And sin it was…

but believe it or not, there are plenty of parts that are not (that is, unless you consider entertainment a sin).

This past week, I had the experience of going to Las Vegas for the very first time on a work trip to the Digital Signage Expo – and let me say, I came back relatively sin free. I say “relatively” because although I didn’t go searching for anything, there are traces of “sin” plastered everywhere – leaving you no option but to look.

We stayed at the MGM Grand on one end of “The Strip” and let me tell you, “lavish” is not an understatement for these casino/hotels. As soon as you walk into any of these mega hotels, you know you’re not at the Super 8! Although, funny side-note, there was a Super 8 not far from us with the largest, shiniest, and blinkingest sign I have ever seen! Anyhoo, the other thing you are fully aware of is the fact that these mega buildings are being entirely funded by the casinos at the heart of the structure. There is no possible way to avoid the sea of enticing slots and tables in just trying to get to your room!

Instead of boring you with paragraphs of reading, let me summarize my stay:

Things I Did/Saw/Experienced:

1. I experienced yet another installment of Cirque Du Soleil with their show, “Ka”, and was mesmerized as always!  Here’s the trailer:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=lTIOF-COxEQ[/youtube]

2. Another amazing thing I experienced was the “dancing fountains” at the Bellagio hotel. If you’re ever in Vegas, you MUST check it out. My video didn’t turn out well, but I found this one of the same song that I saw:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCEYjZpL_bM[/youtube]

3. I gambled $40 actual dollars and won $32 of it back.  So, in essence, I lost $8, but I had over $40 of fun!    All of it was played on nickel or quarter slots with the exception of $10 that I played on a $2, larger-than-life slot machine and won all $10 back on my last pull!

4. We walked through at least 7 different hotel/casinos that I can remember – the MGM Grand, New York New York, the Luxor, Mandalay Bay, the Bellagio, Bally’s, Ceasar’s Palace – and maybe a few more that I can’t remember.  My dogs were TIRED!

5. I went to the Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay.

6. I rode the monorail at least a dozen times – thank goodness for cheap transportation – I can only imagine what cabs everywhere would have cost!

7. And, of course, went to the Expo and sat in on a few seminars. 

What I Learned in Vegas:

1. Drinks are free for those sitting and playing the games and slots – I guess they figure if you’re going to be shelling out the cash, the least they can do is keep you happy.  I, however, didn’t get anything for fear of looking like an idiot in only ordering a Coke from a scantily clad drink girl.

2. Vegas is NOT a smoke-free environment – I swear, more than a week there and you could die of second-hand smoke.

3. Limo Drivers and Cabbies all want to give you “free rides to the tittie bars!”.  (pardon the direct quote) We must have been asked a half dozen times just walking around – makes you wonder what’s in it for them.

4. Vegas, in fact, never sleeps.  Not to mention you never really know what time of day it is.  It could be 3 am and as long as you’re not dead tired, you’d think it was still noon!  Even outside, it’s so bright from the lights on the strip that it’s easy to forget you should be in bed. 

5. Accidentally sleeping in and having your phone on vibrate is NOT a good combination for when the wife is worried and trying to call.  Need I say more?  Chalk another “oops” up for me.  I really am sorry, honey. 

6. Prostitutes and strippers have their own “collector’s” cards, and you don’t have to look hard to see them everywhere.  I had to wait for a guy in the bathroom (a pimp?) to finish placing a stack of them on the urinal before I could use it!  Nice.

I could go on and on, but really – it’s one of those places that it’s nice to experience (at least parts of it), but I wouldn’t want to live there.  Granted, we were part of “The Strip” – I’m sure to the locals, Vegas is just like Bluffton – it was much bigger than I expected in comparison to the small size of the strip.  Anyway, I’m sure they still go to Wal-Mart. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any good photos because I didn’t take my camera around everywhere with me…it was just too big to slip into my pocket without being completely obvious.  I think I’m going to sell mine on eBay and get a smaller one for Phoenix next week with the in-laws.

Oh, the life of a traveler. 

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