TO MAKE YOU SMILE

CURIOUS ODDITIES
Cat and Rat

In Dublin. Ireland just before we were about to descend into Christ Church Cathedral’s crypt, the largest in Europe, I looked up and saw a sign on the wall that said “CAT and RAT” in bold letters. Moving my eyes upward I saw a shadow box with a mummified cat and rat. The written explanation stated that the animals were trapped in one of the organ pipes in 1860. I guess that cat really wanted that rat!

During the 16th and 17th centuries the crypt was used as a market, a meeting place for business and at one point a pub. Reconstruction between 1870-1878 was accomplished with monies from the Guinness brewery. Today the 900 year old crypt is open to the public. New lighting recently has been installed in the crypt floor. Several display cases hold outstanding rare church silver including the stunning royal plate given by King William III in 1697 as a thanksgiving for his victory at the battle of the Boyne. Also on display are candlesticks used in 1689.

Some Massage
Toward the end of my stay on Midway Island I indulged in a massage. The little Thai fellow who worked in the medical clinic did them for $5.00! He was physically small but had pretty good size hands which were very strong. It was one of the best massages I’ve ever had and certainly the most reasonable!

On the Go
 I’m not a big fan of fast foods, especially when overseas as I think the local food is a big part of the travel experience. However, it was a young gal in the Copenhagen airport who made a good observation. McDonald’s, which seem to be everywhere, is a good place to get a decent cup of coffee in a to-go cup, as coffee in Europe is served in real cups and tends to be pretty strong for American tastes.

Lunch in a Glass Tower
In Helsinki, Finland we chose the Café Kapelli for lunch one day. The building, built in 1860, has a glass tower on each end. In the 19th century the old fashion gazebo-like oasis was a popular hangout for intellectuals and artists. The whole building seemed to be made of glass. We sat in one of the towers and enjoyed the best ever chicken curry soup and a cloudberry dessert. We could have sat all afternoon and people watched, but we were in a new city and there was lots to see.