I recently spent my college “Spring Break” (that took place at the end of February, which is clearly NOT in spring) in Las Vegas- a city with a rich, although crooked history of being run by mobsters that has now been reduced to a place where tourists flock to find temporary entertainment.
PHOTO/ Stevie Thieda
Personally, I have never really understood the concept of gambling. I get it, people “win big” and all their dreams come true, blah blah blah… but I make minimum wage working at a movie theater. To potentially lose everything and more that I would make during a typical shift there completely blows my mind. Not to mention it already took me an eternity to save up enough money for the trip itself.
On top of that, the shopping there is less than realistic. Can I afford to even set foot in a Louis Vuitton or Christian Louboutin store, let alone actually purchase something from any store with a name that is virtually unpronounceable? No, absolutely not. The stores that are affordable there are your standard, everything made-in-China souvenir shops, and stores that anyone could find at their local mall.
Even I’m not stupid enough to buy something that I can get at home, and with a much more reasonable sales tax.
So why was I excited to go? Warm weather, that’s why.
This winter in Michigan has been unbearable for almost all of its residents, and I can say that with certainty. Enough is enough when the temperatures reach the equivalent of the North Pole.
Simply being able to walk around in the warm weather was enough for me, but I could have done that anywhere, really. In fact, I found myself becoming increasingly jealous of those people who spent their time off from school in tropical locations.
What I wouldn’t give to be tan and not pasty white right now…
I can’t say I completely hated it, though. If there’s one thing Las Vegas is good at, it’s entertaining. There are endless options for shows that you can go to- anything from comedians and music acts to circus performers… there are even burlesque shows if you’re feeling dangerous.
Those come at a price as well though. Tickets for the good, quality shows are easily over $100.
If I ever find myself there on vacation there again, it will have to be because I am wealthy (fingers crossed). Maybe then I won’t be so bitter about spending unnecessary amounts of money on irrelevant things while I’m there.
At the end of the day I am grateful that I got to spend some quality time with my long-lost friend, the sun; so it wasn’t a complete waste of my time.
