mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Ever had a day so crazy you just wanted to stop the world and get off for awhile? When I have those days, I start imagining a door. It’s kind of like my front door, but there’s something much more interesting on the other side of it than my porch. It’s what you see to the left here — the dreamlike Matavulu Blue Hole in Vanuatu, on the island of Espiritu Santo. Fed by abundant rainwater, the hole (which begs for a more expressive name) is a deep and crystal clear oasis of perfectly refreshing 72 degree water, no matter how sweltering it is on the island. Ahhhhh. So what we’d love to know is this: if you had a secret door you could escape through once in a while, where would it lead?
Comments (57)
Comment
- Follow mental_floss
Estes Park, CO at night looking at the stars
posted by Marty on 7-8-2009 at 1:30 pm
Elk Lake, Michigan in July.
posted by Kelly on 7-8-2009 at 1:34 pm
To a beach on Grand Cayman Island where I once swan under a full moon. it was the only beach I have ever seen with 100% pure white sand. No seaweed washed up, no broken shells stabbing your feet. Just soft, pure sand on the beach and in the water. And the water was crystal clear.
posted by CP on 7-8-2009 at 1:38 pm
Wherever my son is.
posted by Witty Nickname on 7-8-2009 at 1:41 pm
At home under the covers with my darling husband.
posted by Jenny on 7-8-2009 at 1:43 pm
And right below the article just now is an ad for Cotton that reads: “Behind these doors is the closet of country singer Miranda Lambert.”
Not exactly what I had in mind
posted by m@ on 7-8-2009 at 1:45 pm
The pub. Duh.
posted by Eduardo on 7-8-2009 at 2:00 pm
A hotel balcony in Galveston, looking out at the beach while a storm blows in, the waves crashing, the cool wind in my face, the smell of the salt air.
posted by Melissa on 7-8-2009 at 2:01 pm
Point Loma, San Diego, California. Easily one of the most beautiful costal towns I have ever been in.
posted by tambalina on 7-8-2009 at 2:04 pm
It’s where combined with a when.
Allegan, MI in the wintertime circa 1998 (when I was 16) late at night. It’s a small little town without much to do but the winters, while harsh, make the night scape beautiful. The glow off the snow and the serene hope of a bright future in front of me was amazing.
posted by Josh on 7-8-2009 at 2:12 pm
The beach. Almost any beach.
posted by Hyacinth on 7-8-2009 at 2:15 pm
Mint Brook summer camp, just when the bugle sounds for lights out, under the stars with the mountain looking down.
posted by JuliaJ on 7-8-2009 at 2:18 pm
I’m like “Alexander” … I just want to go to Australia when I’m having a no good horrible etc. day … specifically to a secluded beach in the middle of the night gazing up at the southern sky.
posted by Katherine on 7-8-2009 at 2:19 pm
Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
posted by David on 7-8-2009 at 2:26 pm
To a tropical beach with a hammock. With a little shade so I don’t burn in the sun. A coconut half with a pina colado and tiny umbrella is waiting for me. And right next to it is a smaller hammock for my son, and a coconut half with 2% milk inside and a tiny umbrella. Not a bug in sight. And in the air is The Zac Brown Band.
posted by Hannibal Schlechter on 7-8-2009 at 2:32 pm
The wrap-around porch of a beautifully rustic cabin in the Rockies during an afternoon rain shower (although with our neverending 100+ temps here in San Antonio, I’d go for a snowy afternoon too).
~or~
An empty beach in the Pacific Northwest, early summer evening.
reCaptcha: other montages (kind of what my mind is like when I’m imagining these places)
posted by nutmeag on 7-8-2009 at 2:54 pm
Diagon Alley
posted by Jill on 7-8-2009 at 2:59 pm
My family owns a small cottage on a lake in Michigan. It’s my favorite place to be because the smell of the water always brings back amazing memories.
Although, as a HUGE HP fan I have to say that Jill has got a good point. The Burrow anyone?!?
:o)
posted by Lindsey on 7-8-2009 at 3:10 pm
the library
posted by shana on 7-8-2009 at 3:13 pm
To a free, gentle school. One where I could learn about the physiology anatomy and pathology, marine mammals, jewelry making, pattern drafting, world religions, sexual diversity, women studies, animals, carpentry, cooking, baking, writing, photography…everything! All in a warm inviting environment where learning about things you love trump getting grades and gathering pre-requisites. Yup, my door would go to school.
posted by Kat on 7-8-2009 at 3:24 pm
The Shire.
posted by Steve on 7-8-2009 at 3:29 pm
okinawa, japan. on tori beach at night
posted by Dayna on 7-8-2009 at 3:40 pm
When I lived overseas, there was a park right across the street from my family’s apartment. I have memories of all my friends at that park. Even though I have lived in the states for 3 years, my memory of that park and the surrounding area is crystal clear. My door would lead there.
posted by Alysha on 7-8-2009 at 3:45 pm
Evening on the Lido, off the coast of Venice.
posted by Jenny on 7-8-2009 at 3:59 pm
in the White Mountains in New Hampshire in pure serenity and simplicity.
posted by Kristen on 7-8-2009 at 4:06 pm
Behind mine is just another door. Weird.
posted by Chris Higgins on 7-8-2009 at 4:26 pm
Mine opens 5k feet up. The door is, of course, right next to my parachute rack.
posted by Ben E. on 7-8-2009 at 5:23 pm
Any lake on a hot day with my hubby and friends, with no other boats on the water!!!!Amazing..
posted by Des on 7-8-2009 at 5:24 pm
A cool day on the north Oregon coast. I need a light coat, gloves and a hat. There’s a fire pit started, razor clams getting ready to bake, good beer and good friends.
It’s a stark contrast to the 100 degree heat paired with 5000% humidity I’m dealing with in Houston right now. I almost started crying imagining Oregon.
posted by nikki on 7-8-2009 at 5:46 pm
I like the pub idea, but my door would lead to McDermotts Pub, in Doolin, Ireland.
posted by Jon on 7-8-2009 at 5:54 pm
No idea where it would go but I would tear it down immediately. Live in the present moment.
posted by Scott on 7-8-2009 at 6:08 pm
@ Tambalina — Awww, my late granny lived in Point Loma when I was growing up…definitely a nice town.
@ Jenny — a nice idea (as I agree) but I read your post to my husband and he mocked me (what a punk!) :-\
My door would lead to Sugar Loaf Mountain (I think that’s the name) near Marquette, Michigan. My best friend (who is from Marquette) took me there for the 4th of July in 2002, and I loved it. My hubby and my friends would be there, too :)
posted by Brandy on 7-8-2009 at 6:39 pm
It would lead to a hallway with several doors each leading to a variety of places: Lake Louise, AB; Lion’s Bay, BC; Mendocino, CA; Half Moon Bay, CA; Logan Pass, MT; Tioga Pass/Yosemite, CA; Arches Nat’l Park, UT; Zion Nat’l Park, UT; Bryce Canyon Nat’l Park, UT; Edinburgh, Scotland; Ouray, CO; Silverton, CO; Lillooet, BC; Lake Winnipesaukee, NH; New Orleans, LA (before Katrina); Bay St. Louis, MS (before Katrina); Monterey, CA; Lake Tahoe, CA/NV; someplace in the mid-west with a spectacular thunderstorm in progress; Inland Passage, AK; … you get the idea.
posted by John Bejarano on 7-8-2009 at 6:41 pm
Almost heaven – West Virginia – my family’s farm- the most beautiful place in the world!
posted by Angela Ayaz on 7-8-2009 at 6:44 pm
The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field (the bleachers) on a sunny afternoon for batting practice and a day game…
posted by Jonny on 7-8-2009 at 7:01 pm
And when I went thru the door, I’d say what I always say at Wrigley, “Great day for a ballgame, let’s play two!”
posted by Jonny on 7-8-2009 at 7:04 pm
i would walk through the door and be immediatly accosted by books. Each one would throw itself at me, saying, “Read me! read me!”
After choosing the lucky book, I would lay down outside where there are no bugs, no hunidity, and plenty of sweet tea and coca-cola to choose from. and brownies.
is it hard to tell i’m pregnant right now?
nice recaptcha: languish O’Keefe
posted by MamaBug on 7-8-2009 at 7:25 pm
make that humidity.
posted by MamaBug on 7-8-2009 at 7:26 pm
an amusement park: my favorite games, rides, junk food. no lines and no tired feet!
posted by fanniefarkle on 7-8-2009 at 7:48 pm
A modern version of the Library at Alexandria crossed with the entire Smithsonian, all air conditioned and supplied with comfy chairs and an unlimited supply of dark chocolate and coffee.
posted by janeeyre316 on 7-8-2009 at 7:50 pm
The Twilight Zone.
Or Disney World, either or.
posted by Isabella on 7-8-2009 at 9:02 pm
Wyoming, midnight, with nothing but stars in the sky.
posted by Andrea on 7-8-2009 at 9:48 pm
I might opt for a roof-garden w/an electro wind-catcher/generator. It must be totally organic because there less prone to drought & are better if local regarding global warming. A sink might be nice. A slide for the “nifty effect” and to make breakfast before work “a cinch”. Not to mention the waterproof socket & internet hook-up w/some Palm-tree for lavish & luxurious comfort. If I can fashion a tube to drop food to the kitchen then it is practically art.
posted by FREAK on 7-8-2009 at 10:56 pm
The French Quarter, at night.
posted by Lauren on 7-8-2009 at 11:53 pm
The eternally blue skies and green hills and mountains of Oregon and California…not too far from the beach either!
posted by Anna on 7-9-2009 at 12:35 am
The bottom of a bottle of Old Granddad.
posted by vanDammit on 7-9-2009 at 3:58 am
Definitely Bali! But only if my boyfriend can come with me :)
posted by Nanette on 7-9-2009 at 5:42 am
You could say I go into the back stage of the “This is It” concerts of Michael Jackson (sniffle) whenever I open a secret door.
posted by Jen Pen on 7-9-2009 at 5:49 am
Huh, there’s nothing in here.
posted by Dave on 7-9-2009 at 8:15 am
The 1st Tee at St. Andrews Old Course.
posted by TXCherokee on 7-9-2009 at 9:05 am
I have a few, fictional and otherwise:
1. The carnival in The Natural where they stop and Hobbs strikes out The Whammer on 3 pitches
2. The beach in Rarotonga of the Cook islands at midnight. I’ve never seen so many stars in my life!
3. Lauren, love the French Quarter!
4. Ray Kinsella’s baseball field in the middle of an eternal base ball game (me playing 2nd base)
5. The fireworks display from The Sandlot, after the kid fakes drowning to kiss the lifeguard
posted by Juan on 7-9-2009 at 9:26 am
My secret door would take me back to Salzburg, Austria, where I would meander through the crowded streets and sit beside the lazy Salzach River, and then I would sit in my favorite resturant on the edge of town and order a giant cheese struedel and just relax.
posted by Heather on 7-9-2009 at 2:03 pm
My door opens to an empty seat at the bar at the Napoleon House in New Orleans. My husband and a proper Sazerac await me there. A light drizzle falls, the people-watching is primo, and we have all the time in the world…(*sigh*)
posted by Kelly on 7-9-2009 at 2:23 pm
home.
posted by Jimmy on 7-9-2009 at 2:33 pm
St. Peter’s Basilica, in the morning, when its empty, with some of history’s greatest artwork around me.
And no, I’m not even Catholic ;)
posted by Ashley on 7-9-2009 at 3:09 pm
There’s an island in the middle of the Seine River in Paris. At the end of the island and down some stairs is a small area with benches and trees. My door would go there on a gorgeous May afternoon.
posted by Tricia on 7-9-2009 at 3:26 pm
@Josh
You’re right. I’m from the Allegan area also, and I love crisp winter nights when the moon is full and there is absolute silence. Everything has an otherworldly deep blue tint and it is perfect.
posted by Lisa on 7-13-2009 at 1:17 am