Sin City

A lot of my entries recently have been some heavy teaching stuff; let’s move on to some lighter topics.

And nothing is a lighter topic than Vegas, a city of such total and complete debauchery that naturally I cannot wait until I go back.

The thing about Vegas that one of my friends pointed out to me the other day was that everyone goes there to celebrate something – whether it’s blowing their most recent paycheck at the Roulette wheel or celebrating an engagement (which could easily become celebrating a marriage in that city’s innumerable wedding chapels) – so you know they’re gonna do it big.

Now I’m not a Vegas expert, but I have been to Sin City twice in the past month, and I certainly plan on becoming an expert sometime soon – why not? It’s a quick 5-and-a-half hour drive through the Mojave and over Lake Mead, and you’re there. (Out West, distance is relative – I would never say Charlotte and Raleigh are “close”, because they are two-and-a-half hours apart; but I do consider Tucson and Phoenix “close”, and they are the same distance away. So Vegas is “close enough” to Phoenix in that sense)

The Strip is awesome – open containers are totally fine; in fact, I think anything would be totally fine. It’s tough to walk though – even though the Venetian and Bellagio are like 2 blocks apart, those are llllooooonnnnngggg blocks to walk, especially if you’re all decked out and ready to hit the clubs (which of course you are, because you’re all my friends) There are pools, palaces, zoos, aquariums, slot parlors, designer shopping malls, a roller coaster, replicas of the CN Tower, Manhattan skyline, Camelot, Patong Beach, and the Eiffel Tower all on one simple street – it’s amazing they’ve created this oasis (or is it a mirage?) of glamour in the Nevada desert.

The casinos range from the happily kitsch Excalibur, where I stayed on my roadtrip, to the grand and palatial Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace. It all depends on what you’re looking for. And I love how each one has a schtick – if you want France, go to Paris. If you want China, head to the Imperial Palace. If you’re a poor teacher from Phoenix, go to the Travelodge (which I call the TroLo) – most terrifying hotel I have ever been to, and I include all Asian hostels in that statement.

So Vegas does indeed have something for everyone – shows and entertainment if you’re looking for a calm night; the world’s best clubs and bars if you’re not. Some of the best restaurants are in Vegas (I’m partial to San Marco’s at the Venetian and Le Burger Bistro at Paris); so are some of the world’s longest and trashiest buffets.

Vegas is party and glamour central if you’re young or a high-roller looking for a good time; it’s damned depressing if you’re not. Looking at old ladies spending all of their fixed incomes by listlessly lifting levers on slot machines in the midst of all the hullaballoo is sad as hell. And slots aren’t even fun.

It’s a city with a wild streak and a seedy underbelly –on the floor at one of the megacasinos, you wouldn’t be at all surprised to see George Clooney and the Ocean’s 11 crew enter one entrance as a CSI: crew leaves another.

It’s hyper, it’s neon, it’s silicone, it’s sunburned, it’s sandy, it’s gray, it’s throbbing, it’s alive – needless to say I love it.

Can’t wait to go back soon – next time to visit Alina!

peace and love from the grand canyon state,

pb