Footnotes to a Conversation, June 30, 2025
“I never panic when I get lost. I just change where it is I want to go.” – Rita Rudner
Tourism – Good or Bad?
San Miguel de Allende attracts tourists from both Mexico and farther afield. Local housing prices have risen dramatically as a result, but a pair of travel writers argue that the impact of tourism isn’t all bad. There are increased employment opportunities, more municipal services, and fresh ideas. They decide that, overall, tourism has been good for San Miguel de Allende. [Brent and Michael Are Going Places]
They have a more mixed response when looking at tourism on a global level. They conclude by saying, “You’ve heard us say it all before: while traveling, be mindful of your impact; minimize your carbon footprint; and as much as humanly possible, empower the locals and patronize local businesses … Basically, try hard not to be a selfish jerk.” [Brent and Michael Are Going Places]
I‘m the Oldest
I’m the oldest child in my family. Does that make me more intelligent, more conscientious, more responsible? The results from research into birth order are mixed. There are so many factors to take into consideration: number of children in the family, family income, culture (e.g. primogeniture), and age-related differences (a 5-year-old acts very differently from a 15-year-old). [BBC]
Dancing to the Beet
Did you know?
· Beets were grown in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
· Beet juice was used to stain women’s cheeks and lips during the 19th century
· Beets were originally grown for their leaves. In 1542, they began to be cultivated for their roots in either Italy or Germany, but the roots were long like a parsnip, unlike the round beets we’re familiar with today
· Beets were considered an aphrodisiac by many cultures. Frescoes of beets festooned a brothel in Pompeii [PBS]
Your Next Car . . .
. . . should definitely be a Renault 5 – because everyone needs a baguette holder in their car! [Motor 1]
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.
If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.