sin city
I have taken a great deal of pride in being able to say that I've never been to Las Vegas.
Tomorrow, I have to go to Las Vegas for work. (There's a sentence I never imagined I'd say.)
I'm staying at the MGM Grand, which - according to those in the know - is not all that Grand. This is where the conference is, too, so I'm going to be spending the whole time in here. But I just can't muster up the enthusiasm to care whether I'm staying at the (reportedly fabulous) Bellagio, or the MGM Mediocre.
Seems to me there are two kinds of people: those who love Vegas, and those who loathe it.
Why, oh why, do meeting planners think that either type of person would want to go to a conference in Las Vegas???
If you are a love-Vegas person, I'm thinking you want to go there to gamble, pay for sex, lie by the pool, go see a white tiger show, or whatever it is that you love about Vegas. You do not want to go there to work. Hard to focus on work when you're wishing you were next door at the Hooters show.
If you are a loathe-Vegas type, I'm thinking (like me) you resent being forced to spend several perfectly good days of your life being blinded by sequins and neon in the dark casino "conference center" instead of getting to go somewhere GOOD on the company dime - somewhere like Kona. Or Paris (the real one). Or Marrakech. Hard to focus on work when you are freaking out because you cannot breath fresh air or look out a window at any point in the day.
Tomorrow night, I have a dinner at Fiamma Trattoria with the other folks in my department who are going to be at this conference too. A bunch of technology lawyers out on the town in Vegas. Alert the media. We are probably going to be out until at least 10:30 pm!!!
3 comments:
I am a love Las Vegas girl but hate "Vegas" girl. As one who has lived there, there is a definite difference between Las Vegas and "Vegas." If you get off the strip there are beautiful gardens, picturesque scenery, lots of outdoor activities (none of which you can do in the summer)and a small town feeling in such a big place. "Vegas" is a smoke filled hell hole of gambling and making people believe that "What happens in Vegas stays there." I beg to differ with the media, but Vegas does not make the average Joe better.
Best of luck to you. If you do get out of the casino take a trip out to the Ethel M. Chocolate factory. Not the store on the strip. The actual factory. Their cactus garden is just breathtaking!
I knw what you mean. I've been to Vegas once and while it wasn't terrible, it's not something I would do on my own for fun. But look on the bright side...Vegas has a kickin Ethiopian population and some fab Ethiopian restaurants. Z-man is headed there for a conference in April and I'm making him bring me home some injera
We went to Vegas last summer to see the lights. Dave loves lights. We won't be back. It's not family friendly anymore. We didn't like the overwhelming show of skin even in the airport.
But the Bellagio had beautiful gardens inside and our favorite place to eat was NY NY which is across the street from MGM. It's cheap too if you are on your own dime sometimes.
I hope you are able to have a good time. Take a good book.
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