OK. So here is the set up. I have just finished one assignment at work and the next starts on Feb 1st, so good opportunity to take a week off. Then an email arrives from Continental.com telling me that I have 120,000 air miles and Jan is a good time to spend some. Add the two together and I find myself at Edinburgh Airport on Sunday morning heading to the USA for a week.
The obvious place to go would be Las Vegas. But, having been there a couple of times last year and another trip planned for the summer, I’ve opted to try the games in Atlantic City instead. Martin was there recently and said the action was pretty good, so I’ve taken his recommendation and am en route to New Jersey and the Showboat hotel on the famous Boardwalk at Atlantic City. Another factor was that the biggest poker room in AC, at the Borgata, is holding their Winter Festival just now, so I have got half an eye on one of those events later in the week.
I take the direct flight to Newark from Edinburgh which is quicker than usual due to the benefit of the Siberian winds which caused the cold snap in UK recently. With no queue at immigration and hand baggage only, I am on a train to New York city 20 mins after touching down. 20 mins later I am walking the 9 blocks from 31st St to 40th St on 8th Ave in Manhattan to the bus station. I love New York City and spend most of the walk staring up at the various towers, including the Empire State Building at 34 St, dodging the yellow cabs and enjoying the smells of doughnuts and Pretzels that make you know you are in the Big Apple
I shell out $35 for a return Greyhound bus direct to the Casino which takes 2 hours during which I listen to a great podcast from Two Plus Two featuring a long and very interesting interview with Neil Channing to get in the mood for a few days poker.
Rock up at the Showboat, check straight in without a wait. Sort out a minor problem with the safe. Quick shower then head towards the action. I stop at the first craps table I come to, to watch the shooter hit a 6-number Fire bet for a 1000-1 shot with his very next roll. I have played dice for 22 years and never seen this before. The shooter is happy as he was won $5,000 and 3 others a good for another $1,000 each.
I walk next door, declining requests for money from two vagrants in the lobby, to the Taj Mahal and sign up for membership of the players club. I notice that the lady selects Ukraine as my country of residence when logging me on the computer. I suspect she has never been outside of New Jersey. Finally, I get to the poker room featured in the best poker movie ever made, buy some chips and sit down to play……
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I was just thinking that you hadn’t been on holiday for a few weeks and would be due one soon.