Back to Nairobi for a special treat!!!

 

 

Holy Shit!!!!! Mom is coming to Africa!!!! Layno look busy!!!

 



Hailey's comet while being elusive and occasional is at the very least expected eventually. Not expected in my wildest dreams would be the arrival of my mother and great friend Kath in Africa. The crazy star alignment that resulted in this plan coming together is a collision of thoughtful planning and a quagmire of uncertain realities all of which somehow were overcome. More excited than a chocolate lab who hasn't seen a people in 3 days - I eagerly awaited their arrival....tail wagging in excited anticipation. And like my lab Poncho maybe even peed a little when they eventually strode down the ramp talking excitedly with anyone who would listen. That.. is my Mom ...and Kath. I truly couldn't be happier than I was that day as their smiling faces met mine. That said - it was World Cup ...so getting them to a pub and a beer in hand was the first order of business -- sentimentality aside. World cup is only once every 4 years.... Lets move it!!!!

Once situated in a local with the teams bravely engaging in the acts consistent with ":the beautiful game" I watched in fascination as they melded with their environment with chameleon-like ease. Sure the lighter hair and skin were a bit of a give away at first, but they really had no trouble fitting in.

And if you have never been to an African "local" it would be best described as the following;

A place with stuff that meets the basic minimum infrastructure to sell alcohol. A place to sit -- a place to pee -- and a place to place your drink.

So having survived the local it was time to test their travelling savvy and intercontinental social skills with the likes of Lucy. A bestie introduced earlier in my blog, she is a  woman of infinite social ability and enough charm to lure a fruit bat from its cave on hottest African day. We agreed to dinner and a live musical at the Kenya National Theatre. Playing was Sarafina -- the story of a girl growing up in the mean streets of Soweto during Apartheid. It's as sad a story detailing a slice of the absolute depths of despicable human to human relations. It's one of a number of sad tales of human history we reluctantly leaned about in high school history. That is clearly touched my guests in that warm theatre on a cool Nairobi night is undeniable. Just when we thought dinner of fish sticks and chips would be the most emotionally challenging part of the evening, (all the rest of the food offered on the menu had been eaten I guess) we came up close and personal with African realities...in an African context. I think they'll agree that context is everything. Half way around the world watching a blurry CBC version of the events of the late 60's in South Africa is one thing. Sitting in a packed auditorium among African people, you can feel the resentment the anger and the outrage rising around you.....and you start to understand.....

Breakfast in Karen was in order for the following morning at the wonderful Purdy Arms restaurant. It's a favorite haunt for Chris and I where we have shared many breakfasts and laughs over the last couple of years. We we very fortunate that he brought his partner Ruth along to join us. Like Lucy, she is a very confident person full of interesting stories, perspective and commentary. It was a wonderful breakfast where we lingered long content with full bellies and that warm feeling that comes from sharing time with friends.

Kath is saying "That's cool but can you tell us more about Denys Finch Hatton - the lover????"

And while in Karen -- a visit to the Karen Blixen museum was an absolute must for this intrepid (slightly jet-lagged) team of travelers. Mom & Kath were perfect students filling in their surprising knowledge of the intricacies of her life and of course reliving the sexy romantic parts of Robert Redford and Meryl Streep from "out of Africa" ... it was just like that I'm sure. 😀 Handsome Denys is along side.... what a heartthrob!!!!

The girls and teacher/guide  at Karen Blixen museum.

Thanks for reading ..........Layno !!!

Chillin' in British Columbia -- on Canada's West Edge

Paradise found on a Full Race Ducati.

Ahhh is was so nice to be back to the sparking waters and awe-inspiring mountain views of Canada's majestic West Coast. A quick tour of Vancouver - Victoria - Nanaimo and Pender Island was in order and clearly the best vehicle for such an adventure would be a Full Race Ducati. Maybe I'm getting a bit old for this mid-life crisis machine hell-bent on destruction..... but as one of my favorite writers (Mr. Hunter S Thompson) so famously said... "it's much better to be shot out of a cannon than squeezed out of a tube".

Pulled over for a third time in 200 kms... Donut time gents..

That said - the police were less than fans of the Full Face Ducati at first and stopped me a number of times to ensure all was in order. Indeed it was all in order - in fact life was grand thank you very much.

I must comment that they were all (3) very pleasant and in the end agreed that a Full Race Ducati was indeed  the best vehicle for such and adventure. One convert at a time.


Riding a Full Race Ducati is not so much riding as it is simply hanging on. It has a mind of it's own shooting off like some wounded animal intent on thrashing itself to it's end. Every ride is a surprise and adventure accompanied by the hope that the angry machine has not finally had enough of the ineptiutude of it's rider. So far our partnership is intact and I have been permitted to remain in the seat.









Following are a couple shots of Canada's Spectacular coast....

The pacific ocean meanders contentedly between North and South Pender Islands

Oak Bay Victoria .. spectacular and surprisingly a  mere 3 kms from downtown

Paradise found on the deck a BC Ferry ... it is not however found in the over-priced gift shop. Jesus!!!

 As much as I enjoyed the sites and sounds of the Canada in late spring - it's my close friends and family that were really the most spectacular part of the tour. Many thanks to all who took turns hosting... like

Kim the Chicken Wing Queen with a formal royal designation in beer drinking. - thanks

 

Rod the professor of single malt Scotch and anything else with alcohol in it - he's not so fussy - thanks

 

Barry a fine student of scotch as evidenced by his choice in formal atire - thanks

Carla whose legendary cooking skills are exceeded only by her commitment to fitness - thanks

 And then a note on how special it was to see Jake and Stevie waiting at the airport as I bounced into the Victoria airport. I have to admit that given my almost complete absence of parenting skills- I never expected then to turn out to be such amazing young adults. 😊  My pride in their accomplishments is hard to describe but leaves me feeling content in a way that few other things can. I had to really think hard to find things to give then hell about. Many thanks to them as well for finding time in their busy lives to share beers, breakfast, burgers and a bit of hilltop sushi. And thanks to both of them for making me cry like a baby when I left. Well played.


Then - last but hardly least - off to spend a bit of time with my parents. How fortunate am I that they are such funny and fun people. Amidst chuckles and fabulous food - I admitted to myself that while gallivanting amongst the sexiest countries of the world - there truly is no place like home. Thanks Mom.

Mom and Dad's patio - as familiar a place as any in my long life.

A bit of Steak and Lobster loving prepared by my Mom - awwwww What a treat!!!

And then there's Dad. We don't talk nearly enough - but whoever talks enough with the people who have committed to a lifetime of guidance and support. It's a debt each of us shares with those who truly make a consistant effort to be there in our lives.

One afternoon over coffee in a little shop we chatted and laughed easily -- comfortable in our familiarity and lifetime of sharing so many things. Baseball practise, learning to ride a bike, cuts and bruises, career decisions  ... and most important guidance on the man I want to be.

You see  -- the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and for that I am grateful as he is a man of character. He doesn't waste a lot of time proving he's a good man. He just is.

I'm proud to be my father's son and love him madly:) Happy Father's day

Thanks for reading ....Layno and a Full Race Ducati!!!

Motorcycles & Mezzo Sopranos

From Moto GP to La Battaglia di Legnano

 

The Florence Opera House is certainly an impressive sight. A majestic well appointed edifice nestled contentedly amongst the trees on the bank of the Argo river. As impressive as the building is - so too are the attendees resplendent in super fancy digs, sipping champagne and delighting in the splendor of Italian cuisine. It's a busy well attended event.



I was ever-so- slightly less resplendent in travel clothes and contenting myself with a budget conscious hot dog from across the street.  It was - I might add - an exceptional Hot Dog. Fantastico!!!





The story of La battalia di Legnano was well told by the on stage actors but also explained on the screen above the performance conveniently written in both Italian and English. That helped a lot as would have paying attention in history class to have even a passing knowledge of the Holy Roman Empire and the Lombards.

Impressive were the acoustics of the building and the precision of the performance. I can't speak to the vocal gymnastics, which were certainly impressive -- but I can say something about the orchestra and if there mistakes made ... at all .. I didn't notice them. The building itself is clearly state of the art in terms of both aesthetics and acoustics. At one point heard a pin drop.😊

I thought it would be a bit little like the scene out of the movie pretty woman when I  inexplicably found myself with tear drenched cheeks and a heavy heart. Nope ... nothing like that. But I did enjoy the performance very much. Cheap gallery seats were 24 Euro - great value.

Moto GP at Mu--Gello

They say that fortune favors the brave and on this day that was definately me. Electing to walk the 5kms from the train station at San Piero Sieve to the race track (rather than pay the 10 euros for a ride - scandalous!!) I was fortunate to find a pass lying on the ground. Later while telling a fellow walker of my discovery - I learned that it was a thousand Euro all access pass. Well now!!! ... wasn't that a nice find 😝 I briefly flirted with the idea of turning the pass in ... but naw.


More interesting would be to see how far it would get me. It was a day of pleasant Beep Beeps as I passed from the various staging areas to the paddock, hospitality suite and pit area. The sneaky reality only added to what was already a day of everything overwhelming and wonderful. At one point I sat inconspicuously with the pit crew and riders listening to the conversation while snacking on cold beer lobster and prosciutto. Hehe

A lover of motorcycles and anything related - this has been a dream for me. In particular, it was a chance to see Valentino Rossi - probably the greatest racer of all time --- set the fastest lap on the track.

At 39 years of age - he continues to amaze fans by being competitive every time he hits the track. What a competitor and what an amazing rider!!
It was interesting to watch how the riders tryed different lines an d out of the corners. Also surprising for me was just how fast they were going. It's a lot different than TV.

 

Thanks for reading ....Layno!!!

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!!!