Life Beneath the Glitz and Glamour: The Mole People of Las Vegas

Las Vegas is famous around the world for its bright lights, casinos, and entertainment. Tourists come to enjoy the shows, gamble in the casinos, and walk along the famous Strip. But few visitors know that underneath this glamorous city, another world exists. In the dark flood tunnels below Las Vegas, hundreds of people live. They are often called the “mole people.” Their story shows a very different side of the city.

A Hidden Community

The tunnels were built to protect Las Vegas from flash floods. When heavy rain comes, water rushes through these underground passages. But when the tunnels are dry, they become a place where homeless people can find shelter. Over the years, a community has grown there. People bring mattresses, furniture, and even decorations to make the tunnels feel like home. Some couples live together, and neighbors share food or help each other. It is not an easy life, but it is safer than sleeping on the streets.

Why People End Up There

Many of the tunnel residents once had normal lives. Some lost their jobs, others struggled with gambling or drug addiction, and many simply could not afford rent in Las Vegas. The city is expensive, and without money or family support, people can quickly fall into homelessness. For them, the tunnels offer privacy and protection from the dangers of the streets. One former resident explained that “down here, people are more accepting.” In the tunnels, everyone understands hardship.

Daily Challenges

Life underground is full of difficulties. The tunnels are dark, damp, and dangerous during storms. Residents must always be ready to escape if rain begins. There is also the risk of crime, since some people bring drugs or stolen goods into the tunnels. Hygiene is another problem: there is no running water, toilets, or electricity. Despite these challenges, many people prefer the tunnels to shelters, which can be crowded or unsafe.

Stories of Survival

Journalists and filmmakers have visited the tunnels to show the world what life is like there. They have met people who once had successful careers but now live underground. One famous case was Jenni Lee, a former adult film star, who was discovered living in the tunnels. Her story shocked many readers, but it also highlighted how quickly life can change. Others in the tunnels dream of escaping, finding work, and starting again. Charities sometimes visit to offer food, clothing, or medical help, but resources are limited.

A Different Las Vegas

The existence of the “mole people” reminds us that Las Vegas is not only about luxury hotels and casinos. Behind the neon lights, there are serious social problems. Homelessness affects thousands of people in the United States, and the tunnels of Las Vegas are just one example. For tourists, the city may look like a playground. For those living underground, it is a daily struggle for survival.

A cikk az 5 Perc Angol Magazin 2026. januári számában jelent meg nyomtatásban. Fizess elő, és tanuld és gyakorold szórakozva az angol nyelvet!

Ricky Gervais has expressed his devastation after his on-screen dog on Netflix drama After Life died aged 13. German shepherd Anti played Brandy in the series, Ricky’s local journalist character Tony’s pet.

Tony had a particular attachment to Brandy, as she was his late wife Emma’s (Ashley Johnson) pride and joy.

Ricky, 63, announced Anti’s death on X and in a tribute described her as a ‘very good girl.’

The Office co-creator said: ‘Sad News. Anti, who played Brandy in AfterLife, has died. She was 13 and a very good girl.’

His famous friends and followers flooded him with condolences, among them The Thin Blue Line actor James Dreyfus, who wrote: ‘Heartbroken…’

In a longer statement, Ricky said: ‘This is such sad news. Anti was a beautiful soul. We hit it off straight away and she helped make After Life my favourite filming experience of all time. I’m so glad that I told her a hundred times a day that she was a very good girl.’

Anti was born in April 2011 in Herefordshire, at the home of Vislor Dog Training Centre, where she was part of a four-legged family that had already appeared on the silver screen.

Anti’s final stunt on camera was Midsomer Murders 2024 episode The Debt of Lies, playing a retired police dog who detains the murderer before retiring in real life from film and TV at 11 years old.

Az After Life (Mögöttem az élet) nem éppen vidám témája ellenére a Netflix egyik legnépszerűbb sorozata volt néhány éve, és amelynek rendezője, forgatókönyvírója, producere és főszereplője is Ricky Gervais volt. 

“A fiktív brit településen, Tamburyban játszódó sorozat főszereplője Tony Johnson helyi újságíró. Miután felesége, Lisa mellrákban elhunyt, a férfi élete darabokra hullik, mély depresszióba zuhan és az öngyilkosságot fontolgatja. A világot azáltal próbálja megbüntetni Lisa elvesztése miatt, hogy szókimondó és öntörvényű módon viselkedik, tekintet nélkül mások érzéseire. Bár ezt egyfajta „szuperképességnek” véli, rá kell jönnie, mégis törődik a hozzá közeli emberekkel, köztük családtagjaival és munkatársaival. A sorozat előrehaladtával megpróbálja visszafogni botrányos viselkedését és rájön arra, hogy az élet értelme mások megsegítése és támogatása – még akkor is, ha képtelen továbblépni felesége elvesztésén és az öngyilkos gondolatokon.”

Ha nem láttad a sorozatot, ajánlom, hogy nézd meg, vidám, mégis szívbemarkoló,  és a nyelvet is tudod vele gyakorolni. 

Nézd meg az előzetest (magyar felirattal)

Gilmore Girls – Saturday Morning

LORELAI: What are all these people doing up? It’s Saturday morning.
RORY: Some people like getting up early.
LORELAI: You lie.
RORY: No they do it voluntarily.
LORELAI: Really?
RORY: Everyday.
LORELAI: Ha! Jumpback!
RORY: Excuse me?
LORELAI: Kevin Bacon, Footloose, reaction to the no dancing in town rule is revealed to him by Chris Penn, brother to Sean, sage to all.
RORY: I shoulda known.
LORELAI: Yes you should. I don’t know what they teach you in that damn school. What?
RORY: I can’t go that way.
LORELAI: Why, we’re going to Luke’s.
RORY: No.
LORELAI: You pull me out of bed at 6:00 in the morning and then you say ‘no’ to Luke’s? Don’t you know how dangerous that is?
RORY: I can’t go that way.
LORELAI: Reason please?
RORY: Because we’d have to go by Doose’s market.
LORELAI: So?
RORY: So we might run into –
LORELAI: Oh.
RORY: Yeah.
LORELAI: Right. Um, you don’t know if he’s working?
RORY: I don’t remember. His weekend schedule changes a lot.
LORELAI: Ok, well we’ll just take the long way.
RORY: No.
LORELAI: Why?
RORY: We’d have to go by the school.
LORELAI: But there’s no school today.
RORY: But on his days off from work he plays football at the school with some of his friends.
LORELAI: Well what time?
RORY: It varies.
LORELAI: Ok, well we’ll just go down Peach street, we’ll circle around, you’re shaking your head why?
RORY: He lives on Peach.
LORELAI: Rory, honey, love of my life, you realize you’ve completely cut us from Luke’s where the happy coffee is.
RORY: I’m sorry.
LORELAI: No, it’s ok, it’s ok. Ok, we’ll just um, well, we’ll figure something out.
RORY: Sorry.
LORELAI: No, this is good. This is like ‘G.I. Jane’ but we get to keep our hair.
RORY: I just couldn’t.
LORELAI: Oh honey, say no more. Think of this as an adventure. Two girls battling the elements, desperate for survival.
RORY: Or coffee.
LORELAI: Same thing.
RORY: You know I bet you can tell a lot about people from their garbage.
LORELAI: Yeah.
RORY: Think about it, trash is discarded aspect of people’s lives.
LORELAI: Hmm.
RORY: It talks about their eating habits, what they read, do they go to concerts, are they responsible, do they pay bills on time?
LORELAI: Yeah, you do know honey, that garbage doesn’t actually talk at all unless it’s on Sesame Street.
RORY: I’m just trying to make a point.
LORELAI: That going through people’s garbage is interesting.
RORY: And educational.
LORELAI: And stinky and a little nuts.
RORY: There’s nothing nuts about wanting to know more about human nature. Curiosity is how we grow.
LORELAI: Bah! We have to get you out of this alley.
LORELAI: Who are all these people?
RORY: It’s the 6:00 am crowd.
LORELAI: I officially recognize nobody in this place.

This inspiring series, produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old. Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected. She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.

Guests include: Roy Choi, Mindy Kaling, Alice Waters, with additional acclaimed chefs and special friends
Series Launch Date:
January 15, 2025
Episodes: 8 x 33 minutes

to roll up one’s sleeves
definition: to prepare for hard work: 
magyarul: feltűri az ingujját, nekifog valami nehéz munkának, feladatnak
example: There’s a lot of work to do, so roll up your sleeves and get busy. – Sok a tennivaló, úgyhogy tűrd fel az ingujjadat és fogj hozzá! 

Watch the trailer and fill the gaps. 

Available on Netflix, from 9th August, 2024.