I've Seen Las Vegas

The high and low. The high this week was camping on the shore of the lake in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. We sat in the shade with a beautiful view of the mountains over the lake, roasted wieners for dinner, and toasted marshmallows for dessert. Everyone needs more evenings like this. But we only had two. On Thursday we took most of the day to tour Hoover Dam and see the views from the view points. What a sight!

We left the nice warm sunny pleasant lovely great (notice I'm heaping on the adjectives for everyone up north in the rain and snow) weather of Bullhead City on Wednesday and landed at Lake Mead. No hookups, but a top notch campground.

But on Friday it was off to Las Vegas. Why Las Vegas? Well, for one we had never been there and I've always wanted to see it -- Joyce hasn't, but I have. And two, it was another chance to see our grandkids (oh, and Jana and Korak, too). Korak's parents live here so it was convenient for them to come here. Friday evening Joyce and I drove The Strip and walked through Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, and New York New York. That is a lot of walking. Yesterday, with Jana and the kids, we went to Circus Circus to see the free circus acts and let the kids play games on the "midway." The circus acts are free because it gets the people to the midway to spend lots and lots and lots of quarters on silly games. We drove down to the MGM Grand to see the lions. That was really cool. The lions come right up to the glass. Lilly and I were 12 inches from a lion's face! And we toured 4 floors of M&M (as in candy) paraphernalia.

We are camped at Sam's Town about 5 miles from The Strip. Kind of interesting that after we left LA we started this Arizona/Nevada adventure at Sam's Family Spa and RV Park in Desert Hot Springs. Now we end it at Sam's Town in Las Vegas. As far as I know these 2 Sam's don't even know each other. This place has a waterfall and light show each evening. Very good!

Okay, so to the title for this blog. I wanted to see Las Vegas. Now I've seen it. I'm disappointed. The Strip was not what I expected -- much more crowded and too much construction. People drive fast -- remember I've driven in LA -- these people drive fast. They zip in out of traffic and think nothing of cutting you off. And the city doesn't seem to have a pattern for the streets. They stop, end, turn, and run at angles to each other, all for no apparent reason. They call this "sin city." Yes, it is. The signs -- some actual signs -- are everywhere. Of course there is sin in every city but here it is flaunted, celebrated, capitalized on. So, okay. I've seen Las Vegas. We leave for home Tuesday. We are only staying until Tuesday because the kids are staying that long.

Today we worshipped at Green Valley Christian Center. A great, growing Assembly of God congregation. Afterward Korak took all of us out for brunch at Boulder Station and then we went to his parents house for the afternoon.

Now you know my world. It is not the world of Las Vegas. Where is your world? (Don't miss the pictures I added midweek, below)