Editor’s note: Like Sam, I was also in Hong Kong for a single day, although mine came after ending a cruise more than ten years ago. It was a time before the current ongoing political saga with mainland China cracking down on some of the city’s freedoms. In that light, while I would love to…
Sometimes, I get nervous about returning to a place. More often than not, it is because on an original visit, I did not enjoy the experience. So the thought of going back is a sort of dread, wondering how poorly my time will go on this next go around. (To be fair, my return trip…
Before coming to Nice, this was not an article remotely on my radar. The only Nicoise food I’d heard of was the same-named salad, a monstrosity of a thing with canned tuna, egg, green beans, tomatoes, and olives. I figured the rest was basic provencale, generic Mediterranean, or cliche French. Heck, even after being here…
Today, Nice is essential France. There is a bakery on every block, a wine bar next door, and crepe stands abound. There is art, there is culture. There is no doubt that this is truly France. But in fact, Nice is a relative newcomer to France, its inclusion in the country only permanently coming in…
I had 48 hours in Turin, a lovely weekend side trip from my base in Genoa. My primary tasks were writing about the Savoy dynasty and the city’s automotive history. But hey, a guy’s got to eat, right? 48 hour in Turin. Ostensibly four meals: two lunches and two dinners. Maybe some snacks or drinks…
There is something special about pesto. The fresh taste of basil, the sharpness of garlic, the umami of nuts, the creaminess of cheese, the smoothness of olive oil… they come together magically when done right. And this city, Genoa, in northwestern Italy is the birthplace of pesto. Genoa is also one of the origin cities…
This was a day that wasn’t supposed to happen. Today, I was meant to take the train from my base in Genoa to the town of Santa Margharita Ligure, a coastal city best known as the place one catches the bus to the luxury mecca of Portofino. I was going to remain in Santa Margharita…
There is a nostalgia here. Like other iconic places in my hometown of Los Angeles, the Original Farmers Market has a strong association with my childhood, of being something special to be done with family or friends. I remember visiting every year or two, and being treated to something new: a smell, a taste, a…
I’ve been lucky to have spent a reasonable amount of time in Mexico, up to and including my most recent three week trip. I’ve been even luckier that this time has included several regions of the country. (I believe I’ve been to seven or eight of Mexico’s states.) And yet I feel I’ve barely scratched…
Two days. Well, two nights. Two totally different experiences. One culturally iconic, one a hybrid adaptation from Mexico’s northern neighbor (the US). Both a bit overwhelming. As I spoke about earlier, Cabo San Lucas is more a tourist hub than a “real” city. (Click here to read about Cabo.) But it does take people to…