Four Friends hit town for a Fun Vegas Friday...

The text arrived …..’We’re here!!’

Sandy and Sarah1 had driven through the scorching desert from LA, while Sarah2 and Adam were straight off their ‘Experience America’ coach tour.

Both roads led to the cool haven of their Vegas home for 3 days, The Bellagio, so I texted back to meet us on the Fontana Bar balcony.

I figured they’d be needing a drink.

Sandy and Sarah1 were old hands at Vegas - but for Adam and Sarah2 it was a whole new experience….

Rounded up E and legged it to The Bellagio to grab a balcony table.
2 newly weds and a photographer were patiently waiting for the next Fountain display for their wedding photos, and the late afternoon was warm and sultry and relaxing….

E and I enjoyed the ambience once again – thinking what a find Evoni had introduced us to.

As if on cue - at 5.30 on the dot, the Fountains exploded, the newly weds struck a pose and 4 excited Brits burst through the door, tumbling and shrieking and laughing… ..it certainly woke up the Fontana Bar… and I dread to think how some of those wedding photos turned out.

Drinks all round –interspersed with Fountain ooohhhs and ahhhhhs … everyone talking 10 to the dozen… Vegas hyper-excitement!

I’d been nominated tour guide for the evening so I hurry everyone up as we have a date with Big Elvis…

Head to Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and get there just in time for the 6.30 show– grabbing the last table and chairs. Sandy does the honours and gets the beers in (he knows his priorities!) and before we have caught our breath, the Big Man with the even bigger voice is there before us, belting it out.

And the voice is extraordinary.

Close your eyes and it could be The King…………......but that’s not fair.

You may go for the novelty of an extremely ‘larger than life’ impersonation … but you soon start thinking – hey, this guy is terrific and the weight issue almost gets in the way.

He’s lost a fair amount in recent times and you start to hope, for his sake, he‘ll lose a lot more...

It’s a fun show and we are all cheering and hollering. At one point volunteers are asked for - to dance alongside him.
Sarah2 and Adam leap up with all the confidence of 20 somethings on the loose in Vegas …..but, it’s girlies Elvis wants, and poor Adam is sent back to his chair…
(shame!... Adam, you would have been a great Elvis rock n roller!)

Maracas are handed out and soon Sarah2 is shaking hers with abandon. Suffice to say - there was a whole lotta shakin’ going on.

We were impressed,. …and so was a fellow commonwealth citizen at the next table from Canada. (I’m not sure his missus was though, when he commandeered Sarah for his own personal dance…!)

All in all – the Big Man had us all shook up…..and it was all over too soon. Sandy mused that maybe there was scope for a whole series of ‘Big’ concerts …but we didn’t think Big Madonna or Big Kylie had quite the same ring…….

But forget being Big….

Big Elvis is a King in his own right. It’s not his size. It’s his voice that’s Big.

Go see him…he’s a Star …and he’s not Left the Building yet......

Next stop – food!

As Margaretaville was next door and I’d read good things about it on the forum, I figured it would be a good choice. Abit of a wait for a table on the top level, so I got a round of drinks in.

Now – you always read about the Vegas cliché of the lonely gambler drowning his sorrows in a drink. Well, dear reader, I found him.

At the bar, ‘Phil’ began to tell me his story. My shoulder obviously looked comforting enough to cry on…and his cheek was soon drunkenly pressed against mine in search of solace (at least I think that’s what he was looking for……)

Sorry, Phil, I didn’t stay to hear it all….but I had 4 excitable mates to look after …as well as E, who was being swept along on this new wave of enthusiasm.

A top level table outside, a fantastically warm evening, beers and cocktails, great company …and so much food we couldn’t finish it all… (including 2 plates of nachos that were piled as high as the Stratosphere.)

Stomachs filled …ready for more Vegas! Sandy suggested the Sirens so we mad dashed to Treasure Island by foot and tram, and once again, got there just in time. The crowd was huge, jostling for position, but a flash of our hotel room keys let us into the VIP enclosure and a good close up view…. (any MGM room key will let you in )…

We were also in the ‘wet zone’ – but what’s a bit of a splash between friends on a hot Vegas night!

The fun part of being with people who’ve never experienced Vegas before, is watching their faces.

I looked at Adam as he gazed up at the gyrating Siren /Pirate frenzy and he had the same look of wonder as a young child watching fireworks……...

Vegas was working its magic…

Pirate battle over, ship sunk, and E and I were flagging – after all, it had been a pretty full on week! So we headed for The Mirage for drinks and I figured we might have to let our new Vegas companions carry on partying into the night….

The Mirage was in full Friday night swing and everywhere was packed so we had a quick drink at the sports bar before our new arrivals headed off for a taste of Venice and a gondola ride …
E and I were ready to call it a night.

But as usual, I wanted my gamble before bed and spotted yet another 'old friend'…

In amongst the heaving crowds … I found the Frog Princess...

Now, when I say the crowd was heaving …I am not exaggerating…..as I played, one young thing was heaving into the ashcan beside me…it was that kind of night in the Mirage.

However, nothing was going to distract me! Hit the bonus – picked up a quick $50 and weaved my way through the revellers to bed….
It had been a great Vegas night ..I was pleased to see my friends and even more pleased they were having a good time ...

Tomorrow – we had a date with another legend …..at the Las Vegas Hilton!