Thousands of pool players have descended on the Riviera - the team from Portugal are all very cute - hope they win, so we can play poker again. Pool players are all smokers and the hospitality lounge appears to be the parking lot outside - the Vixen gals are none too thrilled about this. It helps to be skinny to play pool, it really does...
The Riviera was built in 1955 and everyone rubs the asses of the famous Crazy Girls statue. Cigarette girls are becoming extinct, but this one is happy to be here. If the carpets look familiar, it's because a lot of Scorcese's "Casino" was filmed at the Riviera.
Vegas is surrounded by mountains - to the south, east is Sunrise Mountain and to the south-east, behind Boulder Station, more mountains. We can only get so big.
The X-Scream ride atop the Stratosphere (tallest structure west of the Mississippi) shoots into the sky, goes over the railing and suddenly lurches downwards, like it will deposit you on the street. Terrifying.
You take the elevator to the top of the Stratosphere, where two comfortable armchairs await to view downtown. Then you go outside and watch people plummet towards the street in the rocket ride.
It seems every luxury casino has hanging umbrellas in its decor. From top: Palazzo, Wynn, Bellagio. Are umbrellas code for you can't afford to shop here or is there only one decorator in town?
Unknown outside of Vegas, Danny Gans was a pretty big deal here. I saw his show - uncanny impressionist and great entertainer. Died in his sleep at 52 for no apparent reason. The Wynn has a giant billboard and taxi cabs still advertise his show.
