Understated Marketing
Leaving the beauty of the mountains behind, I was set onto the mission to find out how the taste of the islands gets into the dressing. The search for an answer finally let me to Alexandria Bay and the sad tragedy of Bonnie and her castle, that her husband had build for her on an island early 1900 to show her all his love. Unfortunately it never got finnished, since she passed away when it was mid build, and neither her husband nor his family sat a foodstep on the castle’s island again. He was actually the same millionaire, who named the dressing after his most loved area, right - the Thousand Islands - which by far sounds better than mayo and ketchup - thanks to the great American marketing.
(Insert picture of remodeled Bonnie castle on Bonnie Island overlooking the Lawrence river here.)
Of course clever marketing is an essential part on Orangina as well as it is down here on this planet But appearantly marketing here in the US is following completely different rules. Another example next to the dressing is the historic seaway trail, which is - according to the marketing campaings of NY state - one of the most scenic byways one can take by car, bicycle or even hiking - in the whole US. Jaaa haaa.
Starting in the north east at the Lawrence river, it streches along the coastline of lake Ontario, passes Niagara and reaches down to Erie lake. Of course, since I love marketing, I had to take this “trail” down to Niagara.
Now, to be honest, this route is quite scenic because especially at the Lawrence river it’s all newley paved which is pretty much a new experience after all these pitholes further east. Probably the local Bushes wiretaped my report transmission to steering committee and didn’t like the road analogon to the third world so they fixed it quickly before I came. Hm - clever…
(Insert picture of freshly paved highway along some boaring farm landscape here.)
Anyhow, the route is also scenic for very brave bicyclers, hikers and alike that fancy to hike right on a highway with speed limits at 55mph, which thanks to the remodeled pavement even tiny vessels constantly surpass. The beauty of the trail is also that is is historic - which means that every once in a while there is an old postsign telling that there where early seddlers in that region. But probably the only historic piece in the region is the postsign itself.
Nowadays other postsigns are far more important and not as sparsely seen - the signs for National Parks - which is just another marketing trick. Jaaa haaa. Now, you might think that these “parks” are nature preserves as they are in other states. Not so in NY state. No, sorry you are completely wrong. These parks are usually nothing else but boaring campgrounds, packed with RVs, seniors and children-rich families, occuping and spoiling the once beatiful nature spots. Fortunately they pay for it as everyone else who just likes to see the area. A “dayuse fee” start mostly at bargain USD 7 - even if you come late in the evening and stay only for minutes. Well done NY, well done marketing to rip off the stupid tourist - at least.
But there are still true wonders in this world - and actually it’s even three at once. Niagara falls. Not only that Niagara falls national park is not a dump campground as one might conclude - the true wonder is that it’s even free - despite the small parking fee of just 10 bucks - and objectively it is also very spectacular and a true highlight after all the missleads on that marketing trail. To say it in short - I love the falls and had very much fun on that maid in the mist. Getting new flipflops for “the cave” was also a true breeze but not as much joy as the maid had given me.
Even I’ve uncovered some more marketing tricks on my way to Canada, I was truely surprised that Canada, which is only a bad french copy of the US acts differently in marketing - at least in one case. The relatively inexpensive hotel here in Toronto is not only Cosmopolitean but also understating it’s marketing pretty much. After booking ahead on the interstellar network, I got a nice suite with a full kitchen, washer, dryer, two lcd tvs and a small balcony on the 20th floor. None of these features was mentioned on the network. This is quite different marketing I like much better. Understated Marketing. Jaaa haaa.
(Insert picture of nice suite living room and outlook from balcony here.)