Venice or Vegas?

Las Vegas, a city of contrasts and excess, much like a lot of cities around the world although this city screams out the reason it's there and it doesn't hold back. Every casino/hotel/attraction is bigger and bolder and more brash than the last to attract people to enter its air conditioned, shiny and fake interiors complete with painted blue skies with clouds to shield you from the clear blue skies outside and the searing heat. Trevi fountain, Venetian canals complete with gondolas. Statues 50 feet high (probably). I was just wondering what they're made of. Escalators that are shaped in a curve. Moving walkways should your legs have grown weak from all the sitting at gambling tables/slot machines/game machines. All the posh shops and lots lots more.

Walking through the casinos and people sitting in seats designed for comfort to keep you there as long as possible even going so far as having feet rests and drinks brought to you. Didn't see if they supplied anything in case you needed the loo and didn't want to move, but there were lots of 'restrooms' so you don't have to leave the floor for too long.

It's a city designed for optimum parting of people with their money and it does it well. Me, I spent my money on seeing a National Geographic exhibition showing the stories behind the 50 greatest photos and it was a great exhibition I stumbled upon and money well spent.

I must admit they have done a good replica of a tiny piece of Venice but obviously it could never be a patch on the real thing.

Vegas is a surreal experience and a gateway (when flying in) to the landscape that surrounds it, still in it's natural and raw beauty that I am yet to explore.

Viva Las Vegas (it had to be said).