our last week in chicago was crazy. we packed our belongings into two moving pods, which were half the size i expected, and lived on an air mattress in our empty apartment for a few days. we were able to have multiple dinners with friends, say our goodbyes to the ward, then we headed out!
we drove through downtown chicago to get some garrett's gourmet popcorn for the trip. we drove down lakeshore drive one last time, and we were on our way!
we took the long way to virginia, and our first stop was kirtland, ohio. it was so beautiful-- i really didn't expect to think much of it, but that's what i get for assuming. the church has an really nice historical center set up there, and we toured the mills and whitney store. todd has several ancestors who were baptised in the river that runs through the property. and one of his ancestors lived on the lot adjacent to the modern visitors center.
we also went to the kirtland temple, which is now owned and operated by the community of christ church. it was cool to see it... but it was also really weird. every LDS temple i have ever been to has had a totally different spirit about it-- peaceful, familiar, warm. but this one felt like a cool old building, not a temple. the temple director was really nice and took todd and i on a private tour of the top floor. i may have taken a contraband picture.
after our morning in kirtland, we drove to new york. we stopped at the tiny little town of pomfret, where some of todd's ancestors joined the church. there is a trailer sitting on what used to be their lot, so we went on our merry way without getting out the camera.
next stop, niagara falls! the most interesting collection of people visit state/national parks. in our hour at niagara, we saw gothic punks, muslims, drifters, and an amish family. an all-american sampling, i guess! plus, tons of foreign visitors. i know it's a famous place... but sorry tourists, but this is definitely not the best america has to offer.
we parked near the dirtiest little tourist mall and walked first to american falls, then across the falls to the more famous horseshoe falls (behind me). we could see the mist rising way above the height of the river before we could see or hear the actual falls. the river water was running so fast just before the falls, it was incredible.
2 comments:
I agree about Kirtland. When Nate and I went there it seemed like a cool old building but the spirit in the visitor's center was much stronger. It felt familiar to get back to the center after our tour of the temple.
Good luck in Virginia. That is a way cool state. By the way very cool that you watched planes land.
I LOVE your blog! It is so much fun to read, and I love all the beautiful pictures!
Post a Comment