Las Vegas
Nevada
March 2019
Our flight lands in Las Vegas. I would be remiss if I did not spend a little time describing this desert burg to you. It is nicknamed Sin City although I will be quick to point out that prostitution, which is legal in the state of Nevada, is not permitted by law in Las Vegas. I’m sure that, at the moment of truth, they all have second thoughts.
Lucky for us, Las Vegas has another popular nickname, The Entertainment Capital of the World. In addition to the eccentric characters wandering the streets, you can be entertained by the stage shows and the gambling. You probably know that gambling is quite the thing in Vegas. This city pulls in roughly one billion dollars ($1 000 000 000) per month in gambling revenue. Many people find this fact to be entertaining.
This $1B does not include the take from the ubiquitous gambling machines; When- and wherever you turn in Vegas, there are slot machines. Lisa throws away $20 every time she flies into LAS, before she even leaves the airport. And yes, it’s true, there are gambling machines in the men’s rooms and I’m not talking about the prophylactic dispensers.
Urination is an activity you will undoubtably engage while in Vegas, not to single out this city. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, pieces were scattered all over the world, including into the men’s room of the Main Street Station Hotel and Casino which — surprise! — is in Las Vegas. You get to pee on a chunk of the Berlin Wall! Take that, you commies!
While in The Entertainment Capital of the World, you can visit the Pinball Hall of Fame, the Barry Manilow Store, the Neon Museum, the Clown Factory and of course, the Elvis Museum. You can get married at the Gun Store, while playing KISS Monster Mini Golf at the Mob Museum or at Denny’s Restaurant.
In spite of these touristy delights, this place makes me jittery, which I believe is the opposite of entertained.
Having had enough, we are on to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the antithesis of Las Vegas, butt up against it to the east.