Janet’s Webpage

8.19.2003-8.22.2003

In February of 2003, I started my new job as a rotational engineer in a nuclear power plant in Michigan. One of the activities in the rotational engineer program is to visit Yucca Mountain, a big hole in a large rock which the government spent millions of dollars digging to put in nuclear waste. The travelers included: Kirk, Steph, Venceta, Chris, Glen, Katina, Andy, Warren, Kelly, Steve, Jennifer, and me. Let’s just say that the number of rotational engineers plus supervisor is about half of the size of the party. We stayed in New York-New York Hotel & Casino on the strip of Vegas since it was one of the closer cities.

Day 1: Monte Carlo
We arrived at the hotel, all hungry and tired (except for Jennifer and I, we had lunch in the airport and nearly missed our plane.)
After dinner, some of us went to bed while others roamed around. Jennifer and I went to Monte Carlo, which is right next to New York-New York. Monte Carlo looks great from the outside with all the gorgeous status. The inside is just another hotel/casino.

Day 2 - morning/afternoon: MGM Grand to Treasure Island MGM Grand, Aladdin, Caesars Palace, Venetian, and Treasure Island To my great disappointment, I was the only one in the group unable to get access to Yucca Mountain since I am not a U.S. citizen. I got over this very fast by enjoying my day off with a walk down the strip accompanied by Jennifer. First we made it to MGM Grand; it was too early and the lions were asleep.

Aladdin has a large shopping mall, not very different from shopping malls all over the world. There were taxi bikes, taking the shoppers through the 1-mile long walk. The biker drivers (what else would you call them?) demands $7 tip for two people.
After coming out of Aladdin, we just couldn’t walk anymore. It was getting hot and our goal (Treasure Island) was still so far away. We waved down a taxi bike and went to Caesars Palace, which is as far as the biker driver could go. We gave him $4 tip; very close to all the cash we had on us. Inside Caesars Palace were the most amazing stores (along with your regular Gap and Banana Republic).
Finally, we got to the Venetian and Treasure Island. The Venetian is extremely pretty with the man-made stream and boats. Treasure Island’s pirate show was under construction. We didn’t find machines in either hotels.

Day 2 - evening: Excalibur to Mandalay Bay Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay After a wonderful day of Yucca Mountain visit, my group told me that I have not missed anything. Apparently, I had a much better day then they did. I grabbed Andy, Glen and Katina (and left Jennifer at the hotel this time) to go to the other side of the strip. We rode the tram that goes from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay and stopped at the Luxor.

Next we walked to Mandalay Bay. It has a beautiful beach as well as a shark exhibit. Jennifer wasn’t there so I wasn’t about to pay $15 to get yelled at for not taking her. Andy, Glen and Katina bought ZZ Top’s ticket for that evening while I rushed back to see Zoomanity in New York New York with Jennifer.

Day 3: Rest of the Trip
I could not get another day off to tour Vegas since we were going to the science center. It was fun; felt like I was on elementary school field trip again.
The rest of the day I spent with Jennifer, looking for penny machines in Excalibur. We did not find any that I did not have already.
Andy and others went to the Stratosphere. I was not big into roller coasters so I didn’t join them. To my great disappointment, Andy told me later on that there’s a penny machine there, but he did not have any quarters to press one for me.