SLC - Day 4 (Continued)
I've got one and a half days left in America to enjoy, there's no wrestling left to be done, and I've managed to save quite abit of money, despite the food shopping and going out to eat nearly everynight. I'm being driven by Jake Shannon (of scientificwrestling.com (one day I'll be paid to advertise)) and after one final goodbye and thankyou to Billy, we headed towards my hotel. On the way, the sundance film festival is brought up. Why? Because it's taking place in about three days and was being held within driving distance of where I was staying. On one hand I'm glad I didn't know this prior to booking my flights and hotel because I didn't end up spending all my money and staying in America for the festival, on the other hand a part of me wished I'd ended up spending all my money and staying in America for the festival. I wasn't going to dwell on this though because Jake suggested going up and looking around, with the day I had left in America, to see if I could find any actors or directors who'd turned up early. This sounded appealing. Although I hadn't commited the date and location of the festival to memory, I did know a film called Red State was opening at Sundance. Written and directed by one of my favourite writer/directors Kevin Smith (or as some people know him, Silent Bob). I didn't think there was a huge chance I was going to bump into the man himself, but if I didn't at least give it a go I'd always wonder, wouldn't I?
At my hotel I give another final thankyou and goodbye, this time to Jake. Grab a much needed shower and go out for what was to be my last dinner in Salt Lake City. Don't worry I'm not going to blab on and compare the food to the stuff in Manchester, because this time I had something I'd never seen on a menu in England, sweet and sour tofu. Quick review: amazing. Name of the restaurant: Thaifoon. There, a quick and painless amatuer review to end day 4 with, because after eating there really isn't anything worth of note, unless you want me to start a book review section in this blog too.
SLC - Day 5
I've got the whole day to myself, money in my pocket, and an ipod playing The Beatles. Time to hunt for Silent Bob.
Park City has a very strange mix of tourist gimmicks. First, there's this big theme of skiing and snowboarding on the majority of souvenirs. Okay I get that, it's a pretty logical idea considering the snowy mountains. The second thing you'll notice is alot of new age merchandise e.g. dreams catchers, books on tarot cards, etc. Still on track, I suppose. Being one with the land and the land being quite beautiful around here. The third and final thing really doesn't fit when you consider the first two. Cowboys. Specifically alot of shops selling boots, hats, jackets and belt buckles, all designed to make the statement "No I don't like to ski or have my palm read and yes John Wayne is my hero. " Every shop sold something to do with one of the above, or was a bookshop. This ment that if you visit four shops, you've pretty much seen the majority of what's on sale in Park City. Unlike Salt Lake, this place obviously relied on tourism as a main source of income.
Apart from the repetitive shopping experience, there was a good selection of cafes and restaurants, as well as a sweet shop that looked like something from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (the first and easily superior film, incase there was any confusion). I did still need to grab a gift or two for my parents, because I knew the first thing my dad would say would be something along the lines of "Did you get me anything?" So a quick trip to the local sweet shop seemed like a good idea. Although I did toy with the idea of getting him a ridiculous looking cowboy hat for awhile, I think the price difference between a selection of treats and a hard wearing hat might've been key in how I made my decision.
After grabbing some sugar I was pretty much stuck for things to do inbetween lunch and dinner so I ended up spending time in a cosy cafe, eating banana bread, drinking coffee, and reading a book. There was no sign of anyone famous to harass for pictures and autographs, but I was glad to have made the trip down, even if it did inspire me to formulate and disregard a plan that'd allow me to stay in Utah for Sundance. It'd been a miniature adventure within the large one I was already having and, if nothing else, I got visit sushi bars for lunch and dinner. There was plently of them, so much so I felt spoiled for choice.
Super Sushi Boy Section:
Lunch
Restaurant: Yaki Arashi
Dinner:
Restaurant: Oishi
Dish of the Day: Tamago Sushi (Yaki Arashi)
SLC - Day 6 - The Journey Home
My time in Utah and the US of A had come to an end. It was time to head home. I'm terrible at wrapping up stories, but this blog has taken far too long to write (because of real life) so I must try my best. In short, the trip back was good, great, and other tautologies. It was two plane trips, as opposed to the three I had taken getting there, and without the fear of flying I actually quite enjoyed the whole experience. There is one finally little story that, if nothing else, justifies me actually adding a Day 6 to these blogs, rather than just saying "and I got home safe and sound." Before my second flight, the one that would take me back home sweet home, I picked up what my mum would describe as a "healthy portion" of chicken and rice. This, of course, in no way reflects the quality of food, merely quantity. I brought this onto the plane with me, as either a pre-dinner or a post-dinner meal, depending on how I felt, due to the flight being so long. I get settled in my seat and just as I'm opening the styrofoam lid a stewardess asks me "Excuse me, are you having a vegetarian meal?" I'm not a vegetarian, but I do diet. When you're traveling and you're being given your food, there's no guarantee it'll be something you can eat according to your diet. Two things I don't have is cows milk and red meat, so when I was sorting out my tickets online I made sure to choose the vegan meal option, which essentially means the healthy option. However, if the stewardess had been five seconds later with her question, she'd have found me tucking into sweet and sour chicken, making my airplane dining choices seem like a very strange one. Luckily I shut the lid in time, smiled, and told the kind lady I had indeed ordered the vegan meal. However, after she had gone, I was left wondering if I'd get strange looks from my fellow passengers, who'd just heard that I don't eat meat, if I started to do the exact opposite. This is when I realised I don't know any of these people and they don't know me ("yet!" added my narcissism) so who cares if I get strange looks, at least I'll have a full stomach.
The rest of the flight went perfect. The plane wasn't full so I was offered to move to a pair of empty seats and enjoy the rest of the flight away from strangers and strange glances at the man who orders vegan food and snacks on chicken. I fell asleep after dinner and woke within a few hours of landing. I'd gained six hours on the flight back which ment that I'd left on a Tuesday and landed on a Wednesday, and Wednesday was the day I went to Wigan to train. "What better oppotunity to practise the moves I'd been taught this weekend?" I thought. I arrived home, unpacked my case, packed my training bag, and headed out to Aspull. When I arrived I told Roy (my coach) that I'd just been to see Billy Robinson and Roy replied, with a smile, "Did he show you any suplexes Jack?"
Too bloody right he did.
