Libations & Explorations

Loggia dei Lanzi (Canon F-1/ Kodak Tmax400) To say that Florence has 'earned it's place in history' would be a bit of an understatement.  Originally a Roman garrison on the river Arno, Florence would grow into a mediaeval commune and eventually the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. In 1301, Dante would be exiled to there. In 1504, Michelangelo's statue of David would stand there. And in 2023, I would have the best pizza of my life there. Doina, my travel wife, and I arrived in Florence on a Trenitalia train from Milan (Business Class seats, naturally).  Being only 2 hours from Milan, we decided to take on Florence as a day trip.  As always in Europe, be prepared for a bit of walking! As Doina and I are utterly predictable, our first mission was to secure a cup of coffee.  Unbeknown to us, we would be having that coffee in the oldest cafe in Florence.  Cafe Gilli was founded by Swiss immigrants in 1733.  In 1917, it moved to it's current location i...

Hong Kong I travel to see the world as it is, but sometimes when I travel I get to witness the world changing. When I went to Hong Kong in late 2019, the world was a very different place. What I didn't know then was that I would see the start of two world-changing events that effect us to this day.    My plane waiting at the gate in Chicago My flight to Hong Kong was on Cathay Pacific out of Chicago.  Although it took about 16 hours, the flight was fantastic. Cathay Pacific is an old-school airline that provides real service.  I was seated in Premium Economy, but it felt like I was in First Class. To this day it is still the best flight I have ever taken.  If you ever get the change to travel with Cathay Pacific Airlines, do it! Squid from a vending machine After immigration, I waited for my girlfriend Stephanie (at the time) in the Arrivals Hall.  She came in an hour later than me on a Japan Airlines flight.  To pass the time I got 'Sweet and Sour Squ...