Las Vegas: My Second Home

Have you ever been to Las Vegas? Are you thinking about going? Well, here's a little tale that might swing your vote. I love Las Vegas. I've never been to a more bizarre, surreal, lively, gaudy, bawdy, oh lawwwdy city...and I can't stop thinking about it. When I was a young lad, my dad and my brother used to take the occasional trip to Sin City and they would always look forward to the trip. I didn't quite understand the attraction, but I swore that I would go as soon as I turned 21.

That promise, unfortunately, did not come to pass. The 21st birthday (and many more) came and went, without even an inkling of a thought towards the desert. Then, I took a trip.

The funny thing about taking a month long trip to...anywhere, is that non-travelers don't really understand the point of your journey. I would tell people that I was going to travel around the States, visit some friends and see the desert. With very little hesitation, they would look at me, nod and say, "Ahhh...going to find yourself?"

What kind of question is that? Find myself. I know exactly where I am. I'm right here. And in a month, I'll be in Vegas! And then, back here again. So I shook my head, doubtful that my friends could ever really understand that traveling is inherently awesome, and headed out.

My trip was amazing. I headed south along the east coast and stayed for a week in Myrtle Beach. Then I headed west, visiting friends in Austin and San Diego, took a walk down Hollywood's "Walk of Fame," hiked through the Grand Canyon and experienced numerous other beautiful moments. Finally, I found my way to the Las Vegas Strip and I knew that I had found my second home.

The lights, the themed hotels, the drunk people laughing on the sidewalks...what was this place and why had I taken so long to get here?

So why did I instantly connect with Las Vegas? It's too ridiculous to be ridiculous. It's so "out there" that it must be making fun of itself. It's a satirical look at the self-indulgence of the...look, it's awesome, okay? There doesn't always have to be an explanation that can be clearly defined. Sometimes, a place just "feels" right, even though you're almost embarrassed for it. But sometimes it's just confidence. Vegas knows that it looks good, dressed in clothes that are so mis-matched that they actually work.

On one side of the Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard), it can take up to 15 minutes to walk from one hotel's front entrance to the neighboring hotel. Can you even fathom that? They share a property line! The Bellagio offers a fountain show, set to music that ranges from Elvis to Opera. The Mirage has a volcano on its front lawn...a friggin' volcano! At Treasure Island, pirates battle and boats sink. There's a castle, a pyramid, an Eiffel Tower, a circus, the New York City skyline, a Roman megalith, and the Venetian has canals, gondolas and singing...gondola people. (What do you call a gondola driver? Gondoleer?)

For Las Vegas, these types of attractions are the norm. That, in itself, is enough for me to fall in love with this city. There really is no city that can compare (unless France has a Euro-Vegas that has been and gone already...)

When I ask people what they think about Las Vegas, I get one of two answers: "Love it" or "Disgusting." It's really difficult to find people that take a middle ground, but I am convinced that it exists. The reputation for Sin City is...well...that nickname kind of gives it away. Images of gambling addiction, public drunkenness, lewd conduct, prostitution, poorly planned weddings, pawn shops and other negative things often surface in conversation. Again, some people are for them and others against. But why can't we just get along?

Here's my angle. If you want those things, you're going to find them wherever you can. The fact that they happen to all be available in one place is more a commentary on what people desire, rather than a city being "sinful" or "evil."

To me, it is a city of wonder. It is a physical manifestation of imagination. I have been to Vegas three times. I've not been arrested, paid for sex, forgotten my hotel room number (due to excessive alcohol consumption), nor even lost money at the tables (I'm probably in a small group of people to be able to claim that I have left Vegas with more money than I arrived with...however little that may be :)

So, if you have ever considered taking a trip to Las Vegas, I say go for it. Like most things in life, you'll get out of it what you put into it. If you have a gambling, drinking, or sexing addiction, I'd suggest "anywhere but Vegas." However, you can spend a whole week here just seeing the sights, without ever spending a dime on liquor, games or prostitutes. Check it out for yourself and you'll understand why I never want to stop returning to this city of wonders.