyang nakakakita ng nagaaway, kahit sa cartoons.  she'll cover her eyes or ask me to change the channel.  nerbyosa ba ang anak ko?  hindi naman namin sya tinatakot, hindi naman kami nagaaway sa harap nya.  hmmm....

after the show, we went to the bellagio to see the conservatory and the dancing fountains and walked the strip some more.  we had dinner at the grand luxe cafe at the venetian.  this is my favorite restaurant on the strip.  it's not too expensive and the plates are huge!  we ordered 2 entrees and split it among the 4 of us, may natira pa.  the grand luxe is owned by the same people who own cheesecake factory. 

easter sunday, we had brunch at the four seasons.  the food was good, the presentation fantastic...i was disappointed though that the menu on their website said there will be lobster and there wasn't.  because of that i don't feel like i got my money's worth...it is a very expensive brunch.  the lobster would have made it reasonable.  so i've learned my lesson, i will call to check and confirm before i book.  sayang ang pera.  i'm sure paul will never say yes to me regarding something like this the next time.  (lesson learned).

we drove home after brunch and it took us 10 hours to get home.  there was traffic just outside las vegas - californians trying to get home after a weekend in sin city.  it was so windy in the mojave desert, too, and it caused a lot of drag for the car.  we made it home at 1030, exhausted from a very long day.  again, michelle was the perfect traveller.  she got a small water pistol as a reward for what i tell her are her 'excellent adventure behavior'.  masaya na ang anak ko sa $2 watergun.  bongga!