Skip to main content

The Lights of Las Vegas

As the plane began to descend, the passengers looked out of the windows. Everyone on the plane found their gaze drawn to the approaching city below them. Their destination was in sight and they could not help but attempt to get that first glimpse. Those passengers who had been sleeping awakened to watch the approach. Those who had been talking grew silent, seemingly mesmerized by the sight of the city. Those on the aisles craned their necks to get a glimpse. I had not seen it before and have not seen it since. That rare occasion where each and every person on an airplane watched as the destination came into sight. Only one city could draw such rapt attention. That city was Las Vegas.

It was my first trip to “Sin City” and my traveling companion’s first trip in more than two decades. The late night cross-country flight put us near Las Vegas just before midnight. Since our flight had flown over the Mississippi River, nearly three hours earlier, very few discernible sights had been visible. It was a continuous stream of wide open prairies and expansive mountain ranges.

As we began to approach our destination, the scenery changed. The darkness of night and desolation of the plains were replaced by a cluster of glowing lights. Las Vegas was in sight. Even at a rather high altitude, the brightness of the lights of the Vegas strip was striking. One’s eye could not help but be drawn out of the plane’s windows. As the plane began its descent, the neon only grew brighter. Signs and structures I had seen on television or in print became clearer. The climbing beam of light emitted from the roof of The Luxor. The silhouetted Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas. The dozens of hotels and casinos lining the strip, many undoubtedly filled with customers. Gaudy and bright though it was, my first look at Las Vegas was quite the sight.

A few days later, when I flew out of Las Vegas, my eyes were again drawn to the window. In the late afternoon sun, I watched as the Vegas strip grew distant. In mere minutes, the city and its neon-lined center became indistinguishable from the rest of the landscape below me. In its place, once again, were the open spaces and broad expanse of America.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Olympic Memories

Twenty years ago this week, I - along with my family - was sitting in my house watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics.  I have always loved watching the Olympics, but this time was different.  This time, the Games were not on some far-away continent.  These Games were in my own hometown!  In fact, just the night before, I had been in Olympic Stadium - now Turner Field - watching the dress rehearsal for what I was watching on tv.  Now, twenty years later, some of my most vivid memories remain: The seemingly always-crowded highways of Atlanta were practically desolate, providing a seldom-seen sight. Meeting the Frenchman who wondered if I had ever heard of the book about the Civil War written by an Atlanta woman named Margaret Mitchell. The dress rehearsal crowd cheering wildly during the parade of nations for the entry of the flag from (the nation of) Georgia. Attending the women's gymnastics podium trials, watching the Magnificent 7 prepa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Playing Slots

             It is impossible to win on these machines, I thought.  Playing an airport slot machine is basically throwing away money, I was certain.  But, I had a long layover between flights and was looking for a way to pass the time.  I could see the neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip through the windows, but I did not have enough time to make that trip.  Despite my doubts, then, I sat down at a quarter machine near my gate and dropped in one dollar.  That was all that I would spend, I assured myself.  If nothing else, I would not be out much money.               I sat at the machine and, every few seconds, pressed the blinking button that sent the rolls spinning.  I would win. . . then lose. . . then win the small sum that I was playing.  When I looked and saw that I actually was ahead, I decided to q...
Post a Comment
Read more

Admiring the View

It was quiet. The nearly empty streets of the National Park were illuminated only by the headlights on the occasional passing car. The trees lining the driveway blocked any clear views of the Grand Canyon only yards away. Slowly winding our car along the darkened streets, my friend and I came to a sign directing visitors to a viewing area. We had spent the entire day exploring the South Rim of the Canyon from numerous vantage points, each more impressive than the last. Yet, we had chosen to explore the Park further, seeking out additional views. Vague as it was, this sign piqued our curiosity and we turned off of the main street and onto a gravel-covered parking lot. The view changed immediately. Gone were the towering evergreen trees. In their place was a clear, unobstructed view . . . of nothing. The gravel lot extended a few yards beyond the parking area before it blended with the rocky ledge of the Canyon. Above it, the nighttime sky was imposing ...
Post a Comment
Read more