Kodidog Returns, Short and Sweet..Downtown, On the Strip, and Over There
Kodidog returns: SHORT and SWEET…Downtown, The Strip and Over There.
It been 4 years since Kodidog and Tom stepped off a plane in Las Vegas. Four long years. Tom celebrated his 75th birthday in March 2022,
After a couple of weeks discussing everything, looking out at the crappy weather, and then getting what seemed to her to be a sign (an Easter Miracle) from MGM properties…she relented and began booking things . The trip was delayed until early April, because she had a medical test at the end of March.
If you’ve read Kodi’s trip reports in the past, you may remember them as being rambling and terrribly long. As for the Short and Sweet in the title….she’s shrunk two inches in the past 4 years. And…..I know Kodidog really well. She’s as sweet as they come. ☺️ Anyway, you’ve been warned. Leave now or prepare to hunker down for a long haul.
They booked on WestJet for the direct flights they wanted, and they decided on an epically long trip (21 days) and then started booking rooms.
Kodi’s preference was the Boyd properties Downtown, but it seems that they had disowned her. Her status had dropped from lowly Sapphire ( her birthstone, so she hadn’t minded it) to Ruby….which is a card buried in the dirt, and under some bushes.
She found an old (Oct 2021 ) “Welcome Back” flyer in a drawer from the D, that was earmarked for Canadians, and that offered 3 free nights anytime until August 1st 2022! Since they would be flying on a Tuesday, but staying over a weekend, she decided to try to book those days.
The reservation clerk she got at the D, checked her Players Card number and snickered ( well perhaps she just had a cold and snuffled a bit.) “I’m sorry Kodidog, but you have no offers or comps available.”
“ Well ” Kodi said reading out the details “ I’m holding one in my hand . It’s specifically targeting Canadian guests. Could you check further?” Typing sounds, silence. “Oh yes, now I see it.” She then locked in Thursday, Friday, Saturday and issued a confirmation code.
Kodi had stayed at the 4 Queens, years ago, with Blonde4ever, and had found the room adequate and the staff great. She warned Tom that it wasn’t like Bellagio, or even as fancy as the D, where he had stayed one time, then booked it for Tuesday (arrival) and Wednesday nights at $79 ( +tax) . She had asked the ressie clerk at the D about booking 3 more nights at regular rate ( Sun, Mon, Tues) after the comp stay, but was told that if she added nights, the cheapest ones ( nights 4, 5, 6) would be the comped nights and she’d have to pay the going rate for the Friday and Saturday. Annoying as hell. 😡 So back to the 4 Queens they’d go, to complete their Downtown component of the trip.
Because of all the lotions and potions Kodi needed to carry in order to keep her Sjogrens manageable, they would take checked bags, and backpack carry-ons. With only 3 weeks to go, they booked their Antigen Test ($40/pp) and the packing marathon began.
Their son offered ( part of the 75th birthday package) to drive them to the airport at 5:30 am on April 6th, so they were up and at ‘em by 4:00. They drove their sedan to his home and switched vehicles, as he has a great comfy van…and Kodi much prefers riding ‘high’ on the highway…
Breakfast had been offered by the passengers after they arrived at the airport, so the van was parked in the short term lot. It soon became apparent the nothing was open on the Canadian side of Terminal 3, except Burger King, standing room only. Rain check, Boyo….
Check in of the bags was frustrating. They each had a free bag, because they’d booked the flight on the WestJet credit card, but the self serve kiosks would not recognize that…so into a long line to speak to a clerk. He was a newbie (Kodi has a knack for finding them, whether there or at the bank or supermarket) who had to be guided by the gal next to him, whenever she had a free second or two. He needed to see the negative Antigen test results as well. He was then supposed to mark your boarding pass with a red check mark, to show that all was A OK. Turns out he did Tom’s but not Kodidog’s, so she was called up to the desk at the gate later. “An upgrade!” marvelled Kodi 🤩…..but nope, it was just for that….
and she hauled out the paperwork once again. Tom had apologized for leaving their driver hungry, and they headed thru to security and customs. The lines were long, even at 7:30, and a few people were Plucked out of line so they didn’t miss their flights.
As usual, the WestJet gate for Vegas was at the very tip of the Terminal. A couple of restaurants where they had enjoyed small meals in the past were closed, but they finally came upon a ‘burger bar’ where they didn’t serve burgers until after 11 am..(they obviously don’t ‘get’ Vegas people, because time doesn’t exist for them.) A cold brew coffee, a V 8 , a Caesar wrap and chicken/ cream cheese on raisin bread ( sandwiches prepackaged) came to over $40 U.S.! Kodi grumbled and took a photo of the receipt, but the camera refused believe or acknowledge it. Thus you will not see it here. So much for Tuesday’s planned budget eating…
The flight was full, and although they had checked-in online 24 hours ahead, their seats were on the aisle and ( would have had to pay $55 each to sit together.)…opposite each other. Masking was required from the moment they entered the Toronto airport, until they were out of the Las Vegas one…and that wasn’t much fun, but WonderfulLand was waiting and they’d endure it.
The flight was smooth, and service good, with beverages and snacks ( pretzels or a cookie ) being offered a couple of times during the flight. Although Kodidog had been anal about staying safe from the virus for two years ( personally had seen bad cases and deaths) she felt confident about the safety protocols on the plane, and knowing that everyone else around her had tested negative in the previous 24 hours, masks down drinking and eating didn’t bother her.
Arriving at Terminal 3 in Vegas on time, and following signs to begin the long March and tram ride to baggage claim wasn’t a chore, because….. VEGAS! Out they went to ground transportation, and the shuttle booths. Kodi preferred taking the shuttle to Downtown, as stops at various hotels just let her check out what was new since her previous visit, and it wasn’t 1 p.m. yet…a bit early to check into the hotel probably . They went to the various shuttered booths, and were looking for someone selling tickets or loading people up in the midst of the hubbub outside. That had happened in the past sometimes. Nothing was apparent.
They noticed a young couple nearby, searching about as well, and asked them if they we’re waiting for a shuttle. They were…and they had just asked a taxi facilitator where they might find someone to help them. He said that the shuttle companies weren’t running out of this terminal any longer. You’d have to go to Terminal 1 to source one now.
Resigned to having to pay for a cab (NOT a flat rate to Downtown like the are on the strip from the airport) Kodi asked what the rate for a cab to the 4 Queens would be. Around $40, she was told. The young lady asked him “What about The Golden Nugget?” When Kodi heard that, she sized up the luggage they were pushing, ( visually , not with the tape measure in her purse) and approached the gal and enquired if they would be willing to share a cab with them, since the hotels were close to each other.
The 4 of them were directed to a van and checked with the driver. He clarified the cost, would probably be closer to $43 for the ride. Kodi quietly slipped the gal $25 and they loaded up and headed out. They were from the Kingston Ont. area, and hadn’t stayed Downtown before. Kodi and Tom proceeded to give them lots of tips, and eating suggestions, and the ride went by quickly. As they stopped at the Golden Nugget, the meter turned to just past $49.00. Seeing this, Kodi palmed another $5 and tried to hand it to Ashley, as she and Will were exiting the van, but she refused to take it. She and Tom started to get out as well and the driver said…”No, no….I’ll take you around to the check in area. The meter’s off. No problem.” “We appreciate it”, they said. “ It’s VERY much appreciated.” (#RoyalFlusherVegas).
The line at check in wasn’t very long, although many were sitting around the lobby..waiting for ‘something’ and Kodidog assumed that 1:30 would be too early to get their room, even on a Tuesday . She’d booked a two-bedded Premium room in the South Tower, in hopes of getting a quieter space on the bustling Fremont Experience to lay their heads at night, and a stand alone shower was a welcome perk in those rooms.
Surprisingly, Room 1240 was clean and ready to go. Besides signing the waiver for being in a non-smoking room, she was handed another to read and sign, acknowledging that they had been informed that there would be no housekeeping service during their stay. The clerk said that if they needed supplies they could drop by the front desk and pick them up. ( During the 2 nights there, she did that twice, once for coffee packets and once for extra lotion). The gal then handed her a lovely little Fun Book, which came in handy, and they sure appreciated it….appreciated it more than once, for sure!
Since it would be 2/3/3 nights downtown, and their clothes were in nylon packets’ that were mesh on one side, things except for Toiletries and medications would stay in the suitcases. This worked well, and was much the way #Blonde4ever who had been Kodidog’s Roomie a few times packed, just doing a deep dive up to her elbows each morning, if she needed to change her outfit.
They headed downstairs and checked out their players cards. They still worked, so that was the third win of the day, after the shared cab, and early check-in. They decided to eat at Magnolias using one of the Fun Book deals they had. Kodidog had enjoyed the prime rib there many times in the past, and couldn’t wait to share the experience with Tom. The line up was nearly non-existent, which they didn’t realize would be a ‘one of’ during their time downtown, so I suppose it could be called win number 4.
They used the 2/1 entree coupon and enjoyed a fantastic meal, just as Kodi had remembered . Foolishly, they also ordered a dessert “The Brownie Sundae “. It was absolutely delicious but they both felt stuffed afterwards, and vowed not to repeat the mistake.
“ Let’s get our Gamble on! “ shouted Tom, ( Actually it MAY have been Kodi but no one could tell by the innocent look on her face when they whipped around at the sound), causing a waiter to drop syrup on a nearby diner’s head. (It definitely matched her eyes, but she was far from impressed.) They lined up to pay at the cashier at the top of the entrance /exit staircase, which is always bottle-necked and then scurried down to the casino floor. (As usual, they tipped well for the excellent, cheerful service they received at Magnolias.)
They both played on Kodi’s card, hoping to accumulate enough points to decrease the cost of future meals while they were there. It appeared however, that they’d seen the last ‘win’ for that day, when they’d walked into the restaurant easily. $20s disappeared in video keno, video poker, and ‘silly slots’ so quickly that as the time change began to drain their energy at 8 p.m. the daily envelopes fluttered emptily to the casino floor. Being Canadian, of course they picked them up and looked for a trash can.
As often happens to East Coasters when first arriving, sleep didn’t go well the first night.
Room 1240 was definitely quiet but they were awake by 4 a.m. and decided to lay around for a while before showering and heading downstairs. Tom made coffee, 2 cups…even though he doesn’t drink coffee. You can guess why, eh? Kodi had a long list of places she wanted to go, and things she planned to do this trip, if her body would cooperate. Hopefully caffeine would kickstart her today.
They headed for Magnolias and the line snaking from the restaurant entrance all the way down the stairs. Tom hadn’t been here when it was like this, wondering if they should even wait, but Kodidog assured him that the line would move quickly. 15 minutes later they were seated with their menus. They both had orange juice, and Tom enjoyed biscuits and gravy. They paid the bill and headed to the casino to make their fortune, or at least earn some comps towards future meals. Kodi would realize later that since they were members of ‘Club 55’ she could have shown her players card and received a 10% discount off the meal. ( Not valid on coupon items though).
They masked up and hung together for a while playing machines side by side…because Kodi hated it when the person next to her hit multiple bonuses when she had the same kind of machine with a shrivelled up heart, that looked innocent but just viciously inhaled money, and made her weep .
That was fun for a bit, but then they went their separate ways, agreeing to meet at 2 back in the room for a nap.
Half of Kodi’s daily gambling stake was gone when she headed up to the room to find that Tom was just about even at that point. They tried to rest but their nervous systems were on high alert, because VEGAS for the first time in 4 years…
They freshened up and headed out for a walk at 3 pm. They went up the escalator at the D to look around at Fremont and the crowds were sparse, and very few wore masks. The smell of pot came and went as the people walked under them.
They went inside and down the escalators, across the casino ( Eyes straight ahead, Kodi. Those machines are not calling YOU !) onto Fremont. Tom was being treated to a taste explosion this afternoon, and he’d been hearing about his wife’s craving for weeks.
Following directions, with Kodi’s left arm tucked in his right one ( it always looked so romantic, when in fact it was done to keep her from staggering if she lost her balance, 😂 ) he said “Hey, I can smell something even stronger than marijuana.” And his mouth began to water…
Just across the street, the air around it surrounded by angels with tomato-sauced stained mouths playing trumpets, was the sign ‘ PIZZA ROCK’. Kodi sighed.
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| Kodi was unable to capture the Angels on film for some mysterious reason. |
She’d first eaten in this restaurant a few years ago when attending a meet up with some other Vegas nuts, while on a trip with #Blonde4ever. She wasn’t herself that day, because moments before arriving, she and Blonde had stopped at a Jerky place on the way there ( now shuttered up in a row of dark, dingy stores). Kodi had never eaten jerky before. They decided to try the flavour they’d bought and after a bite or two, Kodi said “Oh, Oh.” She’d broken a filling and piece of her top front tooth. Thus she had arrived at the restaurant with a guarded smile, not keen on meeting a bunch of people for the first time. She avoided all but a couple of closed mouth photos that afternoon, enjoying herself in spite of her embarrassment.
The highlight for Blonde had been finally meeting Scott Roben: Man about Town, who has a silver tongue and is rumoured to own a Cloak of Invisibility. He posts juicy tidbits and info about changes happening in Vegas, days, weeks or months before mainstream media releases the news. She had a big ( tooth intact) smile on her face all afternoon.
Having had the Restaurant’s famous meatballs at Happy Hour that day, and not making it back there since then , Kodi hoped her memory of them as being the best she’d ever had, wasn’t an Illusion. Happy Hour was here now, and she was both excited and a little fearful.Tom had heard her rave about them and definitely planned to have them as well…until he looked at the 743 page menu.
Tom loves Mac And Cheese . He decided on that, even though it wasn’t reduced for Happy Hour. What could his lovely wife say. This was after all, his Birthday trip. He said he’d also order the Meatballs.
“Uh uh” said Kodi. “Very large portions here “. “Uh uh” agreed the waiter. “If you do that, it won’t turn out well unless you share the pasta.”
Sceptically, Tom ordered the pasta, after being promised a sample meatball from the plate across the table. He also ordered a large cola ( good for filling up the stomach and greatly expanding pasta…)
Kodi ordered the 3 Happy Hour meatballs, plus a few more….and waited. When they arrived, preceded by wafts of tomato greatness, she quickly swallowed, and then thanked the fellow from the kitchen who delivered them.
Tom started stuffing the Mac and cheese down. It was baaacony, and cheesy, oniony and tasty.
Kodi now had her eyes closed and was savouring each meatball swimming in delicious tomato sauce. Tom asked for a meatball. Startled back into consciousness, Kodi cut half of one off, and placed it in his bowl, and he looked at her puzzled.
“Sorry Buddy, these are just too delicious, and you’ve only made a dent in your pasta, and you ARE on your second big glass of pop…”.
He had to agree… they were lovely meatballs, and since hers were her last meal that day, he didn’t sulk for VERY long. Kodi guiltily passed him the remainder of the sliced meatball, as she was SO proud of him! ( And herself, because she felt she MIGHT have been able to resist putting a fork through his hand if he’d insisted and reached for another one, because ….HIS BIRTHDAY TRIP .)
They finished up ( Tom making it through 3/4 of his dish) and tipped their waiter especially well, for he was manning most of the 14 or so tables that were filled..efficiently and with charisma. Then they began the stroll back down to the Canopy. Seeing the line up for pick-up pizzas on the way out the door made them think that getting a couple of the large slices before leaving Downtown that week might be an excellent idea. The scent still tweaked their taste buds, though their bellies were full.
Tomorrow was the Day that they needed to haul the luggage to the D for 3 days. They planned to stay in the 4 Queens room until as late as possible ( check out was at noon). They went upstairs, and Kodi organized a few thing to balance the loads, and decided to start putting the previously worn clothing in a laundry bag she had brought with her, into one suitcase, and gradually use that one for those, and shoes, swimwear, slot cards, and such.
That would make it easier as they changed hotels and needed to source clean clothes. They planned on drinking a packet each of EmergenC orange drink every morning for extra Vit C and Zinc, so two boxes of that got shifted over as well, except for the 8 envelopes of powder and a spoon that they needed while at the D. Kodi left some of her clothes in the same case , because she was the ‘organizer and digger’ for them both, and could pick out her stuff out more easily.
That done, they headed down to the Casino to change their luck, and attempt to stay up until a less laughable time in Vegas. If Kodi lost much more of her daily gambling $, she would wander over to the Royal Player’s Booth and enquire about a deal she seen on signs around the casino….
It’s a good thing she did, because she was eligible for $25 free play, and needed it a couple of hours later. It was on that money that she hit her first small 4 OAK, playing ( Oh dear! 😳) $1 video poker, one coin at a time. No photo…because of the ‘oh dear’ and she didn’t leave the machine, but just bumped it up to two coins and left 1/2 hour later, with her Kodidog tail tucked between her legs.
Well, at least she lasted until 9:30 that night….. Tom was up in the room already, with a little bit of his money left, to start the next day, before going into his ‘D’ envelope.
Enjoying this, Sandy!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to Fabulous Canuck Vegas! Lot's of good chuckles in here, and thanks for the shoutout. 'Preciate you.
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