Leaving Las Vegas

Sitting in LAX en route to Alaska is a strange feeling particularly after five days in Las Vegas. Originally I was going to do one blog from America but I have always thought that this is not one country. The East coast and the West coast are different from the rest of America. The North is different from the South. The mid-West is something else. These are the divided states of America. Las Vegas certainly isn't like anywhere else on earth. You can be anywhere: have a drink under the Eiffel Tower; you can have an ice cream by the Trevi fountain; you can ride in a gondola by the Doge's palace or you can just visit Times Square. Not only is Vegas no respecter of geography but it also has no idea about the value of time. In an historical context you can go back to the 50s or forward to 2020. There are no clocks in Vegas as far as I know. This makes living any normal sort of life very difficult. Because my body clock was running at a different time to what the hotel maids though was normal sleeping patterns. I ran out of towels on Day 3. Another strange thing about Vegas is the number of wedding chapels - even the cathedral has a wedding chapel attached to it which seems a strange duplication of effort but I imagine it has something to do with specialism. There are stand-alone wedding chapels; wedding chapels in hotels; wedding chapels attached to restaurants and there is really a drive-thru wedding chapel. No wonder Britney couldn't resist the temptation.

I am joined in Vegas by friends from Coleshill: Neil and Sara and Andy and Karen. I am also joined by Alan who is going to do the rest of North America with me. Calzaghe beats Hopkins and Villa beat Blues so life goes on as normal.

Outside the airport there are signs advertising the 10 commandments: the taxis throughout Vegas advertise gun stores

where you can try one before you buy one. This seems a strange

combination of features: thou shalt not kill but if you want to try it without any commitment that's OK. 

 

On the iPod Tranquilise

Reading Bill Bryson's Shakespeare

Published Shirt of the Villa: Las Vegas