So Viva Las Vegas...

This past week I went to Vegas for a few days. While it was not the first time I'd been to Sin City, it was the first time I had more than the "Swingers" experience.

What struck me most about LV was not the glittery lights, the constant clinking of the slot machines or even the people who will harass you till day's end just to get your butt into a free (and most likely painfully awful) show. It was the overwhelming fakeness of it all. The entire city is based on the fact that it's trying to be something else. You have theme hotels that run the gamut of everything from a hectic and psychotic circus to Paris, from a tropical rainforest to the canals of Venice complete with singing gondoliers. Of course strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge in front of New York, NY is nothing like the true experience and I would venture a guess that taking a walk through the Luxor's "ancient ruins" is nothing like being near the actual pyramids. But that's not to say that just cuz it's fake, it's not fun.

This trip to Vegas was quite a bit of fun actually, despite the fact that I am not a gambler. Let's face it, you're either an idiot, delusional, or a bit too optimistic for my tastes if you think you're actually going to win anything. Math and common-sense are on the other side of the see-saw and they're big kids. However, I am slightly voyeuristic and I love watching a good game. There's nothing like watching everyone around you going against the odds and hoping for a mathematical miracle and the Big Money. Thankfully the friend I went with did enjoy the gambling and his enthusiasm rubbed off. Who knew video poker could entertain for so long--even when you only break even? Nothing as semi-satisfying as hearing the quarter you put in come plinking out into the ash filled coin receptacle.

The non-gambling Vegas activities were pretty swell too. I've been a big fan of Penn and Teller for a few years, but their live show was much better than I expected. No wowing spectacle, just some nifty tricks, some terribly interesting banter, and a few comments and visuals to keep me thinking for some time afterwards. The Hilton has dedicated a good portion of its space to the Star Trek Experience, and even if you don't go on the rides, you are immersed in the Trekkie world. There's a themed restaurant (Quark's) that serves Romulan Ale, which despite all warnings failed to live up to its urine-coloring expectations and something like 8 gift shops selling everything from Kirk's uniform to Starfleet dogtags. Wandering Quark's and the adjacent area was a surly yet surprisingly picture obliging Klingon. Even the casino area was Trek themed. Nice job.

A trip to Vegas isn't complete without shelling out some serious bucks for food. We ate one very nice meal at the Bellagio, in a restaurant right on the lake. Something rather decadent about sipping wine and watching the dancing fountains. It's all semi-affordable as long as you don't order the caviar or the $95/pp tasting menu. But Vegas is all about the buffets, more food than you could shake a stick at. The goal is to eat as much as possible to feel you're getting your money's worth and not so much that you'll vomit it up 20 minutes later. A fine fine line. I must say, I'm glad the Mirage didn't offer Chinese food at the breakfast buffet like the Rio does; just strikes me as wrong to eat chicken and broccoli for breakfast.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the actual hotel I said at. The Venetian is the Venice wanna-be that actually does a pretty good job of making you never want to leave your room. These suites are huge! I was a big fan of the two TV's (though one never got watched), multiple seating in the sunken living room, two sinks in the bathroom, and the double door leading into the bathroom. After having stayed in some dank hotel hell-holes, this was a pleasant surprise. The room is also all about the view and a room on the 24th floor with a view of the strip is as nice as it sounds.

However, all good things must come to an end and after 3 days of faux-everything, even LA was looking a wee bit less plastic. Of course after a week back in LA, who's to say that a city that owns up to being true fantasy is all that bad?