On the other hand….
June 29, 2007 — pooksSo.
Miss Max had the audacity to challenge my selection of destination sites because they didn’t include anything from the Jolly Olde Country
However, it is also true that I struggled with myself not to include my favorite remnant of an ancient civilization which does just happen to be in, okay bite me, ENGLAND.
I present for your edification and pleasure, Castlerigg Stone Circle.
(Surely you didn’t expect me to recommend those Other Big Rocks? Every tourist who sets foot in England makes it there, and you will likely have to elbow your way betwixt and between them to get your photos. Besides which, I just don’t think they’re as evocative as Castlerigg. Even though our first visit to the Henge was in a gale with it raining sideways — which was really rather cool, and we were the only ones who braved the weather that afternoon. But our first visit to Castlerigg was at sunset when the sky was truly on fire — red, red, red. Gorgeous. And we were the only ones there, as well, and I didn’t want to leave.)
And, speaking of coffee, I’m still struggling with this fair trade organic thing. I just hate having to mail order it, but I have trouble finding one I really enjoy drinking. So far my fave has been Bishop’s Blend — more specifically, their Cafe de la Paz, because I am not that fond of the truly strong coffees so many love, which makes my taste as plebian as those who think Stonehenge is the best rock collection in the UK, but I digress — yet I hate having to order it online. (Even though it has been very fresh when I got it, or I guess so, since the beans are glossy instead of dry-looking which to me makes it look fresh.)
But the stuff I’ve found from time to time at Starbucks or Whole Foods Market doesn’t suit me; in fact, I have to force it down. So this morning I decided to order some more Cafe de la Paz and then discovered a couple of interesting things.
One, even though it seems pricey at $8.95 per 12 oz bag, I notice that it is cheaper than the other Pura Vida coffees on that site. I wonder why, especially since the profits are going to charity. (Or maybe that’s why? Maybe the ERD doesn’t feel the need to jack the price up as high?) Oh wait. Pura Vida is nonprofit, too. So, hmm. I have no idea.
However –
Sojo Blend on the same site is only $9.95 a pound. So I ordered a bag of each and will try to remember to do a taste test at my mom’s when there are plenty of coffee drinkers around.
And if you are wondering what is the big deal about fair trade, here is a bit of an explanation from the Sojo website.
And while I’m on the subject –
Bicycles. Yes, bicycles. We were driving home (sniff, whimper, sniff) from RoMo and listening to Art Bell (shut up) and “In the first hour, researcher Matt Savinar commented on peak oil.”
And every time Savinar mentioned bicycles as an alternative, Art Bell growled, “And don’t say ‘bicycles’ because nobody is gonna do that.” (Because we all know that it’s one thing to ask the American public to believe in space creatures inhabiting earth and an entirely different one to expect them to actually want to do something proactive about the oil crisis. Oh wait. It is. I hate when I confuse myself this way.)
Anyway, back to the point at hand –
Mr. Bell, with all due respect, bite my ass.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
* By the way, that is my favorite travel guide. The writers are not above using a bit of snark and attitude and because it is thick and text-based (rather than pretty photos) it gives info on villages and sites that never get mentioned in the glossier books. It has been my right hand on every trip we’ve made across the pond, or the Scottish and Welsh equivalents, as needed. Of course this may only be important when you have rented a car and are all about getting off the beaten path. If you’re just staying in London and taking day trips out (yawn) maybe the ordinary travel guides are enough.
