Viva!

I hope you enjoyed my relatively thorough twittering on my Las Vegas trip.  It was a fun little experiment, and a fun way to connect with you while I was gone.  I'm sorry to say I wasn't as thorough with my photo-documenting.  I never was sure if it was appropriate to take pictures of the gambling action, and I was afraid I might jinx the table, so a large part of the trip isn't documented.  I do have some pics to show you, though.

Friday night the whole group went to Battista's Hole in the Wall- a kitchy old school Italian restaurant.  It was a lot of fun, but not what you'd call a culinary experience.  We did enjoy ourselves.

That was Holly with salami eyes.  You can also catch a glimpse of the free house wine that comes with every meal.  It's not good, but it's free.  It's all part of the experience...

Here's one picture in a casino:

All of the casinos were celebrating the Chinese New Year, which made for some great displays.  This one at the Bellagio had amazing topiaries including this one of an ox, as this is the year of the ox. 

I had so much fun playing craps at a bunch of the casinos.  It's my favorite game, because it has so much to do with the energy of the group you're playing with.  There's a lot of camraderie. 

We stayed at the Planet Hollywood and got upgraded to the "Get Shorty Suite".  It was pretty rediculous, but a perfect place to stay when living the life in Vegas.  I should have taken pictures, because all of the memerobelia was pretty rediculous, and we had a huge circular tub.  But alas, you'll have to use your imagination.

One of the most fun things we did was go to Hofbrauhaus Vegas.  There are only three of these in the world- the original in Munich, one in Cincinatti, and Vegas.  It's basically a big beer hall with the big steins and music and excellent German food.

Like this awesome pretzel:

It came with 2 mustards and a delicious cheese sauce.

Here was the entertainment guy with this long horn.  (You can definitely insert your innapropriate horn jokes here- I know he did.)

There were lot's of contests.

Bryan won the beer holding contest.

Brent and his good friend Steve sat back and enjoyed the show.

I ate sausage and kraut.  Have I ever told you that I love sausage and cabbage?  Oh, I have.  Sorry. 

The table full of beer and more delicious food.

Wait a sec.  Who is that in the ladie's drinking competition?

That's right, folks.  I'm hard core like that.  Honestly I just took a look at the other ladies and they looked like sissies.  I don't like to compete when I know I don't have a chance.

Oh look- it's Brent and Steve's time to shine in the men's drinking competition.

Ladies first:

Meredith first!

And for the gents:

Steve drank that beer faster than I've ever seen a beer drunk.  It was quite a sight.

Soon after we were inspired to stand on the table and sing a song to which we didn't know the words.  Those Germans have the amazing ability to inspire people to do things they never thought they'd do.  It's a blessing and a curse.

Michael won the iphone beer drinking contest.  Yes there's an app for that.

We had a fabulous time.  After the Hofbrauhause we hit the casinos again and Michael's brother Steve (not beer drinker extrordinaire Steve) had an amazing streak of luck with the dice. 

Vegas is fun, guys.  I never thought I'd be the gambling type, and I'm still not one to take huge risks, but I really had a great time. 

Playing,
Meredith