Lure of Vegas

On my third trip to Las Vegas (no I haven’t been going there to attend some convention or show and neither am I a compulsive gambler) I was tempted to ask myself as to why I keep coming back. What is it about this place that attracts me?

A facile argument would suggest its all about indulging your senses. The glittering lights and starry shows (sound and fury of an erupting volcano contrast with the soothing grace of a dancing fountain not to mention shows by Cirque du Soleil, Blueman group and stars like Elton John, Celine Dion, et al) dazzle your eyes, the tempting buzz and din of the casino floor entice you to risk all and the gluttonous buffet spread lets you feast like a King. And if you aren’t much into casinos you have the option to wander amidst the canals of Venice watching the romantic gondolas float by or sip coffee at a Parisian café Le Monde in hand or re-discover the ruins of ancient Egypt or revel in the grandeur of a Roman palazzo or closer home simply take a stroll on Brooklyn Bridge. And you experience all this in an area where half a century ago there was nothing but sand and rocks. The vicarious pleasure in seeing the high rollers on the blackjack tables in Bellagio gambling away till dawn with the crème de la crème of society cheering them and the high-life they lead add to the strange charm that Vegas has.

That leads on to my next thought; for it’s not just about pampering the senses-that’s too easy and tempting to suggest. The city of Vegas strikes a cord at a deeper level. It elevates us from our banal lives  with a sense of refinement by giving a tantalizing glimpse of the élan, the sophistication, the flamboyance, the elegance and flair of all the fine things that life has to offer, leaving us basking in the glow of a feel-good, heady joie de vivre feeling for days thereafter.