You know that I am typically a positive person. In my opinion, one shouldn’t waste his or her time on negative feelings, if possible. If you can’t say something nice….There is great happiness in that mantra.
So, what can I say that’s positive about Las Vegas?
Hugh Jackman is performing here in July. I had some great tacos the other night. It’s where you can come–as we have come this weekend–to train in martial arts for two days straight with legendary instructors. (That is unless you volunteered to watch the children during the training).
NEVER bring your children to Las Vegas. That became quite clear when the first “Girls Direct to Your Room” advertisement rolled past our car as soon as we descended upon the famous strip. Here are my top quotes of the weekend to help explain why I wish never to repeat this experience:
- “Mama, there is a lot of litter here!”
- (Referring to the business-card advertisements of naked women strewn all over the ground.)
- “Can I try…
- [a hydro massage, $400 sunglasses, a dose at the oxygen bar, a virtual reality ride, a video-gamey slot machine, temporary tattoo, one of those yard-long “slushy” drinks]?”
- “What is an IV Hangover Solution?”
- (Face-palm.)
- “Isn’t Elvis dead?”
- (Okay, so that one was cute.)
- “This will be a good place to teach you guys what marijuana smells like.”
- (Did I really just say that?)
Perhaps it’s not fair to blame my psyche on a city, but I am finding that my mind is full of hateful thoughts. Usually, I see people and think kindly of them. Here, my judgment meter is a blazing siren brought to a decibel and watt level that matches the inescapable, oppressive, gyrating, and luminescent ads all around me.
- Drunk!
- Too much alcohol.
- Fat!
- Too many buffets.
- Perfect!
- Too much time with the plastic surgeon.
How does anyone live here without developing a severe complex about their body? Or, as Leo said, “I don’t think anyone lives here at all.”
It seems to me that people come here to gift their souls a screaming, fiery death “a la Icarus.” Can we go back to hiking canyons in the desert, please?
Don’t get me wrong- I hate Vegas too, and for many of the same reasons. Everything is OVER THE TOP. And yes drunkenness has a direct correlation with excessive alcohol consumption. But, just like some people actually do have perfect physiques (and come by them naturally); not everyone is fat from gorging themselves on buffets or any other lack of self discipline, for what that is worth. The fat people in Vegas were fat before they got there – ’cause, like you said – no one actually lives there.
I think that’s what was so frustrating–I found myself unjustifiably critical of EVERYONE. What turned on that switch?
There’s a reason I have never been to Vegas despite the urgings from many to do so. Nothing, but absolutely nothing is of interest to me there. Granted, the lure to train with the best might be there, but I can always go to Boston to train in Bo Sim Mark’s school, or to Florida at the Wah Lum Temple. Or to Guangdong to train with the descendants of the Five Tigers. But Vegas, no. And my kids, definitely no. Totally agree with you.
Yep, we can find the masters elsewhere! Remind me this point when Vegas comes up again next year…
I’m not a fan of the Strip either, so I recommend exploring the surrounding area which has stunning natural beauty offering healing for the soul: https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/
Yes! We didn’t see those red rocks, but we did make it to Willow Beach at Lake Mead for some kayaking–113 degrees in the air, 51 degrees in the water. It was amazing!
cannot agree with you more!!! my mom lived in las wages for about 5 years and i always had to fly there to visit my grandparents who lived in kingman az… so far too many times there! but know you are only a few hours of driving from the grand canyon, black rock desert, and the damn dam on the colorodo- which i request you monkey wrench gang! stay sane – leaving las vegas is the best you can do! and do it quickly!
We absolutely took in some amazing natural sights on our way in and out of the city. Tell me more about the dam…
It’s terrible. Any place who’s mantra is “What goes on here… stays here…” Face palm indeed. But I do have fond memories of an aged, formerly family-friendly hotel called Circus Circus that we would stop at on our drive from Utah to California. My dad would play one of their carnival games to win us a stuffed animal, which delighted my child self to no end. But that was before I understood the intent of the city, ha. My poor brother made a stop there in his teenage years and said, “There was no where to look!” From the littered streets if you look down, to the offensive signs and billboards… not to mention what’s going on in real time around you… it’s fine that you never go back. Now you know!