Day 45 (June 16): Salt Lake City, Utah

Given I was only there for about one day, Salt Lake City seems like a nice city, at least the bits of downtown where I walked.

I figured I should spend at least as much time in Temple Square (basically the Mormon Vatican, but more accessible) than I had at 'The Book of Mormon', so I spent a couple hours walking around and touring the two Visitor Centres, where the history and tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was touring at the time, I did attend an organ recital in the Tabernacle.

Salt Lake Temple, completed in 1893.

Organ at the Tabernacle.

I then headed up to the Utah State Capitol, located on a hill just west of downtown. It offers great views of Salt Lake City and the surrounding mountains.

And, of course, I managed to find a brew pub. The fact it was right across from the hotel made that easy. Squatters (on West Broadway) is a fairly large establishment, which offers about a dozen flavours of beers and a menu which is, if anything, offers way too much choice. I tried a couple of theirs beers, but nothing stuck out.  They offer $8 refills on growlers though, which is pretty nifty.

Finally, if you will permit me a mini-rant, I had my first truly frustrating experience with a hotel.  I stayed at the Peery Hotel, on West Broadway, in downtown SLC.  It is about 100 years' old, so is a lovely looking historic hotel.  However, there was no coffee maker in the room; my room faced a courtyard, and roughly 4 or 5 other rooms a few feet away and one of the blinds did not work, leaving no privacy; the free wi-fi in the lobby did not work, if one wanted wi-fi in the room, one had to pay a third party; their 'business centre' featured what looked like maybe a 486 (I never managed to do something as simple as printing a plane ticket); the check-in clerk at the front desk could not give me accurate information about my account, ... Any one or two of those I can live with; all of them together makes for a lacklustre stay...