Las Vegas last few days [The untold story].

While I was out on my tour I had to book where I was going to stay when I got back.  NASCAR was in Vegas and so had pushed up the prices to more than double the price, and I didn't want to spend a heap more after just spending 10% of my budget in less than 1 week.  So I booked a back packers place, for $12 a day.  In hindsight it may have been better to go more upmarket.  The accommodation was very basic... and I felt okay, as long as I didn't go out in the dark.

On my last full day in Vegas I went to the Atomic testing museum.  This had all the story about the creation and testing of the atomic bomb.  I went there on the Sunday by bus, having learned how the public bus system worked in Vegas.  I managed to get there just as it was opening and midday on the Sunday.  I spent a bit over an hour looking around the museum and then decided to make my way back, after having some lunch across the road at a "Jack in the Box".

Just as I was finishing eating there, across the road a man was shot several times.  I was less than 100 metres away when it happened.  Sirens sounding, quite a few paramedic vehicles came as well as police cars... with suitable weaponry.  I decided it was better to get on the bus and get out of there.  So when it came, I got on and got out of there.

The next day I got picked up by a Airport Shuttle bus just before 7:30 and taken to the the airport.  I was glad to be getting out of there.  Many of the things in Vegas are blatant and "in your face" out in the open, finely tuned to try and make as much money out of everyone as possible.

They don't call it sin city for no reason.  I took a flight with US Airways to Houston, which was 10 times more expensive to get out of Vegas as it was to fly there from Los Angeles.