Trip to Las Vegas March 16 - 21, 2019

Saturday, March 16 - I flew on Alaska Airlines from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Las Vegas (LAS) at 9:00 AM to arrive at 11:10 AM.  I retrieved my suitcase and met my sister, Jeanette, at Passenger Pickup.  Jeanette's house is beautiful however it is in the McCarran flight path.  Very noisy!

There are miles and miles of brown houses and buildings in Las Vegas all one style.  Incredibly boring!

We had lunch at Starbucks, 8164 S. Las Vegas Blvd.  I had a Roasted Tomato/Mozzarella Panini and Shortbread Cookies.  We sat at a table on the patio.  Afterward I found a Two-for-one Geocache: a Virtual and a Benchmark (GR1933).  I had to count the rungs in the Arden Water Tank ladder for the Virtual.

We went to the Terry Fator show at the Mirage.  We were about 15 minutes late.  Traffic was horrendous!   The show was great.  I can't believe that it was ten years since he won "America's Got Talent". 

Sunday, March 17 - Jeanette and I went to the Regal Cinema at Village Square, 9400 W Sahara Avenue.  We each had a dish of ice cream at nearby Cold Stone Creamery.  I had a scoop each of French Vanilla and Chocolate.  We saw "Gone with the Wind" at 1:00 PM. 

Monday, March 18 - Jeanette and I went to Red Rock Canyon.  Most of the mountains around Las Vegas are composed of sedimentary rock.  Red Rock Canyon provides spectacular examples of both types: the gray mountains are limestone, and the red-and-white hills are sandstone.  

We stopped at the Visitor Center.  We saw the film and exhibits both indoors and outdoors.  We also saw wild jackasses and several desert tortoises.  We saw sandstone boulders dappled with red spots that are iron concretions toward the end of the drive.  I did two Earthcaches. 

I attended the Geocachers of Las Vegas Monthly Meet & Greet at BJ's Restaurant Brewhouse, 10840 West Charleston from 5:00 - 6:30 PM.  I had a glass of Chardonnay wine.  I won the first prize in the raffle.

Tuesday, March 19 - We headed to Arizona on Hwy 93.  We stopped at the Lake Mead Scenic Overlook.  I took several photos of the signboards in order to create an Earthcache.  We stopped at the historic White Rock Canyon Bridge (1933/1934).  It is a two-for-one geocache: a Virtual and a Benchmark. 

We had lunch at Capriotti's, a Sandwich Shop at 771 E, Horizon Drive in Henderson.  I had a half Italian sub and a delicious chocolate brownie. 

We went to the Clark County Museum in Henderson so I could do a Virtual.  We visited the Museum, historic houses, and a Wedding Chapel.  There were old cars parked outside the houses and the Motor Court. 

I watched Master Chef Jr. on television in the evening. 

Wednesday, March 20 - We went to the Bellagio to see the impressive Japanese floral display in the Botanical Gardens and the Chihuly Floral Glass Ceiling in the lobby.  We saw the Chocolate Fountain.  We took the tram to the Aria Resort and Casino.  We visited a Fine Art Gallery.  We went back to the Bellagio to pick up Jeanette's car.

We went to The Capital Grille, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd South for Jeanette's birthday luncheon at 1:00 PM.  We each had their famous Cheeseburger with fries.  Jeanette split her Birthday dessert - a cheesecake with fresh berries - with me.

I watched a two hour "Survivor" on television in the evening.  The tribes merged but were in for a shock when all of the voted off survivors reappeared!

Thursday, March 21 - I packed my suitcase and carryon. I left my hat behind for another visit. Jeanette dropped me off at Alaska Airlines at Terminal 3.  I checked my suitcase and got my boarding pass.  I was quickly through TSA screening.  I got a slice of pumpkin loaf at Starbucks.  The gate was changed. 

I boarded for a 2:00 flight to PDX - bulkhead aisle seat.  I watched a film "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" with Melissa McCarthy based on a true story.  It ended up taking me longer to get home via public transportation (switching problem on MAX light rail red line) than it did to fly from Las Vegas to Portland International Airport!