Salt Lake City, UT

There isn't much to look at from an airplane once the pilot has reached cruising altitude. Though sometimes the heavens have mercy on your Luddite soul (my dumbphone's days are numbered) and the clouds part revealing the heavens below. This has its pros and cons. On one hand you can check off the landmark from your bucket list (e.g. Grand Canyon), on the other hand you may add it. When we flew over Great Salt Lake, I added it.

I could not believe how expansive its salt flats were. On and on in every direction, soon we came to the lake, that too was just as massive. I swear it felt like we were crossing the ocean. I quickly dug out my inflight magazine and flipped to the maps section. Lake Superior looked to be ten or fifteen times the size of Great Salt Lake.  My mind did a barrel roll.

When we parked our car by the lake, I knew the Gods would be laughing at us as they always do. First our nostrils were walloped by the stench of rotten eggs, then we hopscotched in mud around dead fish, next thing I knew I wanted to yell out "Arriba!" as the mariachi band blared their trumpets by the shore. It's easy for them to do so, everything looks simple and neat from above.

This is one of the few places in the world where you'll find salted footprints in the sand. And if you need further proof of his benevolence, there's the much discussed Latter-Day Saints temple headquarters. Politics aside, Temple Square is lovely, especially at night. You don't have to be devout to enjoy the grounds but don't be surprised if you end up contemplating bigger questions or have a conversation with the higher ups lying on the coiffed lawns under Salt Lake City's clear skies.

After spending two days here, I think Salt Lake City is a city meant to be discovered. Visit the obvious sites, the temple, the lake, and the mountains, but listen and watch for its eccentricities. When the passing young fellow jolted me awake from my daydreams with a sincere "Good morning", I knew the mariachi band, his gesture, and last night's amazing Vietnamese dinner weren't anomalies. Not every place is going to present itself to you like a Wal-Mart cart escalator. I saw one for the first time here, amazing!


Length of Stay

Two days

Docking Index

    

4 anchors, after much deliberation. Bad hair days will be few in the sub-humid climate but that's the only concrete data I have about this city. I find places to be like people, some are easier to read than others. Salt Lake City has a guard, and it's understandable with the hoopla surrounding Mormonism. I might find it to be the best city on earth, or the worst, but I can't settle here to discover when there's a whole world to be discovered!