CROSSING ANOTHER THING OFF MY BUCKET LIST

Covid what Covid? Vegas is back and while it’s optional to wear masks in some places, others say if you’ve been fully vaccinated, you don’t need to wear one.

If you haven’t been fully vaccinated, you need that mask.

Now how do they know who’s been vaccinated and who hasn’t, that’s another story.

With mask in hand, my cousin and I decided to cross something off my bucket list.

Riding on that big wheel that’s known as the High Roller.

Now let’s not get it twisted.

The High Roller is NOT a ferris wheel.

It’s an OBSERVATION WHEEL, and it’s the tallest in the United States, if not the world coming in at 650 feet tall.

The difference between a ferris wheel and the High Roller is that a ferris wheel stops to let passengers get on.

The High Roller doesn’t.

It goes slow enough to let people on WHILE it’s moving.

Scary right?

Now if you have a thing about heights like I do, you’re going to be really surprised as your pod, (and that’s what the individual cars are called,pods.)slowly rises to the top.

How do you know when you’re at the top?

This is Vegas people. There’s a narrator counting down like it’s New Year’s Eve and says ,”Congratulations we’re at the top!”

Now it seems that it didn’t take long to get to the top because the ride is so smooth.

I paid $33 for a ride in the daytime.

I understand that it’s more spectacular at night, but seeing the Bellagio Fountains , Caesars Palace and other places, I was pretty impressed with the High Roller in the daytime too.

Would I go on it again?

Oh you betcha!

CHEAP EATS AT LA SALSA CANTINA

A lot of buffets in Las Vegas still haven’t opened and many of the restaurants are expensive and stop serving breakfast at 11am.

Now a lot of us don’t come to Vegas to eat at McDonald’s for breakfast, but we will go into Denny’s, no lie.

For the five days that I was there, I ate at a place that was recommended by YouTubers who go to Vegas a lot and Las Vegas Facebook groups.

It’s called La Salsa Cantina and it’s located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino.

Like most places in Las Vegas lately, you have to wait in line to get a table.

The wait seems to take forever but once you get in, believe me the food is worth the wait.

The breakfast special, which includes 2 eggs anyway you want them, a choice of ham, bacon and sausage with potatoes, and either Texas Toast, flour or corn tortilla, is under $5.

They even have 99 cents Bloody Marys and for $4.95 you can get what they call breakfast cocktails, Mimosas, Baileys and Coffee or Bellinis to name a few.

The first two times I went, I had Bloody Marys. Strong but not too strong.

My last day there, Mimosas.

As much as I love the Vegas buffets, I think I’ve found a new breakfast spot in town, La Salsa Cantina

BACK AT THE EXCALIBUR HOTEL AND CASINO

The last time I stayed in this hotel which is between the Luxor and New York New York Casino was in March 2020 right before you know who came.

I decided to stay here again for my 2021 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas.

Now I didn’t get that great rate that I got at Bally’s, but since Excalibur is part of the MGM Properties, as a member of the MLife Players Club, I was able to get a good rate for my stay, which was Wednesday June 23 until Friday morning, June 25.

(Yeah, the Sports Diva plays the slots a lot in Vegas and Atlantic City, which also has MGM and Caesars Properties, don’t judge me!)

I had requested a room in the older, Resort Room section of the hotel.

When I arrived, I did what a lot of people do when they come to Vegas.

I asked if there were any complimentary upgrades on rooms.

All they could say was no, right?

The front desk clerk said she would check and five minutes later, I was moved to one of the newer rooms in the Royal Tower, all the way on the 24th floor, with double beds.

I had a nice view of not only Mandalay Bay and Luxor Hotel Casinos, but Las Vegas McCarran Airport, where I could watch the planes take off and land, and a partial view of Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

Being the Sports Diva, you know I was happy to see something sports related.

This was a 30 Plus Teams Tour anyway, right?

The bed was nice and comfy.

My only complaint was unlike my stay at Bally’s a few nights before, there was no refrigerator in the room.

You just know another 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas is going to come, God willing.

If I can get a good or even a great rate, I’ll be making another visit to Excalibur.

JUNE TRAVEL QUOTES

In two days or so, we’re going to be in month number 6, July.

Slow it down 2021, you’re moving WAY TOO FAST!

Have you traveled yet now that things are somewhat back to what we all thought was “normal”?

You’re still waiting to do your own 30 Plus Teams Tour of somewhere?

Can’t say that I blame you because well, Corona is still out there and some people still can’t travel.

But for those who can travel, get out there and do so.

Just don’t forget the travel Wipes, hand sanitizers and most importantly, your masks.

Let these quotes as usual, inspire you to travel.

STAYING AT BALLY’S HOTEL AND CASINO FOR THE FIRST TIME

Usually when I come to Las Vegas for a 30 Plus Teams Tour, I stay downtown at either Four Queens or the Las Vegas Hostel for a few days then I go to another hotel, more often than not, Excalibur.

This trip was different.

I stayed on the Las Vegas Strip, right in the center of things at Bally’s Hotel and Casino, which is connected to the Paris Hotel and not far from the Flamingo, Linq, Planet Hollywood, Bellagio and Caesars Palace.

To say that it was located in the center of everything would be an understatement.

It is.

This was my first time staying at Bally’s and as a member of Ceasar’s Rewards, I got a not good, but great room deal for the three days that I stayed there.

(You can’t beat $10 a night really. That’s how much I paid and had a double room, not a king sized bed like I had requested.)

My cousin and I were in the middle of everything and we pretty much walked every where, including to T Mobile Arena to see a Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup playoff game(which they lost but more about that in another post.)

Even though Vegas is somewhat open, some places require you to wear a mask.

However, while at the pool, one wasn’t required.

The pool at Bally’s was nice and not too crowded, which was great because the temperature was 105 degrees and the water felt oh so nice.

Because I got in so late, I didn’t have to wait to check into my room, which was on the 8th floor.

I had a very nice view, or at least I thought I did.

Good rate, bad rate, or great rate, I think Bally’s is going to be added to the list of hotels that I’m going to stay at when I come to Las Vegas

LEAVING ON A JET BLUE PLANE AGAIN

The last time I rode on Jet Blue was March 2019.

I was going from Los Angeles back home to JFK.

This time, and screw you, Covid, I’m taking Jet Blue again.

This time from Terminal 5 at JFK to Terminal 3 at Las Vegas McCarran Airport.

That’s right, for her first trip post the virus from hell, the Sports Diva is making an appearance back to where all the craziness and mayhem always starts and ends , Lost Wages, Sin City, Nevada.

Of course being the Sports Diva is going to be taking in some live sports as the local hockey team, Vegas Golden Knights are in the Stanley Cup semifinals.

But enough about that, let’s talk about my Jet Blue flight.

I was able to check in early and I had all ready picked and paid for my seat, an aisle seat.

The $10 that I paid for a seat, wasn’t bad. Way to go, Jet Blue.

As usual, though, the flight to Vegas was packed, so much for social distancing.

But I didn’t care if the middle seats weren’t blocked off.

I still had a lot of legroom and after a year, it was so good to be on a flight period that I didn’t mind or care that we were packed like sardines but with masks on.

The only thing that hasn’t changed since 2020 on Jet Blue is that they always seem to change the gate that you’re departing from.

My trip was no exception.

I was supposed to leave from Gate 29 and I look down on my phone and there’s a message from Jet Blue.

Your gate has changed.

If you’ve ever been to JFK, you KNOW that some of the gates aren’t close to each other.

It’s not like Chicago O’Hare or Atlanta Hartsfield- Jackson, but it is spread out.

WHERE I AM

This isn’t a long blog post today because just too much is going on.

Will talk about my flight on Jet Blue in another post.

But right now where did my suitcases and I end up?

Some people guessed Miami, others Los Angeles.

The answer is a place that I hadn’t been to in a year.

VEGAS BABY!

They’ll be lots of craziness going on because the Vegas Golden Knights are in the Stanley Cup hockey semifinals and you just know that Sports Diva just has to be there, even if I don’t go to a game at TMobile Arena.

Enjoy my journey, it’s gonna be “lit”

WHAT’S IN MY SUITCASE?

It’s back my 30 Plus Teams Tour people!

It’s the post all of you seem to love.

It’s the ever popular, what’s in my suitcase.

The Sports Diva hasn’t gone anywhere since my last trip in April to beautiful Uniondale, NY.

I’m ready for this five day, six night trip for some sun, lots of water and being the Sports Diva, you know a sporting event or two will be thrown in there.

I might even do something on my bucket list.

Where am I going?

As usual, you gotta guess.

While you’re thinking about it, here’s what’s in my suitcase.

My suitcase at the bottom, which is getting checked in, along with my carry on bag that I took to Uniondale and my personal item at the top.

My airport outfits for going and coming

My Mickey Mouse luggage tag from Amazon

Hats, hats and more hats

Scarves and headbands

Shoes for days

Yes I am carrying all of these handbags

Bathing suits, bathing suit cover ups and a beach Bag

Sunglasses and my wigs are special. They have their own suitcase also.

3 caftans/robes

Shirts, a black pair of pants and lots of shorts

Dresses

My travel scale from Amazon and yes my checked in bag is under 50 pounds. Plus making the trip are my stuffed animals, Brady and Posh Spice.

There you have what’s in my suitcase.

All of this isn’t going, but it might, just saying.

I also have some suddenly important stuff to go in my personal item,hand sanitizers, masks, travel Wipes and my Covid Vaccine card.

Have you guessed yet?

You’ll just have to wait until my next post to find out.