So I thought why not? Why not combine a few days of course learning with the big adults playground which is Vegas? I have to admit, I'd never seen myself as a "Vegas" sort of person. Averse to gambling, bling and all that excess, I was all prepared to adopt and maintain the moral high ground during my trip. Boy was I wrong! I had a GREAT time. Sure the course was useful and interesting, the organisers started us off early with free breakfast but finished promptly in the afternoon. With no evening teaching sessions planned, the city was ours for the taking and took it we did. I caught a show one night, some live music another, ate out at some fantastic restaurants (alas we saw no celebrities) and explored the Strip. I indulged in a little shopping too. I drew the line at gaming but did get the opportunity to watch some serious punters lose some even more serious money at the roulette table. The hotels and resorts are jawdroppingly amazing and there's something for all tastes from the trashy "Planet Hollywood" to the ultramodern and chic "Aria". Caesar's Palace, the venue for the course was a little dated in comparison, but Caesar's gives you the perfect insight into the traditional Vegas experience. With its red carpets, fake roman statues and bustling gaming floor still smelling of decades old cigar smoke, you feel instantly transported back in time to the days of the Rat-Pack and Elvis himself.
Would I recommend Vegas to a friend? Absolutely. Would I return? Of course, only next time I'll make sure Cher is in town first.
