A Modern Fairytale – The Accidental Tourist in Merced

Once upon a time, just three days ago, an European tourist arrives in downtown Merced and gets a room in the newly renovated hotel “The Tioga”.

Hotel “The Tioga” in Merced, CA

The day is still young and so our tourist decides to find a bar and have a beer. After all, rumors have it that news are made by bar associates.

Salon is not a Saloon

Having studied British English for nearly a decade, it is still confusing for our tourist to understand what a difference of one “o” in a word can make…. Yet, after getting quickly lectured by a lady barber, he gets it.

Soon, he sees a sign “TrainRobbersSaloon”… if they sell cold beer?

TrainRobbersSaloon, Merced, CA

Upon entering a dark and funny colored Saloon, he asks the bartender for a beer. Environmentally friendly or so…, the bartender asks back, bottle or glass? Well, being from Europe’s number one Fancy City, he would never drink beer from a bottle. So, he orders the beer in a glass. After drinking several ice cold beers, our tourist starts to feel funny and decides to go back to the hotel.

Walking the streets of downtown Merced, his vision turns multi colors and multi everything… and he starts to wonder if that is just the result of the alcohol in the beers or some additive?

Finally, he sees his Hotel in the distance, although it may be difficult to find the entrance. With what is left of his temporary mental departure, he recalls a friend’s saying: “Drink beer only from the bottle in strange Saloons!”

El Capitan and The Tioga, Downtown Merced, CA

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