It’s 110 degrees in the shade here in Las Vegas. The desert has me seeing things. Yesterday I must have hallucinated a sign advertising a museum, of fine art. Truly this was a mirage (not to be confused with the hotel thus named) because all the signs on the strip sell sex and shows. Whether it’s the last tour of the Pet Comedy routine or girls who want to talk to you, yes you, on the phone at any hour, or Donny and Marie like you’ve never seen them before, there is something for everyone. Well, that’s the idea anyway.
But I do think the mirage in the desert idea is the appropriate way of thinking about Las Vegas. It’s hard to believe your eyes most of the time and sometimes you wish that if you blinked hard enough certain things would go away. When your feet start to feel hot through your shoes because the sidewalk is 130 degrees, things can get confusing and then sweat rolls in your eyes.
Smoke gets in there too, from the cigar-smoking pot-bellied men playing craps to the endless disappearing acts of “world-class” magicians. James and I have been generously gifted the Vegas experience and have really tried to make and see the most of this town. Depictions I’ve seen including Fear and Loathing and The Hangover feel mostly accurate (you can’t make this stuff up!) The following photos are from Olives restaurant, Doña Maria Tamales, the Arts District, Gold and Silver Pawn from TV show “Pawn Stars” fame, and of course, the strip.
Enjoy, but please keep your clothes on.
