sgmrt: utah

[ljplicease]

It’s Christmas Eve and I am eating funeral potatoes. Only in Utah would I be eating a dish named for the grieving of a corps. Plus potatoes. Given that they are served at other occasions, it seems just a tad grim for me. My step father is from the Salt Lake City area so we have a house here and my car has been patiently waiting for me while I was in Australia for four years. Hence my road trip is going to start here in the Mormon Vatican.

Salt Lake is a great place to go skiing. There are several world class ski areas less than an hour’s drive away. Each resort caters to a different type of skier, so no matter your skill level or your preference there is a place that you are going to love. I like Brighton myself because it offers the sort of environment that I remember from skiing Pajarito just outside of my home town. I also like Alta, which is popular among non-snow boarders.

The capitol building is just up the road from the house. The other day I saw a big red bus with the words “Fire Pelosi” written on the side. Although Utah is deep red, there is a strong liberal streak in Salt Lake itself, especially at the University of Utah.

Utah’s outdoors are well known for Arches and Monument Valley. All of that is a long way from Salt Lake. Nearer there is the largest publically owned heard of buffalo on Antelope Island. I took this photo four years ago with my old Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 mounted on my old Minolta 7D. Mum was driving the car carefully so as not to startle the beastie.

Back on the mainland is Hill Aerospace Museum right next to Hill Air Force Base. They have a great collection including an SR-71 and a couple of MiGs.

My favorite place to eat in SLC is the Red Iguana. It’s also my favorite Mexican place outside of New Mexico.

At the crosswalks, they have neon colored flags that you are meant to carry with you when you cross the street. Seriously, somebody thought this up. Then somebody (maybe not even that same somebody) didn’t stop the first somebody and implemented the idea. Mum and I laughed at Don when he picked one up the first time (not being in the know we didn’t even notice the flags). Then when I took Lena to Salt Lake and picked up the flag to cross the street she laughed at me.

The Alfred McCune Home is also located near the center of the city. I always remember it as being featured in the seminal photo book The Americans by Robert Frank. Although not as interesting as some of the other photos in that book, I am always compelled to take a photo of the building whenever I pass it… either as an homage or a rip off. Depends on if you like it or not I suppose.

Unfortunately this trip to Salt Lake has mostly been devoted to packing up the car and getting ready to go. Tomorrow is the first car leg of my road trip!