Las Vegas

I took these pictures during a breif visit in millennium year (2000). Las Vegas is constantly being reconstructed, so the Strip will certainly have changed since then. But, whatever the details, the free shows along the street will be fun for all the family. You don't have to be a gambler to enjoy this most preposterous of artificial environments.

Treasure Island (above) is justly popular, so you have to get there early to see the show. The Hispaniola slogs it out with the Britannica, using cannon, flashes, sword waving and swagger. Sure the acting is ham, but those pirates put their hearts into the performance. And it's free!	The Eiffel tower (above) is a feature of Paris - not the real one, but another Las Vegas themed hotel.
Caesar's Palace (right) towers over the Bellagio fountains. Inside this world famous hotel the waiters are wearing togas. Outside it is suave and white - a perfect reflective backdrop for the displays of the surrounding hotels.

The mound in front of Mirage (above) bursts into life as an artificial volcano every 30 minutes. Lots of flashes and bangs plus a huge column of steam. I'm sure that a real eruption is much more impressive, but hey - this one won't burn you.	Circus Circus (above) has an obvious theme and flaunts itself garishly across the top end of the Strip. If you're looking for the famous Cirque du Soleil (animal free circus) it doesn't perform here, but at Mirage (left).
	In a town where everything is done professionally the tightly choreographed fountain displays at Bellagio (left) manage to stand out as superb. Every half-hour the nozzles emerge from the water and a different tune starts up. Each jet dances its part perfectly, and there's scores of them - some spouting 50 feet into the air.
We only spent one night in Vegas, but we're glad we stopped by. ©Derrick Phillips March 2000 (revised April 2006)