The night the lights went out in Vegas

I was in Las Vegas for Earth Hour, rather by accident.  If you missed it, it was Saturday, March 28th from 8:30-9:30.  I think 2000 or so cities around the world turned out their lights to raise awareness about global warming and energy consumption or something.  (when in doubt, end your sentence with "or something".) I should have been in Havana, Cuba where it wouldn't have been very noticeable, I suspect, if they'd participated, but we won't dwell on that anymore.  What better place to see the lights go out than Sin City?  I was staying with my friend who lives just outside of Vegas and we went on one of the pedestrian overpasses for a better view.  The lights went out one by one, and of course the street lights stayed on and while the difference was amazing, it's not like it was pitch dark like you were gonna get mugged (although that was everyone's reaction when I told them that I was going to be there for it, and it was the same reaction my friend's friends and family had as well, sheesh...). 

The Flamingo before:

 

and after:

 

Pretty weird, right? 

The following pictures are looking the opposite way down the street from The Flamingo:

 

 

Paris balloon is still lit in the above one.

But not below. 

That green/yellow thing in the middle with a backward D is a reflection, there is plexiglass on the sides of the walkway.

 

 

I think the above shot is looking up the Flamingo way.  If it weren't for the car lights, it would be pretty damn dark!

We did start walking around, and it was SO much quieter.  It was more enjoyable, I think!  Much as I like the lights, the whole Vegas thing is just sensory overload for me, I can only handle a little bit (which is why I didn't stay there for very long!) and thankfully my friend was there to guide me and keep me from crying like a little lost schoolgirl. :-P

 

It's hilarious I'm posting these pictures where you can't see anything, if it weren't Las Vegas, they'd just be sucky pictures.  But it was pretty amazing.

 

 

Here's another before and after, only this is when the lights were out and then when they were turned back on:

 

 

It took a while for some to come back on I guess, too.