Over the weekend I found myself wondering how often pioneers intentionally over-shoot their target in order to achieve what they initially wanted, knowing instinctively that they must do this and then compromise to their goal.  While at that particular moment, I may have had the likes of Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk or more currently, Jack Ma in my mind, today it was in regard to Alice Waters. This was followed this morning by the … [Read more...]

I don't write about restaurants.  I happen to think they are very personal things.  Each and every person has a distinct affinity for the venue, the atmosphere and the food.  I consider their evaluation to generally be highly subjective - and in my humble experience I have found the opinions of others to be off the mark.  So, when I tread, I tread cautiously. My son Ryan has done some substantive traveling.  He has always had a wanderlust of … [Read more...]

     Once upon a time in the land of the Arno….. Is anyone else consumed with the idea of making apple pies? We all know the most common context of the phrase "Many Happy Returns of the Day".  No, it wasn't my birthday, but, happy returns of the day seems a fitting sentiment - the feeling I had when I arrived back in Florence.  Some people find travel to be tedious, tiring and aggravating.  Well, depending on where you are going, I guess I … [Read more...]

 Traffic Jam :) I have to confess something - don't tell anyone, though.  I have decided that collecting pictures is way more fun than shopping!  Wow!  Did I just say that?  And, George, for one, couldn't be happier!  Hahahaha - not that I am going to abandon shopping or anything - especially at my favorite Food/Farmer's Markets……….. I know I am about the zillionth person to try to get down on paper some clear-headed words about the beauty … [Read more...]

  the rejoinder to my title is, "and how its color improves with the changes in the angle of the sun………. It occurs to me often these days that I am either autodidactic (more than generous) or, probably more accurately, the biggest simpleton of all time, having been largely asleep at the switch or on autopilot for most of my first 60 years of life - for, I am awash in thoughts and occurrences heretofore unexperienced.  What does this mean?   … [Read more...]

I am greatly guilty at being one of those people who rarely takes a moment to contemplate and appreciate the results of the great conglomeration that is the forces of nature mixed together with the ingenious, part-serendipitous and part-determined outcomes of the human race that result in some of the most incredible places in the world.  How people have grown and turned what nature has wrought into seats of distinction and reflection leaves me … [Read more...]

  of course no one can photograph inside the refectory and you are watched like a hawk One of the tickets most sought after in Milano is the one to enter to gaze upon The Last Supper.  Last time I visited we were unable to secure an entry and so, upon the prodding of Ryan, I wrote early to our hotel and they secured two tickets for 8:30 am on our second morning in Milan. I don't think anyone would argue that having the opportunity to gaze … [Read more...]

  I have become several things in middle-age, some of them I know to be not so flattering.  Chief among them, at least on the positive side of things, could be termed "the serial chronicler".  Maybe, if you have to think about it, this is just some hysterical side-effect of passing over the line into a new decade and realizing that just perhaps, you are are on the "other side" of that curve of life and now have some existential need to … [Read more...]