Borrowed Landmarks

After a weekend in Los Angeles and a long drive across the desert, I arrived in Las Vegas for a summit. Between sessions, I set out on foot with my camera to see the Strip for myself.

The city is built to impress, and it rarely lets up. Fountains rise in front of the Bellagio, Caesars Palace stands in marble and columns, and the Venetian borrows its bell tower and canals straight from Italy. Farther down the boulevard, the Luxor’s sphinx keeps watch and the Stratosphere rises above the skyline. Along the way, a giant rusted heart sat quietly against a stone wall, one of the few things in town that didn’t ask for attention.

Las Vegas is a city of borrowed landmarks and grand illusions. But walking it in daylight, I found something honest in how hard it tries. It wanted to be seen, and I was happy to look.