Sin City
Like many other times during my stay in the US (probably even more so this time), it feels like being in a Hollywood movie.
I have found it truly jaw-dropping to see what man is able to do (the best as much as the worst). When you think about it, this city has no reason whatsoever to be there. Why on earth would you gather over 2 million people (LV metropolitan area) right in the middle of the desert ? (The Strange Existence of Las Vegas – World Socialist Party US https://www.wspus.org/the-strange-existence-of-las-vegas/). The answer -drumrolls; M.O.N.E.Y
Most of the casinos in Vegas are owned by only a handful of big company (Who owns Las Vegas casinos — by Easy Vegas https://easy.vegas/casinos/ownership). Every single thing or activity as a price, so do not come empty pocketed.
Like many before me and after me, I went to Vegas thinking I would be the next Rain man, hit the jackpot and then leave. We all have to start somewhere right ?this is a way to make money like a million others. The only thing is the odds of success are stacked against you.
See, in many area of life (starting a business, moving in a new country, learning a new language …) and with enough will and determination you can turn the odds in your favor. You can play around with the playbooks and change the rules. In Vegas, you simply cannot.
So my plan was to spend (or invest should I say) $300 and turn it into a few thousands and then just leave. Fairly straightforward and easy plan. Nothing could go wrong.
Here we are, Friday night, we smoothly land to Las Vegas Nevada. The best part of the plan is that it seemed more and more possible as the night went on.
After a few drinks, we went to the Cosmopolitan. To a nightclub called the Marquee. It is wild, girls half naked dancing behind the DJ, people under drugs and/or alcohol moving at the beat of the music – fuck that was me too. It was all about who has the biggest table, the most expensive bottles, the most pretty girls around …. In a way, it is an amplification of all human traits.
Anyways, long story short, I was so excited to gamble I left the club at around 2:40 am and headed to the casinos. That was it, the million dollar was only a few hours away. I decided to put $100 in the machines. Only 20 min later I had made $100 playing blackjack. This is too easy I thought, let’s put another $100. Another 40 minutes later, that was it, I made another $105.
I couldnt believe it. What were all those other people doing ? I truly rock.
It is about 4 o clock in the morning and we decide to go home (with an extra $205 in my pockets).
3 minutes away from our room, we go through the flamingo s lobby. The temptation was real. Wouldn’t it be great if I hit $1000 before going to bed ?
The lads go in the room and I do my business. I stay up till 6am in front of a screen and lose about $500.
Time to go to sleep.
The next day, I withdraw an extra twenner to get me going. My head hurts and the day is going to be long. The city wakes up as if nothing happened. A fresh start. We spend the day visiting the strip. Every single thing is just wilder than the previous. The street is fairly long and we did quite some walking (about 40k over the 2 days).
A Formula one Grand prix was coming up soon (Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 – F1 Race https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2024/las-vegasBienvenue), therefore the fencing was already up on the streets.
The end of the day is getting closer. After a few beers, we decide to go to Fremont street. The OG. The famous old street were the original casinos used to be, where this madness began. It is wild and does not look like anything real -like all things in Vegas really. People flying on zip lines over your head, concerts around, girls dancing on bars, circus people on the street and of course, a LED sky.
On Saturday night, we decided not to book an hostel so that we can spare some money – there was actually none to spare. The night goes on and after some gummies and drinks I end up walking around the aisles with only one dollar left -not even enough to play. After a while, I start feeling this bubble around my head, around my body. It is like the melody tunes around me are putting me asleep. I feel so light -the gummies helped. I am not there physically but only spiritually.
I wouldn’t mind some fresh air but this place is a maize. I can’t see any exit. I roam around the aisles and the noise around gets foggy. Sounds get muffled and all the people in the room look like zombies. The lights of the screen in front of them bathe their faces and they never blink. For how long have they been there ? 2 hours ? 5 hours ? They are probably a teacher, a lovely baker or just like me an intern from the bay area. In the end it doesn’t matter who they truly are. Most of us are the exact same perverted human here. What felt like a sudden chiming sound was just one of the thousands of machine making up the ambient sound. I come back to reality – well not exactly. This place is hell.
Remember this human traits I innocently mentioned earlier ? Well, now it is clearer than ever: it is human vices. All concentrated in one place. In the middle of the desert. It is not much of a surprise. The same way people enter a cathedral with a well intended mindset to pay tribute and respect the place, people come to Vegas to go off roads. Visitors like me purposely come here to let it out and commit sins.
Maybe I am being ingrateful to this city and I am yet not enough mentally mature or strong enough to do my own thing and not fall for it. I don’t know, and sure look – Vegas is Vegas. I’ll let this experience sink for a while and I’ll test myself again, later. I wish I could talk longer about this funky experience and all other funny storied that happened there, but you know what they say? what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Cheers,
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