Mike Shenk’s Wall Street Journal contest crossword, “Countrysides”—Laura’s review
WSJ Contest – 2.9.19 – Solution
This week, Mike wants us to find a world capital. Let’s see where we can start:
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[19a: Capital that’s the site of the Áras an Uachtaráin presidential residence]: DUBLIN
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[20a: Capital that’s the site of the Gouvernementsgebouw presidential residence]: PARAMARIBO
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[54a: Capital that’s the site of the Amalienborg royal residence]: COPENHAGEN
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[58a: Capital that’s the site of the Pallati i Brigadave presidential residence]: TIRANA
Four world capitals, and we’re looking for a fifth. On the meta-solving principle of “when you have some things in a list, make a list of other things that they suggest,” I listed the countries that these are capitals of:
IRELAND
SURINAME
DENMARK
ALBANIA
Nothing came to mind that could further extract a solution from this list, until I asked my usual solving pal to help me focus (let’s say it louder for the folks in the back: if you are not at a tournament competition, there is NOTHING WRONG with asking for help or googling for information that would help with a crossword or meta answer). “Look to the grid,” he said, “Is there anything there that seems relevant to the themers?” And off I went! Turns out, the first three letters of those countries are right there:
- [53a: Furious feeling]: IRE
- [24d: California’s Big ___]: SUR
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[42d: Beast’s abode]: DEN
- [10d: Priestly vestment]: ALB
What comes next after those three letters in the theme entries’ countries?
IRELAND
SURINAME
DENMARK
ALBANIA
The capital of Peru is LIMA, and our answer.
I’ve heard enough from [47a: Kpop superstar]: PSY so how about [8d: Deck with a pool]: LIDO instead? I’d always thought this song was by Elton John, until I got the note, sayin’ toe the line or blow it and that was all she wrote.
Last letters of the countries (AND, NAME, ARK, NIA) are in the grid, too.
The second half of those countries are also in the grid – “and,” “name,” “ark” and Nia – leaving only the four letters of “Lima” unused.
I saw those 3-letter codes for the four countries in the grid, so I assumed we would be looking for a fifth country. There are two more in the grid: MAR is the 3-letter code for Morocco, and AND is the 3-letter code for Andorra – but which one to pick? RABAT is on a large body of water (like the other capitals), and has an official Palace (called Dâr-al-Makhzen). Andorra la Vella, not so much – so RABAT it is.
Unfortunately, I see now that the ISO-3 code for Ireland is IRL, and the code for Denmark is DNK. Whoops!
I was momentarily sidetracked when I learned that the current president of Albania is named Ilir Meta.
The title hints that both “sides” of the country are there, leaving just the middle.
I got the answer, but did fine a good red herring:
ALB
IRE
SUR
DEN
Take the last letter of each and it spells BERN, the capital of Switzerland. I was then nudged to find the second halves and the missing LIMA came out…
Stumped by this one, but now that I get it I totally love it!