Today was "dine-out" day. A group of us decided to go to the Garden, a restaurant at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Temple Square. The food was good and reasonably priced. The service was slow, but extremely friendly. However, the view was amazing (not quite Ensign Peak amazing, but still ...). It even had an open sunroof!
I also went to the Gateway Mall to pick up a gift for our table leader (even though we don't have to) and a book to read while waiting for the essays to finish (since we aren't allowed to use our phones while any essays are out). I got lost on the way out of that gorgeous, but largely deserted, open air mall and ended up heading south instead of east. Our hotel is to the southeast of the mall, but heading south first showed why the mall seems to be losing business. There were at least a couple hundred homeless people camped just a block south of the mall, just blocks from our hotel. The sight was heart-wrenching and, I'm a bit ashamed to say, a bit frightening. Although we witnessed one fight start (it was little more than a shouting and shoving match) in a park that we passed, our journey was unhindered and everyone we came in contact with was pleasant. I know that everywhere has its shady areas, but I was shocked to see it so close to where we are staying and working.
My heart goes out to these people, but in a way I'm glad that I was witness to their plight. This trip certainly has had a variety of experiences and emotions for me.
I can't believe that we're almost done. It feels like we just arrived!