beautiful provo

Although Provo has a annoying lack of parking, it makes up for the short-coming by containing some of the most charming and delicious old houses I have ever laid eyes on - for the viewing pleasure of all those who use only their shoes to get to campus. Running through the streets this morning, I was completely out of breath. I was out of breath because 1) I am out of breath 90% of the time I am running, and 2) because I couldn't stop loving these beautiful houses. I'm sure that after the 40th time I exclaimed, "Oh! Look at that one! I love the trees and the grass and the ivy and the red door and the peeling paint!" the houses themselves were tired of being praised. I simply can't get enough of them! This fabulous house was my favorite this morning. I am still in love it. The picture doesn't come close to how enchanting it is in person, especially in the early morning.

The houses aren't all that make Provo beautiful. I walked out of my apartment this morning and the first thing I saw was the sun, barely coming over the towering mountains. The sky this morning was hazy; the entire city was covered in mist or smoke, making the mountains look painted in watercolors - so close to the color of the sky they were barely there at all. Several of the streets were lined with giant trees symmetrically placed on both sides, so you are almost always in the shade. Green is everywhere. Bushes, grass, trees, vines and flowers grow so close together it's hard to tell what's what. I know the only reason the green shocks me every time I step outside is because I come from a place where the dominant colors are brown and red: dirt and mountains. Red mountains, not green ones. So there it is, I am now in the opposite of what I have been in my entire life. I have moved from Red to Green.