Las Vegas Strip Five Years Ago

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS ENDS UP ON THE BLOCKCHAIN

Ah, Las Vegas! The place where the sun never seems to set and the drinks flow freely. I visited Sin City back in 2018 and it was a blast. I spent a couple of days checking out the famous Strip, and let me tell you, it was hot and crowded, but also a lot of fun.

First of all, similar to New York, it was paradise for a street photographer. However, photographing buildings there was actually a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, just like in New York City. This was due to the sheer height of the buildings, and how many they were, clustered unto a relatively small space. From a distance, with a nice long lens, maybe, but inside the strip itself, it was very hard to get clean, clear shots of buildings.

I don't suppose many people have this experience as I did. With the exception of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, which was based around an Indian theme, I've been to every single other place represented on the Strip. I've been to Egypt (Luxur and Cairo), Rome, Paris, Venice, New York, e.t.c., but never to India. Something I hope to do one day. I feel like if I were ever to visit India, I'd need to do a proper country tour since it's such a diverse country. Also Mandalay Bay was the location of a mass shooting by a sniper not too long before then. It felt really surreal to be standing where some people would have been afraid for their lives, and some even paid with their lives.

It's such a grand hotel, Mandalay Bay, that one could spend one's entire time there without going anywhere else. There was a large swimming pool area that felt like a party beach. The DJ was spinning some hot tunes, I remember, and I was really tempted to chill there for the day. I took a quick tour of the public parts of the hotel and it did seem like some people where there just for that - to chill and not move a muscle to go see anywhere else.

Of all the hotels on the strip, my firm favourite was The Venetian. This place is truly amazing. From the moment I stepped inside, I felt like I had been transported to Italy, especially since it was in June and the sun was blazing hot outside. The Venetian is a luxury hotel and casino that has been designed to look like Venice, complete with canals, gondolas, and even a replica of St. Mark's Square. Having seen the real thing prior, I was actually quite impressed. It wasn't as rustic as the real Venice, but the detail that went into it was astounding to me.

Caesar's Palace was good too, especially the waterfall outside. The Colosseum was obviously way too perfect haha. A honourable mention too was Bellagio and the waterfall display which was almost as good as the one in Barcelona (the display, not the hotel). I suspect they might have been designed by the same person. I also saw a fireworks display there which was just amazing. America really does do things bigger!

I took a ride on one of the gondolas, and it was such a cool experience. The gondolier even sang to us in Italian, just like they did in the real Venice, which really added to the ambiance. Honestly, for a moment, I got flashbacks of Venice. I also checked out some of the shops and restaurants in The Venetian. They have everything from high-end designer stores to more affordable options. I didn't buy anything though haha.

Of course, there is much more to see and do in Las Vegas than just The Venetian. The Strip is lined with hotels and casinos, each one trying to outdo the others with their over-the-top displays and attractions. I also enjoyed checking out the Bellagio fountains, the Eiffel Tower replica at the Paris Hotel, and the neon lights of the Fremont Street Experience.

It also has to be said that the experience is different during the day and night. The crowd is also different. During the day, you get the typical crowd you'd have in any city frequented by tourists, again like New York or London. You have the street buskers and performers, the day time shows, a lot of music and noise. At night, all the grown up action starts; the proper gambling, the celebrities, the crime :)

Mind you, during the day, the gambling goes on too, it's just not as glamorous. I also witnessed crime in day time. I saw a police car chase right in the middle of the strip which ended up in a massive crash. I will do a separate post about that one day. It was like being in a movie. In fact, I thought I was accidentally walking through a movie set when it happened right in front of my eyes.

Another thing I noticed in Vegas is that they're more risqué with innuendos in adverts. You'd never seen stuff like that in most other parts of the USA and I can imagine some people were offended by them. Living in Europe, though, those thing are normal here. Tame even. Double entendres and innuendos are a way of life over here.

One thing to note is that Las Vegas can be pretty overwhelming. The crowds, the noise, and the constant sensory overload can be a lot to handle. But if you embrace the madness, it can be an unforgettable experience. Just be sure to stay hydrated and wear comfortable shoes! Also, give yourself a lot of time and don't rush. There's A LOT to see. One the first day I just walked along the strip taking it all in and making mental notes of where to return to see. Even then I reckon I only managed about 10% of what I wanted to do there.

Peace & Love,

Adé