It's too cold to wash in a camp shower, and even some of the brightest glitterati are starting to look unkempt. Dancing as the Man burns, and huddling against a dust storm Still, the day of the burn feels like New Year's Eve. There's palpable suspense. True to the gestalt, the Man accidentally goes off a bit early, throwing off the schedules of 200 fire performers. There are fireworks, a laser light show, and an opera featuring body-painted, shivering performers joining a yoni and lingam.
People cheer and dance in the glowing embers of neon tubing and wood.
Then they head for the camps to continue the all-night party. As Black Rock City vanishes, Chas and Ed rewind their videos, repack the truck, and head east. I catch a ride to Reno to await my flight and wander the casinos, watching the glazed eyes of casino gamblers as they feed quarters into machines. Maybe next year they should try Burning Man. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.