This was the scene just north of the Monte Carlo about an hour ago.

Other than some signs in the Bellagio “welcoming” Monte Carlo guests, a message on the Monte Carlo marquee, and a larger than usual number of tourists snapping pictures of the Monte Carlo, The Strip is just like it would be any other Saturday.

It’s crowded, there are several people dressed as Elvis walking around, and there are women in Bikinis at Planet Hollywood.

Porn slappers are out in full force.

That is one happy looking dude.

Crowded Deuce Buses are cruising The Strip, people are in a good mood, time share people are nagging the hell out of tourists, there is wall-to-wall traffic … unless you had seen it on the news, you would never know that there was any drama at all yesterday.

The burned part of the Monte Carlo is facing away from The Strip, and no damage is visible from the Boulevard. It can be seen from the freeway, but most of The Strip has been spared from the unpleasant images.

There is some slight damage visible from the Bally’s/Paris area in the form of broken windows, but you wouldn’t notice it unless you were explicitly looking for it.

I am happy to report that absolutely everything is back to normal on the Vegas Strip … “normal” being a relative Las Vegas term.

I even got a picture of a midget dressed as Elvis in front of Planet Hollywood.

I rest my case.