I Won Big at the Casino!!!

**Susie Q Roo** · 08-03-2007

Rick's car permit expired this week, so we went down to the Belize border to turn it in. Still not sure if we got it there in time to avoid being charged, since it was already closed the evening we got there and we were told to return in the morning. Soooo...

We spent a lovely night in Chetumal (still surprised at the hotel prices there!

), eating dinner at my favorite restaurant in Mexico which now goes by only one name - Sergio's Pizza (it used to be Maria's Italian Restaurant as well, I believe). It is SO much more than pizza, though they do have a lot of that on their very extensive menu. My favorite dish there (and I don't go often enough to even think about trying anything else since I love this one so much) is the filete roquefort that just melts in your mouth. The potato and veggie that come with it are both yum also. We also had tasty soups - cream of broccoli for me and tortilla soup for Rick. This is some of the finest dining I've experienced in Mexico with wonderful, attentive, professional service and a pleasant, air-conditioned, non-tourist-oriented atmosphere. Great prices also. Our steaks were about $13US and the entire bill with soup, entree, drinks, and one dessert (for Rick

) was around $50. If you ever get to Chetumal....

Anyway, we got up the next morning and returned to the border... turned the sticker in with no problems and headed on into the Zona Libre, or Free Zone. Found some yummy cochinita pibil tacos on the side of the street and had a hard time stopping eating them.

There is a lot of cheesy (mostly clothes and socks

and beach towels) shopping there and we didn't really see anything we wanted to buy (translation: Rick was bored and rolling his eyes every time I stopped to look at anything so I gave up/in

).

There are casinos there also and, though I'd been to the Free Zone before, I'm not a big gambler, so had never stopped. Rick wanted to see them, so we asked a security guy which was the best of the 3. He pointed to the one next to him and said, "Since this is the only one open this time of day, this one is!"

We went in and discovered that all they had was slots; no tables. Rick was disappointed but I was excited because they had penny and nickel slots - YAY, just my speed! I cashed in 200 pesos for dollars, since that's what they take there and found my first penny machine, while Rick went off for the higher stakes. Played for a little while at one and lost my first $5 or so. Watched Rick for awhile and decided to go back but to a different penny slot. I accidentally had it set to bet $2 on each spin

but didn't notice it 'til right after my second pull, when.... ching ching ching ching ching ching ching !!!! The credits started flying!

I WON $42 ON THE PENNY SLOTS!!! WOO DE HOO HOO!!!

So I quit and took my money and ran!

Now, the funny part of our trip... You're supposed to be able to go into the free zone in your car with no immigration or customs issues, right? But, on the way out, you drive through the same crossing as the folks who've actually been IN Belize. We got through there with no questions, until this guy in street clothes runs up to the van and tells us to turn around because immigration wants to talk to us. Ummm... okay. The immigration guy looks at our passports and scowls a bit and then asks me, in Spanish, of course... "So... what year is the van?" A few more van questions and I ask him, "Wanna buy it?" Turns out he does and that's the only reason they had us come back! We exchanged info and expect to hear from him tomorrow to see if we can come to terms. (Wonderful though the Big Red Hump has been to us during Rick's time down here, it's a bit less than practical in the big picture.)

We did a little shopping in Chetumal after all that (just looking, really, since I wasn't gonna spend my hard-won cash!), then enjoyed our long drive back home.

If you're ever really really bored with the beach and the beer and the

and don't mind a 4 hour drive, it's an interesting little trip down to the frontera!

tagent · 08-03-2007

Wow you are a big time gambler. My husband went up to a casino near my moms several weeks ago and played the penny machine. My husband was on a hot machine and won over $300 on the same penny machine.

xqqzme · 08-03-2007

We always knew you were a BIG winner Susie

The saga of the Big Red Hump continues......

Jacko · 08-03-2007

Woo De Hoo Hoo!!

I guess we know who will be buying the first round of drinks in North Carolina!

monte · 08-03-2007

Crongrats Susie

and good luck with the Big Red Hump

**Susie Q Roo** · 08-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by tagent

Wow you are a big time gambler. My husband went up to a casino near my moms several weeks ago and played the penny machine. My husband was on a hot machine and won over $300 on the same penny machine.

Darn.

And I thought I did so well.

Maybe I should have stayed on that machine, instead of bolting!

jamesblonde · 08-03-2007

Nothing like winning big!!

Good luck with the BRH

hrlydavison · 08-03-2007

What!!!! Selling the Big Red Hump??? Not the coolest Trip Report Van that ever gathered Mexican dust!!! Say it aint so!!

BonnyW · 08-03-2007

You go girl!

I still think you could start a business giving personalized tours of the Yucatan using 'The Big Red Hump.' Turn it into a luxury van with a bar.

ElvisP · 08-03-2007

Congrats on your winnings. I'm an avid reader of your TR's.

Do people ever get tired of

? If that ever happens to me....man, just the thought of it makes me ill.

trishab83 · 08-03-2007

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that gets excited about big wins like that!!
I love how you just drive to the Belize border...I want to be able to just drive to the Belize border! Some day, some day...
Also, have I ever told you that you look like Catherine Keener in your avatar??

Jacko · 08-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonnyW

You go girl!

I still think you could start a business giving personalized tours of the Yucatan using 'The Big Red Hump.' Turn it into a luxury van with a bar.

We sure had a great trip in it together with a few of my friends!

cyndyj1 · 08-03-2007

I won $400 in Blackhawk (Colorado) last weekend. On the least-likely-to-pay-off slots - video poker. I went to the bar for a drink, and decided to put in a couple of bucks while I was waiting. About the 4th or 5th hand - 4 aces!!! $218.00!!! I went to another bar later for another drink (ya see a pattern here?) and put in another couple bucks - 4 jacks! $77, right off the bat. I won another $40 on other machines here and there.

Now I'm afraid to go back...probably used up all my luck on this one trip.

Whaddya say, Susie? Wanna hit the casinos when I'm there in October??? Since we're both such big spenders/big winners?

BonnyW · 08-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacko

We sure had a great trip in it together with a few of my friends!

I agree

**Susie Q Roo** · 08-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by trishab83

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that gets excited about big wins like that!!
I love how you just drive to the Belize border...I want to be able to just drive to the Belize border! Some day, some day...
Also, have I ever told you that you look like Catherine Keener in your avatar??

Well, YOU haven't, but I've heard it before. I don't see it so much, though. Some photos, I kinda hope I don't look a thing like her, but some aren't so bad, like this one:

08-03-2007	#1 (permalink)
Susie Q Roo Critter Magnet Join Date: May 2003 Location: Q Roo Posts: 16,100	I Won Big at the Casino!!! Rick's car permit expired this week, so we went down to the Belize border to turn it in. Still not sure if we got it there in time to avoid being charged, since it was already closed the evening we got there and we were told to return in the morning. Soooo... We spent a lovely night in Chetumal (still surprised at the hotel prices there! ), eating dinner at my favorite restaurant in Mexico which now goes by only one name - Sergio's Pizza (it used to be Maria's Italian Restaurant as well, I believe). It is SO much more than pizza, though they do have a lot of that on their very extensive menu. My favorite dish there (and I don't go often enough to even think about trying anything else since I love this one so much) is the filete roquefort that just melts in your mouth. The potato and veggie that come with it are both yum also. We also had tasty soups - cream of broccoli for me and tortilla soup for Rick. This is some of the finest dining I've experienced in Mexico with wonderful, attentive, professional service and a pleasant, air-conditioned, non-tourist-oriented atmosphere. Great prices also. Our steaks were about $13US and the entire bill with soup, entree, drinks, and one dessert (for Rick ) was around $50. If you ever get to Chetumal.... Anyway, we got up the next morning and returned to the border... turned the sticker in with no problems and headed on into the Zona Libre, or Free Zone. Found some yummy cochinita pibil tacos on the side of the street and had a hard time stopping eating them. There is a lot of cheesy (mostly clothes and socks and beach towels) shopping there and we didn't really see anything we wanted to buy (translation: Rick was bored and rolling his eyes every time I stopped to look at anything so I gave up/in ). There are casinos there also and, though I'd been to the Free Zone before, I'm not a big gambler, so had never stopped. Rick wanted to see them, so we asked a security guy which was the best of the 3. He pointed to the one next to him and said, "Since this is the only one open this time of day, this one is!" We went in and discovered that all they had was slots; no tables. Rick was disappointed but I was excited because they had penny and nickel slots - YAY, just my speed! I cashed in 200 pesos for dollars, since that's what they take there and found my first penny machine, while Rick went off for the higher stakes. Played for a little while at one and lost my first $5 or so. Watched Rick for awhile and decided to go back but to a different penny slot. I accidentally had it set to bet $2 on each spin but didn't notice it 'til right after my second pull, when.... ching ching ching ching ching ching ching !!!! The credits started flying! I WON $42 ON THE PENNY SLOTS!!! WOO DE HOO HOO!!! So I quit and took my money and ran! Now, the funny part of our trip... You're supposed to be able to go into the free zone in your car with no immigration or customs issues, right? But, on the way out, you drive through the same crossing as the folks who've actually been IN Belize. We got through there with no questions, until this guy in street clothes runs up to the van and tells us to turn around because immigration wants to talk to us. Ummm... okay. The immigration guy looks at our passports and scowls a bit and then asks me, in Spanish, of course... "So... what year is the van?" A few more van questions and I ask him, "Wanna buy it?" Turns out he does and that's the only reason they had us come back! We exchanged info and expect to hear from him tomorrow to see if we can come to terms. (Wonderful though the Big Red Hump has been to us during Rick's time down here, it's a bit less than practical in the big picture.) We did a little shopping in Chetumal after all that (just looking, really, since I wasn't gonna spend my hard-won cash!), then enjoyed our long drive back home. If you're ever really really bored with the beach and the beer and the and don't mind a 4 hour drive, it's an interesting little trip down to the frontera! __________________ Susie OMG I really live here... STILL! If you're interested in Paamul... CLICK HERE

08-03-2007	#5 (permalink)
monte añejo Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: dallas Posts: 12,805	Crongrats Susieand good luck with the Big Red Hump

08-03-2007	#2 (permalink)
tagent ruined Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 87	Wow you are a big time gambler. My husband went up to a casino near my moms several weeks ago and played the penny machine. My husband was on a hot machine and won over $300 on the same penny machine.

08-03-2007	#3 (permalink)
xqqzme añejo Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 5,108	We always knew you were a BIG winner Susie The saga of the Big Red Hump continues......

08-03-2007	#4 (permalink)
Jacko añejo Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 30,959	Woo De Hoo Hoo!! I guess we know who will be buying the first round of drinks in North Carolina!

08-03-2007	#7 (permalink)
jamesblonde añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South of Seattle Posts: 8,253	Nothing like winning big!! Good luck with the BRH

08-03-2007	#8 (permalink)
hrlydavison life=playa Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Middle of a cornfield in Illinois Posts: 545	What!!!! Selling the Big Red Hump??? Not the coolest Trip Report Van that ever gathered Mexican dust!!! Say it aint so!!

08-03-2007	#9 (permalink)
BonnyW añejo Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Left Coast...So Cal Posts: 13,334	You go girl! I still think you could start a business giving personalized tours of the Yucatan using 'The Big Red Hump.' Turn it into a luxury van with a bar.

08-03-2007	#10 (permalink)
ElvisP añejo Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,794	Congrats on your winnings. I'm an avid reader of your TR's. Do people ever get tired of ? If that ever happens to me....man, just the thought of it makes me ill.

08-03-2007	#11 (permalink)
trishab83 beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 490	I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that gets excited about big wins like that!! I love how you just drive to the Belize border...I want to be able to just drive to the Belize border! Some day, some day... Also, have I ever told you that you look like Catherine Keener in your avatar??

08-03-2007	#13 (permalink)
cyndyj1 añejo Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 2,609	I won $400 in Blackhawk (Colorado) last weekend. On the least-likely-to-pay-off slots - video poker. I went to the bar for a drink, and decided to put in a couple of bucks while I was waiting. About the 4th or 5th hand - 4 aces!!! $218.00!!! I went to another bar later for another drink (ya see a pattern here?) and put in another couple bucks - 4 jacks! $77, right off the bat. I won another $40 on other machines here and there. Now I'm afraid to go back...probably used up all my luck on this one trip. Whaddya say, Susie? Wanna hit the casinos when I'm there in October??? Since we're both such big spenders/big winners?

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