In all the excitement yesterday, I forgot to mention that if my plans stay on track, yesterday marked the halfway point of my entire trip. It's all downhill from here. Well, until I get to San Francisco. Then it's uphill, downhill, uphill, downhill...

Anyhow, I woke up real late today. I was just unusually exhausted. I realized it was well into the afternoon when I got up, so I took a quick shower and headed out.

After stopping and asking for directions, I found my way to the Hard Rock Hotel. Walking through the main doors, I was instantly greeted by rock memorabilia from Aerosmith (in the "Aerosmithsonian") on one side and Jimi Hendrix on the other. Walking in the second set of doors, you find yourself surrounded by a moderately dark casino, littered with guitars, cars, bars, and clothing from some of music's most infamous names. A drumset belonging to The Doors rests atop a small section of slot machines. A sequined jumpsuit belonging to Elvis stands silently in a glass display, while video monitors continuously show his concert performances. Clothing belonging to Melissa Etheridge, The Artist Former -- oh, nevermind -- Prince, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Crowes, and even a black leather jacket from Tommy Lee Jones are scattered throughout the large, circular room.

I play $5 but lose (surprise), and save two of the coins for souvenirs. (I promised one to somebody.)

Back towards the MGM Grand, and I decide to take a tour of The World of Coca-Cola, half-intending to make up for not taking the tour of the one in Atlanta. It wasn't as spectacular as I thought (maybe that's why the self-guided tour is only $3), but I guess for a soft drink, it's a fitting tribute.

The three most entertaining areas of the tour are: A small theater-type room that continuously plays Coca-Cola TV commercials dating from the 60's all the way to the 90's (Some of those 70's and 80's ones brought back memories.), an area where you can taste different beverages (over two dozen) produced by the Coca-Cola company throughout the world (Vegamita-Beta, made for consumers in Japan, was rather tasty), and across from that is an area where hundreds of Coke bottles are lined up in rows, and water shoots up a few feet in synchronized order and various patterns. With this rather unusual Coke dispenser, you can take a small plastic cup and place it underneath a metal thingy, and suddenly a stream of what is supposed to be Coke shoots towards it from the back of the display and into the top of the metal thingy, thus filling your cup with Coke.

At 10pm, I went to see a showing of "Hope Floats" (starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick, Jr.) at the United Artists theater next to MGM. I had seen a review for this movie yesterday evening, which said that the role was a bit of a departure for Bullock, and it certainly was. She's much stronger in this movie than she had been in any of her others. I hope it does well for her.

The movie let out just after midnight, and I suddenly remember that tickets to visit the top of the Stratosphere stopped selling at 12:45. I raced over there and made it with 10 minutes to spare. The ticket I bought included admission for The Big Shot thrill ride. I had no idea what that was, but I bought it anyhow.

If you've seen what the Stratosphere looks like, coming out the top of the building is a long, thin tower rising 100+ feet from the observation deck. As it turns out, this is where The Big Shot ride is. You climb into your seat and pull the overhead harness down in front of you, strapping yourself in. A very good idea, considering in just moments, you'll be shot up to the top of that tower at 4 G's. Already standing 909 feet above Las Vegas was intimidating enough, but going up another 160 feet in a little chair at that speed... well... I was all for it. And what a rush! Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed. I realized why after reaching the top in less than two seconds. I did manage to snap a photo of Las Vegas before I left.

Also surrounding the outside of the observation area, I was surprised to find the High Roller, a roller coaster circling the outside of the building and hovering over Las Vegas, which can also lay claim to being the world's highest roller coaster. If I had known, I probably would have purchased a ticket downstairs, but I guess I'm out of luck this time.

Off to bed for me. Take care of yourself, America...

See you on the road...

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