If asked to name the modern Seven Wonders of the World most of us come up with natural beauty spots, such as the Victoria Falls in Africa or the Grand Canyon in the US, and ancient man-made structures such as Machu Picchu in Peru or the Terracotta Army in China. The list of the original Seven Wonders encompassed great monuments that were modern in their time, and The Hanging Gardens of Babylon or the immense Colossus of Rhodes must have drawn early tourists to stand and marvel. Perhaps Las Vegas could be described as a wonder of the modern world.

Some ten years ago I took the lift to the 50th floor disco at the Rio in Las Vegas. It set off at rocket speed and the lights of Las Vegas seemed to become a giant dazzling reverse firework, shooting earthwards. Nowadays technology has brought innumerable wonders to the city, a whole raft of experiences for the visitor who has the time to stand and stare.

Steve Wynn started the trend for the exotic with the erupting volcano in front of his Mirage, the sight of a sea battle enacted outside Treasure Island, and the dancing fountains outside the Bellagio. The fountains are reaching a decade of fascination this year, dancing to music every half hour in the afternoons until 7pm, and still delighting with their water and light patterns over the 9-acre lake.

More recent wonders abound in the city, from the Cloud’s giant video screens at the Fashion Show Mall on the Strip, that move along a track above the shoppers, to the newest production of Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand. ‘Kà’ has the Cirque performers in front of a video backdrop that tracks their movements by computer, becoming something of a big touch screen to create lighting and effects behind them.

Many still denigrate Las Vegas as tawdry, refusing to be delighted by its bright lights. How many in ancient times muttered that the statue of the Sun God Helios, the Colussus of Rhodes, obscured their view of the sea, or that the gardens at Babylon made a mess with fallen leaves. There was even a recorded grumble that the head on the seated figure of Zeus at Olympia was too near the roof of the temple, entirely missing the intended statement of the god’s magnificence by the great sculptor Pheidias. It makes you wonder!

© Copyright 2004 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage