Feb. 16, 2007 – 5S1L
Colin comes good on his promise of Vegas spectacle. There are crepes and coffee in the casino known as Paris... a mall done up to look like a Disney version of a French street. It’s truly bizarre – Our cashier at the creperie has an authentic Parisian accent. And the domed ceiling of the coffee shop is covered in 20-thousand dollars of faux 1880s subway tiles. But even with the half-size Eiffel tower and the Montgolfier balloon, a mall is just a mall.
Bellagio, the ‘Venice’ of casinos is a classier joint, with blown-glass lobby art and a gallery show featuring 40-odd prints by Ansel Adams. Adams is an old favourite of Colin MacKenzie, and CMac's training in photography lets him give the coolest explanations on composition and technique. Also, Adams’ anecdotes of taking his most famous photographs (happy accident, hectic execution) make me realize our blog is high art, except noone will pay $12 to see it in 60 years.
Following a different type of inspiration, I load 4-dollars into the Bellagio's nickel slots, and watch it disappear as fast as I can press the ‘max credits’ button. I quietly swear at the machine, trying to make it feel quilty. Then, a row of gaudy medallions appears on the win line. The machine starts chiming like a car alarm. And it just won’t stop. Credits pile up like grain pouring out of a silo. My face grows hot, I feel both embarrassed and exhilarated, Colin grabs his cameraphone, but before he can Ansel Adams me, I hit the ‘cash out’ button and run the chit to the nearest wicket. $55 Sweet Vegas! I manage to spend it all before I hit the street: I never knew coffee and OJ could cost 18 US dollars. Of course, cost = GRATIS in this case. Two celebratory cigars comprise the balance of our Vegas winnings.
So long, Sin City.
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