On Tuesday, I was one of many to participate in the local library’s Freedom to Read Week read-a-thon.
Predictably, I am a big fan of reading and said freedom to read, so of course I obliged. (I had also unwittingly nearly stolen a pair of snowshoes from the library and its kind patrons so my guilt made my participation a sure thing.)
Anyway, I could read 10 minutes of whatever I fancied, so I conjured up a series of weird news stories, among them the tale of a giant mango stolen from a town in Australia.
The 10-metre, seven-tonne mango was lifted out of its home in Bowen, Queensland, by crane in a late-night heist.
I imagine it’s pretty hard to hide such a stolen good, but until it’s returned, Bowen’s identity is as good as gone with its big, giant fruit.
Every city is keen to jump on the marketing bandwagon to promote itself as unique, and even though that doesn’t involve a giant piece of fruit in Merritt, our city is no different.
While the debate about “Country with attitude” rages on, consider how Bellaire, Texas has characterized itself: as the “City of homes.”
It’s not very imaginative, and, sadly, it’s not even unique. Newnan, Ga. also calls itself the city of homes.
Cherryfield, Maine is counterintuitively the blueberry capital of the world.
“Home of the World’s Largest Pecan” is a title Seguin, Texas is reluctant to give up, despite the presence of a much bigger nut that’s the pride of Brunswick, Mo.
Other giant edibles are the pride of many a town in Australia, including Ballina, New South Wales, which boasts the world’s largest prawn; Robertson, New South Wales, which has the world’s largest potato; and Nambour, Queensland, home of the world’s largest pineapple.
Closer to home, Alberta has its share of weird mega-sized stuff, including the largest perogy (Ukrainian dumpling) in Glendon and the largest dinosaur in Drumheller.
In B.C., the world’s largest cross-country skis reside in 100 Mile House, while mega-sized wind chimes are in the Kootenay village of Kaslo. But if you’re looking for the largest tuned musical wind chime, you’ll have to head south to Eureka Springs, Ark. While you’re there, you can pop by Alma for the world’s largest spinach can.
To nobody’s surprise, my home province of Manitoba boasts the world’s largest mosquito (located in Komarno).
As far as attractions go, Merritt’s got incredible country vistas and all the recreational opportunities they allow. They are distinct without being eccentric.
Consider these attractions: a hair museum in Independence, Mo.; a parasite museum in Tokyo; a bad art museum in Boston.
The Island of Dolls in Mexico is home to hundreds of creepy baby dolls strung up from trees, some decapitated, missing eyes and/or limbs.
According to local legend, the small island’s caretaker had found a little girl drowned in the waters around the island, and a doll, presumably hers, floating nearby. In a tribute to the girl he was unable to save, the man hung the doll up on a tree.
The place was never intended to be a tourist destination, but because of its spectacle, has become one.
Even if there’s room for improvement in Merritt’s slogan, at least it’s not peddling a creepy doll hair museum inside the world’s largest potato.
