We arrived very early on Friday, grabbed a rental car from the super-rental-car theme-park-style rental mega-hub, and went straight to the Hoover Dam. It was sunny and approaching hot (especially for March), but not as hot as Vegas can get, thankfully. Still, we had some drive-through McDonald's and had an extra water or two with ice from them. We walked around and took many pictures, but didn't take a full tour, because Nan has been on one. Did you know, though, that you can park for free on the far side of the dam? It's not even really that far of a walk. Don't pay the $7 to park fifteen feet closer! The views were very nice from the dam and from the road. We didn't climb up to Pat Tillman bridge - too sunny, no sunglasses or sunscreen, coming from a freezing cold climate. We just soaked in some views and headed back.
As we half expected, it was still too early to check in, so we gave them our phone number and went to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets South. I wanted to go early on purpose, before we went to the extremely expensive shops on the strip proper. There were great outlet stores, not always huge deals, but we did manage to find some sweatshirts and coats on deep discount because it was so hot outside. We checked into our hotel and took a lengthy siesta before cleaning up and going out in the late evening to the buffet at the Wynn, rated as one of the best on the strip. Everything was quite good (decor was standard Las Vegas fare plus extremely tall flower vase structures) and dessert area was delectable, with crepes made to order and even ice cream cookie sandwiches made to order.
We spent some quality time hoochie-watching. I tried to convince Nan to try and take pictures, but he thought it would be too obvious. But it was really good - there are at least two night clubs in that complex, so the floor was full of ladies wearing their absolute minimum. I definitely saw some undies underneath some too-short skirts, and we spent some time trying to spot the sketchiest hooch. When Nan decided we were being too obvious, we went outside to watch the last Sirens of TI show. We were incredibly disappointed, partly by the show, but mostly by the audience. The show had the scantily-clad ladies as advertised, but that's not enough of a draw at that distance. And you could really see how awesome the show must have been, back in it's heyday of actual pirate battle, since they kept a lot of the special effects, a few fancy dives, and sinking ships. It must have been really fun. It's not anymore, in case you were wondering. The ladies sink the opposing ship due to mostly power of singing and burlesque dancing. It's a mite ridiculous. The other factor that was stupid was the audience. I'll give a pass to the incrrrrredibly drunk ladies right behind me screaming obscenities and otherwise before, during, and after the show, because it's Vegas, and they give away a lot of drinks in big novelty cups. But the numerous parents with small children in the audience? Not so forgiving. The show started after 11:30pm, first of all. The other people on the strip at that hour are hookers or women dressed as hookers. Even the ladies on the stage were dressed as hookers. One child, no more than four or five, asked loudly what that siren "was doing to that pirate" right there on the stage in front of us. I missed the parent's reply, but there's really nothing that could excuse them. Heads up, parents, there's nothing for your kids on the strip. If you thought Sirens of TI was for your kids, you were very, very wrong. They don't want you there. Just let your kids sleep.
