Day 17: Baker to Las Vegas

Woke up in "lovely" Baker and all was quiet. Looked outside and everyone had left town by 9am. Well, I guess no one in their right mind would actually want to hang around here. The only reason I was still here was to change over some settings for a PatronBase client, and you heard how prolonged that was.

So as soon as I possibly could I left Baker and hit the freeway. Didn't stop until I'd crossed the Nevada border at a little town called Primm. Primm boasts a roller coaster and several casinos, surprise surprise. Also a large power plant. I guess if you're going to build a coal power station, build it right on the border with California huh, let them get half the emissions!

Spied a couple of trains crossing on the UP LA-SL (Los Angeles to Salt Lake City) line, but lighting was all wrong to get much of a shot. Followed the tracks into Las Vegas, snapping a single unspectacular shot on the way. And then I was driving down Las Vegas Blvd!

Welcome to Vegas, baby!

What an experience! In half an hour I'd done the whole globe, from pyramids and the Sphinx, to New York, passing the Eifel tower, Elvis and the wedding chapel district. With offers like this how can you refuse?

"Stop and See, The Perfect Setting for Your Perfect Wedding! Chapel of the Flowers" / "Wee kirk o' the Heather, Wedding Chapel — Get married with Elvis of Tim McGraw"

Also prominent in this neck of the woods were the "Rapid Divorce" billboards, offering first time specials of $500 per divorce! Later I passed a motel full of limos. What a place!

Checked in at the South Point Casino, recommended by a fellow TrainOrders member. Got a beautiful room for $48+tax, however internet was a very steep $12.99 extra! At least it worked though, and was very quick. The view from my room was amazing too:

I finished up some work and then headed out for The Strip. What a fascinating place!

Giant gold buildings, palm trees

 
Weddings, archways, monorails  

Pyramids, the Sphinx

Sunset in Vegas

I rounded a corner and suddenly I was in New York!

Glancing down the street I noticed Paris was just around the corner…

I'm beginning to wonder why people bother getting Round the World tickets when they could apparently just come to Vegas and see everything in one night!

The architecture here is amazing, whether it is imitation or not.

 

Motorbikes are a huge part of the Vegas culture too, I gather.

I didn't go into the Harley Davidson cafe, I wasn't sure I'd meet the dress code! I passed a number of shops that sold nothing but biker clothes, full of leather and denim with skulls, eagle wings and other such things. (They actually looked pretty good.)

Ended up at the World Fashion Mall which features hundreds of designer shops. Definitely my scene. As I was strolling through I came across a 50s style place called Johnny Rockets that offered malts, so I was sold. Interesting establishment. When Saturday Night Fever came on the jukebox the waitresses started dancing and singing along, very entertaining, good luck finding that in NZ! After I'd finished my massive malt (it better be for $7.99!) and slice of apple pie (divine) I even got my photo taken with Luzy the waitress. Quite nifty, it wireless uploads to their website and prints a hardcopy to take home.

After that it was back to the strip. I was amused to see a digger moving in next to the Eifel Tower.

   

For the curious, yes I did actually go inside a casino. I was staying at one after all. They invariably all look the same inside with masses of slot machines and the occasional table.

Walking along I came across an amazing spray paint artist who was great to watch, although I hate to think what the fumes do to his health.

Walking back I managed to catch a show by the fountains which was impressive. Imagine hundreds of computer controlled fountains that change directions, height and colour, all choreographed to music. Easy to forget Vegas is very much in the desert, although while the rest of America suffers through winter it was short sleeves weather here.

Some other sites along the strip:

Treasure Island / Always knew the pyramids were alien.

Eventually I returned back to the hotel, utterly exhausted. There is a lot to take in down there!

I must say I enjoyed Vegas, which was a pleasant surprise. Maybe it was just such a welcome change after Baker? I was also very surprised by the average age of people in the casinos: most were well over 50. Maybe young people can't afford casinos?! One lady I passed looked like a withered up salami, she was that colour and shape! Presumably a very heavy smoker. She was transfixed by her slot machine, her walking frame standing next to her. So certainly some interesting sites there.

Most casinos also had a bustling live theatre section, offering up The Lion King, or one of many incarnations of Cirque du Soleil. Many boasted night clubs, and of course the famous Vegas buffets. So Vegas isn't just for gambling — on that note at every street corner there would be 3+ guys standing there trying to offer you discount coupons for Girls Direct. Hmm. Definitely a fascinating city!

So there you go, not a single train photo, and to think my sister said my emails were train dominated! Next up, Caliente and the Meadow Valley Wash.