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All posts for the month January, 2022

First Football Memories

Posted by golfkat on January 31, 2022
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Sports, Travel. Leave a comment

Heading to the NFC Championship game on Sunday, I am reminded of my very first professional football game.  It was probably in the 50s, and a preseason game between the Washington Redskins, with former UOP great, Eddie LeBaron, and the Los Angeles Rams, led by Norm van Brocklin, and Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch.


And much like Sunday’s game, we will drive down to the LA basin from the Valley, though there are many more freeways and cars than the Fifties.  And instead of the antiquated Los Angeles Coliseum, the former home of the Rams, this game will be held at the latest and greatest of sports venues, So Fi Stadium in Inglewood.


For those of us who do not know, So Fi resides on the former location of the Hollywood Park Racetrack, about 3 miles east of LAX.  The stadium is home to both the Chargers and the Rams. The stadium will also host Super Bowl 56 in another few weeks, as well as opening and closing ceremonies for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Some design background about So Fi:  

SoFi Stadium was designed by HKS and consists of the stadium itself, a pedestrian plaza, and a performance venue. Above the stadium is an independently supported translucent canopy which covers the stadium proper, the adjacent pedestrian plaza, and the attached performance venue. The million-square-foot canopy is made up of 302 ETFE panels, 46 of which can be opened to provide ventilation, supported by a cable net.  The canopy has 27,000 LED pucks embedded in, which can project images and video that can be seen from airplanes flying into the LAX airport.  The stadium bowl has open sides and seats 70,240 spectators for most events, with the ability to expand by 30,000 additional seats for larger events.  However, despite the roof, the open sides of the stadium still make it vulnerable to lightning delays, with the first such delay in an NFL game between the Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders on October 4, 2021.  The attached music and theatre venue, known as the YouTube Theater, has a capacity of 6,000 seats. The stadium and performance center are separate facilities under one roof.

Another component of the stadium’s design is the Infinity Screen by Samsung, an ovular, double-sided 4K HDR video board, the first of its kind, that is suspended from the roof over the field. Formerly known as “the Oculus” before a name change, the structure weighs 2.2 million pounds (1,000 t) and displays 80 million pixels. The Infinity Screen also houses the stadium’s 260-speaker audio system, as well as 56 5G wireless antennas.

Several music concerts have been held here.  Performers include:  the Rolling Stones, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Kenny Chesney, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So, the real question is how this experience will compare to some of my other big football experiences.  The old LA Coliseum will always hold a certain charm since it was my first NFL game.  Certainly, Super Bowl 47 in the Superdome in New Orleans will always be at the top.  Lexi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is ok, as are the Jerry Dome in Dallas, and the Baltimore Ravens M & T Bank Stadium (in a driving rain no less).

Once the game starts, I don’t think the stadium really matters.  Yes, the seats are comfortable, the food and beverage choices are numerous.  I would love to see this year’s version of my Forty Niners play here again on Super Bowl Sunday in two weeks.  As you know, my last Super Bowl (47) visit in New Orleans (2013) resulted in a close and terrible loss to the Ravens.

Many of you will argue that watching on television is better.  I would not say better, just different.  Yes, you get the replays, and the commentary.  But with high tech stadiums, replays are commonplace.  And I strongly dislike the commentary of the national announcers (like Joe Buck, Tony Romo, and Chris Collingsworthless).  I much prefer the local guys, like Greg Papa and Tim Ryan.

We can only hope for a great game in an exciting new venue.

PS: My Niners lost, but the silver lining is: the Trey Lance era begins, and Super Bowl tickets are already at the $6,000 mark for the nosebleeds on the 5th level!!!

My Pauley Pavilion Story

Posted by golfkat on January 29, 2022
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Heading down to UCLA for a basketball game is normally a big deal.  The Bruins play in Pauley Pavilion, and have won eleven NCAA National Championships, mostly under legendary Coach John Wooden.  It was dedicated in 1965, named for UC Regent Edwin Pauley, who matched alumni contributions.  It was renovated in 2010-2012.  Attending a game there, despite the team’s modest success of late, is still quite magical.


Imagine getting to play there!  Yes, I was visiting some friends on the UCLA campus back in the early Seventies.  One of my friends, a med student at the time, and a real basketball junkie, suggested that we find some pickup basketball games at Pauley.  Imagine playing on the floor where ten (later eleven) championship banners hang, along with the retired jerseys of Kareen Jabbar, Bill Walton, Denise Curry and Ann Meyers.  Outside, there is an eight-foot statue of the legendary Coack Wooden.


But I mention all of this in a different context.  UCLA was my second choice for college, after U.C. Berkeley.  And I was accepted first at UCLA, followed a few weeks later by Berkeley.  My life may have turned out quite differently, who knows?  Later in the early Seventies, I applied for grad school here, at the School of Public Health.  But again, Berkeley was my first, and ultimate choice.


So, why am I here now?  The first reason is the NFC Championship game tomorrow with my Niners down the road at So-Fi Stadium.  And since my chauffeur, Big Bob insisted on driving down today, we are going to the UCLA Stanford men’s basketball game this evening.


Pauley Pavilion is used for music concerts as well.  Past performers include Bob Hope, Luciano Pavarotti, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, and Guns N Roses.  And it is not unusual to see various luminaries in the stands.  Years past, I saw HR Haldeman (Nixon’s hatchet man), Sam Gilbert (who purportedly bought Jabbar a Corvette), Kingsburg’s own Rafer Johnson (who played basketball for Coach Wooden), the late Don Drysdale (whose wife was Ann Meyers), and various Hollywood stars who are basketball junkies.


The UCLA campus is not a bad “consolation” prize, even for a 17-year-old out of a small valley town.  Great weather, pretty coeds, beautiful campus, strong sports tradition.  Sounds great!


A nice early dinner at the LA Farmer’s Market, some college basketball, and the big NFC championship tomorrow.  I would say it is a nice weekend, rekindling some old memories, and making some new ones.

My Champagne Stats

Posted by golfkat on January 28, 2022
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel, Wine. Leave a comment

Total shipments of Champagne in 2021 rose to 322 million bottles, an increase of 32% over 2020. The market in France was up by 25% at nearly 142 million bottles, a return to 2019 levels. Exports continued to rise to a new record of 180 million bottles. ‘This recovery is a welcome surprise for the people of Champagne after a troubled 2020 (with figures down by 18%) impacted by the closure of main points of consumption and the shortage of celebratory events across the world,’ comments Maxime Toubart, president of the Syndicat général des vignerons and co-president of the Comité Champagne. He is otherwise pleased to note ‘the healthy state of the national market’.

What about my sparkling wines?  The sparkling wine category (including Champagne that suffered severe volume cutbacks in 2020) is a bright light in the total wine market. Spirits, fueled by pre-mixed cocktails, registered a marginal increase in 2021, while both beer and wine showed decreases. Some of those decreases can be attributed to strong competition in the early months of 2021 from the relatively new hard seltzer category.  Champagne and other sparklers from outside that legendary appellation are a shining light in an otherwise flat and declining market. Sparkling wine demand increased rapidly in spring 2021 and continued throughout the year versus their drop in 2020. Reuters reported from Paris on Dec. 20 that Champagne sales have rebounded from the pandemic’s related troubles and are now about 10 percent by value ahead of their 2019 peak.


The growth in sparkling demand has proved an additional blessing to producers in other growing regions. In a Dec. 16 online post, Wine Business News indicated Spain’s Cava sales have increased 16.45 percent in the first nine months of 2021. Similar successes have been reported from Prosecco and elsewhere breathing new life into growers and producers large and small from their dismal 2020 experience.

I am certain you need not be reminded that Napa Valley sparkling wines are quite expensive.  The range that I see on recommended sparkling wines from Napa start at $48 and go up to $140.


But in Jolly Olde England:  In the U.K, consumers have embraced the wines, making English bubbles one of the best selling categories of sparkling wines in the country. Nobuko Okamura, chief sommelier at Pan Pacific Hotel in London, says consumers’ affinity for homegrown products led her to include a robust selection of English bubbles on her list.  Since modern English wine is relatively new—the first Champagne varieties were planted in Sussex on the limestone-rich South Downs by Nyetimber in 1988—English producers have embraced collaboration to help improve their regional category as a whole.  “I think that many of the English winemakers are collaborative,” says Holland. “We do share information, which sometimes may seem counterintuitive, but I think we all recognize that a rising tide lifts all boats, so we all want to be helping each other as it’s in the category’s interest to do that.”

So what is the future of California Sparkling wine? Will sales continue to grow, or will they flatten? Competition from Champagne and Prosecco is fierce, especially since both of these regions have large marketing associations that frequently reach out to wine buyers and consumers with compelling ads to purchase their wines. 

The California sparkling wine industry, however, does not have a marketing association to represent its producers. In the past, this was because there were not that many bubble houses. But according to CaliforniaChampagne.com, there are now around 150 sparkling wine producers in California.

As you know, I am a big believer and consumer of crémant from Loire, their version of sparkling wine.  My everyday sparkler is Aimery crémant brut rose’, about $14, and shipped free via WTSO.  I suggest you sign up for their emails.  WTSO stands for Wine Till Sold Out.  You will not regret it.

World’s Best City

Posted by golfkat on January 25, 2022
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 CNN reported:  It was already world-famous thanks to its striking red-hued bridge, drool-worthy restaurant scene and booming tech industry — and now San Francisco has been crowned the “world’s best” city, according to Time Out.The international media brand deployed its network of editors from across the world — as well as surveying some 27,000 global city dwellers — to narrow down its list of the best cities on the planet.Each city’s nightlife, restaurants and cultural highlights were considered, as well as the city’s sense of community, which in the wake of Covid-19 is perhaps more important than ever.

Cities’ environmental initiatives were also examined, as well as their commitment to activism, and general friendliness.


Time Out says San Francisco’s “unbeatable combination of progressiveness, acceptance and sustainability” clinched it the top spot.

GK:  All of this is true.  But my most recent visit to the City revealed much more.  The homeless issue is still a dominating scene, particularly in the downtown areas.  The neighborhoods, however, seem to be thriving.  The retail shopping area of downtown is essentially a ghost town now.  But I have loved San Francisco since I was a freshman in high school!


San Francisco was also applauded by Time Out for its response to the pandemic, and for boasting one of the highest vaccination rates in the US.


Even amid strict shutdowns, San Franciscans found ways to support one another, says Time Out, recalling when residents hung sourdough starters from telephone poles for neighbors to pick up.

The Dutch metropolis of Amsterdam, the northern English city of Manchester, the Danish cycling haven of Copenhagen and the cultural hub of New York City round out the top five on Time Out’s list.

Some friends just returned from NYC, now a ghost town.  But I was in Chicago a few weeks ago, and the city was bustling, restaurants were open, and retail was about 80% open!


I would vote for Amsterdam first, then Copenhagen.  I have not been to Manchester, yet.  And I think any island in Hawaii should always be in the top 5.  Some new places I am considering  Belgrade (Serbia), Helsinki (Finland), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Tallinn (Estonia), Okinawa, Tasmania, Bolivia, and Perth.


Here’s to more travel opportunities in 2022!!!

Ode to Father Serra

Posted by golfkat on January 22, 2022
Posted in: Cultures, Travel, Wine. Leave a comment

The history of wine in California is a century older than the state itself. California’s saint, Junipero Serra, had vineyards planted in his 18th-century missions. Los Angeles was originally a wine country (“The City of Vines” was an L.A. nickname of the 19th century), and the Napa Valley’s origins as a wine producer coincide with the Gold Rush.

It turns out that Junip S was from Mallorca, a place I visited last October.  He is still honored there as a pioneer and missionary of great vision, perhaps overlooking his many crimes against humanity.  My bike tour included a stop at his “favorite” church, whatever that means.

Junípero Serra was the Franciscan missionary who founded the Spanish mission chain in California. Recently declared a saint by the Catholic Church, his impact on the history of the state was enormous. He has been a revered figure in California for many decades, though recent debates over colonialism have created controversy — at times violent — around his legacy.  Though Serra is buried at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel, California, he was born and grew up on the island of Mallorca.

Wine on Mallorca

Mallorca wines aren’t typically exported, so in order to taste them, you’ll likely need to come right to the source. And if you’re in Mallorca, you should most definitely take advantage by tasting as many of these unique wines as you can.

With so many wines undergoing the same old processing practices — which can end up standardizing wines and impeding the flavors of their origin — Mallorca aims to stand separate. Instead, this region has chosen to flamboyantly throw its own Mediterranean character into its wines!

There are many local grapes employed in Mallorca wines, and tasting these offers real insight into the local culture and land. There’s not only the callet, but also the black grapes manto negro, fogoneu, and gorgollasa (the latter not even present in commercial Spanish varieties) and the prensal white varietal.

On the other hand, some wine-makers mix these local grapes with foreign (mostly French) grapes such as syrah, cabernet, merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay, chenin blanc, and viognier — but the characteristics of local soils and microclimates give them a different character than you’d traditionally get from those more common grapes.

There are five different areas on the island, all with different climates that create completely different wines: the Sierra Tramuntana (mountain chain in front of the sea), el Raiguer (long tail area crossing the island), el Pla (central flat part), Serra de Llevant (hilly area), and el Mijorn (a flat in the south near the sea).
I meant to send this when i was there, last October.  Forget Serra, enjoy the wines!

Gourmet Gallop through Nawlins

Posted by golfkat on January 21, 2022
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Having been here three times previously, there are no big surprises in store on the food horizon.  No doubt, New Orleans has a rather unique and tasty cuisine.  And generally, most of their regional specialties are dishes that I really enjoy.  Here is a rather brief description of my gallop through the great food here.

Starting with oysters, my first night will be spent at Acme Oyster House, since they are closed Tuesday and Wednesday.  I once asked the “head shucker” how many oysters he thought we has opened in his career.  It was upwards of half a million, as I recall.  I only need a dozen!


Perhaps the most famous place in New Orleans is Cafe du Monde, known worldwide for their beignets and chicory coffee.  I plan to stop by every morning!  If you have never had one, make sure you plan a trip here, and place Cafe du Monde at the top of your list!  In reality, just one visit, as the biegnets have become too doughy!


So, after a “light” breakfast, and lots of walking through the French Quarter and French Marketplace, the choice for lunch narrows to which Po’ Boy joint to stop for lunch.  My personal favorite is Johnny’s, but the “experts” seem to prefer Domilise’s Po’ Boys.  Maybe I will do a taste test, and go on successive days?


If you are not sure exactly what a Po’ Boy is, let me tell you.  It is a traditional sandwich of meat, usually roast beef, and fried seafood, usually shrimp crawfish, fish, oysters, or crab.  And it is served on New Orleans French bread, with a fluffy center, and a crispy crust.  Typically, it has less flour and more water than a traditional baguette.  A fully dressed (as opposed to naked) Po’ Boy has mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and optional Louisiana hot sauce.  Not optional (the hot sauce) in my Po’ Boy.  But cheese is optional.


I ended up at Felix’s Oyster for oysters and jambalaya.  And two cold beers.


Creole (often called Cajun) cuisine is rather unique to New Orleans.  My dinner on Tuesday is the Bourbon House, a place I visited on my Super Bowl trip. Among the many Creole dishes, my favorites are seafood gumbo, jambalaya, Creole red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, redfish Pontchartrain, and duckling Toulouse.  Dessert turned out to be a mini King cake ice cream sandwich.  Only two bites, it was just too sweet.


Having been to the famous (read that as expensive) places, I am opting for a popular bistro known as Mister B’s.  With perhaps more of a modern look, Mr. B’s follows a more updated version of local cuisine.  And I like the atmosphere.  I plan to start with some sparkling wine and eggplant sticks.   I opted for the pepper crusted duck breast for dinner. If I have some room for dessert, I vote for the bread pudding and a Mr. B’s coffee.


In between each meal, I plan on a heavy dose of walking.  Along with eating and drinking, music will also be a priority.  And maybe hit the exercycle in my hotel gym?  BTW, Elton is here for a concert tonight.  Lots of people dining and drinking!


I walked over to Mother’s Restaurant on Poydras for a typical southern breakfast of eggs, Cajun sausage, grits, and biscuit.  Grits are just not my thing, but the coffee and biscuit were outstanding.


But I had a better breakfast on Thursday at Ruby Slipper, just a 7 iron from my hotel.  I had biscuits and gravy, with two eggs, and bacon.  But the topper was the fried green tomato.  It was so tasty and crunchy, I had to ask.  They use the crumbs from the biscuits to bread to tomatoes before frying.  Brilliant!


Today, I look forward to Emeril’s at the airport.  But a word of caution.  Do not eat red beans and rice, particularly the spicy variety before the 5 hour flights home.


Best of all, I lost 0.2 pounds, fed several homeless people, and enjoyed it all.  Now I just need to erase the memory of our Super Bowl loss to the Ravens (and the Dirty Pat gang) in 2013.

Nawlins Revisited

Posted by golfkat on January 21, 2022
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Music, Sports, Travel. Leave a comment

I have loved this city from my first visit in the early 80s, to my most recent in 2013 for Super Bowl 47.  While the food is good, I think it is the spirit of the people here.  They have been through so much here, particularly Hurricane Katrina.  It seems nothing would ever make them leave the area, no matter how difficult life has become.


Tennessee Williams one said, “America only has three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” While this might be a slightly judgmental exaggeration, there is no doubt that New Orleans stands out.

So, I will do all the fun, touristy things, like Johnny’s Po’ Boys, some beignets at Cafe Du Monde, some jazz, some oysters at Acme, and Felix’s.  Food is important here.  Believe it or not, I was walking down Bourbon Street on my first trip, with a few others.  I see a short little head pop up and down, and it turns out to be a friend of mine, Don, from SoCal!!  Small world.


But let’s take a slightly different look at this ultimately party time city.  The focus will be on things I have not done here.


Voodoo and Vampire Walking Tour-New Orleans is often called the most haunted city in America.  Unsolved mysteries, black voodoo magic, and local ghosts!  We shall see.  I have already done the Cemetery Tour.


Banksy Street Art Tour-I guess he hit this city some time ago.  I saw his exhibit in Chicago last September and was cycling in Amsterdam when his mysterious black cats appeared.
French Quarter Food Tour-While I have been to most of the famous food establishments, it never hurts to see what the locals regard as the best.


Nawlins Bike Tour-Assuming no rain, expect to see me on two wheels.  They say ghosts love bicycles!
Voodoo Museum or Museum of Death-Well, maybe, maybe not.


The Pharmacy Museum-America’s first licensed pharmacy in 1823, by Louis Dufilho, Jr. And I made a visit!


I must reveal that my last visit was certainly different (Katrina took a toll), not just because of the Super Bowl.  And now, after the most recent storm, Hurricane Ida, I hope the city is back to its usual wild and crazy self.


While I am not the partier I thought I once was, Nawlins can change your mind set in a hurry.  Just ask every visiting Super Bowl team who visits.

From TravelPulse:  

There’s no doubt that NOLA has long been considered one of America’s weird and quirkiest cities. The decadent, tawdry and marvelous Big Easy has a peculiar uniqueness all its own. This Mississippi River city’s magnetic appeal is undeniable. And the food? Well, that’s a religion in itself.

Each February, Mardi Gras brings out the bold, the bawdy, and the creative. Mark Twain referred to New Orleans’ cemeteries as “Cities of the Dead” and these bizarre burial grounds are hauntingly unique. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 houses more than 700 elaborate crypts and mausoleums in its narrow labyrinthine walkways. And the city has inspired quite the retinue of horror stories.

Voodoo is still very practiced here – the ancient African religion brought to New Orleans from Haiti. Visitors looking for the bizarre, macabre, and creepy will find it here.


Also, in the best tradition of my regular travel buddy, Mr. Mike, Nawlins is a great walking city.  We have walked some of the great cities of the world together:  Cape Town, Bangkok, Singapore, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Hanoi, Seville, and London.


Walk, eat, drink, shop.  Repeat.


And people are very friendly here.

Sparkling Revelations

Posted by golfkat on January 14, 2022
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Travel, Wine. Leave a comment

2021 brought champagne a difficult harvest and changes to century-old growing rules to help battle climate change. It saw the end of the Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV and the rise of still wines produced in Champagne. Lady Gaga graced bottles of Dom and Idris Elba and Brad Pitt invested in their own champagne brands (I’ll drink to that!). We heard reports of festive season champagne shortage at the same time as the CIVC officially reported a return to pre-pandemic export volumes.  I think it is about time the French move forward.  Being stuck in tradition is one thing, but the inability to adapt is unforgiveable!

Are you looking for an everyday type of bubbly?  How about this?


A true classic backed by 150 years of history, Pol Roger is the bubbly preferred by the Queen of England (yep, Lilibet herself) and the world over for what Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate calls “full-bodied richness and remarkable finesse.” You just can’t go wrong with this stuff … just ask the 70,000+ Vivino users who have rated it a 4.3 ★ winery overall! 👉 4.2 ★ (from 28,000+ ratings! 👉 “Pol Roger continues to deliver some of the top values in Champagne.” – Wine Advocate 👉 (5.0 ★): “My absolute favourite NV champagne…. I would love to drink it every day. Lovely yeasty, biscuit taste. Slightly sweet, soft acid, really nice fruit. It’s like eating an apple sherbet toast..” – Vivino user Con F. 👉 Compare to Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne ($20+ more a bottle) James Suckling: “This has impressively energetic style with bold lemon, peach and berry aromas, in quite pure mode. The palate delivers a boldly vinous impression with a succulent drive of citrus and hazelnut flavors. Drink now.”  I would agree, Pol Roger is a very under the royal radar bubbly!!!!


Move over Dom. Sit down Ace of Spades. The Champagne star of the Grammys, the bubbly flowing during New Zealand Fashion Week, and in the locker rooms of the Vegas Golden Knights and L.A. Dodgers is none other than this Beau Joie—endorsed by Grammy-winning DJ Tiësto, and produced by longtime Épernay legend Bertrand Senecourt.  A blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay, it’s a rosé Champagne “for a very special occasion,” says Vivino fan Peter E., “Light crisp taste, yet fruity with lots of strawberry,” “ A 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay The bottle is wrapped in a 100% Copper, Suit of Armor inspired by the Armor worn by the knights once protecting the ‘kingdom’.”  The bottle is quite attractive as well!


Would you pay $57,000 for a single bottle of Perrier Jouët Champagne vintage 1874, setting a new record for the most expensive Champagne sold during Christie’s “Finest and Rarest Wine & Spirits” auction in London. The price paid for a bottle of 1874 Perrier Jouët had previously set a record when that same vintage was sold at Christie’s in 1888 a title which it held, amazingly enough, for 79 year.  Never!


Meanwhile, the more affordable Cava has taken ​of:  A 63% increase in the sales of Cava—Spanish sparkling wine made by the traditional method—in the U.S. over the last nine months. The U.S. is now the second-largest market for Cava in the world. Cava’s international exports make up more than two-thirds of its sales. The Cava denomination encompasses more than 93,900 acres of vineyards and more than 6,800 winegrowers.  Try one sometime!

Champagne is made by different types of producers. The type can be identified from abbreviations that appear on every bottle of Champagne.

  • NM stands for Négociant manipulant. These companies buy grapes and make the wine. Most of the houses (Moet & Chandon, Taittinger, Perrier Jouet etc.) are NMs.
  • CM stands for Coopérative de manipulation. These are cooperatives that make wines from the growers who are members, with all the grapes pooled together (the well-known brand Nicolas Feuillatte is a CM).
  • RM stand for Récoltant manipulant. These are “Grower Champagnes” that is, the grower makes wine from its own grapes.

Other initials you might see include:

  • SR stands for Société de récoltants. An association of growers making a shared Champagne but who are not a co-operative.
  • RC stands for Récoltant coopérateur. A co-operative member selling Champagne produced by the co-operative under its own name and label.
  • MA stands for Marque auxiliaireor Marque d’acheteur. A brand name unrelated to the producer or grower; the name is owned by someone else, for example, a supermarket.
  • ND stands for Négociant distributeur. A wine merchant selling under his own name.

Facts courtesy of Winespeed.  Comments in between are mine!
Try the Pol Roger at least once.  You might like it!!!

Slow Travel

Posted by golfkat on January 13, 2022
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment

Slow travel has been buzzy for a few years now, but the pandemic has travelers leisurely strolling in droves. Slow travel is, of course, traveling with the intention to connect with, learn about, and appreciate a destination and culture. Slow travel asks travelers questions about sustainability and environmental considerations regarding the destinations visited, as well as traveler impact on the local economy and communities while there. Slow travel offers the opportunity to stand still, stretch out, and take in more, growing a connection to a place. With more dedicated and thoughtful time, the quality of both life and travel in a destination can be bettered. Nowhere is slow travel better accomplished than in the road trip.

My slow travel trip centered on Greece, and Athens in particular.  Some of the slow travel was “forced” upon me, and some, by choice.  It was so hot from late morning that my normal outdoor activities (cycling, exploring, walking) were severely curtailed.


But it did force me to enjoy other activities, like museums, the Greek coffee culture, poolside leisure (admittedly very minimal), wine tasting, and reading.


Likewise, getting stuck in a monsoon in Hawaii does the same thing, except everything must be indoors.  Though I skipped the hula lessons and cooking classes, I managed to “shelter in place” during the storm.  We only lost power twice!


Wherever I go, I really try to make a strong connection to the native people.  I made such good friends in Athens; they now call me their brother.  So, here’s to George, Vasily, and Stavros, my new brothers.


Speaking of slow travel, how about a two-week train trip across Siberia and Russia?  Yes, I did that back in 2014, with only two stops, Lake Baikal (Irkutsk) and Yekaterinburg.  The trip was interesting but realize that each kilometer and each 100 meters are marked off with signs!!!  Perhaps a bit mesmerizing, but when there is no internet, and when there was no more cold beer or vodka, why not?  The total trip was 9289 kilometers (5772 miles) and 8 time zones, the longest railway in the world, covering one third of the earth’s surface!!!  If you want my blogs on the TSR, let me know.


Like many travelers, I have a desire to see as much as possible.  But sometimes, it pays to just stay put, relax, and enjoy the country or city where you land.  Returning to countries previously visited also provides opportunities to make a better connection.


I feel so fortunate I can call people I know in places like Thailand, Malaysia, Greece, Cambodia, Peru, Mexico City, Poland, England, Toronto, Tokyo, Switzerland, and many more.


Likewise, the same goes for people here in the US.  


I strongly encourage you to enjoy slow travel.

Cheap and Expensive Coffee

Posted by golfkat on January 10, 2022
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Most normal coffee consumers make and drink their coffee at home.  Yet, outfits like Starbucks, Coffee Bean, and Dutch Bros have made billions for those of you who prefer to buy “out” from your home.  Perhaps we should delve deeper into coffee craziness.


From Pauline Frommer:  

To help in that regard, a recent analysis by personal finance site SavingSpot reveals the cost of a cup of coffee around the United States. Number crunchers considered data collected at MenuWithPrice.com for 10,000 coffee shops in 2,500 cities across the nation. 

Should it come as a surprise that the state that’s most vocal about its love for java also has the highest prices for the stuff? I’m talking about Washington State, which has 5 of the 10 most expensive coffee cities, with Seattle the priciest of all at $3.92 per cup. Next came Olympia ($3.76), Tacoma and Kennewick ($3.49), and Bremerton ($3.32).

The first city outside of Washington to make an appearance is in New York, but it’s not the city of the same name—it’s state capital Albany in sixth place with average coffee prices of $3.19 per cup.

Where is coffee cheapest? That would be in another state capital: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ($1.18), followed by Central Florida theme-park hub Kissimmee ($1.24); Phoenix ($1.25); Gainesville, Florida, and Des Moines, Iowa ($1.28); and Ann Arbor, Michigan ($1.33).  FYI, McDonald’s still has coffee for a dollar last time I checked.  And it is not too bad.

​I am not certain where she got her numbers.  But at $4 a cup, the price quickly adds up.  For a couple traveling together, that is almost $10, tip included.  So, on a typical 3–4-night trip, the coffee bill alone is about $40.

Now, I always bring my own, Peet’s French Roast, of course.  Over the course of ten years, the typical savings (using 10 cups a month) are roughly $6,000, enough to go on another nice trip!  Or in my case, about 20 years of travel translates to $12,000 in coffee alone.  Wow!  I can afford the Orient Express or First Class on Singapore Airlines with my savings!!!

Ironically, the most interesting coffee I have ever had was in Laos.  Our guide reluctantly took us to the daily wet market, where we saw all sorts of illegal food items for sale.  When Mr. Mike asked where he could get a cup of coffee, he shepherded us over to a makeshift stand of wooden planks and discarded crates.  We asked for three cups of coffee.  The vendor proceeded to pull out a well-used, dark brown tube sock.  He ground some beans and poured them into the tube sock.  He lined up three paper cups and proceeded to fill each one with the coffee dripping from the bottom of the tube sock.  You had to see it to believe it!!!!

Believe it or not, some people are addicted to the Starbucks paper cup.   I think they view it as a status symbol.  Conversely, I love the diehards who bring their coffee from home in their own container or a throwback, the coffee thermos.  You remember Ben Affleck in “The Accountant”?

Add to this entire equation the amount of time wasted, both on and off the clock in the pursuit of coffee.  Just ten minutes on the clock means you are cheating your employer 2420 minutes a year!

Now, I am not going to tell you that I never buy coffee out.  Certainly, I meet friends for coffee, or have a coffee with my breakfast if I go out.  And missing from my calculations are hotels where breakfast is included.

Yes, if I look to kill some time, perhaps too early for work or to catch a plane at the airport, I will have a cup of coffee.  And I try my hardest to avoid the coffee on the plane.  The stories about water storage on an airplane are true, and much worse than reported.I am certainly not trying to discourage anyone from their “dirty” pleasures.  Nor am I dismissing the satisfaction (or even a jump start) you may derive from a highly caffeinated morning.  I just had no idea that the time and money spent on the morning coffee was so costly!


A little secret:  I went to Peet’s this morning on my way home.