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Wednesday, April 19. Most of
us woke up sometime around 4:30 am so that we could meet and say our
goodbyes at 6:00. Several of the students had never flown before, and
the 45 minute delay only heightened our anticipation. It was an easy
flight, except for making our connection with a whopping 20 seconds to
spare. We arrived in Salt Lake City in the early afternoon, settled into
the Embassy Suites, and then headed out for an afternoon of sightseeing
and shopping. We all enjoyed The Gateway, a great outdoor shopping
complex that features the 2002 Olympic Fountain. We had dinner at the Skyway, a loud
sports restaurant/ entertainment complex. After dinner many students
went shopping, while Aaron D. stayed in the arcade to get schooled in
air hockey by Mr. Gowman. Twice. A nice dip in the "pool" finished the
day at the hotel. |
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Thursday, April 20. It was
this morning that we had our introduction to the Embassy Suites'
cook-to-order breakfast. Mmmmm. After a
failed trip to the House of Guitars (no, not that one), we headed for
Temple Square. We had a guided tour complete with gardens, the
meetinghouse, Brigham Young's residence, and more.
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| Thursday
evening, we went to the amazing LDS (Latter-Day Saints) Conference
Center. It seats 21,000 people... that means that just one edge of the
auditorium seats as many as the Eastman Theatre!
(The photo to the left was taken from the middle of the
seats.) |
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already fortunate to take in a rehearsal by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
and the Orchestra at Temple Square... but they were recording for a PBS
special set to air July 4. It was staged just like a real concert, but
without all the shushing. And if that weren't enough, we got to witness
the music... the magic... the lyrics of unimaginable eloquence.... the life-changing
musical stylings of.... |
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Santa? Is that you?
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THE OAK RIDGE BOYS!!! Woooooo Hoooooo!!!
Thank Gah-wuhd for kids! (And grandkids, too.) |
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The choir
and orchestra sounded terrific.
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Now that's an organ!
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On our way back to the hotel,
we got stunning nighttime views of the temple... |
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temple doors... |
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Yellowcard's tour bus.
(insert sound of teenage girls screaming.) |
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And then what happened?
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