Salt Lake City: Static & Steam

okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on caffeine and regret. 1513064… that’s the number of lukewarm coffees i’ve consumed in the last 48 hours. 1860946502… honestly, i don’t even know what that is. probably just a really long receipt. i landed in salt lake city yesterday, and it’s… weird. like, aggressively weird in a good way. the air’s thick, you know? almost tastes like *sulfur and something vaguely floral. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the temp is hovering around 9.57, feels like 8, min 9.57, max 9.57, pressure 1017, humidity 55. it’s clinging to everything.

my hotel - the ‘Copper Kettle’ - is basically a converted warehouse. it’s got exposed brick, mismatched furniture, and a guy named Silas who makes the best (and only) hot chocolate. he’s convinced he’s a psychic, which is… concerning, but also kinda cool. i overheard him telling a group of hikers that they’d find a ‘lost echo’ near the Great Salt Lake. i’m not sure what that means, but i’m intrigued.

i spent the afternoon wandering around downtown. it’s all sharp angles and glass, but there’s this undercurrent of… grit. like it’s trying to be sleek, but it’s just desperately holding itself together. i stumbled upon this tiny record store, ‘Vinyl Static,’ and the owner, a woman named Delilah with a serious beehive and even more serious opinions on obscure 80s synth-pop, practically shoved a copy of Devo at me. she said, "Don’t even think about paying full price. I’ll give you a discount if you tell me your deepest fear." i told her it was pigeons. she nodded knowingly.

someone told me that the best place to get a decent burrito is at ‘El Sol,’ but i heard that’s only if you can decipher the handwritten menu. i ended up with something vaguely resembling a burrito and a whole lot of cilantro. it was… an experience.

i tried to capture the vibe with my camera, but honestly, it’s hard to translate. it’s like trying to bottle smoke. here’s a shot of the Temple Square - it’s massive, and feels both imposing and strangely peaceful.

i’m thinking of checking out Red Butte Garden tomorrow. TripAdvisor says it’s beautiful, and Yelp has a bunch of reviews about the rose garden. i’m also considering a hike up to Ensign Peak - apparently, the views are insane. i’m not sure i’m up for insane, though. i’m pretty sure i need another coffee.

i’m also trying to figure out where to find some decent craft beer. i heard that the brewery district is pretty lively, but i’m wary of crowds. i’m a creature of habit, you know? i like my routines.

if you get bored, Provo is just a short drive away. it’s a college town, so there’s always something going on. i’m not sure what, exactly, but i’m sure there is.

i’m starting to think Silas the psychic might be onto something. i keep feeling like i’m being watched. not in a creepy way, just… observed. maybe it’s the altitude. maybe it’s the sulfur. maybe it’s just me.

i found this really cool mural downtown - it’s a giant, stylized pigeon. it’s… unsettling.

i’m seriously considering buying a cowboy hat. i don’t know why. it just feels… appropriate.

i’m also trying to avoid eye contact with anyone who mentions the Polk Panel*. i heard that’s a local legend - a series of mysterious panels carved into the rock near the lake. supposedly, they predict the future. i’m not entirely convinced, but i’m definitely intrigued.

i’m going to head back to the Copper Kettle and attempt to finish this blog post before i completely lose my mind.

i’m pretty sure i saw a guy dressed as a giant cactus walking down the street. i’m not making this up.

i’m also desperately craving pizza. i’m going to check out that place on Yelp - ‘Slice of Heaven.’ let’s hope it lives up to the name.

i just overheard a conversation about a local band playing at a dive bar called ‘The Rusty Nail.’ they’re called ‘Static Bloom.’ fitting, right?

i’m starting to think salt lake city is a place where things just… happen. you don’t plan anything. you just sort of drift along and see what you find. it’s exhausting, but also strangely liberating.

i need more coffee. seriously.

TripAdvisor Salt Lake City

Yelp Salt Lake City

Local Events Board

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