Confusion on the LA Metro Rail

I was at the LA Metro Rail Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station today waiting for the Green Line to Redondo Beach. The north side of the platform looks toward the downtown skyline with the Hollywood Hills in the background.

A guy standing near me asked, “Is that Las Vegas?”

I said, “Yes, sir, that is Las Vegas.”

He looked at me steadily, nodding his head slowly.

I couldn’t take it, so I said, “No, I’m kidding. That’s downtown Los Angeles.”

He half-smiled but kept nodding his head.

Now that I dug the hole, I tried: “LA and Vegas are similar — a lot of hopeful people gambling on a big score, but will probably crap out.”

It was all I could think to say. He continued nodding, lost in thought.