Cultural Whiplash

I coined this 5-week period of my life as one of “cultural whiplash.” I’ve been zipping about Oregon, North America and Italy at rapid clip—each time quickly re-orienting myself to a new cultural and geographic reality.

It started with a close friend’s wedding in Nashville, TN (shout out to the happy *Robuck* couple) complete with honky-tonk bars, Elvis’ own gospel singer and historic hotels. My flight path then took me through Toronto, Canada for a short visit into settler’s history, International Hockey Museum and Brazil Day samba celebrations. Next up was Rome, Italy and a rainy foot tour of the Trevi Fountain, Palatine Hill, Coliseum and Pantheon. Following a high-speed train and high-speed Peugot convertible I was dropped into Tuscany for bucolic glory, reveling in the open top sunshine, wine tastings and succulent steaks tucked into beds of fresh truffles. The final Italy destination was the Amalfi Coast, a land of aquamarine extremes, sensational seafood and high-end euro-tourists. Finally, a quick stop through rough and tumble, gritty, smog filled, pseudo-African Naples on the way back to Rome.

Zoom! Roma to Portland, Oregon.

Zoom! Portland, Oregon to Pendleton, Eastern Oregon: land of cowboys, man-meat, boots, whiskey and old west manners.

Zoom! Welcome home: it’s Portland and it’s glorious and it’s passive aggressive and its beer is unrivaled.

Putter putter: I’m driving south along I-5 to Albany, Goshen, Eugene, Roseburg. There’s a beauty queen who is two C-sections and about 4 1/2 inch heels past her prime, Here’s an Oregon businessman who struck gold outfitting fastfood restaurants up and down the West Coast but still humble as a fern.  Welcome to Medford, it’s hot and the food ain’t great but we can jump curbs in our 32-foot RV.

Putter, putter: Welcome to Grants Pass, quirky bears [statues of bears that is] abound, the stately Rogue River cuts through downtown and here we are stationed at the impressive but under-hyped Taprock Restaurant and Resort with Southern Oregon’s best waitress (no joke—Jennifer won by a popular vote!).

This week it’s Klamath Falls, Lakeview, Harney County (Burns/Hines), then Bend, Oregon. Or it’s supposed to be; at the moment that is all in question due to mechanical troubles with the RV.

These travels and the subsequent roadshow are making me weary of the packing, unpacking routine that has gotten old. The road itself has been great and I love every facet of the cultural acclimatization it demands.  All this travel makes me hungry for my upcoming voyage but, for the time being, I’d really prefer to nest into the bosom of Portland fall, encircled by my friends and enjoying the simple charms of sleeping in the same bed for a few days in a row.

Haze of different Oregon towns and hotel rooms. The last semblance of a routine I’ll have for the next couple months.

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Here’s some good news: I bought my tickets today: IT’S OFFICIAL!!! I’M OFF TO MALAYSIA!!!

(more updates on Malaysia & SE Asia coming soon)

La Dolce Vita

My skin is salty and has started to "tan." I say "tan" because as a day-walking ginger "tan" is a relative term. I'm still pink-to-translucent in some places but overall am covered with a nice smattering of freckles and fair, sun-bleached hair. You could say I have a golden-brown Jackson Pollock tan ;)

DP, that's Dan Prince or Daddio Prince, & I have been gallivanting about Tuscany & now Amalfi Coast for 5 1/2 days. We've packed plenty of activity and sight-seeing into those days; not to mention stuffed ourselves full of some of the most decadent cuisine I've ever had the pleasure to graze upon.

Truffles Truffles Truffles. My father & I have a multi-year history of great meals together. There are a few select meals that really stand out in both our memories due to a combination of setting, ambiance, service, cuisine and company. One night at a Seattle restaurant (Cascadia) remains an all time favorite. We had the 7 course price fixed menu with wine pairings. In actuality two courses were palate cleansers, one a Douglas fir sorbet. Surrounded by deep wood and iron details, we lavished in the Pacific Northwest sensible glamor. Another was in the Rainbow Room in NYC where I had the single best salad of my life: Arugula with balsamic and Parmesan cheese. Simple. Beautiful, bouyant flavors.

Our journeys through Italy have quickly filled our top 10 and were we not setting off at this very moment for what no-doubt will be another exceptional and memorable meal, I would detail all of our recent dining and drinking extravagances... I'll save that for later.

Buon appetito! Off to Vivaro Wine Bar, Praiano, Amalfi, Italia.

I am a traveler

It feels good to be on the road!

I'm off to a marvelous period of gallivanting: Portland to Nashville. This morning Nashville to Toronto.

Toronto is a new city for me and new feels great. Everything is shiny, my eyes are wide and every interaction pregnant with possibility.

I was immediately struck with the diversity of the people and, of course, how gosh darn friendly everyone is--They're Canadian!  I found my way quickly through customs and was spit out directly to the information desk.  Toronto is what Germany would be if it were down to earth, laid back but still extremely invested in effeciency.

The mass transit is prolific, however less efficient that the smart airport. It took almost 2 hours to get into downtown where I met up with Boris from the Red Patch Boys.

He gave me a galliant albiet brief walking tour of downtown. My eyes were wide the whole time and our lips flapping in the wind as we jumped from subject to subject. Nifty town with towering skyscrapers and historical architecture all but overwhelmed by the horizon. It is the last day of summer here and the streets were packed with revelers. There was a distinct atmosphere of Carnival as it was Brazil day. I had no idea!

I certainly have more to say about all of this but alas my flight to Italy is boarding and I must be on it.  In brief: Nashville was better than ever and Boris' Toronto was an excellent send-off for Italy.

Cultural whiplash here I come!