Leaving Las Vegas

My first time ever on the strip in Vegas was interesting.  In my numerous ventures through Las Vegas (always on the way to California), I have only stopped along the edges... for gas and In-N-Out.  My kids have always marveled at the cool buildings as we slowly drove by on the freeway (there's always been road construction and rush-hour-like conditions).  Wow, it looked impressive.  Now I was here... on the strip...

After checking in at the hotel (which was directly below the airplane flight path to and from the airport... a Things I've Learned notebook entry for sure), we drove over to the Bellagio to check out the fountain show while we waited for my sister and her family to arrive.  After checking out the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain (apparently there is a "fountain" theme at the Bellagio),

and catching the tail-end of Celine's My Heart Will Go On fountain show outside, we decided to walk down a couple of blocks to the M&M store we had passed on our way.  We still had a good 30 minutes before we could meet up with our cousins, so off we went.

Can I just say.... Big Mistake?

There were so many people walking around I felt like I was at Disney World... on a day the park is at capacity (and yes, we have experienced Disney World under such circumstances).  There was a little difference, though.  Maybe it was how more than half of those people were walking around with their cocktails, beer bottles, and fancy drinks.  Or maybe it was the oober-crude T-shirts being vended on the streets.  Or the porn pictures on the ground.  Or the people trying to shove disgusting pictures into your hands.  Or the constant cigarette smoke.  Or the vulgar language.  Or the repulsive billboards and flashing advertisements.  I told my kids, "Don't look up, and don't look down."

We made it to the M&M store.  We saw the designer colors... oh, and they only wanted $12.99 a pound.  No thank you.  The truly unfortunate part was that we had to walk back.  Back to the fountains to meet our cousins.  Needless to say, Bill and I felt like we were walking through the mists of darkness... with our children.  

We regretted our decision to take a walk.  Never again.

The next day we went here:

What a difference.  Peaceful.  Serene.  Joyful.  We saw two couples who had just been married taking pictures outside.  And the fountain here is more than beautiful.  The contrast was huge.  We wanted to stay... to linger... basking in the light.

Later that day we headed back to the strip to attend The Lion King.  We made a quick stop here:

We had to wait a few minutes to get a picture because a couple was getting married... right under the sign.  Their wedding guests had beers in hand as they stood around watching the jean-clad bride and groom exchange vows.  Like I said... contrast.

We headed off to the theater (of course... through a smoke-filled casino) and really enjoyed the show.  Afterwards we said good-bye to Britt and Sam as they headed back to Provo, and I kissed Bill good-bye at the airport before we headed out for our drive to California.  I wasn't sad to leave.

Good-bye, Las Vegas.  Next time I will avoid the strip.  I no longer have a desire to see it, be there, or experience what it has to offer.

Stops for gas and In-N-Out are more than sufficient.