June 12 - 13. Fountains, Camels And Acrobats.

One of the most impressive hotels on the Strip is The Bellagio, paradise with slot machines. In the Bellagio is Olive's Restaurant, and outside Olive's is the Olive's Restaurant terrace. This is one of the finest places to eat in Vegas, because you get such a great view of the Bellagio Water show, an amazing phenomenon. (Click photo below right to learn more).

I had lunch at Olive's with Michael Flint, a local business-man, marketing guru and magic enthusiast. Michael is excellent company, and shares my own taste for what we call 'enlightened hedonism'. The lunch was great, and made even greater by our chosen wine: the Rombauer Zinfandel, 2001. Wine does not come any better!

In the evening I went to see Penn & Teller at the Rio, a separate complex just a little way off the Strip itself. Half-way there, I turned back and took this photo of the Strip at dusk. Disagree if you will, but I think it's a cool shot. P&T were great. They always are.

The next day I walked all the way to the Southern end of the Strip, marked by the 'Fabulous Las Vegas' sign, just because I'd promised myself I would. I took pictures of anything interesting along the way, such as this really neat-looking truck.

I also had a pleasantly aimless wander around the Luxor, known to all first-time visitors as 'the Egyptian one', given that it is shaped like a massive black pyramid and has a Sphinx outside. It also has camels inside, and bears wearing ceremonial Egyptian head-dress.

It was also a day of two more magic shows: Rick Thomas in the afternoon and Amazing Johnathan in the evening. Rick's show was at the Tropicana where, every afternoon, they have a free trapeze and acrobatics show. This features young and unfeasibly flexible people knocking themselves in return for lukewarm applause from the jaded crowds shuffling by.

June14 - 15. Human Nature, Einstein And The Tank Tops.

I just want to mention in passing something which happened this morning, and which says something or other about human nature. It's only of interest if you have ever used a Cybercafe, so I've stashed it on a separate page here.

A very enjoyable day, almost all of it spent in the company of the afore-mentioned Bob Kohler. First we went to see the Mac King show at Harrah's casino, and then Bob drove us back to the Kohler mansion on the outskirts of Vegas. There we met up with Apollo Robbins and Shoot Ogawa, the former an expert magician and professional pick-pocket, the latter a magician of breathtaking talent who ranks as of the world's top close-up magicians. I also had the pleasure of meeting Mimi, Bob's lovely wife, and Einstein. That's him, with the green feathers.

The following day, I took Willie, his wife Tess and son Ramone to see the Ronn Lucas show, which we all enjoyed. Afterwards, Willie found a place which served up not only some great fajitas, but also the largest glass of beer to be seen in the city.

Willie's son Ramone was delightful company. I asked him what he knew about England. He told me that at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, everyone stops to have a cup of tea. It's always interesting to see how one's home land is perceived abroad! I did some close-up magic for them, and then Willie kindly dropped me off at the Mirage for the Siegfried & Roy show.

Outside the S&R show I saw this sign. As well as the usual prohibitions concerning smoking, photography etc, it said 'No tank tops'. 

I asked one of the ushers about this rather specific sartorial discrimination, and why tank tops were forbidden but not, for example, diving suits, Nazi regalia or a freshly soiled butcher's apron. The explanation I received was along the lines of, "'We just don't think they are appropriate for this kind of show", which explained nothing at all. Serves me right for asking.

> > > Continued in Part 3

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