Trippin’ Around North America

Las Vegas...

November 17

Well, after all these years, here we are in that much talked about city in the desert.


Our journey up to Las Vegas from the Arizona Highway that follows the old Route 66, was a bit of a journey. First we missed some signs that stated "No Trucks, Trailers or Rental Trucks Allowed Across Hoover Dam" [Terrorism I suspect!]. We backtracked a bit and next we found ourselves on "The Truck Detour", no problem except the grinding hills and potential boil-over problems. So, no Hoover Dam, thank you Bin Laden.

The campground, right off "The Strip", was our choice rather than on the outskirts. Our navigators, Fellette and Jane got us here, no problem. The last 30 miles was on elevated concrete freeways that I was not expecting. What happened to that City in The Desert?

As we pulled into our designated spot there were three half naked types sipping beers by their RV with a neon palm tree beside them. They said, "you don't want to park here!" How right they were. It turns out they are OK, just folks attending the KOA Convention here.

After showers, and a bit of a read of the literature we were given we decided to head out to see what it is all about.

Las Vegas is not our kind of place. "The Strip" is bizarre, noisy, decadent, smoky, shallow, and devoid of anything worth preserving. I am not being funny, that is how we both feel. We are not Puritans or Quakers, but it is just not our cup of tea. We strolled through the casinos and hallways of hotels and casinos. [There is no difference, casinos are hotels, hotels are casinos.] We had a inexpensive steak dinner and then strolled some more, before calling it quits for the day.

Las Vegas gets 35,000,000 visitors a year. Some are folks, like us. Some are gamblers, [and gamblers seem to be smokers, drinkers and often overweight]. Some are in town for a blow-out. Some are in town for a wedding.

It appears that gambling, booze and prostitution are the main money makers in town. We did not feel intimidated on the streets at night, however. Everybody seems to mind their own business, more concerned that they don't spill their drink as they walk the strip.

I am puzzled by the mix of people in town both tourists and employees. By far the majority are of non-white ancestry. Spanish is heard as much as English. Practically all the wait staff is Hispanic, as the cleaners and lower end workers.

We are not disappointed with Las Vegas, it merely affirms why we have not been here before. Today and tonight we will further stroll and observe, then take in a show and dinner and head out.

The roads leading north are fine so we will likely go up to the Reno/Carson City area and then head west through the mountains there. I think we may go through the Donner Pass where in the 1800's a wagon train got stuck for the winter and many died. There was a suggestion of cannibalism there. We must remember to check the weather forecast and take some food with us! My how times have changed.

posted by Doug and Fellette @ 1:42 PM