I just got back from Las Vegas, which explains the lapse in entries in the past week. As I was there looking at all the extravagance, including the gigantic hotel/casinos such as Caesar's Palace and The Venetian, it occurred to me that Saratoga Springs during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was the Las Vegas of its day. Both cities were/are places to go to unwind with gambling and other forms of debauchery, and both had enormous hotels built that were/are some of the largest in the world. Finally, both cities are more than just locations, they were and are both a state of mind. I guess the comparison is obvious, but it really hit me as I was in Vegas. Food for thought.
Above: The Grand Union Hotel, which was razed in the early 1950s. Below: Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas strip.
Apt comparison except that Saratoga was and is, cool, whereas Vegas was, and is, creepy and square.
Posted by: Mr. Sunshine | October 30, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Awww c'mon. Creepy and square? Sure, over-the-top and obnoxious at times perhaps but...Anyway, I guess when it comes to living there I would have to agree that there would be a lot of bad to it, but for a three or four day trip it was sure a lot of fun.
Posted by: Dan | October 30, 2009 at 04:41 PM