- INTRODUCTION -

Roughly, about 2 years ago a few friends and I decided it would be a good idea that over the holidays we all load up into a RV and drive from Houston, TX all the way to San Francisco. The midpoint (and highlight) of our trip would be a stopover in Vegas for a few days and one New Years Eve none of us would forget.

- DAY 1: 12/30/08 -

We rolled up to Vegas after starting in Houston, going to Austin, then on to Amarillo, through New Mexico and hitting the Grand Canyon. There was about 8 of us total. 2 of the girls of the group ditched out on us to head to Vegas to meet up with one of their boyfriends and stay at the Rio. We thought this was a loser move since we had been together for the last week on the road and they were basically ditching out for some luxury living free of charge, I guess I can't blame 'em. Anyways, the remaining few of us rolled into Vegas a day ahead of New Years eve. We actually made it there roughly in the evening.

We were in an RV and as such we needed a place to hook up at. I did my research and found Circus Circus has RV hook ups, but they wanted something like $175 a night which was way out of our price range (we were roughing it, we were broke college kids). So, I found a place for $20 a night right off Fremont St. Now, it was in the "ghetto" and the moment we walked out we were offered numerous drugs (which we denied) by some shady fellows. The grocery store was barred up, but we were only using it to sleep.

We headed out to the strip on the bus. It was really easy and wasn't crowded at all for a day before NYE, but that would change. Anyways, we were dropped off in the heart of the strip. We went over to the 1st place we saw which was The Flamingo. We didn't want to do it up big since tomorrow would be insane, so we just hung out at one of the bars theres in the Flamingo.

My buddy went over and bought into the $60 tournament at the Flamingo. He is one of these fish who *THINKS* he knows what he is doing... boy was he in for a surprise. He watched way too much WSOP on TV, lol. Anyways, while he was at the table, my friend and I chatted up this very attractive Thai girl. After about 10 minutes of talking we starting getting small hints she was a call girl. We took some funny pictures (I would post here if there was an option!) and had some more drinks. Well, after about 20-30 minutes my buddy came back and realized he wasn't the allstar poker player he thought he was... he told me most of that time they were getting people seated. He got knocked out on his 3rd or 4th hand. So, we went back to the RV and crashed for the night.

- DAY 2: 12/31/08 : New Years Eve -

We woke up and made some food in the RV. We ate a late lunch (we slept like all day) and got cleaned up for the evening. My buddy, Miguel, took a bottle of Evan Williams Whiskey and poured it into one of those 1L Smart Water bottles and topped it off with something around 5% Coca-Cola, this would be his beverage that would turn into his doom. We all drank a few beers and headed out for the night.

We headed for Fremont St, which was pretty chill around 6-7PM on NYE. There is pub that sits right on the corner of Fremont St and Las Vegas BLVD. It wasn't a bad place. I drank a few Guinness to get the stomach ready for the night. We went to the bus stop which a few people were waiting for. The bus was free from what I remember, but it was PACKED.

The bus. This was when things got interesting. Our buddy, Miguel, had started hitting that bottle at the pub. He was getting feisty. The bus was jam packed. We sat in the bottom floor with a bunch of Chinese tourists who thought our buddy, who is such a showman, was so funny. They laughed and watched throughout the ride. They even took pictures of and with him. Anyways, my buddy drew the attention of some local thug wannabe who got in his face and got the attention of the driver who came to back to calm everyone down. Basically, my buddy was having a good time and this guy didn't like his attitude. It never got ugly, but you could tell things were getting funny. I actually have a video of the experience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KsY_vP5ng0 To check it out.

Anyways, we got off the bus at the North-Most part of the strip. The strip (Las Vegas BLVD) was closed off for pedestrians. The strip was MADNESS! You saw people everywhere. I actually have another video of 2 guy friends of mine and 1 of the girls with us (white jacket) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHmvim0DMEA to check it out. There were people everywhere and in the tight areas you were shoulder to shoulder.

So, we cruise down the strip. We stop and take some pictures with some cops with our beers in our hand, because we thought it was so cool you could actually drink on the street. I stop off at some grocery store on the strip and buy 2 plastic Bud Lights to take with me. Thats the one rule: no glass on the strip! Other than that, drink all you want. It was very liberating.

We walk over to The Venetian to just check it out and pick up a pack of smokes. I take a picture with the guy playing the accordion at the fountain and toss him a buck or two for being cool. My buddy, Austin, is already getting sick (around 10PM) and goes into the bathroom to yack. The girl with us goes to pee, so we wander out into the valet area. As we are walking that way (randomly for no reason at all), I spot one of those gigantic yard drinks. You know the one that is a yard long and filled with like 6-7 shots? Its full, with ice, and no one is near it. Clearly, someone bought it and no one would let them take it inside the Venetian or they set it down because they were too drunk, regardless a perfectly good drink. But, none-the-less I am not about to drink it. So, I point out to Miguel, who has now finished his Whiskey bottle, that he should pick it up and drink it, so he does. In fact, when we get to the valet I convince him to "beer bong" it through one of those NYE cardboard hats. I also happen to record it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GfJwUyha7g to watch it. My buddy drinks it and goes wild. He sloppily hits on the head valet woman, who actually took it very well and kept telling him she was trying to do her job while laughing at him.

Anyways, we hit up The Flamingo again. We played some blackjack and we mostly played Roulette. We watched the fireworks. We tried to get back into the Flamingo, but the cops/security wouldn't let you back in unless you had Flamingo chips. Luckily, my pocket had a few. I ended up making about $60 off roulette. About this time (around 1-2 AM) my buddy Miguel can barely stay alive. He is throwing chips around on the roulette table like no tomorrow. He is spilling his drink on the table. He even finds some guy at the bathroom who he forms a bromance with, they are hugging so much and hanging on each other its beyond funny. I have pictures to prove it too. The funny part is we didn't get kicked out. The pit boss looked at us like take care of him, but they never warned us, mostly likely because he was easily coughing up all the money.

So, sometime between 2-3 AM we lost Miguel. From what I remember he told us he was going to get a cab back or walk back. I can not remember for the life of me, I just know we lost him. It was now down to my buddy David, his girlfriend Dani, and me. We decided to get something to eat so we hit up Denny's on the strip. As we were walking there my phone rang from Miguel (mind you its around 3:30AM at this time), but its not him on the phone. It's some guy telling me my friends messed up and laying on the ground of some corner off the strip. I could not understand where he was saying, but I could make out McDonald's which is like a block or two off the strip and I remember going by there, so we walk over there and can't find Miguel anywhere. We call him and no answer. We try to get a cab to get back to the RV because we think he is most likely there. We try our hardest to get a cab off the strip. We try for like 30 minutes, until someone finally walks by and says "you can't get one off the strip, you have to go to one of the casinos and get it there." We walk up to Circus Circus and get one there.

We walk up to the RV and, sure enough, there is Miguel passed out the sidewalk in front of the RV. He had pissed his pants. Thats right. He was soaking wet with piss. He had drank so much he pissed all over himself. He was completely unresponsive. We put him in the RV and went to sleep.

- DAY 3: 1/1/09 -

Sometime around 7AM our other friend, Austin, made it back to the RV. He had went over to the Bellagio and played blackjack all night. We don't even remember him leaving us. He met some girl there and went back up to her room for a little lovin.

We asked Miguel what had happened to him and he had decided to try and buy some weed off some guys. They went to "get it" and when they came back he gave them $100 bucks and wanted change. As he was doing that he looked in the bag and realized it was leaves off a bush and goes "hey... wait!" and they took off with his money.

- RETROSPECT -

I wish I had more money when I went to Vegas and I wish I knew what I know now about poker. Next time, I will NOT go in a RV and I intend on staying on the strip. The hike to and from was highly annoying and wore you out. We saw the rooms at the Rio and they were insanely nice. So, now that I have graduated college I intend on saving up and hitting the cash games in about a year from now. This time I will probably be solo.