Viva Las Vegas!

We walk into the Bellagio and I am overwhelmed by the gorgeous Chihuly glass ceiling. I have always loved Chihuly's art, and this ceiling is a beautiful example of his work. We were told of the Bellagio's spectacular flower arrangements, but no one mentioned the ceiling.

As we make our way to the door, we pass a group of women with neon pink hair. Then, we see the man in their group; he is dressed in a fuzzy gorilla costume made with the same neon pink fur. Now, this is what I expected of Las Vegas, I think.

As we walk out onto The Strip, Frank Sinatra serenades us as a water show begins in the Bellagio's huge courtyard. Behind the dancing waters we see an Italian village and across the street is the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and other scenes of Paris all squished together into one casino block. Unimpressed, Adolfo begins playing with his I-phone.

"Where now?" Adolfo asks. "This is your thing, so you decide." Adolfo will take no credit for the decision to come to Las Vegas.

"I just want to walk down The Strip," I respond.

So off we go. Trying to make the experience shorter, I walk quickly. Adolfo, on the other hand, drags his feet, never looking up from his I-phone. He is too busy sulking and wants to make it obvious that he does not want to be here. This is his fourth time in Las Vegas, and he has never liked the city. I remind him that this is my first time here.

As we walk, a traveling billboard of naked women passes, announcing that the girls want to meet us. A diabla greets us from atop a building, and men attempt to pass Adolfo cards with pornographic photos of women who promise to be perfect escorts. Adolfo passes on the cards, I pick them up. Isn't this part of the Las Vegas experience?

We pass a mall of shops so expensive you would have to win a million to purchase a pair of socks. Adolfo's I-phone goes back in his pocket when we find a photo gallery with great landscape photography. Later, as we continue down the street, the phone returns to his hand.

We follow an older couple across a street. The woman is dressed in cougar patterns from head to toe. Not a costume--but quite an outfit.

Soon we arrive at New York. We walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and look up at the Statue of Liberty which is set on a tiny island. Behind the statue are skyscrapers in the shape of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. I decide to go inside to see the interior design. When I enter all I see are hundreds of video screens. Yuck! It just looks like another casino.

Kindly, Adolfo doesn't take this as an opportunity to leave, instead he directs me to the interesting area of the inside. Behind all the video machines are winding corridors all decorated like New York streets. It really is well done. We purchase a coffee in Greenwich Village before we continue on.


Walking out of New York, New York we look straight into a huge Disney-like castle. A huge golden lion stares at us from across the street. "One more block," I beg.

I still want to see the Egyptian pyramid down the street. Adolfo is becoming very tired and annoyed, but I am enjoying all the outrageous buildings. It's Disneyland for adults.


When we start back toward the Bellagio, the sky gets dark, and the street lights up. Women in playboy statue of liberty/maid costumes roam the streets followed closely behind by missionaries carrying "Only Jesus Loves You" signs.

A man approaches us with a great deal. If we return tomorrow to hear about the City Center apartment complex, he will give us $50.00 each to use in the casinos, tickets to two shows, and a free Brazilian steak meal. We just have to have an income of $50,000 or more. We explain that we are unemployed. He asks which hotel we're staying in, and we respond that we are camping. He continues that we should just lie.

Since we have no interest in gaming, and we do not want to spend another day on the strip, we pass up the deal. Adolfo is pleased though. He is entertained by the man's persistence and with the fact that he chose the absolute worst possible couple to aim his sales at.

As we walk back through the Bellagio, we follow a woman with Spock ears. Her blond friend dons a traditional Chinese gown complete with parasol.

Safely back at the trailer, Adolfo takes in a game of cards.