Just your average weekend in Las Vegas

So I was reflecting on this past weekend and thought I would write a quick post.  When I first decided to move to Las Vegas, there were plenty of jokes (like was I going to become a showgirl or blackjack dealer, do I take my laptop and work at the craps table, etc.).  But this weekend is a good example of how people have a skewed view of Las Vegas.

Starting with Friday night, I went to a Las Vegas Wranglers Hockey game.  They lost (3-2), but it was close and they almost tied late in the third.  It's a small arena (Orleans Arena, behind the Orleans hotel) and they do a fairly good job selling the place - more than half full- better than the Washington Capitals used to do.. :).  Most of the people are Wrangler's fans- wearing the jersey's of their favorites Wrangler's player.  A lot of people, like myself, are just hockey fans looking for local action, wearing the Jersey's of their favorite NHL teams.

Sitting at the game, you would not even realize you were in 'Sin City' (not until you leave the building and see the lights of the strip outside the arena).

Saturday morning I went hiking with a friend at Red Rock. We choose, of the many trails, Pine Creek, which started on a dirt trail and ended up deep in the canyon, scrambling on rocks, near ice box canyon, where waterfalls flowed and trickling streams rolled by.  We were out there for about 3 hours.

Saturday night, a friend of mine asked me if I would go see a band (she is friends with the keyboard player).  She mentioned they were a country cover band.  I am not a fan of country, but I like live music so I decided to go.  The bar they were playing at, Gilley's, inside the Frontier, is a country western bar.  No- really. There was a mechanical bull, which 2 of my girl friends decided to ride. The dance floor was full of cowboy hat wearing men and ruffly shirt wearing women doing the two step.  The band was great, but you seriously felt like you walked through a portal into another world.  I would say most of the people there were Vegas locals, but this bar apparently packs in the tourists when the rodeo and the bull riding competitions hit town.

I had a great weekend- didn't drop a coin in a slot or roll a die.. Vegas is so much more than the casinos (even more than the shows and events), obviously much more than the above as well- but just wanted to give a glimpse for y'all.  Yee haw.