New York Times, Monday, January 18, 2021

This puzzle combines two of my loves: puzzling and traveling. This puzzle was born on a RyanAir flight back from Athens, Greece. As an R.E.M. fan, I was aware that the band originated in Athens, Georgia, so I started looking for more "imported cities," if you will. It was a balancing act of finding major European cities matching reasonably well-known American cities that could be clued using a reasonably well-known landmark or attraction.

Have you heard of Venice, Louisiana? Glasgow, Montana? Rome, Georgia? Madrid, New York? Neither had I. Hopefully, at least a couple of the ones I picked are familiar to you, and the rest can be a nice discovery. Personally speaking, I've traveled to more of the European cities on my list (Paris, Athens, Toledo — only got as far south as Rome in Italy) than their American counterparts (only Toledo). I heartily recommend Athens if you have the chance.

One note about the cluing. My original clue for Naples was "Where you won't find Mt. Vesuvius." I can see why the editing team changed it, as Mt. Vesuvius is actually six miles outside of Naples, so while you can see it from Naples, it is not technically in Naples. Probably still too close for comfort if it erupts, I should imagine. So, the editing team went with "Virgil's Tomb," which I didn't know was in Naples, so I've learned something in my own puzzle, which I enjoy doing whether I'm solving or creating.

I hope you learned something too. And as soon as we can all travel internationally again, think about visiting one of these great destinations!

I know a ridiculous amount of factoids about TOLEDO, OHIO, because I grew up watching M*A*S*H reruns. Klinger — you and your wild attempts to get Section Eight discharged from the army! (My parents — you and your odd choice to let me idolize Hawkeye Pierce!) The way Klinger talked about his beloved Toledo Mudhens, almost got me wanting to like baseball. How could you not want to visit a town that someone talks about so reverently? As a kid, I thought TOLEDO, OHIO, was one of the world's most famous places.

Huh? There's another Toledo that's named after Toledo, Ohio? Boo, Spanish imitators! You gonna start copying Klinger now, trying for Section Eights?

I had a strange childhood.

Speaking of strange, PASCHAL. That's not Blaise Pascal and his triangle, but "Easter-related"? I did enjoy reading up on something called the "Paschal mystery" — quite mysterious, mostly because there is no mystery. Staring at the word in the grid, though, I couldn't make myself believe that it was present in what should be a puzzle welcoming to newbs.

Ah, Jeff, ye of little faith.

I love NERD ALERT! I used to get IN A LATHER when people said that about me, but now I say, bring it on. This nerd does think the grid could have used some adjustment — with four themers, I expect zero dabs of crossword glue (no UNI, CTA / MATA right off the bat) and maybe two more long bonuses, as well as better solving flow. When a single square connects two halves (the E of PREPS), it's not ideal.

I enjoyed the concept, American cities named after famous foreign ones, and the clues touching on landmarks were fun. MOSCOW IDAHO would have made for a stronger fourth themer, though. Dozens of American cities fit this criterion, so I'm sure there's some way to make that work. I don't know what's with Georgia, but that state alone has a Sparta, Athens, and Rome!