Tucson, Ho!
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So the moment I get back to the desert and it’s over 100 degrees (38C), what’s the first thing I do? Go out hiking and hurt myself, of course! I desperately needed a serious dose of sunshine, and boy did I get it, and then some. I didn’t really need the dehydration I got along with the boiling-hot sun, but hey, you win some, you lose some.
I went up and down several different hiking paths in Tucson and loved every minute of the exercise, the solitude, the sunshine and the communing with nature. Well, except for the bit where the cactus “bit” me and stuck a spine through a tendon on my left hand. After that, I was unable to type with otherwise use my left hand for about a week. While working on a computer in the clinic. And for my two online jobs. And pretty much all my leisure activities. Yeah, it wasn’t pretty, but I got by with a little help from my friends, and coworkers.
Homesick for... Asian Food?
Within a couple days of tanking up on my favorite Mexican and Indian food and stocking up on smoothie-able goodies, I got fiercely homesick for Asian food, so I went on a mission. I hit up several Chinese restaurants (delicious!), a deserted sushi joint (mediocre), a bustling sushi restaurant (fabulous), and even this guy at the farmer’s market selling “mantou”, which are ridiculously cheap and filling and yummilicious in Taiwan. Not so much at the farmer’s market on either score; at five bucks and tasteless I was not impressed.
I just about lost my mind when I saw an actual coconut, though, at a Vietnamese Pho restaurant. My jaw hit the floor, and I started gibbering excitedly at the sight. My friends had the good grace not to make fun of me, but I could tell they were quite amused at my reaction. I was ecstatic to shell out five bucks for that happy-memory-inducing deliciosity, and contentedly savored every drop.
I just about lost my mind when I saw an actual coconut, though, at a Vietnamese Pho restaurant. My jaw hit the floor, and I started gibbering excitedly at the sight. My friends had the good grace not to make fun of me, but I could tell they were quite amused at my reaction. I was ecstatic to shell out five bucks for that happy-memory-inducing deliciosity, and contentedly savored every drop.
Paying A Visit To Sin City
Within two weeks of landing in Tucson, I ran off to Las Vegas. This was my first time flying with Southwest, thanks to their miles program. I can see how they take a little getting used to, but overall it was a great experience, and I will definitely be traveling with them again.
I converged on Vegas to celebrate life and relationships with family, and had an amazing time. I have never in my life stayed in a hotel anything like the Trump Tower. Granted, my British friend made fun of me for staying there, as “trump” means “fart” in UK slang, but I got the last laugh with phenomenal views, unmatched service and special time with family.
The lobby was… daunting. As in “do I really deserve to be in here” daunting, with tables full of fresh flowers over ten feet high, yawningly humongous vaulted ceilings, and gold everywhere. Shortly after arriving, I consciously decided that I DID deserve to be there and just accepted it as my due, and enjoyed the pampering all the way up to our 23rd-floor room. The jacuzzi with a view over Las Vegas certainly didn’t hurt.
I converged on Vegas to celebrate life and relationships with family, and had an amazing time. I have never in my life stayed in a hotel anything like the Trump Tower. Granted, my British friend made fun of me for staying there, as “trump” means “fart” in UK slang, but I got the last laugh with phenomenal views, unmatched service and special time with family.
The lobby was… daunting. As in “do I really deserve to be in here” daunting, with tables full of fresh flowers over ten feet high, yawningly humongous vaulted ceilings, and gold everywhere. Shortly after arriving, I consciously decided that I DID deserve to be there and just accepted it as my due, and enjoyed the pampering all the way up to our 23rd-floor room. The jacuzzi with a view over Las Vegas certainly didn’t hurt.
Just A Little Nibble At the Bellagio
After settling into the hotel, we headed out to dinner to celebrate at a Cantonese restaurant. I even set aside my vegetarianism for the night so that we could all share in the roasted duck, which was delectable. Everything was fancy, from the entrance, to views of the water jet show outside, to the service, and the other people. I was starstruck, or glitz-struck, or something-struck. I focused on appreciating the intimate family-and-friend dinner and superb service, and kind of ignored the rest of the fanciness, as it was overwhelming to me.
The dinner was the centerpiece of our visit, but we had another whole night and day to spend together, and we made full use of it. One highlight: we saw “Beatles Love,” my first Cirque du Soleil show, and I was wowed. I “oohed” and “aahed” at all the right moments with the rest of the audience, utterly entranced. What an experience.
The dinner was the centerpiece of our visit, but we had another whole night and day to spend together, and we made full use of it. One highlight: we saw “Beatles Love,” my first Cirque du Soleil show, and I was wowed. I “oohed” and “aahed” at all the right moments with the rest of the audience, utterly entranced. What an experience.
Entertainment Capital of the World
We also took the F-R-E-E limousine ride from our hotel to Sapphire, the largest gentleman’s club on earth. Unfortunately for Sapphire, the limo ride was by far the best part, with colorful flashing lights on the floor, a rocking DJ-of-a-chauffeur who was clearly having a great time, hairpin turns and a pit stop at the liquor store. Our promised “free” entry turned into $45 for the mandatory first two “free” drinks, which was annoying but not unexpected.
The club itself was big, packed, expensive, noisy and felt vaguely uncomfortable in its own skin. The bathrooms were the most fun I had inside the club, with attendants helping the dancers and waitresses get into and out of outfits and fixing makeup and everybody complaining about all the stupid annoying men, whom they were about to go back out onto the floor and try engage with again to make more cash to take home. The second-most-common topic of conversation was about their boyfriends who were being stupid, or cheating, or rude, or disrespectful. I met several girls paying their way through college by dancing, so I wish them well and I don’t judge them, but it’s definitely not my thing. I managed less than an hour before I escaped back to the comfy quiet hotel room.
The following day, we disported ourselves thoroughly and introduced my sister-in-law to mini-golf. Not only was it her first experience of mini-golf, but it was all of our first time playing it under a black light. They did a great job with it, too, and we had loads of fun dodging toddlers trying to steal our balls, neon-yellow clubs and balls, and fake turf with painfully bright day-glow orange obstacles.
I had previously offered to pick up the day’s transportation tab, though I did turn green at the taxi cost – it was over $50 each way, yikes! Welcome to Vegas, baby. Fork over all your cash and nobody gets hurt.
After that we parted ways, and I flew home, content with my brief foray into the City of Lights and ready to get back to my regularly scheduled desert rat existence for a while longer.
Until next time!
The club itself was big, packed, expensive, noisy and felt vaguely uncomfortable in its own skin. The bathrooms were the most fun I had inside the club, with attendants helping the dancers and waitresses get into and out of outfits and fixing makeup and everybody complaining about all the stupid annoying men, whom they were about to go back out onto the floor and try engage with again to make more cash to take home. The second-most-common topic of conversation was about their boyfriends who were being stupid, or cheating, or rude, or disrespectful. I met several girls paying their way through college by dancing, so I wish them well and I don’t judge them, but it’s definitely not my thing. I managed less than an hour before I escaped back to the comfy quiet hotel room.
The following day, we disported ourselves thoroughly and introduced my sister-in-law to mini-golf. Not only was it her first experience of mini-golf, but it was all of our first time playing it under a black light. They did a great job with it, too, and we had loads of fun dodging toddlers trying to steal our balls, neon-yellow clubs and balls, and fake turf with painfully bright day-glow orange obstacles.
I had previously offered to pick up the day’s transportation tab, though I did turn green at the taxi cost – it was over $50 each way, yikes! Welcome to Vegas, baby. Fork over all your cash and nobody gets hurt.
After that we parted ways, and I flew home, content with my brief foray into the City of Lights and ready to get back to my regularly scheduled desert rat existence for a while longer.
Until next time!
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