What happens in Vegas, stays in...
All together now, "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" WRONG. First of all it's 2017, what happens in Vegas, stays in that 24 hour 100 second Snapchat story, oops.
Let's ditch that phrase because what happens in Vegas, stays in my blog. Maybe not everything (a little mystery goes a long way) but I'm a pretty open book, no shame in my game.
This past weekend my BFF, Brooke, and her family ventured out to the wonderful world of Las Vegas and adopted me to go along. I say wonderful world because it's like a different world from any other place I have been and it is full of wonders. The lights, the hotels, the drunk people stumbling all over the place, the drunk girls crying on the sidewalk yelling that they deserve better, the perverted men catcalling from across the street, the prostitute cards on the floor, the heels flying left and right because c’mon no one really lasts a full night with them on. All amazing, I live for the beauty within the madness and Vegas is where to find it. But we weren't just there to party, we also tapped into the little nature side of us too. The small wilderness side deep deep down that comes out every once in awhile and tests how long we can last without wifi. Although we were only there for a few days, many things were checked off the bucket list.
The first day was all about the journey to the Grand Canyon and the drive that was not so grand, actually not grand at all. The 4 hour car ride to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona made me want to rip my hair out, and with all that extra spare time stuck in a car, I would probably be able to count each strand of hair on my head. Anyways, we decided to stop at the Hoover Dam on our way and check another site off our list. Saw it, lived it, liked it, but unfortunately hydroelectric power construction is not exactly my cup of tea so I can’t provide you with much information about that one but I will leave you with this knowledgeable insight: DAMn that thing was massive. Shout out to the engineering that went into the Hoover Dam because it really is awesome and you have to check it out at least once in your life. Maybe hydroelectric power and construction gets you going, I’m not one to judge.
Our journey to the canyon then continued, and continued, and kept going for what felt like a century and a half but finally we were there! Hello Arizona, let’s see some rocks!! We hopped on our little pink jeep tour and our tour guide, Tedd Riley, took us away, what a guy by the way. WOW, the Grand Canyon is grander than you would ever imagine. Words, pictures, or videos do not do it justice and nothing can describe or show you how absolutely beautiful it truly is. It wasn’t just rocks, it was ART. My pictures look photoshopped but I really was there, I swear. The Grand Canyon is among the 7 wonders of the natural world and my #1 favorite, forget the fact that I haven’t experienced the rest. Our short stay did not allow us to hike or go all the way down but just by standing at the top, I can only imagine how much greater it can be deep inside. 20/10, highly recommend to a friend, 5-star scene, critic claims best visual of the year, a true must see. Next time (and there will be a next time) I’ll get the full hiking the canyon experience for you all. Sara vs. The Wild, stay tuned.
After what I thought was a long full night of rest, at 6:15 AM I was up and at ‘em, time change is a bit**. Second day in and we were ready to hit The Strip, and that’s what we literally wanted to do because it felt like we were 3 feet away from the sun and any type of clothing felt suffocating. Coming from South Florida, I thought I was used to the heat but surprise, there’s different levels of heat and I was not ready (trust me, it got worse). So what better way to cool off and hydrate than with 32 ounces of a sugary alcoholic beverage served in what is called a “yard dog” cup at Fat Tuesday, now that’s what I’m talking about!!! Tastes like candy and hits you like a truck. One moment we were sipping our drinks just walking, laughing, and dancing along the strip and the next we were passed out in the middle of the day with a headache sent straight from hell. Momma did not raise a fool though; take a shower, pop an Advil, eat some carbs, and let’s start again. Hakkasan nightclub, here we come!!! (Sidenote: shout out to mom and dad for having a girl because as a girl, you don’t have to pay to party, don’t @ me). Macklemore once said, “walk into the club like what up,” but it was more like, “walk into the club like what up move the fu** over,” this place looked like a bunch of sardines in a can!? Can’t move, can’t hear, can’t dance but luckily we got invited into a VIP table and the party got started. Would I be lying if I said it didn’t feel a little tiny bit degrading watching someone pay the bouncer to bring us in? Yeah but I would also be lying if I said I actually didn’t care because that feeling soon went away when we saw a table full of free cold drinks, room to dance, a great view, and no one bumping into you every 3 seconds. Before you freak out, let me be clear that we are responsible girls that are very careful with what we do while still having fun and honestly these people were actually not nasty creeps. Cash Cash (electronic music DJ’s) killed it, the club was great, the people were wild, and it was a blast. Now time to take off the heels and stumble in the dirty streets of Vegas bare foot, sorry mom.
Rise and shine and start all over, it’s Vegas baby!!! Calvin Harris at Wet Republic Pool Party, we’re coming for you! Well at least that’s what I thought, but here’s another episode of “Just Sara Things.” Remember when I said I was not prepared for Vegas heat? Well I really wasn’t and I was actually 4 seconds away from dropping on the floor from heat exhaustion. After waiting an hour in line to get to 3 other lines (pool party or TSA?? Let me know) I finally reached the part where they check my ID and all I asked was to sit down but they thought it was necessary to bring a WHEELCHAIR and WHEEL me through this place into the paramedics. It’s ok to laugh because I’m laughing with you now. This stuff only happens to me and really I am not even surprised, it happened before when they wheeled me out of the gym in a stretcher from fainting, what a scene. Anyways, these people take me to the back, everything is fine, but they forbid me from going in!? Yes, after waiting all that time risking my health, you’re telling me I CAN’T go in to see Calvin Harris? Now that’s a problem. After begging for 30 minutes to let me back in, they felt bad enough for me and “called Calvin Harris’ people” to see if he can come back and meet me. I say that in quotations because that’s what they told me but frankly I don’t believe them because I didn’t meet him since “no one was answering.” I was born in the morning but not that morning, c’mon people I’m not that naive. Calvin Harris, if you’re reading this please know I almost died for you and also you should hire new people that answer their phone because I lost my chance (hire me while you’re at it, I am going to be a great public relations professional). After they shipped me back to the hotel to my misery and advised me to bathe, nap, and eat like a toddlers do in the middle of the day I did exactly that and prepped for another night out.
Omnia nightclub was next on the list and luck was back on my side. A promoter came up to us, helped us skip the entire 80 minute line out the door, and personally escorted us to the VIP table front and center of Kaskade, hashtag blessed. Hello where is this 5-star treatment back at home? Living lavish in the best nightclubs in Vegas yet struggling to even get into the hole in a wall that is downtown Fort Lauderdale, what am I doing wrong?
Final thoughts of the night: not a big fan of Kaskade, give me the aux. Still a great night. Why are heels invented. If you are an Uber driver, please have a functioning AC in your car.
Vegas, you were too good to me, can't wait to go back for more. And next time I promise to make it to one of your famous pool parties.
Now that’s a wrap!!! Las Vegas was a movie and my life just keeps getting better. The opportunities I have had to travel to different places have allowed me to experience some of the best things that life has to offer and I am so excited that now I get to share it with all of you!
Adventure awaits and I'm so excited to explore.