34 - Sunday, May 23, 1999 - North Shore News Vernon Huifman Contributing Writer WHEN you take in the strip in Las Vegas, it seems only right to do it with the man who invented that gaudy aduit playground — gangster, gambler, visionary, and snappy dresser — Benjamin ’ “Bugsy” Seigel. Actually, the — original Bugsy is tong gone. He was a Los Angeles mobster who came to Las Vegas in the mid- 1940s with a bag of syndicate moncy and a plan to build a Monte Carlo for the masses in the only state where gambling was then legal. His ashy hotel casino, the Flamingo, was the original modern Las Vegas-style estab- lishment. Bugsy never got to see his dream develop into its present day success; he was rubbed out by some of his associates in a dispute over some money gone astray soon after the Flamingo opened. Today, his irrepressible spirit lives on in Las Vegas with the _" Bugsy’ 's Casino Strip Tour.” Attired in a dou- ble-breasted suit, wide tie and dark glasses, Bugsy the Tour Guide tells it like it is, giving us the low down on the his- torical and present day Las Vegas, the facts and figures, the personalities and myths. The half-day trip starts at the big black pyramid of the Luxor Hotel Casino which beams out a powerful laser ray, said to visible for 160 kilo-. metres into the desert, and continues along the neon lit strip to the far end of the city. Local airline adds to fleet * NORTH .Vancouver Air has recently acquired three planes to its flect which is now com- posed of 10 aircraft: two. Beechcraft King Airs, two Piper Chieftains, two Piper Navajos, one Cessna 206, and the three new Jetstream 31s. The Jetstream 3) is capa- ble of carrying 19 passengers while flying up to a speed of 280 mph with its turbine engines. Two of the new Jetstreams are already flying and the last one is expected to commence service during the last week of ay. The Jetstreams will be - used for charter, cargo and the new scheduled flights between the Bocing Field King County Airport of Seattle and the Tofino Airport. N z north shore news — The Flamingo: a mobsier’s version of heaven Photo Vernon Huffman THE spirit of gangster Bugsy Seigel iives on at Las Vegas’ Flamingo hotel casino. The finish is some time spent at the Fremont Experience, 2 $70 million dol- lar, four-block long light and sound show which has been erected over the streets of Old Las Vegas. The tour varies slightly day-to-day. On ours, we visit- ed New York, New York, a scaled down version of the Big Apple, featuring the Brooklyn ESCAPE FROM THE RAIN! HAWAR MAUI 1305 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver Ail lecations orp registered with the B.C. Travel Re Travel Corditions apply, prices per person ex Vancouver. PUERTO VALLARTA fos from *46Q9nn, G.UB MED -wup cas>” {including air) from * 1 OO Onn Bridge, Greenwich Village, and Central Park with slot machines instead of muggers. We viewed the very rare White Siberian Tigers at the Mirage, the biggest golden nugget in the world at the casino of the same name, and of course, we made a courtesy stop at the godfather of casi- nos, the Flamingo. The Flamingo, now the from "A39nn from *44 On». DISCOUNT FLIGHT. CENT sixth biggest resart in the world, sometimes called 2 mobster’ s version of heaven, is the house that Bugsy built. It is named atter his girl- friend, the beautiful, long- leaped Virginia Hill, whose nickname was that pink bird, several of which, alive and as statues, are found in the horel’s courtyard. Hill was Bugsy's inspira- tion, and, some say, his down- fall (just where did those mob millions go?). Two brothers, Kevin and Brian, play Tour Bugsy alter- nately. They are old pros in the business, having worked as guides from Guatemala to Alaska, including a stint in British Columbia’s park sys- tem. Well-informed about Bugsy and Las Vegas, their enthusiastic commentary brims over with tales of high rollers, famous entertainers, eceentric billionaires, West Texas bad men and prospec- tors fresh trom the hills. My Tour Bugsy told me thar criminology students and old friends of the “family” have taken the excursion to ask questions, recall the glory days and see the places where it all took place. It’s a tour full of offbeat details and gossip. The palm trees aren’t natural here, they are all purchased and trans- planted; marriage chapels are the second biggest business in Las Vegas; the parking fot of the Imperial Palace is subject to flash floods. A_ fellow tourist on the trip said that she had fcarncd more in a few hours then in fifteen years of conting to the strip. . A racketeer like Bugsy being considered a star citizen in law-and-order America may seem strange to some (the Flamingo even has a bronze bust of bim in its lobby}. Well, this is Nevada. In Bugsy's time, people who were crimi- nals in other parts of the country crossed the state line to where gambling was legal, and they became legitimate, even respected businessmen. On che other hand, when good solid citizens came to Las Vegas, they tended to be naughty and do those things they were often _ publicly against back home, It’s a dit: ferent place. When you go: Most major airlines fly to Las Vegas. There are also bus tours and many combination trip and accommodation Sydney, Australia... . Bangkok, Thailand. package bargains available. The least expensive way to reach veur hotel from the MeCarran International Airport is by Bell Trans Limousine (S4-6 US) found near the airport taxi stand. The Tour Desk at any major hotel can bock the “Bugsv’s Casino Strip Tour” which will pick you up at your hotel, and drop you off there afterwards. Costs are $26.99 US, slightly less for children and seniors. Las Vegas Information: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada USA 89109-9096, Phone: 1-800-233-5836 Fax: (702) 892-2824. Leceees ..rom oor . from $990* JohannesburgtLondon from $ 1895* Istanbul + Amsterdam... froin $1620* Athens + London ... from $1495* *Restrictions apply — call for details. ' Ambleside Office Phone: (604) 926-85 I} Edgemont Office __ Phone: (604) 986-2262 Cruising along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea then along the Rhéne River through Provence. Start out with two days in Rome and continue along the coast to Viareggio, Portafino, MonteCarlo and on to Enchanting Avignon. . Offeninga new concept i in cruising, aboard the Cezanme ll. 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