Exploring SLC

SLC is a "Mormon" ("LSD/Latter Day Saints" is the correct term) settlement, founded in 1847/48 by Brigham Young (pic) who brought a handfull of religious people, who were trying to escape persecution, from the East Coast over the Rocky Mountains to Utah, to find a place to settle and to be fruitful and multiply. "This was the Place" as Young exclaimed, when he saw the Utah Valley. He called the place "Deseret" referring to honey bee or beehive originally. In 1896 when polygamy (practised by the Mormons for a long time) was officially abandoned, Utah became the 45th State.

Focal point of downtown SLC is the Temple Square, sort of a walled-in area with the big church, not accessible for visitors, called "temple", as its core, the Tabernacle (where a famous choir performs) and two visitor centers with exhibitions. The square is surrounded by many large official church buildings, like the fantastic Joe Smith Building (pic),some museums, the house of Young, and genealogical research centers of the LSD. Though, I have to admit, that religion in general, mormons in particular, give me the goosebumps, it's a place you have to have seen. Young "sisters" from all over the world (and, less often, brothers, because they are often on a mission abroad) are overly friendly and the whole neighborhood (or, even, the whole city) is very clean, sort of sterile, and secure, though we saw quite a few homeless people on the streets - like in every big city.

We explored the Temple Square first thing this morning, after about 6 hours of sleep, then walked up the hill through the historic Capitol Hill Neighborhood to the Capitol, a fantastic, monumental building from the beginning of the 20th century. To our full surprise, no security at all to enter and admire murals, copola and Chambers. Views from up here are gorgeous, towards the Mountains, unfortunately it was a bit misty today, but warming up and sunny, perfect to explore.

Since we've visited last time, at least ten years ago, the city has become much more "modern" and attractive, new highrises and a nicely renovated theater, the Capitol Theatre (pic below, right). Especially the new streetcar (complimentary in downtown!) and the City Creek Shopping Mall (below, left), rather a pedestrian zone than one building, have improved the downtown area considerably, though it's still difficult to find a supermarket, drugstore or liquor store (but, years ago you didn't get any alcohol at all).

What we found were two really great bookstores - rather a combination of bookstore and antiques - used books for great prices: Utah Book & Magazine and Eborn Books. First one was more of a large, rather rundown shack with antiques between bookshelves, operated since 1975, the other even larger and a little more "appealing", with a large LSD literature section and many historic movie posters, coins, rare books, license plates etc. Really a bit of a contrast to the rest of town. Also, found a great boulangerie, where we grabbed breakfast/lunch, hungry from all the walking and no real dinner yesterday.

Picked up our credentials for the Go West Summit - a travel trade show for the Western part of the U.S. - explored some other parts of the city, like the basketball arena, home of the Utah Jazz (NBA, Karl Malone, one of the former stars, on pic) and went back to the hotel to get ready for the first reception tonight sponsored by Colorado Tourism in a pub/bar 20 min. walking distance from the hotel.