Welcome to The Vulture’s Travels; my blog discussing poker, gaming, and my travels.  First, a little about me:

Name:  Christopher, A.K.A. Vulture

Age:  34

Born:  New Orleans, LA

Lives:  Atlanta, GA

Favorite Casino:   Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas

Casino played:  Harrah’s New Orleans, St. Louis, and Tunica.  Caesar’s Palace, the Rio, Bellagio, Venetian, and Mirage, Borgata, Taj Mahal, Caesar’s Atlantic City, Golden Moon/Silver Star Philadelphia, MS.

Before I get into my latest trip, let me share my introduction to gaming.  My mother began working at the Grand Casino Gulfport, MS during my sophomore year of high school.  Eventually she became a pit boss on the midnight shift and since my father was stationed overseas with the Navy; young Vulture had a profound lack of parental guidance and being in Mississippi a profound lack of anything to do.  Hence, at the young age of 16 I acquired a fake I.D. not for booze but for cards.  I’d always been good at games and cards and figured what the hell; how hard could the casinos be.   The I.D. was silly and in all the years of using it never once was it questioned.  And so began my battle with the casino industry or as I like to call it the Evil Empire.  In a lucky twist of fate, in November 1995 on my 21st birthday about a year prior to my mother passing away.  She took me to the President Casino in Biloxi, MS.  After about 20 minutes I hit a Queen high straight flush in Caribbean Stud poker paying me $36,832.  Later that night I won another $3,000 playing blackjack.  Three weeks later on a whim I decided to try my hand at 7 card stud at the Grand Casino Gulfport, MS.  I did not have a clue and lost $200 in half an hour.  All was not lost though, a trip to the ATM and 8 hours later I walked out with over $10,500 from blackjack where at one point I was playing $1,500 a hand.  Needless to say my legal gaming career had gotten off to a pretty good start…..

Las Vegas, December 2008

Decided to take a four day trip to the L.V. for some rest, relaxation and of course, some cards.  Arranged for some comped rooms at Caesar’s; Vegas is literally giving rooms away right now even the sillies.

Day 1.  Vegas Tip #1: Don’t check a bag if at all possible; depending on the day baggage claim in Vegas is crazy.  One carry-on and two scotches later and I’m off.  Another scotch on the plane and I wake-up on our decent into Vegas.  Vegas Tip #2: Don’t wait in that long ass line for a cab, slip a bag guy a 10 spot and you’ll get the hook.  I get a room in the new Augustus Tower which is ridiculous.  Huge room, great view, and a huge Jacuzzi tub.  Drop off the bags.  Now for what has become a Vegas ritual for me.  I head over to Mandalay Bay for my 1 p.m. appointment at The Art of Shaving for a sick straight razor shave and shoulder massage.  Head back to Caesar’s for shrimp cocktail at the Palm, change clothes into some comfortable poker gear and at 3 p.m. sit down at the 1-2 no limit game.  For those of you that haven’t been, the poker room at Caesar’s is really great.  Well lit, wide open, food sent to the table and its right next to the sportsbook.  There are still enough tourist donkeys at Caesar’s that have watched poker on television or played in their .50 home game that think for some reason they can sit down at a no limit cash game and hang.  Marathon 10 hour session, one bet on the Rockets -4 over the Nuggets; vinner.  Just prior to getting up I took a horrible bad beat for $300 of my stack.  I could not beat off this donkey with 2-4 off suit just would not get off my top two pair and runner, runner flushed me.  Still on east coast time; off to bed.  First day total +$650.  A winning session.

To be continued….(if you like tourneys, strip clubs, escorts, and boozing check back in)