Shreveport

Shreveport Reflection, originally uploaded by peteg.

The casinos of Shreveport, LA reflected in the gold windows of the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, LA.

I took Tari to Shreveport, LA for her birthday weekend. Shreveport and Bossier City, seperated by the Red River, have Vegas (or at least Reno) style casinos.

We stayed at Sam's Town. The rooms were huge and very nice. The rest of Sam's Town was kind of a dump. They need to get some oxygen exchangers or a giant Ionic Breeze or something because the whole place smelled like cigarrete smoke. It was nasty, especially when the smoke smell crept into our hotel room through the one inch crack at the bottom of the door. The gaming "boat" (more on this in a sec) was very small, so the gambling there was pretty lousy.

Good news is that the Horseshoe and the Eldorado were actually pretty nice, and had considerable gaming areas. The gaming areas at these casinos are actually riverboats permanently attached to the hotel. It's obviously a ridiculous interpretation of some 100 year old law, but it works and is kinda charming. I felt like I was having a Southern adventure.

The poor cocktail waitresses had to wear some very unflattering leotard outfits, so as much as I was inspired to sip a mint julep whilst gambling on a (landlocked) riverboat, I didn't want to make their job even shittier by asking for a complicated drink.

The gambling action wasn't so hot for us. Maybe I am just a cheapskate; I prefer to believe I am clever and far too cynical to be charmed by a Casino's wiles, but watching my money evaporate isn't that much fun. We had a good time, because casinos are fun, but by Saturday night we decided to blow our money at the bar at the Eldorado instead of hitting the floor. I am convinced we saved a lot of money that way.

Everybody in Texas has been incredibly friendly, but people in Louisiana took it to the next level. Strangers were constantly talking to us, in the elevators, on the floor, at restaurants. It was pretty amazing.

Loretta Lynn is playing at the Eldorado on 24 November. I think we'll head over to Shreveport for that.

Sparkling Wine, originally uploaded by peteg.

Tarita enjoys a glass of sparkling wine at the Eldorado Casino in Shreveport, LA.

Anticipation, originally uploaded by peteg.

Sam's Town Casino in Shreveport is giving away 20 Chrysler 300s in the month of November. They have a drawing every night and these people gathered around to watch the festivities.

Winner!, originally uploaded by peteg.

Winner!

Sam's Town Casino in Shreveport is giving away 20 Chrysler 300s in the month of November. They have a drawing every night and this lady won. She was so excited she collapsed to the ground in joy.

Red River, originally uploaded by peteg.

The Red River, as seen from our hotel room at Sam's Town Casino in Shreveport, LA.