Las Vegas Trip - Day 4 -- Suspending Reality

A person can lose track of reality here and I think that is the business strategy for the resorts and casinos along the strip. Some more so than others.   They really need people to disregard the fact that it is 110 degrees, for one thing. Secondly, they need you to drop some of the defense mechanisms that you have about money.  Years ago, Las Vegas was an inexpensive vacation in some respects. That was years ago....now it is pretty costly -- especially if you stay at the top tier casino/resorts.  We are staying at the Riviera. which is not in that realm, but you can get there from here.

We went into several big casino resorts in the  evenings and it is as if you have become someone else in a fantasy world.

We were in the Paris, the Bellagio and Caesar's Palace last night and they are just opulent and dripping with wealth...not for middle class folks unless they want to pretend they are part of the moneyed world. The Paris resort/casino is a fantasy world for folks who want to pretend they are French or in France.

Today we were in Circus Circus, the Lynn and the Venetian. The Wynn is wealth and opulence and seems to cater a lot to the young college crowd...although I don't see how those two things match.   There is a beach 'club' there that I guess is the big draw. Most of the young ladies (mostly women) seemed to be barely 21.

The Venetian is amazing in the way they have recreated Venice (the good parts) complete with gondolas cruising the Grand Canal. We ate there in one of Mario Batale's restaurants...an upscale burger spot...and it was very nice sitting outside in the evening heat. They have umbrellas and misters to keep things cool and that made a difference.

Of course these places all have shopping sections with Cartier and Rolex and many other upscale shops. You won't find Mr. Bulky but you will find Godiva.

Circus Circus is designed for folks who want to fantasize that they are in an insane asylum. That was the most crazy whack-job of a place. It is geared for families so there are young families and lots of kids and noise and turmoil. We ran into people carrying huge (4' or 5' tall) stuffed animals wandering around as if they were in a trance. The noise was deafening. We could not wait to get out.

I spent some quality time with the slot machines at the Wynn casino and won enough to buy a couple beers and watch the World Cup game between Costa Rica and Greece. Costa Rica won, finally, on penalty kicks. Earlier in the day Mexico was eliminated in a lightening fast turn of events when Netherlands scored two goals in th final minutes. The two beers cost about $25. There went my winnings.  I refuse to pla anything other than slots or video poker --  table games are made for other people. I don't need the drama. Jill tried her hand ad roulette but made a fast retreat.

So...I'm actually ready to go home but we still have another day and a half. I'm grouped out. I don't need no more stinkin' books.  I wonder where they keep the strippers?