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traceries - vacation, day 2

About vacation, day 2

Previous Entry vacation, day 2 Aug. 25th, 2005 @ 02:09 pm Next Entry
        The hotel room had a nice watercolor by Gloria Eriksen on its far wall, and the identical watercolor on its far wall.  I loved it.

        We went to the underwhelming International Peace Garden, a patchwork of cheap concrete contributions with a few architectural flourishes thrown in.  Inspired thoughts of a Ronin Warriors garden -- an old thought, but it's fun to redesign it.

        The street numbers of SLC are very confusing.  When N 100 W intersects W 100 N... or something like that.  It's a giant creepy grid.

        Then the colorful Cathedral of the Madeleine.  Any church celebrating Mary Magdelene has got to be cool.  Plus it's a Catholic church in the Mormon stronghold.  On top of it, the Way of the Cross was a gorgeous mix of realism, cubism, and Southwestern motifs.  A raven, a snake, a cactus... just gorgeously done.  Another entry details the symbolism.  (Will transcribe the symbolism pamphlet later.)

        The stained glass was exquisite all around (churches tend to run out of donors or inspiration when it comes to their windows), the organ was huge and old, and the Gothic vaults and columns were painted a bright bacchic profusion of colors.  Right down to the completeness of the saints, as though exclusion was out of the question. 

        It was a church of metaphor.  And practice too, because we met a mom with her (adpoted?) child bringing bread up for the food pickup.  I wish it weren't in SLC, because I'd go every Sunday just for that.  Highly recommended even if you're not religious.

        We walked several blocks past the Eagle Gate (clunkier than expected -- overcompensating metal marker for Brigham Young's ranch entrance) for some good cafeteria food at Lion's House.  Among the suits and tourists I pigged out.  The honey butter was marvelous.

        Then into the creepy temple complex.  I mean it.  I like Mormons, especially those I meet outside SLC, but en masse it's creepy.  Their perfect concrete Zion in the desert is strongly reminiscent of Communist Eastern Bloc.  There's no one out after dark among the fountains, there's little vibrant city scene in the center either.  Oddly on top of this is the usual Western boom of Hispanic immigrants and new houses everywhere.  However the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was indeed cool and much of the mythos-in-stone is pretty.  The numerous no-skating signs attested to the subculture that is alive and well here (see SLC Punk.)

        I will reiterate that you'll never find a better fellow than a Mormon out of Utah.  In my experience they are very, very un-boring, a little left of center and fond of daring much and working hard.

        Of course, Salt Lake City = still creepy.

        Watched a CNN story on freegans, who root through new garbage for food.  Sounds cool.
poke
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From:[info]spoke
Date: October 5th, 2005 03:08 pm (UTC)
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Reading this I don't know whether I want to go and see SLC, or never-ever go there.

Also, for some reason, Mormons always make me think of Sherlock Holmes and the Sign of the Four. XD Gah, now I want to read that.
(poke)
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