I have been in Vegas for maybe 5 hours now, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.
At first, it was shiny and exciting (if a bit difficult to find out how and where to park). Already dark when we arrived, the city was lit up, blinking and flashing everywhere. The rollercoaster is running on New York New York, the Luxor is shooting a blue spotlight into the sky, the whole surface of the MGM Grand is throwing off multiple colours in multiple directions, and the Tropicana is just sitting there (do something, Tropicana). Further down the street, the Eiffel Tower at the Paris hotel is calling to me like a siren...
But then, five minutes after you've been walking out and about outside, you start noticing the beggars sitting off to the side, hoping for spare change. On every corner, people wearing "Girls Girls Girls" t-shirts, and snapping girly cards in your face. Throngs of people everywhere. No matter which direction you go, or how many times you navigate around somebody who's annoyingly slow, there's always another annoyingly slow person in front of them ready to take their place.
Inside is equally chaotic. There's a constant beep-beepbeep-bing from the slot machines, and the bars are cranking out loud music. People are lounging like zombies in front of the slot machines, just hitting the buttons to keep it rolling. The noise is driving me crazy. About the only escape from it is to go up to our hotel room, where at least it's nice and quiet and you can enjoy the lights without bumping around on the overcrowded sidewalks.
However, there is no microwave or fridge in our hotel room (because they don't want you eating food you didn't buy from them! They don't want you saving food you DID buy from them! You should throw it out and buy some more tomorrow).
Vegas is definitely worth seeing - but wow, does the sheer sensory overload start to rot your brain and your nerves. I think Vegas has just made me into an epileptic. Possibly a curmudgeon as well. Oh wait, I already was that. Never mind.
Maybe I'm just tired. Maybe I'll like it better tomorrow. After all, the fountains in front of the Bellagio were definitely worth seeing - we actually stood around to watch two shows.
The whole place is opulence on a grand scale, and yet it's gaudy and tacky. It's very nouveau riche, where it's all in your face.
There's a bride hobbling along up the stairs into Caesar's Palace, grimacing either because her feet hurt her, or because she's only just now realized she married a lout. (I vote for Door #2.) In a nice contrast, there's also some skanktastic ladies lounging outside Caesar's Palace. Working girls waiting for a job, or tacky tourists just dressing for the nightclubs? (I'll take Door #1 on that one.)
When you do venture inside the hotel casinos, there are no obvious exit signs anywhere, because they don't want you to exit. Hypnotic Hotel Voice: Why would you want to go anywhere else? I have everything you need right here. (Except a fridge and a microwave.)
So, I'm still ambivalent. But it's hard to hold a grudge against a city that has a two-storey Coca Cola store. Yes, TWO FLOORS of Coke products and memorabilia. And yet... not a single Diet Coke with Lime? So disappointed in you, Vegas. :-(
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| We're staying at New York New York hotel in Vegas |
At first, it was shiny and exciting (if a bit difficult to find out how and where to park). Already dark when we arrived, the city was lit up, blinking and flashing everywhere. The rollercoaster is running on New York New York, the Luxor is shooting a blue spotlight into the sky, the whole surface of the MGM Grand is throwing off multiple colours in multiple directions, and the Tropicana is just sitting there (do something, Tropicana). Further down the street, the Eiffel Tower at the Paris hotel is calling to me like a siren...
But then, five minutes after you've been walking out and about outside, you start noticing the beggars sitting off to the side, hoping for spare change. On every corner, people wearing "Girls Girls Girls" t-shirts, and snapping girly cards in your face. Throngs of people everywhere. No matter which direction you go, or how many times you navigate around somebody who's annoyingly slow, there's always another annoyingly slow person in front of them ready to take their place.
Inside is equally chaotic. There's a constant beep-beepbeep-bing from the slot machines, and the bars are cranking out loud music. People are lounging like zombies in front of the slot machines, just hitting the buttons to keep it rolling. The noise is driving me crazy. About the only escape from it is to go up to our hotel room, where at least it's nice and quiet and you can enjoy the lights without bumping around on the overcrowded sidewalks.
However, there is no microwave or fridge in our hotel room (because they don't want you eating food you didn't buy from them! They don't want you saving food you DID buy from them! You should throw it out and buy some more tomorrow).
Vegas is definitely worth seeing - but wow, does the sheer sensory overload start to rot your brain and your nerves. I think Vegas has just made me into an epileptic. Possibly a curmudgeon as well. Oh wait, I already was that. Never mind.
Maybe I'm just tired. Maybe I'll like it better tomorrow. After all, the fountains in front of the Bellagio were definitely worth seeing - we actually stood around to watch two shows.
***********
The whole place is opulence on a grand scale, and yet it's gaudy and tacky. It's very nouveau riche, where it's all in your face.
There's a bride hobbling along up the stairs into Caesar's Palace, grimacing either because her feet hurt her, or because she's only just now realized she married a lout. (I vote for Door #2.) In a nice contrast, there's also some skanktastic ladies lounging outside Caesar's Palace. Working girls waiting for a job, or tacky tourists just dressing for the nightclubs? (I'll take Door #1 on that one.)
When you do venture inside the hotel casinos, there are no obvious exit signs anywhere, because they don't want you to exit. Hypnotic Hotel Voice: Why would you want to go anywhere else? I have everything you need right here. (Except a fridge and a microwave.)
***************
So, I'm still ambivalent. But it's hard to hold a grudge against a city that has a two-storey Coca Cola store. Yes, TWO FLOORS of Coke products and memorabilia. And yet... not a single Diet Coke with Lime? So disappointed in you, Vegas. :-(
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