Ah Paris. So graceful - with a unique style to both its architecture and people. But visiting on the 14th - 16th November I couldn’t help but notice that in a few cafes I went to it was more expensive to buy a cappuccino than a glass of vino – and it wasn’t just the dire exchange rate from pounds to euros that did it… Well when in Rome and all that – let us all drink wine.
This has to be the most extreme experience I’ve ever heard about. Makes me feel tired just reading it. In fact I think I’m going to go and make myself a bowl of hot chocolate before I read it over again, I think you should do the same. But it’s worth reading it, I think it absolves me of actually having to do it myself…
…And just when I thought I’d found the most unique experience of the day, the Baby Jumping Festival comes along. Yes, grown men dressed as devils jumping over tiny babies… Bet you have to have a read of that one…
World Reviewer is a constant source of surprise and mirth to me – there are frankly some unusual things going on in the world which without this site I may not have ever heard about. So I would like to share one of my latest finds with you here: the Festival of the Pig from France. It’s not just about eating - they also race piglets and even more fantastically have competitions to mimic pigs both in appearance and sound. You have to believe it - there is no way anyone would make up anything so outlandish.
World Reviewer gets asked some unusual questions but though no one has been popping that question to me I have been asked to suggest some potential proposal backdrops. The top of the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building are pretty packed out with men on bended knee and a gondola in Venice is a bit unoriginal and fraught with potential mishap, so I came up with my own list (take heed boys), and called it ‘If I had three lives, I’d marry you in two’ after my all time favourite romantic song lyric.
In the interest of learning something new every day, today, one of our Contributing Editors, John Johnston, brought to my attention a new kind of spectator sport: Dog Surfing. As first I thought this might be a bit cruel, but John was quick to show me a video of it, and the plucky pup clearly looks like he’s enjoying himself.
Like I said, you learn (or see) something new every day in the World Reviewer office…
I had heard of the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics as a kid and thought it sounded like one of the coolest places on earth - that was before I found out that the Russian Space program training centre is called ‘Star City’ - so I have been waiting to see it crop up on World Reviewer… Unfortunately I haven’t been (yet) but I decided to add it on anyway so I could add it to my Wishlist. If you have been please add your review…
A nice quick response to my pleas for fisher-reviewers: we’ve hooked a few new fishing recommendations and reeled them in already (sorry about the Grandad worthy joke.). Apparently there is more than cod to Cape Cod (that’s the limit of my fishing jokes you’ll be glad to hear…see I told you I know nothing about fishing.).
If, like me, you’re against the idea of St. Valentine’s Day in principal (why should I celebrate love just because Hallmark says I should!) but your partner isn’t, here are some cheesy and romantic but original ideas to value-add to the sentiments you include in their card:
Heart Reef An unimaginatively named heart shaped section of reef making up part of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. You could say ‘My love for you is so strong it can bend nature in it’s wake.’ ?
Taj Mahal Built to commemorate the passing of an inseparable companion. You could draw a picture of the grand building you would construct for your lover if you only had the means at your disposal? This one requires you to be able to draw something more lovely than the Taj Mahal… How much time do you have…?
For film fans a choice reference to the apartment used in Roman Holiday, Tiffany’s, as in Breakfast at or the I’ll have what she’s having cafe may be enough to secure your good favour (well at least it proves you’ve been paying attention to their interests!).
And if all else fails there is always Paris . The mere mention of which can be enough to melt the most cynical (but travel loving) heart… Just write the word PARIS in a card and I’m sure you’ll be understood…
Good Luck.
If you have lost your mojo this guy, the Cerne Abas Giant may be able to help you find it…?