As you walk away a few blocks from our Hotel you will see the vagrants lying in the streets in the shade of the buildings to avoid the burning heat. In the local 7/11 you will see all of them buying cheap $1 beer as they stagger out of the store bumping into you. The local launderette if full of mexicans washing their costumes that they wear working in the local casinos and hotels. They only earn about $3 p/h and rely on tips for the rest of their earnings.

There is the largest pawn store here in Las Vegas open 24hrs. Early in the morning people are lining up either to pawn their stuff or to get a bargain inside. You will find anything in there, from Rolex watches and diamonds and jewellery to WW1 helmets.

Its has a great atmosphere here, especially the night life with all the bars, casinos, and the local acts in the streets. Many people making their little side shows trying to earn a few bucks from the tourist trade.

There is one lady walking around with breasts bigger than the biggest water melon I've ever seen. She is with her skinny Elvis look-a-like guy and charges a buck for taking a picture of them!! So funny :) Sonny will try to take picture.

Still 8 days to go , I'm looking forward to playing some more poker.

Annie

After Sonny's bustout in the 1500 event we moved down to downtown Vegas on Saturday and decided to have a look around in Freemont Street on Sunday. What a great place this really is. There is plenty of hustle and bustle going on in the street with the hourly lightshow in the evening and live bands playing in the street.

We had a look in the Binion and there was a deep stack tourney starting there at 2pm. I decided to join after 2 levels. The blind level was 150/300 and the starting stack 15k.  I did not get many hands in the first hour except for AA and everyone folded after my raise. There was a young guy at my table with a lot of attitude who was in a lot of pots, playing a lot of speculative hands and calling on draws etc.

There was a nice atmosphere with a lot of chit chat going on.

I got moved 3 times and did not get involved much as lots of people were shoving and raising and I got very shortstack. I looked down at QK in late position and decided to shove only to be called by the BB who had AQ , I was behind, the flop was low and the turn showed a J,  river K!  wow I double up.

We were down to about 3 tables and I was still quite short the blind were up to about 2k now with antes of 300, and I had about 10 BB left. I shoved a few times with AK in late position and A4s when everyone folded. Got my chip stack up a little.

There was a raise in front of me and i was in middle position and I looked down at AKs, I shove and the guy folds after a bit of contemplation.

I got AK again and there was a big raise of 10k in front of me I shoved again and the guy called with A4d , I double up, I am now up to about 90k

Then I got JJ and a shortstack shoved with 66 and I called and got a nice pot.

Then I got QQ utg I announced a raise but put the wrong chips in and was only allowed a min raise. The guy in the BB called and the flop came down with an Ace, the guy in the BB bet out and I fold.

I got QQ again and I raise this time properly to 10k, the guy at the cut off goes allin and I call for 32k , he turns over A9, no ace came but the guy made a straight on the river!!

Now I am shortstack again!! We got down to the money and shoving a few times and picking up blind and antes. I managed to knock out another shortstack who went allin with Q7 and I called w A6 and got an Ace

And now made Final Table. I was first out though on Final Table after shoving with AJ and got called w 99 and QQ, no ace and the turn was a Q!!

But was very happy to make it to FT . cash $215

Was a great tourney lovely atmosphere and great banter!!

It was nice to play in the casino where it all started.