OSF. The heart Of Robin Hood

OSF. The heart Of Robin Hood

Golden Gates

Golden Gates

Morning on top of mark

Morning on top of mark

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants


Saturday, August 3, 2013

August 3, 2013. Salt Lake City - Mesa Verde, Colorado

I could not help myself - I had to venture out for a walk in the Salt Lake City. I knew we have to leave for Mesa Verde as early as possible, but... And so, after an early breakfast I ran along familiar streets. The only difference from 2009 are the finished hotels facing the Temple Square. it is still warm, sunny, dry air fragrant with so many flowers everywhere.

There were at least 8 weddings in process in the Temple's yard.The mormons believe that a wedding in the Temple means a union for eternity. So, they are busy there.

This time I was fortunate to visit the  historical Beehive house, the residence of Brigham Young, the founder of the city and the prophet of the church of LDS. That was a highlight! The tour lasted 20 minutes. Two absolutely charming young girls - they call themselves sisters - took us around the house that boast every luxury a Victorian home had to offer. The formal dining room and a music room, beautiful personal quaeters of Brigham Young and his wife, a nursery, a parlour, a library, a kithen, etc. Some of the wooden furniture was handcrafted by Young himself, who was a trained carpenter. An interesting detail: there is a smallish bell near the front door above the entrance to the sitting room. Brigham Young used it to call his family together twice a day - for conversation, discussion of plans and prayer. To the point that he would drag officials and merchants to his home in time for the evening meets...

We left firendly Mormon capital at 11. By 4 we were up on the hill at Crescent junction at the same spot where we stopped four years ago with Larissa.... I took a nostalgic picture with the willows, they are still there...

We could not resisit a temptation to glance at the Arches -  and so we drove through through the park for an hour. Then - to Moab, I needed gas. The main drag changed quite a bit. Mexican restaurant now is a sports bar. Ice cream palour where they served hand-made icecream is replaced by an Italian restaurant, only the chequered tables reminded us our favorite spot. We still had ice-cream in a small coffee shop on the other side of the Main street.

By the time we entered Colorado it was already evenong. I rushed as much as I dared to make it at least to Cortez before the sunset. We were lucky: we made it all the way to the gates of the Mesa Verde park before the nightfall. GPS gave up on us at that point. It does not know about the Far View Lodge. There were no friendly rangers at the gates, and no signs. We stopped at a camping site and inquired at the store there. A kind soul, a waitress explained to me which turn to take, told me not to worry, not to hurry and gave me a hug. We still had 11 miles to go. I was actually glad to drive in the dark, as I could not see the precipices openingon both sides. Adrenalin did wonders to mt parents: mom's cheeks were positevely glowing. By 9:30(!) we finally made it in complete darkness.

A super-helpful young man at the desk - he happened to be  a Bulgarian, Georgi, told us encouragingly that some guests arrive as late as 11...

Well, I am certainly glad I am on a bed in a cabin. I took two pills of Valerian root and fully intend to not dream about serpentine roads and endless  orange road work markers.

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I love these movies!

  • The Fall, directed by Tarsem
  • Amelie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jennet
  • Lord of the Rings, directed by Peter Jackson
  • Moulan Rouge, directed by Baz Luhrman
  • Moonsoon Wedding, directed by Mira Nair
  • Australia, directed by Baz Luhrman
  • Despereately seeking Susan, directed by Susan Seidelman
  • Miss Pettigrew lives for a day, directed by Bharat Nalluri

Favorite books and authors

  • Boris Vassiliev, historical novels
  • C.Cherryh, Morgaine Sagas
  • Ch.Dickens, The Bleak House
  • George Martin, The Chronicles of Ice and Fire
  • Gregory Frost, Shadow Bridge novels
  • Heinrich Mann, Henry the IV
  • J.R.R.Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
  • Jane Austin, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Emma
  • Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time
  • Sir Thomas Mallory, Le Mort D'Artur
  • Ted Williams, Green Angel Tower
  • Terry Goodkind, Magician's First Rule and the following books in this saga
  • Thomas Mann, Joseph and his Brothers