UP, UP INTO THE AIR I GO!

Heading to UTAH

      I could now travel alone, the earlier years were spent with my husband and children traveling, during the summer. on road trips. It was still rather expensive for a family of five to fly.

  Still looking at different states on a paper map, searching for places I wanted to visit. From the many places seen on television or from a book I’d read and always wanted to see. Calling the airlines several times, to get a good rate on flights. At that time, the airlines give you a meal going and on your return flight.

   The state is chosen first and my first time flying was into Utah because I wanted to visit the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City. I had read about it from pamphlets or literature received from their church members, who passed them out on the streets of Chicago, on what to see once I got there. I was taking this trip with a group of ladies, some I had known for years.

I was so excited, suitcases were all packed and ready to fly! It was my first time on an airplane and the thrill of going 30,000+ feet into the air was unlike any roller coaster ride I had been on. This was also a flight with apprehension because we had started to see more individual bombings on planes. Do I go or do I stay behind and let my anxiety get the best of me, not, I'm off into the air.

   John Smith and his many wives was another reason I wanted to go because how do you keep your many marriages separate and maintain your dignity? Oh well…

  We arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on a Wednesday evening, the hotel was picked because they had a shuttle, along with a pool and daily breakfast.  No worries because I’ll be eating every morning. Relaxing in our rooms, we had decided to go out early the next morning to walk the area before our tour. We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant and then off to sleep.

   We did the tour that Thursday along with other people from the hotel. The first stop was the Mormon Church. Now don’t get me wrong but I had never been inside a more magnificent, massive, appealing church before, and my own church was large.

   The décor inside with paintings was so beautiful, the ceiling vaulted at least three stories into the sky, the organ windpipes were astronomical, the amount of pews the church held. I was just in awe. As we continued walking on the grounds of the church, viewing the vast, array of flowers as other tourists went inside.

   We continued the tour and learned more about John Smith, his many wives,the many children,and their homes (all side by side) that were still standing and his concept of polygamy. You had to hear the story for yourself. We learned about the military base, Hill Air Force Base, located in the snow-covered mountains and the one street that Blacks lived.

Later at dinner we were still discussing the Mormon church.

   Friday, we did some shopping at the mall, the tallest mall, Crossroads Plaza, I had ever been inside was probably six stories tall, shaped like a cylinder with shops on each floor. Eating at the mall, the food was hot, and delicious with enough leftovers to take back to the hotel. Yep, I eat leftovers!

   Saturday some people went out exploring the area, myself and others just hung out at the pool, eating in the dining room or trying to locate a liquor store for what we thought could turn into “Happy Hour”. We didn’t know that alcohol wasn’t sold on weekends and could only be purchased at the hotel or while seated at the restaurants. We had a good time that night with plenty of laughter and dancing!!!

  Time to check out on Sunday. We said our goodbyes to the people we met and flew home. No distress on the flight back as I couldn't wait to see my family and tell them about the trip. Utah is an awesome place to visit; you may find more things to do than I did.