I'm just posting notes for a short trip I'm taking. It's not a bitcoin oriented trip, but I figured I would post anyway. I checked BTC Map, but it wouldn't be fair to my family to go on a hunt for places that accept bitcoin. There aren't many anyway.
We are beginning in Las Vegas. This city has always held a mythic place in my conciousness which never is warranted when I'm struck by its reality.
As a teenager Hunter S Thompson was one of my heroes, and I probably read Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas 20 times. As a really young kid I remember the Elvis movie Viva Las Vegas. In college I remember reading Mario Puzo's Inside Las Vegas. There were countless films set there too. When I was living in Los Angeles friends and I would pile into crappy cars and drive across the desert, only to lose money we couldn't afford to lose. I can't deny, though, that we had great times we still talk about.
What I see today is different. Corporations seem to have linked every hotel into one gigantic indoor gambling hall. What I knew as "the strip" doesn't look as exciting as it once did, but maybe that's because I'm old.
The Sphere, on the other hand, is pretty amazing:
I want to let @Undisciplined know that I drove past preparations for the Formula 1 race. It is getting A LOT of publicity.
This town really shows off income inequality. Homeless people sleeping in front of opulent casinos and astronomically expensive hotels. Sharp bars are imbedded in cement to make sure they can't get too comfortable. Overall, it's a depressing place.
this territory is moderated
Really interesting.
•This town really shows off income inequality. Homeless people sleeping in front of opulent casinos and astronomically expensive hotels. Sharp bars are imbedded in cement to make sure they can't get too comfortable. Overall, it's a depressing place.
Love this piece for its writing. More please
And ‘Hostile architecture’ they call it I think.
reply
73 sats \ 1 reply \ @freetx 9 Nov
I've gone to Vegas lots.....maybe 40 times? Mostly from trade shows....but my point is I've seen it evolve over my last 25-30 years of attending.
To me the real decline started around 2015. Thats when the big homeless, beggars, "prostitution hustling card handouts" hoards started on the strip.
I was always perplexed by this. Surely the big casinos hold incredible local political power....why would they permit hustlers and beggars to take over the strip? The entire selling point of the strip is so tourist can walk from venue to venue....if safety is not provided, whats the point?
I don't have an answer to that, but curiously at same time was when they #metoo-ed Steve Wynn. I can't help but feel these 2 things are somehow related. He was a old-school, great stalwart of Vegas (I used to see him regularly around the Wynn checking in on things...always making sure guest were happy and everything was running smooth).
reply
hopefully that things will improve with a new Governor
reply
I told you I have a dream to visit Vegas some day. With your short visits my motivation to reach there is creeping up fast.
But the last paragraph which definitely tells the dark side of it, I'm now not sure if it's anywhere close to be sitting in my priority list.
A city that deals in so much money only for fun (gambling) has people who are forced to remain homeless. I'm speechless!
reply
It probably makes sense for you to fly to Vegas and then explore the US southwest. After a day or so you will be ready to leave Vegas anyway. We're escaping tomorrow. No set itinerary. Just a good old fashioned road trip.
reply
Vegas is depressing. "Depressing, dangerous, and dirty" was how a friend of mind described it. It can be interesting though.
I'd check out Valley of Fire park. It's not far, and there's some real beauty there.
reply
43 sats \ 1 reply \ @nym 10 Nov
I’ve never been there. I hope you have a lot of fun!
reply
Thanks
reply
Vegas is great to fly into, but then I like to head out and go into nature with all the hiking areas… i.e. Grand Canyon!
reply
Exactly
reply
Hope you got a chance for a small detour and to see the hoover dam.... :-)
reply
We are definitely doing that tomorrow.
reply
you better hope there's some thorazine in that bag
reply
Excellent posts, you are so right when you say what you say about inequality, I have traveled many times and I could notice it.
reply
43 sats \ 1 reply \ @Taft 9 Nov
I would love to go to Las Vegas one day. Have a wonderful trip!
reply
Thanks
reply
... and I probably read Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas 20 times.
So, there's a film with that name, huh? Any connection to the book?
reply
Yes. The book was supposedly about the movie. Of course I love the book and I don't think the movie did it justice, but it was okay.
reply
Usually, books have more story to them than movies. People who read the book and then watch the movie always say that, but I'm not sure about this one. I've watched the movie, and it's totally insane. They're freaking nuts.
reply
43 sats \ 5 replies \ @gnilma 9 Nov
We were there to see the Sphere show Post Card from Earth this January. My kids and I were watching Sphere videos on YouTube last December, which made us want to check out the Sphere in person. When we saw the $40 per person round trip plane tickets from Spirit and the $210 total 3 night stay at the LINQ, it was a not brainer to go.
I didn't really like Vegas though, because of all the cigarette smell inside all of the casinos. As well, food and entertainment there was quite expensive, especially on the Strip.
If you have time and if you have access to a car, I highly recommend checking out Red Rock Canyon, if you haven't already. Very beautiful place just a short drive from Vegas.
reply
Sounds like you and I agree completely. Most of our trip is driving around the southwest US to see as much as we can.
reply
86 sats \ 3 replies \ @gnilma 9 Nov
Heading towards AZ? or CA?
reply
I think southern Utah and Arizona. I saw as much of California when I lived there to last a lifetime.
reply
43 sats \ 1 reply \ @gnilma 9 Nov
Ah, there's a really nice loop going Vegas > Grand Canyon South Rim > Page (Antelope Canyon) > Bryce Canyon National Park > Zion National Park > Vegas. Quite a bit of driving, but very beautiful places. Can extend the loop to even include Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, but that's even more driving. Although, it's near winter time, so I'm not sure how are the road conditions at the higher elevation places (Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion).
The national parks in Utah are so beautiful, definitely check out as many as your time and energy allows. Wish you a fun, enjoyable, and safe trip!
reply
Thanks. Yeah, I'm not sure how ambitious we'll be once we're on the road.
reply
Back in Vegas eh? Did you catch a show?
reply
We're going to see The Eagles tonight.
reply
43 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby 9 Nov
Awesome. That show will be incredible.
reply
I'm looking forward to Joe Walsh being Joe Walsh.
reply
That's why it's commonly called "Sin City" and the basic and derogatory principle applies that if you don't have Fiat money in your pocket you're Nobody!! Something that if we think about it happens in many places in the world 🌍.. but more so there in Las Vegas where gambling and vices have control 🎮 anyone with a conscience and good values would feel bad and get depressed😓
reply
It's ironic on a few levels, but I hate Las Vegas. I've only been there once and my impression was basically that it's a cheap disgusting Disney World for degenerate adults.
I have heard that the Sphere is rather astonishing, though.
reply
157 sats \ 6 replies \ @freetx 9 Nov
cheap disgusting Disney World for degenerate adults.
Its very true. I never gambled so my real enjoyment was the restaurants. Truly some outstanding places to eat. If you're a foodie, and wind up going back there, just ignore all the hard degeneracy and go explore the food scene a bit.
reply
The problem is I'm also cheap and I don't enjoy the heat (which is also ironic).
If I ever go back, I'm sure I will find things I enjoy. When I was there, I was far too poor to do much of anything.
reply
44 sats \ 4 replies \ @freetx 9 Nov
I haven't been back since 2021 and have no pressing desire to return. I got hustled in the valet area of the Venetian by some vague hoodrats who wanted me to "donate" to their "empowerment charity". It was using clear intimidation tactics.....2 of them, 1 of me, saying "we think you should donate...you are probably waiting on a nice car, right?"
Luckily at that moment the valet arrived with my rental and I hopped in and took off.
reply
That sucks. Our bad experience was that the bathroom ceiling in our room caved in. The tub from the room above fell right into our bath tub.
reply
62 sats \ 0 replies \ @freetx 9 Nov
Oh my!!! That sounds like a scene out of The Hangover.
Guess you can at least laugh about it now....
reply
16 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek 9 Nov
wow, that could have gone very wrong
reply
"Race is a social construct"
reply
6 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek 9 Nov
the weird thing about these things is that if something is said to be really bad, it gets interesting again.
reply
I like to read all possible perspectives on places. In movies and series, New York, Las Vegas and Disney are shown as the 3 best places in the world, they paint them as something mythical, exemplary and dreamlike places, especially social networks want to decorate and overvalue these places. For obvious reasons I don't know any and for most people on this side of the world, going to those places is a dream come true, it's a shame that it's not what is shown.
reply
Isnt it the place of dreams? Will uou play any games there?
reply
No. I don't gamble fiat any more. I only gamble on ~Stacker_Sports
reply
Haha You must be ahead of the curve.
reply
I should have added that BTCMap claims that this place accepts bitcoin: https://www.goldengatecasino.com/
reply