Las Vegas says goodbye to 2006

Las Vegas, Nevada rightly or wrongly is dubbed as the sin city. A city visited annually by about 36 million people spending 31.5 billion dollars, offering 124, 270 hotel rooms. A city that could dazzle you with the splendor of Egypt at the Luxor; transport you to England's medieval times at the Excalibur; astound you with the grandeur that was Rome at Caesar's Palace or the Eiffel Tower in Paris; charm you with the gondolas in Venice at the Venetian.

A city where people at the sidewalks give handouts of escort service by women with their photos in varying poses of undress. A city where one can find blue suited Chinese tourists with their guides walking by the humongous Lion icon at the MGM Grand. At the corner by the Statue of Liberty at New York, New York are the smiling and bowing Japanese old men who suddenly stop to appreciate a high heeled short skirted blonde passing by. All part of what is called humanity. All savoring the grandeur of modern day Las Vegas as they stroll along the strip named Las Vegas Blvd., or underneath the domed Fremont Street in the old downtown.

In this night of nights, three hours late after the ball dropped down in New York, 16 hours late of the sound of firecrackers blasting at Pamela Canete's residence at Riva Ridge in Tisa, the strip was closed at 5:30 p.m. to all but foot traffic. Freeway 15 was bumper to bumper as vehicles leave the casino parking lots; otherwise, no one can go out until 4:00 a.m.

Walking among the multitudes is always an exhilarating experience. Here we were regardless of creed or circumstance, of all races, all the same, a sea of upright walking species called Homo sapiens. Blondes, brunettes, tall gangly men, others with over extended waistlines, in sneakers, in high heeled shoes, wearing hooded jackets to keep out the chilly evening air.

Las Vegas, Nevada. The glitter, the zing, the flowers and the dancing fountains at Bellagio, the sharks swimming in the aquarium at the Forum of Caesar's Palace Casino, the volcanic eruptions at the Mirage...how beautiful, how exciting, what fun. And with caps given by the casinos, the multitudes stood waiting for the count down.

And in one voice shouted 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... And boom!!!

The sky suddenly lighted up in kaleidoscopic colors over Monte Cristo Casino. And once again another year cometh....and the multitudes erupted!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!