FORGET BEN FRANKLIN, IT’S ALL ABOUT ROCKY HERE

The last time I was in Philadelphia was on July 4, 2021.

Whenever I come to Philadelphia, I stay at the hostel on Bank Street, Apple Hostel.

The hostel is located in the Center City part of the city, better known for all the historical places in the city.

There are two buildings in the hostel, and I usually stay in the older one.

Not this time.

For the two days that I was there, thinking that I would see the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team in the championship game.

It didn’t happen, but I still had a great time.

This time, I stayed in the new building in the “Rocky Wing”, because nothing says Philadelphia like the fictional fighter from South Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa .

When you enter the stairway to either go to or leave your room, you’re serenaded by the song, “Gonna Fly Now”, which is better known as the Theme to Rocky.

The hostel has changed in the years that I had been there and the kitchen itself reminds me of one of those gourmet kitchens that you see on Food Network.

There’s even a cappuccino machine which you pay $1 for latte, coffee, chai tea,and Expresso, not bad if you ask me.

Better yet, it’s 24 hours for tea, coffee and the expresso machine.

All in all, Apple Hostel is my home away from home when I make a 30 Plus Teams Tour of the city of Brotherly Love.

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.

GOOD RIDDANCE 2020,HAPPY NEW YEAR

By the time this post uploads, many of you will have all ready said, good riddance, don’t let the door hit you on the way out, and go away to the year from hell, 2020.

Who knows if 2021 will be any better?

Honestly, it can’t be any worse than 2020,which came in like an angel, but later turned into an asshole douchebag to put it nicely.

Don’t know what the rest of 2021 will bring, but it’s gonna be good in the beginning.

Hockey comes back in 12 days and the Sports Diva is liking 2021 all ready.

God willing, let those 30 Plus Teams Tours of somewhere, ANYWHERE, start again.

Call me crazy, but I miss writing about those ‘what’s in my suitcase’ posts that so many of you seem to like a lot.

For now though, 2021 is a couple of hours away.

Good riddance 2020, NOBODY is going to miss you.