After the intensity of San Diego's Comic-Con, I was ready to get back on the road. It was now time to head in the direction I previously came from. I therefore said goodbye to my friends and headed up Interstate 15 across the Mojave desert straight for Las Vegas.

Until you actually get to Nevada, the landscape is pretty barren. It resembles what otherwise might be taken for an alien world. Of course, some folks think Nevada IS an alien world, or perhaps some place straight out of Alice In Wonderland, seeing as how it's home to Las Vegas and spots like Area 51.

Be that as it may, the business establishment of Nevada wastes no time in finding ways to part you from your money. As soon as you cross the state line there are attractive casinos and hotels and various fun activities all waiting.

Making it past the initial barrage, I eventually found myself entering Las Vegas proper. My hotel was at the far end of the strip, so I was required to drive from one end of Vegas to the other and ogle the spectacle before me. Every time I have visited Las Vegas in the past, there has been a new addition to admire. Last time, the Luxor pyramid had just been built. But that building had now been multiplied into an awesome array of incredible new hotels, each its own magestic kingdom set along the boulevard. It was hard to believe what I was seeing.

Before exploring these architectural wonders, I want to point out a few of Las Vegas' other trappings. These would mostly be the signs for numerous shows and acts at the hotels. It's not all gambling you know. There is plenty of big-time entertainment in Vegas. On top of that, there is the local wedding industry, which makes use of a bounty of small, intimate chapels . Recently, a couple of my close friends eloped and drove to Las Vegas to have their ceremony performed. They said it was televised over the internet using a small web-cam. How about that!