Travel Article - Reno
Written by: J.P

        
"Early morning in downtown Reno.  A sight few party animals get to see."

    I discovered that Tim Conway and Harvey Korman
    are touring together.  These guys were part of
    the reason the "Carol Burnett Show" lasted for
    so long.  These guys are funny!  So, I order
    tickets for the Silver Legacy in Reno.
    
    The Silver Legacy has no vacancy for the show
    dates.  But, it is downtown and a quick check
    on the internet (using the yellow pages at
    Infospace) shows 177 hotels in Reno.  Being
    lazy, I check some of the many sites that can
    compare room rates.  Woops!  One of those sites
    charges a $100 fee to book a $79 room.  I got a
    room at the El Dorado because it is across the
    street from the Silver Legacy.  I use the hotel
    web site to book a room.
    
    How to get there?  If I fly I have to spend
    two hours to get through security at San
    Jose to take a one hour jet ride.  And, I
    discover the flight leaves at 6am.  That
    does it, I will drive the 300 miles.  Should
    take about five hours.
    
    First surprise on the road.  Interstate 80
    between Sacramento and Reno has a lot of fast
    traffic.  I am in the slow lane, doing the
    maximum speed (65mph) and even the California
    Highway Patrol is passing me.  I speed up to
    match the traffic.  Later I need to get into
    the fast lane.  Some parts of the road in the
    Sierra Nevada mountains is rough due to tire
    chains.  Naturally, the slow lane is rougher
    than the fast lane.  This is April and the
    weather is good for driving.  No snowfall on
    the road.  But plenty in the mountains.
    
    It takes three-quarters of a tank of gas to
    get to Reno and half of a tank of gas to get
    home.  Reno is about 4,400 to 5,000 feet above
    sea level.  Home is about 100 feet above sea
    level.
    
    In Reno, downtown is Virginia Street.  I find
    all sorts of motels I could have chosen.  But
    I prefer to have reservations.  Good thing.
    Several hotels are full this weekend.
    
    In Nevada they call gambling, "gaming."  The
    games have changed little since my last visit
    in 1981.  There are still a lot more machines
    than card tables or dice tables, and more dice
    tables than roulette.  The machines are more
    electric now.  Many have themes.  You can gamble
    on the "Popeye", "I Dream of Jennie", "Adams Family",
    "Munsters", or "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" machines.
    But these machines have five wheels instead of three.
    Instead of matching three of a kind (oranges as one
    example) you need five of a kind (such as hamburgers
    on the Popeye machine).  However three of a kind does
    get you a small prize on the five wheel machines.
    
    Everyone has some notion on how to win.  There
    are some facts and lots of myths.
    
    IF THE COINS ARE WARM IT IS GOING TO WIN BIG SOON.
    A myth.  It means the coinbox is next to a light bulb.
    PLAY BEFORE THURSDAY EVENING.  THAT IS WHEN THE
    CASINO CHANGES THE ODDS FOR THE WEEKEND CROWD.
    A Myth.  The machine's odds are set at the factory.
    The casino does not change the odds on the machines.
    But, they do specify what the odds will be.  Some
    have only a 90% payback and some have up to a 100%
    payback.  (The 100% payback is used to make change.
    You put in a dollar, you get four quarters.)
    KEEP PLAYING ON ONE MACHINE UNTIL IT HITS.  THEN
    MOVE ON TO ANOTHER.
    This doesn't change your odds.  Each play is
    independent.  People do win twice in a row.  (But
    the odds still favor the house.)
    
    The food is great everywhere in Reno.  The casinos
    want you to stay nearby.  Even while eating in the
    restaurants in the casinos, you can play keno.  The
    prices are reasonable.  The big discount meal deals
    are in Las Vegas.  In Reno, the buffet is about
    $11 and in the restaurant you pay $5 for a banana
    split and maybe $7.50 for a burger and fries.
    
    The show I go to see is funny.  I'd forgotten that
    the comedies on stage use a different type of humor
    than on TV.  (More adult themes.)  But still
    enjoyable.
    
    The casinos/hotels are finding more ways to get their paws
    on your hard-earned cash.  They have an "energy fee"
    added to your bill. They have a fridge full of goodies
    and no room for your stuff.  If you use the Pepsi from the fridge
    your room is billed $1.55 for the 12 ounce can.
    Sodas are only fifty cents across the street in the
    souvenir shop. There are pay-per-view movies also.
    
    There are plenty of shows, bars, and lounges.  You
    only need to pick up a local weekly tabloid to find
    a listing.  Another myth about Reno is that
    prostitution is legal.  In Nevada, prostitution is
    legal in all counties except Washoe County and Clark
    County.  Reno is in Washoe County.  Las Vegas is in
    Clark County.  I have no information on those houses of
    Nevada.  (That's another game of chance I do not play.)
    
    Reno is constantly changing.  The Flamingo Hotel is
    being remodeled and will open as the Golden Phoenix.
    There is a railroad through the town.  There is a bond
    measure on the ballot this year to build a trench with
    several overcrossings.  
    
    There is a site called WeLoveThisPlace
    (http://www.welovethisplace.org/home/ ) that has links to
     many places in the Reno area.  There is skiing, camping,
     airplane races, balloon races, and even opera.

Comments:
Date/Time of Posting:  May 09 2002 / 21:40:58
Name = Ian
E-mail = ino@mailcity.com
Subject = True...
Comments = Another point of Reno is the weather.  "There's COLD in them thar hills."  It gets chilly at night most of the year.