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Katy’s Weblog

July 3, 2013 Wednesday – continued

We had planned our vacation to attend Wednesday evening worship at Calvary Chapel Salt Lake City. I always like to go to church when we’re on vacation. It’s a chance to worship in a different setting with different people. I enjoy meeting others in Christ. We carefully chose this church to attend because the time and place is right to pick up our daughter afterward from the airport to join us for the rest of the road trip.

So our faithful GPS led us to a commercial center, and it took us over 5 minutes to find the driveway to the front door. We arrived 5 minutes after the start time of 7:00pm – and there was not a single car in the parking lot…

I was so disappointed…a sign on the door says they were combining with another Calvary Chapel for a July 4 BBQ, and it started at 6pm.

Not only did we not get to worship, now we have 2 hours to kill before going to the airport.

Lesson learned – don’t rely on church websites. And don’t plan your life around a program until you call to confirm.

So we wait 2+ hours at the airport. Fortunately we always carry a book to read, and we hardly ever get bored.

Checked into Springhill Suites in Draper, Utah, where we will be for the next 2 days.

To be continued.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8

Filed under General, Vacationby Joyful

July 3, 2013 Wednesday – Temple Square

The Temple Square is the Mecca of Mormonism. Anything you want to know about Mormonism you can find it in Temple Square, in any language you want. We saw docents in just about every major language – their name tags show the flag of the country of the language they speak.

Most memorable:

  • Life-size scenes from the Bible including the Good Samaritan with the one who was beaten by robbers. I wouldn’t want to be in the building at night when those figures could come to life! 
  • The Temple is not as big as it looks in pictures.
  • The most delicious turkey pot pie at the Cafe in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Don’t worry, I did not convert.

I felt sad checking out of the Plaza Hotel after 3 comfortable nights there, but it’s time to move on.

In case if you’re in SLC and wondering if it’s worthwhile to detour to Taffy Town, my advice is Yes. While we couldn’t take a tour (have to be booked in advance and only on certain days), we bought a good sample of over 40 flavors of taffy.

Dinner: Smashburger. Smash sweet potato fries were very good.

Our day has not ended…cliffhanger…

Day 8 to be continued

Day 7

Filed under General, Vacationby Joyful

July 2, 2013 Tuesday – Park City, UT

Grabbed a quick [heavy] breakfast (delicious quiche, egg croissant sandwich, and bagel sandwich, and splurged on a lemon cookie just to see what tastes like) at Paradise Bakery in Salt Lake City. Given the heat, I don’t like to waste the morning hours, so we take our breakfast to-go and ate it in the car during the 45 minutes drive to Park City, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Thoughts on Park City, UT

  • Would love to live there if I can afford it.
  • Olympics museum is worth going. Got to hold a real curling stone.
  • Saw about 10 different states of license plates in the museum parking lot, more than we’ve ever seen congregated in one place.

We had passed by Noodles & Co on several occasions and decided to give it a try for dinner. I like the concept, but the food could be better – 2.5 stars.

 

Day 5-6

Filed under General, Vacationby Joyful

June 30, 2013 Sunday – Salt Lake City

Me: Is it always this hot this time of year in Salt Lake City?

Plaza Hotel concierge: No. It’s usually hot in the 90’s but it’s unusual that it’s over 100 this week.

Yes, another 105F+ day of our vacation.

Read more of “Day 5-6”

Day 5

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6/30/2013 Sunday – Arches

The sign in the lobby of Far View Lodge said sunrise is at 5:48am, so I set my alarm at 5:30am.

I wake up at the sound of the alarm and stumble out to the balcony hoping to catch a glimpse of glory.

Lo and behold, it was hazy, due to an impending thunderstorm.

I go back to bed. So much for that.

—

We left Mesa Verde at about 9:30am. The drive to Arches National Park is about 2 1/2 hours. It was early afternoon when we arrived. Another day of 105F+ temperature.

Everything was as beautiful as the postcards. And just as far away because it was too much to walk a 1/2 mile in the heat of the day to get up close.  A normal 80-90 degrees I can handle but I don’t want to get a heat stroke out there in the blazing sun with not a tree in sight for shade.

I highly recommend going to Arches another season of the year. The scenery is incredible.

On to Salt Lake City.

 

Day 4

Filed under Vacationby Joyful

6/28/2013 Friday – Mesa Verde

The first thing we noticed about Far View Lodge is that there is no TV in the room. Woohoo! I’m excited!

We don’t have regular TV at home for a reason. We are not into pop culture. However, we do miss FoodNetwork, which is what we always watch when we stay in hotels. That’s not going to happen in Mesa Verde.

A room with a view of the mountains, that is plenty of entertainment: food for the soul, as they say.

There is also no AC, and there are moths in our room. Very much like a church retreat.

6/29/2013 Saturday – Mesa Verde

We woke up late, relaxed on our balcony to enjoy the clean air and blue skies, and an occasional hawk (or was it a raven?) gliding by.

Enjoyed a leisurely lunch while we waited for our bus tour to begin at 1:00pm.

The tour of the pueblos did not disappoint. Pit houses, the cliff dwellings, and a tour guide that talks slowly and deliberately were very enjoyable, even in 105F+ heat.

After dinner, it cooled down to a comfortable 85F,  so we walked around and explored more pit houses.

To be continued.

 

6/28/2013 Friday – Mesa Verde continued

Me: There’s the sign saying Mesa Verde National Park exit. Should I take it?

Husband: No. That’s not the route on the GPS. Follow the GPS.

20 minutes later, the GPS is telling me to turn down a narrow road behind some ranch house, and another turn that seems to lead nowhere. It’s also flat and not ascending up the mountain. I’ve never been to Mesa Verde, but all the pictures show that it’s a mountain and this is not looking like the pictures.

The sun is starting to set, there are no street lights, and I’m not getting a good feeling about this.

Me: Can we turn back and follow that exit sign to Mesa Verde National Park since we’re trying to get to Mesa Verde National Park? Seems to make sense, doesn’t it?

It’s dark when we make it back to that exit, no one is at the gate entrance to collect fees, and I’m wondering if we are on the right road to the Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde.

Just then a SUV with a driver that looks like she’s in ranger uniform comes up behind me. I waved her to stop and asked for directions. Fortunately she confirms that we’re on the right road, 15 miles up is our destination. I’m glad I asked.

Lessons learned, on many levels, are obvious.

To be continued…

Day 3

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6/28/2013 Friday – Mesa Verde

The long drive on our road trip goes by fast when we are having fun. We were prepared with downloads of the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, sermons by Mike Erre, and a random playlist of songs from The Temptations to Jack Johnson to worship songs.

The scenery of red hills and rocks and clear blue skies were amazing enough to keep our interest. With an occasional nap, sans the driver, the ride does not seem long.

The drive from Flagstaff to Mesa Verde is another 4 1/2 hours. On the way, we got a bonus that was not on our itinerary.

Me: Hey, there’s a sign for “Four Corners Monument.” Is that the actual Four Corners?!

So I drive in and ask the lady at the gate: Is this the actual Four Corners or is it just a Monument of the Four Corners?

I have no idea why I asked that.  Why would there be a monument of the Four Corners not at the Four Corners? I thought maybe it was like the Statue of Liberty we saw in Vegas that is not the actual Statue of Liberty…

Anyway, she said indeed it is the Four Corners. We paid our fee and stood at the Four Corners, in 105F+ temperature. No crowds there that day.

Checked one off my bucket list.

To be continued…

Day 2

Filed under Vacationby Joyful

Our vacation, continued.

6/27/2013 Thursday – Hoover Dam

After we left Vegas, we did a quick stop at Hoover Dam. In 105F+ temperature, we did not feel like getting out! Just to say we’ve been there is good enough for now. No strong desire to pay to take the power plant tour. It’s not on my bucket list.

Read more of “Day 2”

We left on 6/26/2013 for a road trip to Salt Lake City. The occasion: destination wedding of a good friend.

Here are some reflections:

6/26 Wednesday – 4-hour drive to Vegas

Checked into Treasure Island

Me: [opens closet] That’s the biggest safe I’ve ever seen in a hotel. Must be for all the winnings.

Daughter: That’s the microwave!

(Why is the microwave in the closet???)

Later…

Husband: This hotel doesn’t have a microwave. How cheap.

Daughter & Me: We found the microwave!

Covered our noses as we walked through every casino, except the MGM Grand. It’s so  huge that the cigarette smoke is well diffused.

Bachanal Buffet was definitely worth the $50/person. The large open room where we sat for 2 1/2 hours enjoying every bite was a bright clean atmosphere that was a welcomed change from the congestion of the city. All the macarons you can eat.

Cirque du Soleil Mystere was not impressive. They have nothing over the China acrobates.

6/27 Thursday 

Skipped breakfast so we can get our money’s worth for lunch at the Le Village Buffet at Paris.

We’ve had enough of the Strip. Unless an occasion beckons, I don’t see myself coming back ever. It’s called Sin City for good reasons, and  seeing people lost in sin makes me sad. Being here has prompted me to pray more for God to have mercy on us all.

On to Mesa Verde.

To be continued.