Chasing Pizza

Tenacious persistent and incurable -- Italian culture endures

 

In a couple shots above and below, I have tried to capture in part,  the Italy I have read about and visited previously. There is so much going on that screams "we are Italian -- and of this we are immensely proud".  In a time when National pride seems a mess of perverted religious fervor, power struggles and  economic trade sanctions -- it's so nice to see national pride based on a history of the Love of life.

A quick note on all the sculptures below but in particular The Rape of the Sabine Women by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna is amazing but also and most impressive in the early morning sun is  Baccio Bandielli's Herculkes and Cacus. Of course Medusa loosing her head is an all time favorite for me. Hehe

In search of a spectacular pizza!!!!!

My sense was that a million pizzas had been lovingly placed into this same old brick oven. Mine -- was the culmination of years of experimentation, practise and a history of combining fresh quality ingredients to make something extraordinary.

They say that the Margarita Pizza (crust - tomato sauce and cheese) is the best "test" as it gives you the straight goods .... the pure taste sensation. I added sausage ... what the hell .... there are no recent crucifixions for this small crime of passion.





I researched the Pizza place reported to be the best in all of Florence and while most of the recommendations may have come from the owner of the shop -- Pizzaiuolo, came up again and again. Off I went in search of this Holy Grail of Pizza. My quest was rewarded as I succumbed to the fresh basil -- extra virgin Olive oil rubbed into the dough before adding the heavenly tomato sauce and sausage potentially hand-made by Aphrodite were added . The Mozzarella -- from Italian buffalo's massaged each day by Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez .... and as though tended by the hand of Michelangelo himself -- the Pizza was perfection in a Pie!
















Thanks for reading ...Layne!!!

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!!!

Fully 1% Kenyan

Roots -- the adventure (not the mini-series)

I was forced to confront my roots and culture after stumbling upon a cultural touchstone that touched off a tumbling myriad of thoughts and comparisons. After 3 years in Africa - nearly to the day, I gave some thought to how I view my early life beginnings and where I find myself today. You see the Panari, a 5 star hotel here in Nairobi has a skating rink in it's midst!!!

Certainly cynical, I quickly sent a picture and email to my Kenyan/Canadian friend Chris delighting in my discovery. I'd heard of this fabled bastion of Candiana, but standing rink-side  -- well -- that was another matter indeed. The smells, sounds and crisp temperature conspired to yank me back to early days in my home town Port Alberni as I stepped onto the ice for the start of the third period resplendent in my yellow and green team uniform. The sound of the whistle, keeping my stick on the ice. pulling the trigger, the satisfying sound as one comes to a stop with ice shavings flying, the sound of a skate toe dragged along the ice... it all came flooding back. There are few things as satisfying as skating fast, effortlessly and free!!






In the picture above, I joined in with an idea to dress "African" for work. This is the best I could do. Yes -- there were quite a number of chuckles at the futility in my attempt at fitting in.
Simply said - I don't. 😊

Over the past 36 months, I've  practised Swahili consistently and have been rewarded with a smattering of phrases and an appreciation for how the language works. That said - real conversation in the local language remains elusive. More importantly though, I have shared beers, beds, coffees, hikes, and other opportunities to learn about the culture of this beautiful land.

What have I leaned? The pile of facts figures and perceptions I have collected could fill a high-school gymnasium. I have had to confront brutal violence -- diminishment of the value of life -- desperation -- poverty -- frustration and cultural practises that are as far from my understanding of life as Beyonce is from being my girlfriend. (Again - she has still not returned any of the 4,027 email sent - I may give up and deny her this amazing opportunity)

I've wandered through the country exploring the hills,  the valleys and the people along the way. Each adventure is like another layer peeled from an onion that brings me no closer to the center or meaningful understanding. There are no epiphanies or eureka moments here - rather the painful recognition that my understandings of the world are superficial at best, the sheer amount of ignorance and naivety cuts like a knife - bringing feelings of guilt for a mis-spent youth and a failure to be familiar with all that ails our world.  There have been times along the way where I thought I was getting it -- but I haven't. At best I have come to understand 1% of this lovely land and her people.

I want to thank all of those who have joined me in this adventure and shared my path. I think together we have leaned a little more about Africa and in that -- examined our own perceptions and values. There have been nearly 20,000 reads of my blog and for that I am eternally grateful.

Thanks for ready ...over and out -- Layno!!!