...And they were stumped for a long time

Question

_{This puzzle is part 16 of Gladys' journey across the globe. Each part can be solved independently. Nevertheless, if you are new to the series, feel free to start at the beginning: Introducing Gladys.}

Dear Puzzling,

<p>Today I got a glimpse of what things may have looked like on Earth millions of years ago.  </p>

<p>I'm debating whether I should give you a hint about today's puzzle or not. If it was anyone else I would try to point them into the right direction, but you, dear Puzzling, can probably work it out on your own. After all, I assume you have at least some interest in geography if you've followed my journey this far.  </p>

<p>Wish you were here!<br>
Love, Gladys.</p>

1. Loop of rope / Shakespeare's pentameter
2. Technically just outside Las Vegas / Chameleon or gecko
3. Ground spice / E-book reader
4. String instrument / Time travel film
5. Inexpensive / Llama relative
6. Fossilized resin / Native American or South Asian
7. Brownish colour / Immigrants
8. Vagabond / Extreme stupidity
9. Riddermark / Very young child
10. Lanzhou's province / Worshipped at Delphi
11. Accepted in Greek and Irish shops / Light phenomenon

_{Gladys will return in "A burglar's sunglasses, a lady's odyssey".}

Rubio · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-21T07:33:58.893

12

Gladys is in

FOSSIL GROVE

The grid:

Loop of rope / Shakespeare's pentameter

LASSO / IAMBIC
Technically just outside Las Vegas / Chameleon or gecko

STRIP / LIZARD
Ground spice / E-book reader

CUMIN / KINDLE
String instrument / Time travel film

CELLO / LOOPER
Inexpensive / Llama relative

CHEAP / ALPACA
Fossilized resin / Native American or South Asian

AMBER / INDIAN
Brownish colour / Immigrants

KHAKI / ALIENS
Vagabond / Extreme stupidity

NOMAD / IDIOCY
Riddermark / Very young child

ROHAN / INFANT
Lanzhou's province / Worshipped at Delphi

GANSU / APOLLO
Accepted in Greek and Irish shops / Light phenomenon

EUROS / AURORA

The middles ...

are capital cities, if you take some letters from the left and right. So:

SOFIA, Bulgaria
TRIPOLI, Libya
MINSK, Belarus
OSLO, Norway
APIA, Samoa
BERLIN, Germany
KIGALI, Rwanda
MADRID, Spain
HANOI, Vietnam
SUVA, Fiji
ROSEAU, Dominica

edited May 21 '19 at 07:33

answered May 21 '19 at 06:34

Rubio

41,676
6
90
242

I had [rot13]ncbyyb for 10 and [rot13]pbeban for 11 but I think your 11 fits better. – Jay May 21 '19 at 06:40
"Outside Las Vegas" is [rot13]FGEVC. Beyond that, I'm not sure... – Exal May 21 '19 at 06:42
@Exal Thanks, I wasn't coming up with anything useful there. – Rubio May 21 '19 at 06:42
Here I was thinking that "Alpaca" was somehow wrong when "Apia" was staring me right in the face on the top of the capitals list! – Exal May 21 '19 at 07:19
Hehee... looks like @Jay was right about 10. – Rubio May 21 '19 at 07:20
Nice work! And here I was thinking how to word the hint I was going to give after 24 hours... – Jafe May 21 '19 at 07:23
@jafe Another great puzzle. I love this series :) – Rubio May 21 '19 at 07:36
Glad to hear it! – Jafe May 21 '19 at 12:11

Exal · Answer 2 · 2019-05-21T07:01:37.263

7

Partial answer, going off the full answer chart:

Each pair of answers, when a letter is put in the middle, creates a city, probably a capital city--four thus far...

edited May 21 '19 at 07:01

answered May 21 '19 at 06:55

Exal

3,770
1
10
33

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 21 '19 at 06:16

0

Partial Answer

1

Lasso, iambic

answered May 21 '19 at 06:16

Omega Krypton

21,640
2
25
125

...And they were stumped for a long time

3 Answers3

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