Loving Sangiovese - til death do us part!!

Finding true love under a bright blue Tuscan sky

“The love of a good woman can save a man, or it can drive him to fits of unspeakable madness.”  said Molly Harper in her book "nice girls don't have fangs. A good wine can do the former but certainly never the latter. Accordingly -- I have found love in the form of a grape...and that grape is Sangiovese.

A tour of the Chianti region (Classsico to be specific) under a bright blue Tuscan sky was all is took to cement the relationship. The name Sangiovese was whispered on that fragrant breeze but also by the tour director who took us through wineries of stellar reputation and samples to confirm that worthy boast.

While indeed the standard to produce a Chianti Classico (rather than Super Tuscany or other regionally grown table wines that are not of the same quality) is exacting, the wine is only a great table wine in my mind. There is a requirement that 70% of the grape be Sangiovese keeping the flavor consistent over time and tastes. Great with red meat, chicken... maybe lamb. But my heart started to flutter and my pulse quicken when given the Chianti Classico Reserve to sip and swirl.

Not good with food - Chianti Classico Special Reserve is a wine for contemplation. To sip while examining the stars, existential thoughts ebbing and flowing through our noggins as the sweets Sangiovese nourishes our souls and sweeps our troubles away. It was pretty good. 😗

Half man half turtle ... this is how the hard shelled fellow finally kicked the Hare's Ass... 

A notion that persists for me when I visit or consider Italy is "Dolce Far Niente" Meaning; The sweetness of doing nothing. Again and again the philosophical concept takes hold of me when I visit this spectacular land and people.


So much care is taken to have good manners -good appearance -- and to clearly make an effort in adding beauty to the world.


Flowers and art are ubiquitous from balcony to boulevard and rooftop to roadside. A couple of shots above and below to make the point....

So Red  - bursting with beauty for all to enjoy

Classic Vespa marking it's spot with dripping oil like a puppy dog does with pee

 




Thanks for reading ...........Layno in Love!!!

Finding Florence

MOTOGP -- all the Twists & Turns --Thrills & Spills

Pictured above; Quintessential Florence seen as I peek into yet another quaint courtyard feeling slightly scandalous with my lingering and perhaps pleading look. I want a closer look -- it is the very thing that has drawn me to Florence and the upcoming MotoGP event. I'm a fan -- lustful at that  -- of the sculptures that litter this most beautiful city. I'll spend some days enjoying that sense of wonder as you gaze upon the work of the masters. The David, Perseus with the Head of Medusa (serves that snakeheaded bitch right ... (it wasn't the kind of  "getting stoned" people enjoyed)  ..... a list of all-star sculptors that goes on and on like a veritable All - you - can -eat buffet of the chiseled forms.


So I've returned to blogging after thinking I would bring it to an end. I wrestled with notions of my desire to share my adventures with my need to attend to my ego through the praise of others. It's an uncomfortable juxtaposition to be sure -- but in the end my ego won out. Isn't that always the case 😉
To those who read on a regular basis  - many thanks for doing so. Inshallah



Back to MotoGP and my revved up excitement over this upcoming event. It'll take place next weekend on Saturday and Sunday in the little town of Mugello (pronounced with a soft G much to my embarrassment) .. "you want to go where???" she said perplexed " MuGWello" ... I said again and again with growing frustration!!!! North and East of here ...vroom vroom motorcycles!!. "Ahhh Mujello .... why you not say this"? Why indeed....

Resplendent in my personally signed yellow Valentino Rossi hat - I am ready to see the greatest motorcycle race on the planet. Why do I love it so? No idea but love it I do. The sounds, the smell , the flash as they pass defying death for a love so deep that even the oceans are curious. Ahhh - I do admire passion - and with this -- it's such a pure and unspoiled form. I have tickets for the center of the grandstand so that I don't miss a single thing. I had to borrow heavily from my children's inheritance but hey -- it's the great racer Valentino Rossi -- Loud and proud at MuGwello!!

Valentino Rossi!!!!! In fine fine form .....

I was fortunate enough to be delayed in Dar es Salaam and miss my connecting flight to Florence. I then was rewarded with the glorious opportunity to take 5 hours exploring the Zurich airport. I contented and amused myself by examining prices of the offered goods. The combination of Switzerland + Airport = most fucking expensive shit on the planet. I chuckled not buying until it was time for lunch. The culinary extravaganza below from a fast food joint comprised of a burger fries and a coke.

For My Kenyan friends: 2356 KSH

For My Canadian Friends: $30.24

For My European friends 20 Euro

Double bacon cheese burger - fries and coke appparently made from solid gold.

Luckily for me - I was given a voucher by the airline that covered the cost of this exquisite culinary delight. Otherwise it would have been water having spent all my money on center grandstand tickets to MuGwello.

Thanks for reading ....Layno!!!