![\"NGE\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/NGE.jpeg\")
<\/a>It\u2019s that damn National Geographic Expeditions<\/em><\/strong> issue! It arrives at the end of the year with pages of colorful photos that only National Geographic<\/strong> <\/em>can take, and details of exotic expeditions to places only National Geographic <\/em><\/strong>would go and only the very wealthy can afford. I read through it with recognition of some places that I\u2019ve been, but mostly with frustration for the many places I haven\u2019t been and will never get to. So many destinations, so little time. Note to kids: start traveling early!<\/strong><\/p>\nExpeditions<\/em><\/strong> is arranged geographically: North America, South America, Europe, Eurasia, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Oceania, Australia<\/strong> and Polar Regions<\/strong>. Polar Regions? Only National Geographic <\/em><\/strong>would plan a trek to Santa\u2019s workshop<\/strong>. I start to peruse the North America<\/strong> section, and an idea comes to me; rather than sit at home and get frustrated while reading about all the places I\u2019m not <\/em>going, I decide to take this issue to the local Yard House<\/em><\/strong>, a pub known for it\u2019s multiple foreign beers, belly up to the bar and travel to these exotic destinations . . . in beer. Not wanting to \u2018drink, dream and drive\u2019, I call Uber<\/strong>, which drops me off at my local Yard House <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 so many beers, so little time. Note to kids: Don\u2019t live close to a Yard House<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n As I survey the plethora of beers proffered by the Yard House<\/em><\/strong>, it occurs to me that were I to follow the National Expeditions\u2019<\/em><\/strong> first destination in the North America<\/strong> section is Costa Rica<\/strong>; now I haven\u2019t had any beer yet, but I\u2019m already confused. \u00a0All this time I thought Costa Rica was in Central <\/em>America<\/strong>, but who am I to argue with National Geographic<\/em>?<\/strong> I break the rule about only tasting beers that I\u2019ve never tasted before as I see an Imperial<\/em><\/strong>, Costa Rica\u2019s<\/strong> most popular beer. The flavor takes me back a few years to when I was in Costa Rica<\/strong> golfing<\/strong> and zip lining<\/strong> through the rainforest<\/strong>; not at the same time, although my golf score might indicate otherwise. It\u2019s a good start as I turn the page and find myself in Cuba<\/strong>. I ask for a Bucanero<\/em><\/strong>, Cuba\u2019s most popular beer, but while the US-Cuba trade agreements are starting to relax, there is still no importing of Cuban products to the US. I say, \u201cWhat about an Hatuey<\/em><\/strong>\u201d (\u201cGesundheit!\u201d). Hatuey<\/em><\/strong> was once the pride of Havana<\/strong>, but is now brewed in Baltimore<\/strong>, which is at least still on the North American continent, I think. They don\u2019t have that either. They have a Puerto Rico<\/strong> beer, Old Harbor<\/em><\/strong>; I try it \u2013 close but no cigar.<\/p>\n I decide that I\u2019m having only one more beer today (OK, maybe Ron decided), but I\u2019m not making it a rule, as I don\u2019t do too well with those, Note to kids: Do NOT book your travel through Yard House<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Bob Sparrow It\u2019s that damn National Geographic Expeditions issue! It arrives at the end of the year with pages of colorful photos that only National Geographic can take, and details of exotic expeditions to places only National Geographic would … read more<\/a> Geographic Expeditions <\/em><\/strong>page-by-page and beer-by-beer, I\u2019d need a liver transplant by the time I got to the end of my driveway, so I take a measured approach and commit to drink only sample-sized beers that I\u2019ve never had before, hoping to both quench my thirst and my travel lust simultaneously.<\/p>\n<\/a>I turn the page and find myself in Cabo San Lucas<\/strong> \u2013 the site of my ill-fated fishing trip in 2012. Click on this link to revisit if you\u2019d like \u2013 I can\u2019t! https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/?p=712<\/a>. My favorite Mexican<\/strong> beer is Modelo<\/em><\/strong>, I decide that the rule about only drinking sample-sized beers is a bad rule and down a Modelo<\/em><\/strong> to help erase the memory of the fishing trip. I quickly turn the page and find myself in Alaska<\/strong> asking about a beer called the Double Bastard Ale<\/em><\/strong>. It\u2019s quite good and remember that the rule about only drinking sample-sized beers is no longer in force so I order a pint of the Bouble Dastard<\/em><\/strong>. I\u2019m starting to feel a little jet-lagged or something, and ask Ron, the tar bender, to tell me what other erotic beers he\u2019s got.\u00a0\u00a0 He says \u201cEinstock<\/em><\/strong>, a beer from Iceland<\/strong>\u201d. I ask if that\u2019s on the North American condiment; he tells me that I left North America several hours ago. Wow, that was quick, this traveling by beer could really catch on.<\/p>\n<\/a> and ask Ron to make the incision about what beer that should be. He says, \u201cLet\u2019s end at the beginning,\u201d which at this point sounds completely logical to me, so he pours me a Weihenstephan<\/em><\/strong>, and says, \u201cThis beer is from a little town in Bavaria<\/strong>, considered to be the oldest existing brewery in the world.\u201d He continues, \u201c 1040 is when they started brewing beer there.\u201d I look at my watch and see that it is now 2:40 and am confused, but I guess travel will do that to you. It seems I\u2019ve had enough \u2018beer travel\u2019 for one day and call Uber<\/strong>.<\/p>\n