When I got into Salt Lake (an hour early–thank you Delta) I had some time to kill before Rachel flew into town. I had been to Salt Lake about 10 years ago for a Husky football game and had a chance to see some of the city and surrounding area. Salt Lake is small, but it is surrounded by mountains pretty much entirely which makes it look even smaller when viewing it from above–which is exactly what I did!

After picking up my hybrid rental car and taking like hours to start it [word to the wise—hybrids make NO noise --not even at point of ignition--until they are going like 25 mph. Who knew?] I drove to the highest point I could, within reason, and found a hike up to Ensign Peak. This place, as many places in Salt Lake, has religious significance to the large Mormon population, but to me it offered a spectacular view of the mountains and city.

After the hike and the wheezing, breathless reminder that Utah is at a much higher elevation than I have been used to on the East Coast, I caught my breath at a Starbucks then toured the city –drive by style–and saw the highlights.

Below is the Capitol building that lies at the foothills of the mountain I had just climbed–near the University of Utah.

After picking up Rachel, we headed north to Park City — the ski mecca of Utah. Of course, skiing wasn’t really going on while we were there, although snow was in the forecast. We were much more interested in gabbing and cruising the town–and what a cute town it is! The “Main Street” had art galleries, restaurants, shops and outrageously expensive pet clothing stores; needless to say–we were in heaven!

Rachel & Di hanging out on the lift chair

Main Street

Absurdly long staircases which have got to be damn near impossible to climb in the snow

One of 3 enormous resident Park City dogs at the doggie boutique

Rachel scoping out some night spots for when Jean meets up with us.

We drove back to Salt Lake to pick up Jean (only 30 minutes away) and then back to Park City to have some dinner and start our reunion! We ate at what we heard is THE hangout during the ski season: The No Name Saloon. The food was awesome and while we were outnumbered by like 75 to 3 in a men to women ratio — we had plenty of time for ourselves to visit and laugh before stopping off at Lindzee O’Michaels Mixologists (see above pic) for $2 Ladies Night. Did I mention that driving is not necessary in Park City? Everything is within walking distance to the hotels!

At the No Name Saloon we got our first taste of Polygamy Porter: Why have just one?

Relaxing at Mixologists. The place had some interesting people… & I don’t mean just us!

Rachel dancing to, what else? The Beastie Boys! Its as if the Girls Trip Reunion Gods were smiling on us!

to be continued…

1. It is the law, that birds have the right of way on any public highway.

2. In some counties in Utah, daylight must be visible between dancing couples. How is this enforced??

3. Utah has what I think is the coolest state animal: Rocky Mountain Elk.

4. My ancestors settled in Utah in the 1800′s as part of the influx of Mormon’s coming over from Europe (Sweden in my case). While I am not Mormon, some of my extended family is and my previous trips to Utah have been a great representation of geneology. My great-aunt, a Professor at BYU, remained in touch with a family that lives on the property once owned by my great-great-great-great Grandmother and that still has the cabin her son Charles (my ggg Grandfather) built when he was 14 and new to this country. Years ago I visited that cabin in which the current owners have decorated with antiques from the time period of the cabin’s creation. No one resides in the cabin–but it is often used for the current owner’s family Christmas celebrations. Touring the cabin and the grounds is one of my fondest memories and when I saw the Swedish newspapers breaking through the walls that were used as insulation when Charles built the cabin really impressed upon me the reality of the hardships my family had as immigrants: a new country, a new language, a new life.

diana in front of the cabin

diana in the loft of the cabin

5. Utah has the highest literacy rate in the nation. Wow. Interesting.

6. Utah is home to two of the largest dinosaur graveyards in North America: Dinosaur National Monument in the northern part of the state and the Cleveland-Lloyd Quarry in east central Utah.

7. Utah does not allow alcohol to be served on election day.

More to come…