When I drive into Las Vegas, it is usually from Los Angeles.  That’s probably how most drivers come into the city.

Since LA is a pseudo-city, and Las Vegas is a pseudo-city, approaching Vegas during the daytime isn’t of much interest for most Californians unless they are from the Valley or Ventura County and don’t live in the shadow of Downtown LA or San Diego’s hi-rise buildings.

But, imagine being some hayseed from the north … say Idaho … who has never been to LA,  and seeing this town for the first time after crossing hundreds of miles of desert.

It probably looks like an actual city.

Thanks in large part to the Stratosphere, it kind of resembles a dirty, dry, incomplete Seattle.

This week, I got the “pleasure” of making just such a trip … south from the 95 to the 15.  I know thousands of commuters make this trip every day, but luckily I don’t.

It was also the first time I made the drive as a passenger.  I was always driving before, and couldn’t really stare at the skyline.

After making the right on the spaghetti bowl, I kind of got an idea of what that chick from “Showgirls” must have felt like.

You know … if she was real.

I also had that “not so fresh feeling”, so I could really empathize with the character.  To top off the experience, I contemplated stopping to see if Steve would give me the lead role in La Reve, but I only dance 30% accurately, so it would have been futile.

Anyway, I recorded the trip from the spaghetti bowl to Spring Mountain and Las Vegas Boulevard.  On this day, traffic was light and it only took about 5 minutes.

In regards to the soundtrack, I had to make some slight alterations to Lou Reed’s song.

I’m sure he won’t mind because he’s such an affable guy.  Especially when he puts a spike into his vein, and then he’ll tell you things aren’t quite the same.

In my own defense, I have never felt like Jesus’ son.

I’m a fan of vague cultural references that less than 1% of the population understand.

Anyway, sit back and enjoy the ride if you feel like it.