Viva Las Vegas: What One Week in "Sin City" Has Taught Me

Vegas, Vegas, Vegas.

I've got nothing against the place, except that it's not the most friendly if you're wandering around by yourself, and that most people are drunk. There are drunks every hour of every day, and Lady Luck doesn't like it when I play anything but blackjack.  VIP lists can be a mile long and you get shunted if you're alone.

At the same time... I'm having a blast. I know how to walk around people (thank you New York), I love the fact that I can choose to do what I want (within legal limits), and the sight of open containers with public drinking, while technically not legal, is almost heart-warming (it reminds me of Belgium).

I get to do the Freemont Street Experience (even though I felt my heart stop when I ate the deep-fried Oreo).  At the same time, I decide that I don't really want to go zip lining above people's heads.  I somehow get to go to an Offspring concert.  I even get my mother to call the cops and report me missing (NOTE: the cell phone reception is horrible inside of casinos. You better make sure that you call well outside the walls, otherwise, someone might think you have been kidnapped)!

I walk up and down the Strip. I get shanghai-ed by a sales man, eat at a Rainforest Cafe for the first time ever, and play test audience for a new television show.  I visit a tourist attraction featuring the Mob and play along, even though I have no idea what to expect (ultimately I get made into the family!). I even have an alcoholic popsicle.

My experience did NOT turn into anything remotely from the Hangover franchise.  But... In the end, I would like to leave you with this list of amusing, entertaining and bizarre comments from Las Vegas:

1. "You got that Asian persuasion."
2. "Your hands look like they can win some money." (insert pause) "Want a job?"
3. "Girl, it's hot out here, but you just made it hotter."
4. "Oooohhhh, so that's what single and willing to mingle means."
5. "Just so you know, I got laid on that club crawl, which means it was probably the best 30 bucks I spent last night."
6. "Three-some means: you some, me some, we some."
7. "What happens in Vegas stays on YouTube."

Funny thing: she was wearing five inch heels and I was wearing flats.
We were the same height!

Bruxelles: Welcome to the Carneval

Carnival, Carnivale, Carneval is HUGE.  Granted, the largest celebration is in Sydney, Australia (who knew, because I didn't) and most people think of Rio's huge party scene or Venice's masks.

There were also girls with Red Bull backpacks.

But Binche (pronounced buh-EHN-che) is unique.  Their carnivale celebration was named a UNESCO World Heritage Event in 2003.  That essentially translates into two things: it's considered culturally significant, and there are going to be a lot of tourists.

At the tourism center, Rach was having fun.

I thought the one on my right was staring...

At the same time, it was fun and amazing to drink hot wine, watch the crowds, and have some very Belgium frites.  We tried the ones with samourai sauce (a spicier version of the cocktail sauce we've been having).

The costumes were adorable, especially on the kids.

Even the balconies were packed.

How people wanted attention (and oranges)!
The white fluff is a hat that can ONLY be worn in Binche.

Adults clamored for oranges
(and yes, that was an umbrella being used as a bucket).

Rach's bag was filled.

Some of the orange porters got to take a rest during the parade.

And it's not a party until someone gets arrested.

 And finally, a short video of the craziness I captured.