Alright, let me tell you about tackling the New York Times crossword today. It’s become a bit of a daily habit, helps me clear my head, you know?
So, I was working my way through it, filling in the stuff I knew, feeling pretty good. Then I hit this clue: “green booking”. And I just stopped. Blanked for a second.
“Green booking”? What in the world was that supposed to mean? My first idea, maybe something to do with golf? Like booking time on the putting green? Seemed kinda niche, maybe? Then I thought, maybe money? You know, “green” like cash, booking profits or something? That didn’t feel right either, the phrasing felt off.
I just stared at the grid for a while. Had a few letters from words crossing it. Let’s see, it looked like it started with an E, then maybe an O a bit later? Further down, there was a T, an R, and it ended in M. E _ O T _ _ R _ _ M. Hmm.
Figuring It Out
The E and O made me think. ‘Green’ often points to environmental stuff in these puzzles. It’s a common trick. So, “eco-” something? What kind of “booking” is “eco”?
- Booking an eco-friendly hotel? Way too long.
- Something about sustainable reservations? Nah.
- Eco-travel? Closer, maybe, but needed that ‘booking’ angle.
I kept looking at the letters I had and the empty squares. E C O… T O U R… I S M. Suddenly, it clicked together. ECOTOURISM. Yeah, that fit the letters perfectly. Booking travel that’s focused on being environmentally conscious. “Green” for eco-friendly, and “booking” loosely related to making travel plans. It made sense.
Took me longer than it probably should have, but I got there. It’s funny how your brain can get stuck on one path. You see “green” and think money or golf, and completely miss the environmental angle until a few letters nudge you in the right direction.
Anyway, that was my little journey with the “green booking” clue today. Just one small part of the puzzle, but sometimes those are the ones that make you pause and really think. Felt good to finally work it out. Now, back to the rest of the grid.
