Ah, Las Vegas! The land of bright lights, questionable decisions, and temperatures that could melt the chrome off a bumper. The latest step of this Southwest adventure took us to Sin City. We stayed for three nights of what we like to call “controlled chaos.” My walker was largely responsible for this chaos.
The Carriage House: Our (Slightly Cozy) Oasis
We rolled into The Carriage House after 6 PM, greeted by a balmy 97 degrees. Seriously, Vegas, are you trying to slow-roast us? Check-in was smooth, and we found ourselves in a 1-bedroom unit on the fourth floor. It boasted a comfy king bed and a living room perfect for… well, living. The kitchen layout was a bit like a jigsaw puzzle that had been shaken vigorously. But hey, it had a refrigerator. That’s all that truly matters in this heat.
The bathroom, however, was a masterclass in “not very accessible.” I had to do a contortionist act to squeeze through the narrow door with my walker. The shower, bless its heart, had a built-in bench and bar. It was manageable, though not exactly what I’d call “easily accessible.”
On the bright side, they did have a sharps container for Leesa’s insulin needles.
BattleBots: It’s Robot Fighting Time!
Friday night, 6 PM: BattleBots! We’d gawked at the arena from the car on our last visit, but this time, we were going in. Leesa was on foot. I was zipping around in my trusty Firefly. Think less Batmobile, more… zippy personal mobility device. Coming from the south end of the Strip by Park MGM at 5:20 PM, we were convinced we’d be late. The BattleBots Arena was across the street, kitty-corner to and behind the Horseshoe Casino. And because Vegas loves to keep us on our toes, most of the sidewalk elevators to the upper walkways were playing hooky. This meant a date with a crosswalk was in our future.
We strategized like seasoned Vegas veterans (read: panicked slightly), taking the tram from MGM to Bellagio, then the hotel elevator down to street level. We ventured out into the still-blazing 94-degree heat. We hugged the sidewalk towards the Horseshoe Casino. Then we made a daring dash across a less-busy section of the Strip. A couple of blocks later, we practically inhaled the parking lot air. We made it to the door just before 6 PM for Battlebots Destruct-A-Thon. Phew!
We’d snagged wheelchair seating online, and the staff? Absolute rockstars! A lovely young lady practically skipped us to our seats. And by “our seating area,” I mean right beside the battle enclosure! Seriously, we could practically high-five the robots (if they had hands, and if high-fiving 200-pound death machines was advisable). It was like being in a real-life, metal-crunching, sparks-flying movie.
Watching BattleBots on TV is a blast, but it doesn’t even hold a rusty wrench to being there in person. We were so close, we could feel the vibrations of the robots going at it. And these aren’t your grandpa’s remote-control cars; these robots are enormous. On TV, they look tough. In person, they look like they eat smaller robots for breakfast. And the bartender? Easily the best part of the whole experience (besides the robots, of course).
The evening featured three one-on-one battles between red and blue teams, culminating in a final showdown where the audience voted for their champion via a QR code. The fights were epic! These bad boys weigh around 200 pounds, and each battle was a frantic three minutes of pure, unadulterated destruction (or until one robot decided to take an early retirement).
Only one fight ended in a true knockout, not counting the glorious bonus fight: A robot named “Nightmare” versus a defenseless slot machine on wheels. That poor slot machine got absolutely obliterated, and we even walked away with a piece of its shrapnel as a souvenir! Talk about a memento.
The night of robot-on-robot action was phenomenal. We’ve decided that BattleBots is now a non-negotiable part of our future Vegas escapades. It’s just that much fun!
Our resort was a good 30-minute walk away. We took the scenic “back way” under a crescent moon. We arrived home safe and sound, still buzzing from the metal mayhem.
You can watch these battles yourself on the Battlebots YouTube channel. #Battlebots
Dr. Fish: Leesa’s Scaly Skincare Secret
According to Leesa (who is, of course, always correct), the absolute highlight of Vegas is Dr. Fish Spa. This place is pure magic. Imagine tiny, adorable fishies. They gently nibble away your dead skin in their pristine ponds. This leaves you with the most magnificent pedicure known to humankind. Dr. Fish is the crème de la crème of fish pedicures, boasting a seven-stage filtration system in each individual tank. The water is always crystal clear, illuminated by lights that let you admire the sparkling clean environment. It’s truly a sight to behold when those little fishies get to work!
Pampas Las Vegas: Meats and Music
Saturday night, our final Vegas hurrah! We scored two free meals at Pampas Las Vegas. It is the original Las Vegas Strip churrascaria. The place is conveniently nestled in Planet Hollywood, just a couple of blocks from our resort. This Brazilian steakhouse delivered on its promise of “supreme meats.”
And when we told the passadors (the delightful meat servers who bring skewers of grilled goodness directly to your table) that we preferred our meat medium-rare, they consistently delivered.
It was a carnivore’s dream! The buffet was equally delicious, and there was even live music that night, which truly elevated the atmosphere.
It was the perfect way to spend our last night, hanging out with my man Rob and indulging in an endless parade of perfectly cooked meat.
Vegas, you outdid yourself (again)!
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