Salt Lake City and Reno

Today proved to be an experience in western America. We started off taking the free tour in Salt Lake City, provided by the LDS (Latter-Day Saint Church, or the Mormons) Church. The couple who drove us were very nice and very proud of the accomplishments of the LDS church (i.e. that they absorbed the cost of maintaining the parking lot next to Temple Square during the Olympics - the wife mentioned it twice). We arrived in Temple Square and went to the visitors center for the 30-minute tour led by the "sisters" who are serving their mission at the Temple. The proselytizing was very subtle, but there - they were on missions, not tour guides. The temple itself was impressive, and I am sad that I missed the Tabernacle Choir, but there was't much else unless I like to ski (and of course we are in the middle of Summer). The Wasatch mountains were amazing - I can't imagine living in a city like that were the mountains are literally right next door.
We were able to pause at the Great Salt Lake to take pictures before we drove through Nevada - also not very interesting. The Mini had quite a time going up and down the mountains and the hills. There isn't much I can say about Reno, except for that it is a unique slice of American life. It is much like Atlantic City without the boardwalk. I don't believe it's a place I appreciate since I don't enjoy gambling, and there isn't much else to do here.
Tomorrow we are probably going to take a detour to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite before heading to San Francisco. We will officially be across the country - amazing!