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Opulence

I recently went on a business trip to Las Vegas - I had not been there in almost 14 years. While I was quite exhausted, (even at the start of the trip), I was not so tired that I could ignore the opulence around me.

Below are the paper cranes hanging from the ceiling near check-in. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of the ceiling and walls. Everything screamed wealth and luxury.



Even the soda bottles were swanky, no regular bottles for this crowd, no sirreee.

 
 In the picture below, not sure you can see, but at the front of the hotel there was a wall of water. So even though the water may be recycled, just the mere thought of the energy and water required to make that go, made me feel a little bit sick.

Those little signs in normal hotel rooms that say "We are trying to save our planet, please hang linens if they do not need service", didn't exist here.

And those bazillion plastic bottles that conferences supply the attendees? Only the garbage for those - no recycling stations.

So, this business trip has helped me discover 2 things about myself:

  1. Displays of wealth makes me uncomfortable.
  2. Blatant disregard for conservation coupled with the obvious, over-the-top affluence is disgusting. 
 I'll get off my soap box now.

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