As the trip ends...but Saturday first!

Well, the trip is coming to an end. I've had so much fun the last few days. I've tried to squeeze every hour out of it. That's why I haven't updated. I either haven't been in the room, or been dead tired and asleep.

So Nashville is in a freeze. Right now at 9:00am Monday in Salt Lake it is sunny, 38 degrees with a high of 52. Yesterday was in the upper 50's.

So I left off on Saturday afternoon...I finished up at the Family History Library. Never did see Elder Pedersen again! That's a story for later... I got back to the room and changed clothes for my dinner at Lamb's. Lamb's Grill Cafe is the oldest Greek restaurant in Utah. Salt Lake had a flourishing Greek community and it was the largest ethnic community in Utah. Lamb's is on Main St. in the building it has been in since 1919. Walking through the crowds in Temple Square for the lights was slow. There were so many people! Got to Lamb's, without a reservation, and got seated immediately in a booth up front. Had a great dinner of veal cutlets, banana squash, baked potato, Wasatch Amber Ale and rice pudding. A pianist was playing Christmas music to set the season. A wonderful evening.

Now off to Temple Square and the lights! First I stopped at Deseret Bookstore, the LDS shop. It is in a new location with a lot more room. The store was wonderful and I made some purchases. Even found the LDS-only room. Watch for the photo...

Temple Square was absolutely packed! It was a slow saunter, if that. The weather undoubtedly brought people out. There was at least 30 people in line for the $50 carriage rides, a bagpiper played carols, the Nativity scene was lined with rows of onlookers. I took what photos I could, then decided to go back to the room and come out later when the crowd died down. I went out about 10:15pm and most of the lights were off and gates locked. They shut down at 10pm every night. So I walked and took what I could.

I wanted to do something and since it was warm, I decided to do some walking toward the western side of downtown and the Gateway. Its a shopping area in the Union Pacific depot buildings. I found the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and I stopped at a brewpub I've been to on past trips Red Rock. Had some libations and tootled back to the room about midnight. A very satisfying day.