The Venetian, Las Vegas

I haven't decided yet whether I love Las Vegas or hate it, or probably both. We've splashed out a bit and are staying in quite a posh hotel, The Mirage, and have a room overlooking The Strip. Opposite us The Venetian resort, casino and hotel built in 1999 includes realistic replicas of various Venice features including the Doges Palace and Bridge of Sighs as shown here. You can also take an escalator ride over the Rialto Bridge, watch gondoliers in the Grand Canal and have a pizza (as we did) in St Mark's Square while listening to chamber music. It sounds ghastly but after the heat and hustle of Vegas the cool interior space with a semi-genuine European feel is surprisingly relaxing.

Any relaxing effect was soon lost when we went to bustling Fremont Street in the old downtown district - people in crazy costumes (Chippendales, Marilyn Monroe, etc, you can imagine), zip wires overhead, a laser video show and an Elvis impersonator competition were just a few of the spectacles there. It's a bit of an assault on the senses, but fun.