Viva Las Vegas - God Bless America

Clearly, Las Vegas is not a city that any woman visits on her own. I don't remember encountering quite so many, "Are you by yourself?", "And you're on you're own?"'s ever before when I've travelled alone. I suppose, if you're not a hard core gambler and in Vegas to do what one normally does, than you probably wouldn't be here alone. But then, I'm here to do all the other stuff.... like the white water rafting.

Of the six who ventured forth, the Germans thankfully and predictably were hardly surprised by my state of singledom, but it caused much consternation amongst the boys from Oklahoma. A young lad, a middling one and an older one. As it turns out, Daddy and the two boys, celebrating the baby's eighteen birthday. Older bro asks me if I'm by myself before we set out for the raft, and Daddy confirms with a gruff, "and you're here by yourself". I nod assent, trying not to look too woebegone, but can't help the smile when he adds, "We'll take care of you". As it turns out, I'm on the same raft as the Oklahoma boys, and what can I say. They are sweet and charming and do keep and eye on me - making sure I'm happy sitting up front where I am, holding out supporting hands for any rock scrabbling to be done, waiting till I crossed all the slippery bits, and then, taking photographs with a promise to send them to me as well. Old fashioned they might be, but I am touched by their chivalry and genuine concern about me on my ownsome.

The freaky Czech who seems to have done pretty much everything from working in a gold mine to chauffeuring a rich lady across Europe and meeting mad scientists at council forums to legalise cannabis has also imbibed of Americana, and calls me up later at the hotel to say how wonderful it was to have had my company and apparently how everyone thought I was such a lovely woman. He might have said girl, but I choose to ignore that. While I'm trying to decide whether this classifies me as beyond pathetic, or whether he's angling for an invite to share a bite of some variety, he does tell me that had he been single, sans pregnant wife, he'd have loved to show me around Vegas and suggests I might want to try the gold mine tomorrow. I hang up a tad bemused, and still unsure of whether I err on the side of the forlron or siren.

They might be nosy, they might talk way to much, but you have to admit, these Americans are really much warmer than their European counterparts, especially when it comes to a stranger.