Wednesday, May 13, 2009

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

10 comments:

Kate said...

oh me oh my, I couldn't figure out one of the provo pictures, I think it is of Los Hermanos, but it has way too many trees, and looks like it is close the mountain. I don't know.

Love the post!

Head Nurse or Patient- you be the judge said...

Um- I know which town I pick. It is much greener, and has a big, white Y- and a better "B" man.

Shem said...

Twin cities! I can hardly tell them apart!

momtherunner said...

What fun pictures! If I had to choose I would pick Provo...simply because Chicago looks soooo huge!!

Allyson said...

Sounds like you had fun! Love the comparison - I never knew Chicago and Provo were so alike! ;)

Farm Girl said...

Well, I think you finally put the hotly contested Provo v. Chicago debate to bed.

Take that, Chicago!

Kate said...

ouch, I wish I could take you all seriously, but since I'm going to venture that most of you haven't been to this delightful, yet big city, your opinion doesn't count. Although I will say, my jacket was stolen this morning while I was doing hill repeats. That wouldn't have happened in Provo.

Farm Girl & L.L. you know you had fun here!

the lunch lady said...

for the record, I loved Chicago! I had a great time! Seriously! I was merely pointing out the vast difference in scale between Chicago and Provo.

valmike said...

This is a great post. You seriously made me miss the mid-west more than you can possibly imagine! We used to go to Chicago a lot when I was a kid. You did miss one thing in this glorious post though... the food! Here it's Jell-o and their it's pizza and hot dogs!

Kirsten said...

I love Chicago!!!! been there many times... my parents are from there! Love it!