knowledge - ...And they were stumped for a long time

_{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,

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

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.

Wish you were here!
Love, Gladys.

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".}

Answer

Gladys is in

FOSSIL GROVE

The grid:

1. 
   

   Loop of rope / Shakespeare's pentameter

   
   

   
   

   LASSO / IAMBIC

   
   

   
   


2. 
   

   Technically just outside Las Vegas / Chameleon or gecko

   
   

   
   
   

   STRIP / LIZARD

   
   

   
   


3. 
   

   Ground spice / E-book reader

   
   

   
   

   CUMIN / KINDLE

   
   

   
   


4. 
   
   

   String instrument / Time travel film

   
   

   
   

   CELLO / LOOPER

   
   

   
   


5. 
   

   Inexpensive / Llama relative

   
   

   
   

   CHEAP / ALPACA

   
   

   
   
   


6. 
   

   Fossilized resin / Native American or South Asian

   
   

   
   

   AMBER / INDIAN

   
   

   
   


7. 
   

   Brownish colour / Immigrants

   
   

   
   
   

   KHAKI / ALIENS

   
   

   
   


8. 
   

   Vagabond / Extreme stupidity

   
   

   
   

   NOMAD / IDIOCY

   
   

   
   


9. 
   
   

   Riddermark / Very young child

   
   

   
   

   ROHAN / INFANT

   
   

   
   


10. 
    

    Lanzhou's province / Worshipped at Delphi

    
    

    
    

    GANSU / APOLLO

    
    

    
    
    


11. 
    

    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