Ramblings about Lost Wages—errr I mean Las Vegas

Tonight we are in Las Vegas, or as my father-in-law called it “Lost Wages.” We’ll stay here 2 nights before heading to Zion National Park. (Zion will be a quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of this sin city.) In the meantime, we are camped at a KOA located on the Las Vegas Strip. We’ve not seen any CSIs running around, but we have seen a lot of lights and people. Just driving down the Strip is a delight for the eyes. Only here can you drive by the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Coliseum, a sphinx, a pyramid, a medieval castle, the Doge’s Palace, and the Brooklyn Bridge and still be on the same street. Where else can you witness a volcano erupt, then walk a block and view dancing waters and lights paint the sky? It’s all over the top and a hoot!

Times might be bad, but there are a lot of people milling around. There’s also too much traffic for the street which is under construction yet again. The buildings are whimsical, colorful and jammed together. At first glance it does not look like anything natural can exist in this urban cacophony, but after careful scrutiny, there are trees and gardens too. There’s also gambling, which I guess, is the purpose of this oasis in the desert.

Tomorrow night we are going to The Phantom at The Venetian on the Strip. Tonight we tried to drive there, in order to pick up our tickets early, but found that was easier said than done. We did not pick up our tickets, as we could not find a place to park. Tomorrow we’ll take the people mover and leave the truck parked at the campground.

It’s interesting to see how Vegas has changed over time. The first time I visited Las Vegas was when Dwight Eisenhower was running for President (my that’s a long time ago). I remember a parade and my Dad talking to Ike and all of us shaking his hand. I remember a huge neon sign that said “Howdy Partner” and waved as we drove into town. It was small town then. Howdy Partner is nowhere to be seen; being replaced by mega-screens showing live video as you crawl down the Strip. With a pirate ship, a volcano, a flying saucer, a roller coaster and thousands of hotel rooms, Vegas is not the little town it was in the 50s. I wonder how it will continue to change and grow during the next 50 years?