A Tale of Two Temples: Part 2

House of Mamon

OK - so I'm really long overdue getting this out. It s been a busy week.

The other side, and the really unexpected side of this place (to me), has to do with the ostentatious display of wealth. The Worker Bee State, around Draper in any event, is wealthy. Mac-Mansions abound - especially in the hillside view-burbs of Draper. This does not extend to most towns we passed through in the south however - Cedar City being a possible exception (although a less showy one)

I gather as well that Utah ( which really means SLC) is the boob-job capital of the US. I'm sure you, like me, would have assumed it to be California. (my sources are fairly reputable - but perhaps not overly scientific in their estimations). Who would have thought plastic surgery would find such a warm welcome here!

The area also attracts those who would be fit (and pretty)- with runners and cyclists appearing along every road and trail. I gather the world class powder and endless sunshine have something to do with this. ( not sure how you exercise when it's 104F out - but I'm assured it's a dry heat that doesn't bother one let alone cause one to sweat)

As with most of the States, vehicles are large here. Escalades dripping in Bling are quite routine. No surprise then that the SLC area is far more about the car than it is about creating great, mixed-use pedestrian Main streets. I will say however that at least in Draper, when they do civic improvements (round-abouts, bridges etc.) they do a world class job. And more, the city has been buying up surrounding land and making an enviable trail -system in areas which would otherwise be lost to sprawling view-burbs.

Gotta like that. 

Next, the Canyons.