Las Vegas | A City of Extravagance and Illusion
Las Vegas | A City of Extravagance and Illusion Las Vegas was the final stop on my trip across the United States. As advertised, this city truly feels like it was built for tourists. Vegas also serves as a window into America, with its mature offerings of gambling and adult entertainment, sports events, and a variety of shows that have been perfected like assembly lines. As soon as I got off the plane, I saw dozens of slot machines right at the gate, all colorful and eye-catching. I observed them for a bit and couldn't help but compare them to the pachinko parlors in Japan. I really couldn't understand the appeal. I'm sure many people have lost a lot of money on these machines. Each time I saw them, I thought it would be more worthwhile to just buy a machine and play at home... I visited the Hoover Dam with a travel companion. Once we left the city, we were driving through the Nevada desert, with wilderness on both sides of the highway. During this trip in the U.S., I met quite a few travel companions who were all very nice. In contrast, in Europe, where backpacking is popular, I often found myself traveling alone. The Hoover Dam was a project from the Great Depression era, 30 years ago. Then, in 1931, Nevada legalized gambling, and Vegas quickly took off. Over the following decades, the mafia deeply infiltrated the casino business, and there were quite a few turf wars. In "The Godfather," the Corleone family also considered Vegas as a fallback for the family. Walking down the streets, I was surrounded by luxurious casinos and hotels. Sex cards were scattered everywhere, even pasted onto utility poles. There were also LED cars with flashy signs, featuring blonde women with text saying "Girls direct to you, call xxxxxx." In terms of dining and accommodation, Vegas is not particularly expensive in the U.S., but the exploitation here is quite alarming. The entire city, the casinos, and the rules were all established by people who are smarter than the average Joe. Many people get caught up in this web, living in the dreams and prosperity created by others. The moment they lose everything is the moment they wake up from the dream. I watched many shows but didn't dare to participate in much gambling. Some games were easy to understand, while others were quite confusing. During my few days in Vegas, I only saw one of the cheapest shows, a 28-dollar mind-reading magic show. The venue was small, and it was performed by a tall French magician. I've always been interested in magic, and I knew this show ran daily with two performances each day. It was indeed quite amazing. I knew the magician had it all down pat, with his lines memorized and ready to handle any unexpected situations. Having dabbled in magic myself, I understood that magic performances have a complete routine and presentation. There are moments for laughter and moments to create suspense. In fact, many performances effectively end before the big reveal. So, because it was so formulaic, I found it less impressive than I had hoped. I considered joining a day tour to the national parks but couldn't find a travel companion, so I gave up on the idea. #UnitedStates #Travel
