(Note: Don't go looking for Parts I/II: "The Emperor's Guests" and
"New Years on the Rooftop". They may never find the telling.)
Also, an alternate subtitle was in reserve for this leg of the trip:
"Heaving in Paris"
···
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Our third LV trip to date and the most satisfying, we arrived at Paris
on Thur. Jan 2 after five nights combined at Caesars and LVH - each
night of which we retired to the room smiling warmingly at each other
in satisfaction (and this was before the "fitr" which I'll gladly keep
to ourselves). The past two trips had seen their stresses which had
kept the tensions a little unfortunately high. This visit had been
smooth, delightful sailing and we were rounding out the trip on a high
note.
Now this stay started out on a bit of a startling note: This was a
first stay on this property and I had made arrangements via my host at
Bally's in AC, with whom I have a rather unsteady relationship.
However, she came through in spades, although unexpectantly offered up
two comped nights plus a third at a casino rate. When I explained we
only requested two, she replied "Oh ... well I'll change it".
On our last day at the Hilton, I thought I might call ahead to Paris
and just confirm our arrival. The response struck a moment of panic:
"Well, Mr. Porter, we don't have a reservation for you. But I do see
that we had you coming in Dec. 2 for which you never arrived". I
thought, "oh god, New Years week and we don't have accomodations!"
I somewhat urgently stressed this fact, and after a few minutes on
hold I was relieved to hear that they'd put us up, first night comped
the second at casino rate. (When I later discovered that they were
fully booked and had sent 40 guests over to Bellagio, Caesars not
being able to accomodate them, I was doubly grateful. Seems that they
had a large meeting booked in -- vitamin and nutrition supplements or
somesuch. Of course, when we witnessed a dearth of serious play on
the floor Bev remarked that they were probably glad to have someone
give them some action. Maybe not, in retrospect.)
------
We settled in for a couple of hours of play around 6pm and then broke
for dinner. But a quick recap first.
We started play with a 2 night stay at Caesars (beginning Dec. 28)
where we put $99K play in (Bev accounted for about 10% of it, having
arrived the afternoon of the SHG meet and playing just a bit the
second day of the stay as she settled in. I arrived in advance,
staying for $60/night at a very comfortable HGVC unit at the Flamingo
- we have ownership in Orlando, and got an initial day of play in
before our Caesars check-in.) Netting a loss of $1700 after cashback,
we thought we got off lightly compared to the damage that might have
been done.
We moved over to celebrate New Years with 3 nights at the Hilton where
we popped through $96K of play. Play has never been so smooth, up
$1100 at our peak and down $725 at the bottom, we finished with a $35
gain, supplemented by $530 in additional cb. (In the course of the
action, Bev and I each on separate occasions hit RF's playing $.25
10-play Jacks - a game that I count as the most exciting play there.
We also hit some spinpoker - a game I deem the vp equivalent of
"Where's Waldo", as we search for the various wins.)
------
Having staked ourselves for the proverbial trip to Hell, we were a bit
pleased to still be holding the bulk of it at this stage in the trip
and so were feeling a little daring. After two hours of early evening
$1 jacks, I dropped $300 and Bev, my eternal anchor broke even.
(You've never seen someone sail the rough waters of vp with such ease
and finesse. Long ago I had to stop chiding her for less than ideal
accuracy in her play.)
We broke for dinner, and while she went to the room to rest, I decided
to stride into seldom ventured waters - $2 Jacks. After an hour,
hitting 4 quads, I was up $1100 on that play. I decided to moderately
risk just $800 of this on further $2 play and went up to the room to
see if Bev cared to join me as company. We returned, where the next
hour's play produced 3 more quads which was sufficient, given a
shortfall in intermediate hands, to keep us afloat - down just $40.
At exactly the one hour mark in this session, 4 cards to the royal
popped on the deal. Well, this is a repeated scenario that has been
too frequently disappointing and I proceeded to the draw without pause
or remark. The King of Hearts graciously reared his head completing
the hand and the RF jackpot text began flashing on the screen as did
the light atop the machine!
Well, most couples at this point might very well have been high-fiving
and leaping to hug. Bev and I on the otherhand are slightly perverse:
We looked at each other in amazement, back to the screen, then back
at each other and simultaneously began giddily giggling. We paused,
looked at the screen, and started laughing anew - barely able to get
an occasional "oh my god!" out. People started staring at us
curiously, perhaps wondering if a looney toon had started playing on
our screen. A fellow player finally crossed the room, needing to just
get a peak at what was so funny. "Damn!" he cried, and we began
laughing all the harder.
Well half an hour later, payment by check requested and a $50 bill to
each of the two attendents (love to keep those bills handy), we ambled
to the room up $8800 for 6 hours of combined "labor", astounded at our
good fortune!
Well, after some calming moments in the room that should have settled
me into a comfortable sleep, my mind was still buzzing with excitement
and it was back to the floor for a little more vp action.
Near the entrance is a carousel with 5-play $.25 9/7 DB. Now, this is
a game that has been downright cruel to me as of late and the chance
at a machine that at least might smooth the play out a bit was
tempting. A $200 buy-in saw 40 minutes that produced 6 quads,
including one hit with 2 lines of Aces and the last minute finishing
out first with dealt quad 4's (a gorgeous $500 hit) and then quad 2's,
bringing me to 3995 credits. Time for a cash out and a $1000 handpay.
The day was now good for $9600. I could sleep on that :).
Life seemed very sweet indeed. Would I break a $10K win for the first
time in a casino or would our last day in LV turn into a bit of a sour
let down?
------
The next morning targeted some more $1 Jacks, netting $100 after an
hour - the zenith of our visit there. A revisit of the 9/7 DB 5-play
saw a $400 loss over the course of an hour which was quite
comfortable. Three hours more of $1 Jacks visited $800 more losses.
The evening was upon us a final visit to $2 Jacks seemed an
appropriate swan song for our Paris trip. We allocated $1200 for
play. Well, a $400 buy-in saw me through an hours play, but Bev
crapped out after a defeating 5 minutes (somebody give that machine
some CPR!) and she refused to play off the last $400 and watched my
play instead.
------
The final Paris booty was $7700, and to add insult to Paris' injury we
claimed our $235 of earned cashback. We begrudgingly gave back just
$65 of that $8K windfall :).
Well, it was time to celebrate a trip that we expected would never be
topped. Our choice: The Eiffel Tower Restaurant and their $80
tasting menu accompanied by their selected wine flight (a $40 must!).
Well, this meal started with a first for me: We made our
reservations in the afternoon for 9:00. Early that evening I was a
little nervous about our progress and checked back to see what the
consequence might be if we were late, especially since we were hoping
for window seating with a view of the Bellagio fountains. In place of
the woman at the base of the elevator to the restaurant was a young,
tall somewhat imposing gentleman. Rather prominent was a large wad of
bills in his hand. I thought that a little bizarre since his function
seemed cursory: reservations and "gate-keeper". But he was helpful
and courteous, advising us to arrive 15 min. early if possible for the
best seating since 9:00 started a new seating. I've always considered
the "$20" room upgrade a bit much and have never deigned to try it,
but in this case I viewed this a very special occasion and thought
"what the hell" and without being gauche about it, simply thanked him
for all his assistance and palmed him a $20 as I shook his hand.
When we arrived for dinner, he greeted me by name, radioed our arrival
upstairs, and cursorily showed us to the elevator. I thought, well,
there's $20 down the tubes. As we exited the elevator, we were
greeted on the spot by a gentlemen who I assumed was the maitre d'.
He warmly escorted us past the semi-open kitchen into the restaurant.
I was in awe as I took the room in. I was only vaguely attentive as
he told us it would be about a 20 min. wait, suggesting we take a seat
at the bar. As almost an afterthought he said they'd see if they
could make the evening memorable. Bev nudged me when he walked away
and said, "You realize that was the manager?" I reweighed his parting
comment.
We settled in at the bar and decided we'd start with some champagne,
hoping they'd have something nice by the glass. We were thrilled when
we found they were offering Perrier Jouet as a selection and savored
every sip, staring into each eyes more fondly with each one. A
pianist was playing a beautiful arrangement of songs, the perfect
touch for a thoroughly enchanting setting.
After 15 minutes we observed two nicely situated tables open up and
expected to be seated shortly. When two other parties were seated,
one who arrived after us, I got slightly impatient. Ten more minutes
passed and I thought about checking with the hostess on our status,
but at the last minute thought better of it. Shortly thereafter, we
were escorted to our table, and as we passed table after table and
were finally seated just one table from the corner of the floor
directly opposite the fountains Bev gave me the most satisfying of
smiles and I knew the $20 had been well invested.
The table was located proximal to the waiter prep station. Throughout
our meal we weren't wanting for service. What a delightful change
from the constant search for a waiter. When Bev wanted more bread,
all she need do was beckon and they apologetically served it up. When
the corner table, who had feasted ala carte, was approached at the end
of their meal and told it had been "taken care of", we knew we were in
elite company. (Alright, forgive me if I get off on these
circumstances. I take my pleasures where I find them 
Dinner started on a rich note: As an alternative to the slated
dessert we were offered the choice of souffles: chocolate or banana.
Now we were gleaming with anticipation. Bev chose chocolate and
having an inexplicable craving for bananas all my life, I chose
accordingly.
The meal was heaven in itself, each of the five courses representing a
half-portion of a selection from their menu, with a perfectly matched
half-glass of wine. The progression from course to course was
exquisite, each seeming to build to the next. And when dessert
arrived, we were neither sated or stuffed and dove in with gusto.
If there's the slightest bit of gourmand in you, you owe it to
yourself to try this experience at least once. But obviously it's not
to everyone's taste or preference. We when mentioned we dined there
to the host the next morning she replied, "Oh, I ate there. It was
nice. But I prefer the steak selections at Mon Ami Gabi."
------
Ok, now you know why "Parts I and II" haven't appeared. But the
experience at Paris seemed worth testing the patience of even the most
stalwart reader here. Trust me when I say that play in AC is gonna
seem pretty pathetic by comparison
- Harry