city mouse, country mouse

Soccer season is officially over. Now I have no excuses for not posting about our trip to Chicago. And so, for your viewing pleasure, may I share with you the remarkable similarities and differences between Chicago, Illinois and Provo, Utah? (Warning, this is long-ish, but it is mostly pictures and not too much text.)

Let us embark on our journey.

First off, Chicago and Provo have rivers. Behold, the Chicago River and its environs:(See, the river is there on the bottom left, just below the dead tree. "They" say that in the great Chicago Fire of 18-something-something -- the one where Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over the lantern -- that even the river burned because it was so full of garbage. And refuse, even. The river burned!! How sick is that??!!! )

And then there is the Provo River and its environs:

Both have interesting downtown skylines. Can you tell which is which?

Both cities have holy ground. Behold, the Provo LDS Temple.

And a piece of granite from the Salt Lake LDS Temple embedded in the side of the Chicago Tribune building.

Both Chicago and Provo are extremely proud of their hometown heroes:

(Yes, that is Kate with the big man himself. They workout together. Sometimes he asks her to spot for him.)

And Provo's big man. His name is Bronco. Bronco Mendenhall. If you live in Provo, you know who he is.

Provo and Chicago each have a favorite letter of the alphabet. Provo's is "Y".

Chicago's is "L" -- as in the e"L"evated train. (The locals call it the L.)

Both cities have fairgrounds. Here's Provo's:

And here is a small part of one building from the Chicago World Fair.

Both cities host collegiate commencements. Here is the home of the University of Chicago's graduation ceremonies, the Rockefeller Chapel:

And in Provo, BYU's matriculates commence in the Marriott Center:

Both have residences that attract visitors from around the world. Chicago is home to the Robie House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.And in Provo, visitors flock to the Missionary Training Center, temporary home to Elders Frank, Lloyd, and Wright. (Or is that Sister Wright?)


See, it's remarkable the similarities between the two cities! I can't imagine why the Oldest Carrotstick was so shell-shocked. However, there is one thing that Chicago has, that sadly, Provo no longer has claim to: (Ok, excluding the one on the left.) My sister Kate and her smarty pants husband Bill (and their cat, Cassius).

Thanks for an awesome time in Chicago!

We love you!

provo picture originally downloaded by provoimages

provo river picture originally downloaded by katie so didn't

marriott center picture originally downloaded by Spaz Du Zoo

mtc picture originally downloaded by Spaz Du Zoo

fair picture originally downloaded by kallen photos

y mountain originally downloaded by troikkonen
provo temple originally downloaded by redsteve

bronco picture originally downloaded by phred84044

L picture originally downloaded by suvarn