tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58533864934162672622024-03-17T23:01:43.238-04:00Lounging Passdmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comBlogger1483125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-86063008905975092272024-03-17T23:00:00.001-04:002024-03-17T23:00:42.789-04:00The Pandemic Four Years OnIt started earlier this week, as it probably always will for the rest of time - the tweets being brought back to light from a time when the world was closing up little by little. The NBA shutting down on March 11th, the NHL on March 13th, March Madness cancelled that same day, and then the great black. This entire post won't be sports related, but sports shutting down one by one did really signal a change in how our country viewed the pandemic. Everything was done - travel, sports, life. <div><br /></div><div>We can realistically break down the four years pretty cleanly - two years of long night at the start, and then two years of relative calm with periodic reminders that things will probably never quite be the same. Life from Feb, 2022 through Feb, 2024, was in many ways quite similar to say Feb 2018 to Feb 2020. There are some aspects that have never come back - be it the constancy of Monday to Thursday work travel in my job. But yes largely Feb 2022 to Feb 2024 was fairly normal. Except for the memories of those first two years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back when this all started, when we were isolated in my parents home with my parents, sister, her then fiancee (now husband) and staring down uncertainty, I was the only person in my household to firmly, firmly believe that the time there was a treatment, a vaccine, and it was safe to do things, people would return with a fury. Let's all remember, the roaring 20s followed the Spanish Flu pandemic. My parents doubted me, my sister did as well - that this would be different. That the clorox wiping of the world would last. Some of that has (still get handed a clorox wipe every time I board a United plane), but yes very much we're living in the roaring 20s yet again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back at the quadrennial, it's weird how the year that will stick with me the most might be the second one, from March 2021 through March 2022. In some ways, a lot of good things happened - from the vaccines to the opening of country borders, to the return of some level of travel, but it was also such a harrowing series of false starts. That year started with me getting my first vaccine shot in March at a supersite in New Jersey. That was such a cool feeling, of us all doing something collectively to combat this invisible killer.</div><div><br /></div><div>But then it also turned the discourse of vaccine mandates and denialism and so much else to eleven. We had the worst wave of the entire pandemic that summer with the Delta variant - million cases a day, seemingly put us back to square one. Even after that calmed, and they had a booster made just for that, we had the Omicron variant. Yes, in many ways the weird mix of super high rate of transmission and lower criticality made it almost the cure to this all, but there was that feeling of staring into another winter in the abyss.</div><div><br /></div><div>But there was light at the end of the Omicron tunnel - clearing through country by country and having this stabilize in time for February 2022, the two year mark. The most meaningful moment for me was when I took a trip to Cape Town in Feb 2022, something I did in Feb 2020 right before it all went down, and a trip that nearly didn't happen due to the Omicron surge. But that subsided just in time for me to go. I remember so vividly having a perfect approach with view of Table Mountain and that beautiful city as we descended into the airport. It was the start of a new era, a closing of the darkest two years I had to live through.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, I got Covid in South Africa, luckily only showing symptoms once I reached back home, but it was the one time I know for sure I got the disease. My family did as well. It was a rough week, but we moved on to a brighter future for the two years to come. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll always look back at those first two years and think about what I missed - the travel, the time with friends, the nights in New York. There are aspects that were so routine in 2019, a great year all around in my life, that just disappearned. And while so much has come back in the past two years, some aspects have still not, such as the Friday after-work happy hour, now replaced with Thursday. Of course, maybe this is for my health a positive anyway, but those Friday nights after a long week at work us all calling it quits early and hitting the town was such a constant source of joy.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that's also growing older too - if anything the pandemic just turbo charged my growth to becoming an adult - starting it at 28 and now being about to be 33. That's already a period of change, I guess, but the pandemic just exposed that to the fullest degree. But if anything it also made me realize what I truly love in life - my family, and my ability to see the world. After going a year with barely leaving the state of New Jersey (Mar 2020 through April 2021), I've now crossed the point where I'm travelling more now than I did before the pandemic (excluding work travel). You never know when the next global shutdown will come, so enjoy the world when you can.</div><div><br /></div><div>If anything, that's the long term realization and value out of all of this. I truly can say I am happy to have lived through the pandemic and these last four years. Of course, I am happy in the literal sense that I lived through it when so many others didn't - and more than that my family did as well. But in the sense of living in this world, treasuring what it has to offer, living through the pandemic helped that crystalize as well. Even if we're at the point that the world today is more or less fully similar to the world in January, 2020, the twists and turns in that interim period will never leave.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-85944422738174856152024-03-11T14:51:00.004-04:002024-03-11T14:51:59.854-04:00My 60 Favorite International Cities, Pt. 2: #30 - #1<div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>30.) Lisbon (2021)</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gapKqH0wzYhByNsN7bP2cs6SehHPHnZwWs3RpD3Y4yb4UiSnf4vohXa0aqEyCc1ZTmdaE_c1VhCAiRpr4K2hpOg2D8iN-I-hoM8-IhwN-_XL6Yx1WqNdO_t7FJ_NUiLIwRkNLN0nLy3YPOgCNOcCygTVePtbTc7iv0vdv77aQ46SRXPXgFE4OFan/s600/30%20-%20Lisbon.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gapKqH0wzYhByNsN7bP2cs6SehHPHnZwWs3RpD3Y4yb4UiSnf4vohXa0aqEyCc1ZTmdaE_c1VhCAiRpr4K2hpOg2D8iN-I-hoM8-IhwN-_XL6Yx1WqNdO_t7FJ_NUiLIwRkNLN0nLy3YPOgCNOcCygTVePtbTc7iv0vdv77aQ46SRXPXgFE4OFan/w400-h266/30%20-%20Lisbon.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I truly don't know how in the many times I've done this exercise I've neglected to go with Lisbon as one of the cities. I first went there in 2001, I turned 10 in teh city. I remember liking it then, but definitely remembered it only moderately. Going back this past year was eye opening, from my newfound love of Natas, to the incredible food, to appreciating the views more than I would have earlier, to so much more. Lisbon also had great nightlife, even with the pangs of Covid still reverberating, with packed streets in Barrio Alto (where our AirBNB stupidly was...), to bars with live music and so much more. The food was excellent, the people were great. Sintra, just an hour away, was a fantastic little town with even more great views. I truly want to go back, Lisbon honestly can go higher after a few more trips.</div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><div><br /><b>29.) Palermo (2019)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxIWGBYr_oU/XMe2ygu1hUI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/PazJf2mcyhUaqXd8CgJU6G4gsaiCnoRfwCLcBGAs/s1600/25%2B-%2BPalermo.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxIWGBYr_oU/XMe2ygu1hUI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/PazJf2mcyhUaqXd8CgJU6G4gsaiCnoRfwCLcBGAs/s400/25%2B-%2BPalermo.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br />There's a few cities on this list I like for hard to describe reasons - be it Turin, or Krakow. Add Palermo to that list. The sites can basically be visited in barely more than a day, but the atmosphere and culture of Palermo can last a good week. The old town is one of the nicer ones I've gotten lost in, with so many bars and restaurants that spill out into the streets. As you approach the water, you get fancier, more upscale restuarants that could fit in Rome, Milan or any fancier city - but at small town prices. Palermo is also relatively untouched by tourism, the last vestige of true Italia.<br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>28.) Amman (2019)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHXhCJ2gUCw/XGzMjO_ys1I/AAAAAAAAIY8/fOzYdA0tG7IqBICu-MghfuKkCU1WvCx4gCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B30%2B-%2BAmman.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="830" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHXhCJ2gUCw/XGzMjO_ys1I/AAAAAAAAIY8/fOzYdA0tG7IqBICu-MghfuKkCU1WvCx4gCLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B30%2B-%2BAmman.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />If you really want to stretch the 90 minute rule, Amman includes all things from the amazing ruins of Jerash, to the edge of the Dead Sea. Between those things, you have a fantastic city, one of the more modern in the Arab world. It has one of the nicer market areas, a beautiful little stretch with a Roman Amphiteater behind a large, open square, to some great food. Amman is a large city, but surprisingly easy to get around, and is the one place within Jordan's limits that modernity reign.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>27</b><b>.) Paris (2006, 2018) </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wVOwusIuio/UhKpY0rbVYI/AAAAAAAAFhA/rDOMGzZAUng/s1600/20+-+Paris.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wVOwusIuio/UhKpY0rbVYI/AAAAAAAAFhA/rDOMGzZAUng/s400/20+-+Paris.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">There’s obviously a ton to see in Paris, and the city center around the Eifel Tower, on either side of River Sein, is beautiful. Paris is a probably a city that certain people would love, but I am not one of them. Of course, I liked it enough to put ahead of some damn good cities, mostly on the ridiculous amounts of things to see alone. I actually don’t remember much of my Paris trip, which is strange given its relative recency, but I do remember thinking one day in the Louvre was far from enough, and the city center of Paris containing some of the best architecture of any European city. <b>**After going back in 2018, I can say I might be being harsh on Paris, but to me it is a slightly less great version of the other great European capitals like London, Madrid, Rome - unsurprisingly all higher up the rankings.</b></div><div><br /></div><br /><b>26.) Vienna (2000 & 2009)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VF7kPo12wpM/UhKpWLnQPAI/AAAAAAAAFgA/D1YnBIOfnA8/s1600/13+-+Vienna.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VF7kPo12wpM/UhKpWLnQPAI/AAAAAAAAFgA/D1YnBIOfnA8/s400/13+-+Vienna.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />The 2<sup>nd</sup> time I went to Vienna was on my high school’s Orchestra’s tour of Austria during my Senior year, and much of my high ranking for Vienna is based on that trip. There is a ton of history in Vienna, with the music scene being located there (Mozart and Beethoven’s houses), with the adjoining arts scene with a bevy of theatres. If you like classical music, then Vienna is heaven. I am including the adorable little town of …… where we performed, which was half an hour outside Vienna. The best part of Vienna is how modern it is. The city center has some of the largest streets and public squares of anywhere in Europe, with grand architecture all around. The food isn’t great, but it is no worse than Germany and Switzerland, and Austria is generally less expensive. It took a second trip to get acclimated with Vienna’s charms, but they are there, and plentiful.<b></b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>25.) Cusco (2016)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nnr9BNM6MVo/WmkSwp10S_I/AAAAAAAAIAc/tnQdcAOM8lYuDUVyVwMih0-iLWrbcQLVgCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B12%2B-%2BCusco.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nnr9BNM6MVo/WmkSwp10S_I/AAAAAAAAIAc/tnQdcAOM8lYuDUVyVwMih0-iLWrbcQLVgCLcBGAs/w400-h225/New%2B-%2B12%2B-%2BCusco.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Full disclosure, I'm cheating by including Machu Picchu as one of the associated sites of Cusco, which is a large part of the reason it places so high. Machu Picchu is a spectacular tourist attraction, from teh never-ending views of Hauranya Picchu's face, to the cascaiding hills on every side, to the great hikes. When you peel back to Cusco proper, it remains a great secondary city, a South American, high altitude version of Krakow (next on the list). The food is great, with so many small, but fine quality, restaurants. It has a vibrant restaurant and bar scene, and quite a bit of tourism locally, including other Incan ruins near the city limits. Finally, the altitude, as Cusco us probably the highest city that is easily and heavily visited. Plus, I owe a lot to the Loki Hostel, a wondrous place of Blood Bombs and fun.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div></div><div><b>24.) Taipei (2019)</b></div><div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZjBvLxG0YA/XakMX0BOR1I/AAAAAAAAIp4/VbfX5yri980CDJe4j4a-b7wVImeT7gfqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2B25%2B-%2BTaipei.webp" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZjBvLxG0YA/XakMX0BOR1I/AAAAAAAAIp4/VbfX5yri980CDJe4j4a-b7wVImeT7gfqACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019%2B-%2B25%2B-%2BTaipei.webp" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>I should have figured that Taipei would be a really great city. Still, however, I was surprised by how well built, how green, how beautiful it was. The food was great, from beef noodle shops to fancy high-end restaurants. The bar scene was excellent, with a burgeouning craft beer culture was shocking. The tourism was great, with nice pagodas and temples tucked away all across the beautiful green city. If only the cuisine was slightly better Taipei would have ended up much higher. There's also a lot of hills and forests and greenery within an hour of the city in every direction. Taipei has so much going for it.<br /><br /><br /><b>23.) Berlin (2014)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qpo_MTuPkME/VacU--1WZcI/AAAAAAAAGuM/lJJJeBXm0r8/s1600/New%2B18%2B-%2BBerlin.JPG" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qpo_MTuPkME/VacU--1WZcI/AAAAAAAAGuM/lJJJeBXm0r8/s400/New%2B18%2B-%2BBerlin.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br />Berlin is the only German city I've gone to as an adult, and from what I read it was a good one to pick. The city is sprawling, and has covered it's whole 'we had a giant wall' thing with some really modern buildings and a few nice memorials. But what it also hides is an incredible city. The main squares, or platzes are all incredible, including that entire stretch between the Brandenburg Gate, through the Tiergarten, and ending with the Berlin Island. There are various areas of the city with incredible churches, restaurants, bars (and bars, and bars) and historical buildings. The city houses some fascinating museums that touch on the long, varying history of Germany is a country. Berlin as a city is too big to do in 3 days like I did, but it is definitely alluring enough to go back.<p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>22.) London (1999, 2000, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)</b><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EF2aQNvesKM/UhKpVmlnD8I/AAAAAAAAFgE/iaBItcCFPz8/s1600/10+-+London.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EF2aQNvesKM/UhKpVmlnD8I/AAAAAAAAFgE/iaBItcCFPz8/w400-h125/10+-+London.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p><b></b><br /><br />I probably should just go to London more, because both my Dad and my Sister, who lived there, swear by London as an incredible city. But again, I’m not ranking this by how livable they are, but how good they are as tourist destinations. London definitely has enough to see, including the nicely compact Royal stuff (palace, parliament, other stuff), and a neatly packed city center (West End, Trafalgar Square, other stuff I’m forgetting), but it is a little too big. It’s subway system is clean, but doesn’t have the expansiveness that it needs (something I give huge credit to the NYC Subway System for, no matter how dirty it is). Of course, it is damn expensive, and the weather is mostly lousy. It may get better with more trips, but I think London is too big for its own good, and a little too confused, as it tries to be both Rome and New York.<b> **So I went here in 2017-2019 and 2022, and really have nothing more to add. I think what I wrote back then is more or less accurate. In the end, being in any English speaking city outside of the US just doesn't seem as foreign & exciting. And I really can't get over how bad the street layout is in this city. Makes me really appreciate New York being a grid.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><b>21.) Bangkok (2003, 2013, 2019, 2022)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MsZ0zrFWDmA/UhKpV16GsNI/AAAAAAAAFf8/HhcL58ENJx8/s1600/12+-+Bangkok.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MsZ0zrFWDmA/UhKpV16GsNI/AAAAAAAAFf8/HhcL58ENJx8/w400-h255/12+-+Bangkok.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s the gist of what I remember from Bangkok: nice Wats to see, incredible food, up all night, eating all the time. Bangkok is a food-lover’s paradise, especially for those who like Thai food. Bangkok is also close to areas where you can do all those Asia type things like ride elephants and see the jungle. The weather is surprisingly decent for a city in Southeast Asia, and from what I remember it is pretty easy to navigate. My thoughts regarding Bangkok have indeed changed with my one-plus day visit. The city is better than I remembered, with sprawling malls, an advanced metro system, and new urban centers. The weather isn’t quite as good, as it is still hard to get to different parts of the city, but the city center of Bangkok is about as good as any I’ve seen in Asia. <b>** After going again for a few days in 2019, my opinion of Bangkok is largely unchanged, but improved in a way. The food is great, particularly the soon to be closed Gaggan. There are some really nice districts. But what it lacks is the cleanliness and constant modernity of a Singapore. **After further going in 2022, while the food remains Top-5 in the world, the bustle, the maw, the "oversized Bangalore" of it all kind of hurts it to me. Any place with Gaggan, Le Du, #FindTheLockerRoom can't be any lower, but there's a lot to dislike amongst that brilliance.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div><b>20.) Granada (2001, 2021)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNwCKwi9UFI/XMe9NsytIfI/AAAAAAAAIeo/--Cj3IjbmQ4QKbW4Uta9qaRCvungDMNqwCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B17%2B-%2BGranada.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNwCKwi9UFI/XMe9NsytIfI/AAAAAAAAIeo/--Cj3IjbmQ4QKbW4Uta9qaRCvungDMNqwCLcBGAs/w640-h245/New%2B-%2B17%2B-%2BGranada.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>I'll admit, I have very limited memory of Granada - like I do with most of my trip to Spain and Portugal in 2001. But from what I do remember of Granada, mainly around the magic that is the Alhambra. Granada also has great food (as does most of Andalusia), including amazing seafood and lamb. Spain itself is probably my favorite country to visit, and a large part of that is even outside is major metropoloses (which are good enough to both be in Top-10 for me) it has incredible gems with incredible history and culture. <b>**After visiting in 2021, I'm justified in my original love of Granada. The Alhambra was as good the second time around, but the food even better. The great old town was just lovely to wander about, pick up tapas at their various tapas bars hidden down alleys with great seating spilling into the streets. That is Spain, so were teh wine bars, and even beer bars, in this beautiful little town.</b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>19.) Buenos Aires (2017, 2023)</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlBsHk1wwJOhBU04dBFwkkNzh0n7H34uNcO52j-EGNbaib6v_6WKg5APhGU3V90bikkey50xEuDyXWY3FxIRW2NjXV4SmXEomz254BmvIzBSiXldar-TmZ7v_6inBEMwU4apQPYAOBnkHAZP4RYliflASyr-dQq2w28hCSs5cnB-IekJFxH5cHVle/s1800/19%20-%20Buenos%20Aires.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlBsHk1wwJOhBU04dBFwkkNzh0n7H34uNcO52j-EGNbaib6v_6WKg5APhGU3V90bikkey50xEuDyXWY3FxIRW2NjXV4SmXEomz254BmvIzBSiXldar-TmZ7v_6inBEMwU4apQPYAOBnkHAZP4RYliflASyr-dQq2w28hCSs5cnB-IekJFxH5cHVle/w640-h426/19%20-%20Buenos%20Aires.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The only new entrant this time around, Buenos Aires was a joy to visit in full for four days. Similar to its South American counterparts in Lima and Santiago (both higher), Buenos Aitres mixed the culture of South America with the architecture of Europe, leaning a bit heavier on the European side. The neighborhoods of Palermo and Recoleta were an unending joy to stroll around in both during the day to witness the greenery, and at night to witness the joy. The food is more steak and heavy, but when steak is cooked as well as it is in Argentinean parilla's one can forgive that part as well. Someone who is more Europe leaning in their proclivities will probably rate Buenos Aires higher than Lima or Santiago. I don't, but that's more about love for the other two, and the Pacific side of Sud America, than anything negative about the people from the port.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>18.) Tokyo (2013)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdMufYNzKX0/UhKpW8HgfGI/AAAAAAAAFgU/E2AayH7f6x4/s1600/14+-+Tokyo.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdMufYNzKX0/UhKpW8HgfGI/AAAAAAAAFgU/E2AayH7f6x4/w640-h424/14+-+Tokyo.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />As a tourist, I don't care what the work and life culture are of the people in the city, and good thing, because if I did I may hate Tokyo. To see people in full suit in the subway at 11 PM coming home from work is jarring. But this isn't about any of that, it is about Tokyo the city, and it is a really fabulous metropolis. Tokyo is sprawling, in a way that makes New York seem small. There are really bustling regions like Shinjuku, really fun late night spots like Roppongi. There is a ton to see, and great food options. The food may be more corporate than traditional and homestyle in Tokyo, but that isn't all bad. The biggest complaint with Tokyo is just the size. It is so big that it is tiring to navigate at times, getting from one end to the other. Even with the reliability and the local JR Train lines, it takes time to get around. <b>**2023 Update: Going back didn't change my opinion of Tokyo too much, just crystallized what it does so well, from its art museums, its nightlife scene, and of course the food (if you're willing to pony up). Separately, the things keeping it from being higher up, such as the truly just endless urban maw of it all, and the sheer size, are still as true in 2023.**</b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>17.) Mexico City (2014, 2018)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOKHNB_l-1A/VacTrQ7WgOI/AAAAAAAAGuA/gyo4V_reuBo/s1600/New%2B23%2B-%2BMexico%2BCity.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOKHNB_l-1A/VacTrQ7WgOI/AAAAAAAAGuA/gyo4V_reuBo/w640-h426/New%2B23%2B-%2BMexico%2BCity.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br />I put 2014 there, but I went to Mexico City two different times, staying in two different areas of that expansive, massive, festive city. Far safer than most areas of Mexico, La Cuidad is incredibly impressive. There are tons of historical sites, like the entire Zocalo, the Chapultepec, and La Reforma. Mexico City also has a wealth of food options, with incredibly authentic Mexican fare from around the country, including the incredible Oaxacan food. Really fun night spot as well. Mexico City blew me away also with its strange, mysterious beer culture. The City is a sprawling testament to how secretly, behind the dangerous cartels that line the exterior, the soft interior of Mexico is a gorgeous, cultural attraction that is bettered by so few cities. <b>**After going again in 2018, I realize how much I missed out of Mexico City's overwhelming culture. The neighborhoods of Polanco and Condesa may some of the most cultured and serene in North America. The food scene is incredible, be it world class Pujol or the street taco vendors. Just an amazing city.</b><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>16.) Dubrovnik (2017)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5K7alMAhkY0/WdWXgX7JlcI/AAAAAAAAH60/YN7GSjQf5cgsOsRdSwQdB-VAqplDyFZkACLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B13%2B-%2BDubrovnik.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1000" height="256" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5K7alMAhkY0/WdWXgX7JlcI/AAAAAAAAH60/YN7GSjQf5cgsOsRdSwQdB-VAqplDyFZkACLcBGAs/s640/New%2B13%2B-%2BDubrovnik.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br />My expectations were raised on Dubrovnik from a number of friends and families had already visited, and oh man was it great - matching everything I would have hoped for. Dubrovnik, like many cities that line my top half of the list, aren't huge sprawling metropolises, instead smaller, untouched little power-packs of culture and beauty. The actual structure of the town reminds me of a European Cape Town, with the old town and fort replacing the V&A Waterfront area, and the hills of the newer part of the city similar to East Cape Town, and the hills in hte background, fixed with their own version of Table Mountain, being, well, Cape Town's Table Mountain. The history in Dubrovnik is amazing, with the old town such a beautiful array of nooks and crannies, with steep stairs on alleys down to the water. Within it contains history, and amazing restaurants, and, of course, Game of Thrones. Dubrovnik is one of the gems of the Adriatic Sea, right there with the other great ports of the Mediterranean.<br /><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>15.) Singapore (2012, 2013, 2019, 2022)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aXNbvjoHWE/UhKpTemiqKI/AAAAAAAAFfI/gooK_swOtH0/s1600/06+-+Singapore.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aXNbvjoHWE/UhKpTemiqKI/AAAAAAAAFfI/gooK_swOtH0/s640/06+-+Singapore.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />Singapore is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. There is no city any cleaner. There is no city as tightly situated while having enough external attractions. There is no city better built for a short stay. What doesn’t Singapore have? It has a theme park for kids. A bird park (highly recommended) and a night safari for kids and adults. It has a brand new casino for adults. It has a centralized bar/pub/club area near the waterfront. It has a preponderance of food from really, really cheap to really expensive. It has livable weather year-round. It also has the most interesting and enjoyable airport I’ve ever been to (there is a pool and gym that everyone can use for free in it!), and the cleanest, best organized subway system I’ve seen. So why is Singapore only #3? Because there isn’t that much to do, and Singapore’s not cheap enough to just sit around and eat/drink/do nothing. The sights have no historical resonance, and are replicated in other cities. Still, for a period less than a week, there is no better city to visit. <b>**Part of the reason I call this a living document is that I'm not going to correct where I reference Singapore at #3 which it was the first time I did this. Anyway, on subsequent trips, the sterility of the place is what drops it slightly in my mind. Still a whole lot of positives, and a "must visit" at some point, but it just doesn't have the culture some of its Asian brethren do.</b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b>14.) Krakow (2014)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsGMR07NQdw/VacX6ea1L7I/AAAAAAAAGug/1svRLpc0vSc/s1600/New%2B10%2B-%2BKrakow.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsGMR07NQdw/VacX6ea1L7I/AAAAAAAAGug/1svRLpc0vSc/s640/New%2B10%2B-%2BKrakow.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br />By rule I like smaller cities over sprawling ones. Well, while there are expanses to Krakow that extend in all directions, almost everything worth seeing in the city is in a 10x10 block radius circling the best city square (Rynek Glowny) I have seen in Europe. When you get a city that has (their claim) more bars per capita than any in the world, combine that with amazing open space and roadside/streetside restaurants, and an economy that does not use the Euro and is far cheaper than comparale cities in Western Europe, you get a pretty fantastic city. Also, you want history near its borders, you get Auschwitz about 2 hours away. Krakow is an incredible secondary city, arguably the best secondary city I've ever been to. The beer, food and endless beautiful women makes it Top-25; the sites, easily walkable goegraphy, and amazing history (Copernicus lived there too) makes it Top-15.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>13.) Lima (2016, 2022)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8a_p9cq3cQ/WmkSx6Br26I/AAAAAAAAIAg/Tn_H_iK7VgsUkQ09Qm8ve0jCEwu9d2k9wCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B29%2B-%2BLima.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="1280" height="259" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8a_p9cq3cQ/WmkSx6Br26I/AAAAAAAAIAg/Tn_H_iK7VgsUkQ09Qm8ve0jCEwu9d2k9wCLcBGAs/w640-h259/New%2B-%2B29%2B-%2BLima.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />Lima has a few things going for it. First, its culinary brilliance, with two restaurants ranking in the Top 10 in the World per San Pelligrino's list (the most accepted of that type of list), one being Maido, a Japanese-Peruvian sensation. The sites aren't the best, few major cities are in retrospect, with a few museums and halls. The real sites of Lima are the whisping cliffs, the shops and the eclectic nightlife. The best South American cities combine Andean views with European charms, and few big ones do it better than Lima. <b>Big jump here afer my trip in 2022. The food remains incredible, adding Central to Maido on my list of culinary adventures. But also getting more time in Lima this time around, and doing a bit more research to understand neighborhoods like Barranco and others a bit better, I learned to love a lot of it. The greenery is incredible, the museums are nice. The walk along the Malecon is one of the cooler feelings out there. Everything about Lima is great. **2023 update - it moved up again. I explored more neighborhoods this time, like San Isidro and even now further away from Covid, even the historic center is a bit more vibrant. For what is also a great entry point to a brilliant country outside it, and a place with near perfect weather, Lima is stellar**</b><br /></p></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>12.) Seoul (2022)</b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnpYgANZ4p02ZxC0zBdBzI917Kk6Yn-Wx5Fx4mF9k_MjXMWwta-WPaBWUGd0lYmrw2NFsu6r5GY2ZPEgZ55C2604UsSvXDCFar8urXpWA8t9A_T1BgS07cwXPyMswQVeNGmUWewc-x1jewC6PAqkfTy4naNSbqQYD95EWaEBXXyUMCd0fb6KHBmQt/s1200/12%20-%20Seoul.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnpYgANZ4p02ZxC0zBdBzI917Kk6Yn-Wx5Fx4mF9k_MjXMWwta-WPaBWUGd0lYmrw2NFsu6r5GY2ZPEgZ55C2604UsSvXDCFar8urXpWA8t9A_T1BgS07cwXPyMswQVeNGmUWewc-x1jewC6PAqkfTy4naNSbqQYD95EWaEBXXyUMCd0fb6KHBmQt/w640-h360/12%20-%20Seoul.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know if there's a city I saw more of in my initial trip visiting a place. I went all over it, to different districts, different elevations, different stories - all of them amazing. The food, from bustling (but clean) night markets, to tasting menu bliss of Ryunique and Mingles. The cocktail houses, all inspired in their design and craft. The clubs that surround buzzing districts like Itaewon (RIP to those who dies on Halloween 2022). Everything about Seoul was great, including the sights, from large palace-come-parks in the heart of the city center, to art museums showcasing the beautiful tranquility of Korean art (white porcelain, jade, buddhas, etc.). Seoul was a masterful city, a place I easily could have spent even more time exploring different areas. Despite spending much of five days there (and the neighboring city of Suwon, that fits in my 90-minute window), I left a bit sad I didn't spend even more time - partially to get more of Seoul, and also because I want to see more of what Korea has to offer having loved their crown jewel so much.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>11.) Sydney (2013) </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWAcFjr3eBk/UhKpTbQ5oAI/AAAAAAAAFe8/e_z7bV7HPUk/s1600/05+-+Sydney.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWAcFjr3eBk/UhKpTbQ5oAI/AAAAAAAAFe8/e_z7bV7HPUk/s640/05+-+Sydney.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />Take the weather and leisurely attitude of Australia, combine the waterfront facade of a Chicago, add some pub and club nightlife of any city in Europe and you get Sydney, a city that combines the great aspects of every major city I have been too. It doesn't have a true culture of its own which hurts it in my mind. What I really mean by that is, much like the problems I have with England, there are too many similarities to the US. You don't really feel you are in a foreign city too much. Of course, that all changes when you walk towards the Opera House, or go to the night spots with the Australians out partying, or eat great meats. Sydney is a wonderful city, probably the most livable of any in the Top-10 (of course, it is helped by being English-Speaking), but sometimes I would sacrifice livability for uniqueness, which is why it isn't any higher.<b></b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>10.) Ho Chi Minh City (2019, 2022)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sY_zux2325M/XakPDg9fSXI/AAAAAAAAIqE/6zfGLlDGHMIRHvAbCTWzWIjOgdBh8WxPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2B13%2B-%2BHo%2BChi%2BMinh.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sY_zux2325M/XakPDg9fSXI/AAAAAAAAIqE/6zfGLlDGHMIRHvAbCTWzWIjOgdBh8WxPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/2019%2B-%2B13%2B-%2BHo%2BChi%2BMinh.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>The great food, the wide open streets and lanes, the great balloons, the sights. Ho Chi Minh City was truly a perfect Southeast Asian retreat. The place is so full of joy and pride in their city, be it the pristinely conditioned temples, the French architecture. There are great museums and sights all over. What set Ho Chi Minh City apart for me was you get the food of a Bangkok, with the infrastructure and lack of traffic of a Europe - the city so well blending their French history and Asian sensibilities. The nightlife and food was truly incredible. If not for the weather (unavoidable in that part of the world) it probably would be Top-10 for me. <b>**After going back in 2022, Ho Chi Minh City equaled every bit of nostalgia-fueled love and memory from the first time, arguably getting better. Each year that goes by thrusts HCMC into more and more of a first world type city, with amazing food, amazing drinks, and the best (to me) club in the world in The Observatory. There is just a joy, such an energy here.</b><br /><br /><br /><b>9.) Rome (2003, 2019)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ISXx-zwoBTg/UhKpUckHn4I/AAAAAAAAFfY/9pJ2erF6GAw/s1600/08+-+Rome.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ISXx-zwoBTg/UhKpUckHn4I/AAAAAAAAFfY/9pJ2erF6GAw/s640/08+-+Rome.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Speaking of Rome, history’s most famous city checks in next. I haven’t spent any time in Rome as an adult, but I don’t think Rome is the type of city that would change much from an adult’s perspective. It is good for its history and sites first, and if you like Italian cuisine, the food second. If you include the Vatican, and as a Catholic I do, in Rome, then there is even more to see, as you have two different parts of history, the formation of the Catholic Church in the awe-inspiring Vatican grounds near and inside St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Roman history which is very well kept up. I can’t remember how their public transport was, and we went in December, so the weather was bad, but I don’t think it is a very big city. And then there is that food. I don’t want personal biases like my ambivalence towards Italian food to sway this. Many do like Italian food, and the city is even better for those people. That said, what hurts Rome in my book is I think it is too dependent on the sites, and if you aren’t there on a religious pilgrimage, I can’t imagine the allure of going to Rome more than once.</div><br /><br /><b>8.) Athens (2010)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxALsGgXa8c/UhKpT4ljDHI/AAAAAAAAFfU/7z0ujuurZ5w/s1600/07+-+Athens.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxALsGgXa8c/UhKpT4ljDHI/AAAAAAAAFfU/7z0ujuurZ5w/s640/07+-+Athens.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />So Athens is very much like its historical partner, Rome, with a few less sites, a lot less crowds, less expensive, and with better weather. So does that whole equation spit out a better city? In my mind, it does. Part of this has to do with visiting Athens at the perfect time (19, during March) and Rome not (13, during December), but Athens has it all. It has a lot to see, but not so much that sightseeing takes over the trip. It has a city that is hard to navigate by car and by walking, but has an adequate subway system. It has excellent food, and a great environment that bursts with fun and enjoyment. Just a grand old time in Athens, as I’m sure it was 2,500 years ago.<b></b><br /><br /><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><br /><b>7.) Barcelona (2007, 2021)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JbDe6WLrn1k/UhKpUZR79RI/AAAAAAAAFfg/gt3bezMyzzI/s1600/04+-+Barcelona.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JbDe6WLrn1k/UhKpUZR79RI/AAAAAAAAFfg/gt3bezMyzzI/s640/04+-+Barcelona.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">I really want to go to Barcelona again, because it could easily be #1. All the ingredients are there. Pristine weather. A people who don’t care about life, making the tourist experience more fun. Good beaches within reach. Stuff to see. An airport that is easily reachable and a city that is easily maneuverable. My issues with Barcelona (other than my dislike for the Blaugrana) are simple. There isn’t a lot to see in terms of history, mainly because the Catalans want their own history so they destroyed or shunned any Spanish national history. Barcelona is a nice city in terms of seeing the sights for a day or two and then doing nothing the rest of the time, but I do want more from my cities.<b> **Going back in 2021 didn't really change my opinion of Barcelona at all. It remains a great city, with a whole lot to see. Getting to see the Sagrada Familia more complete - in that you could go inside - was a nice touch. The food remained excellent, from random tapas bars, to nicer restaurants.**</b></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><b>6.) Istanbul (2007, 2024)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJJaJ2031v0/UhKpSnD9HqI/AAAAAAAAFe4/koTE75nDzhA/s1600/03+-+Istanbul.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJJaJ2031v0/UhKpSnD9HqI/AAAAAAAAFe4/koTE75nDzhA/s640/03+-+Istanbul.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br /><div>Istanbul is kind of a secret still, but there is really nothing to complain about. It has a waterfront, an easily accessible city center, a lot to see (the palaces, the Bosphuros, the Red & Blue Mosques). Istanbul also has a brilliant food scene, with both Muslim and Meditterannean influences but all sorts of bases (including a ton of seafood). There is little to separate any of the cities this high in the list. My only knock on Istanbul would be the public transport is lacking without a proper Subway (this could have changed since my last visit). Overall, Istanbul combines the palate and affordability of Asia, with the energy and cleanliness of Europe, the best of both worlds. <b>**2024 Update: Istanbul drops a bit, mostly due to some weird fogginess of brilliance I had around the city past my 2007 trip. Anyway, what it did do is remain overall just a fabulous blend of cultures. You want Eastern temples (mosques), architecture, customs? You got it. You want palaces that could rival Versaille? You got that too. You have a unique cuisine that can spread from the late-night-street-food of the world (doner kebab) to refined Michelin-star restaurants, and a burgeouning night scene to boot. The only real reason it drops is that it is a bit too big and sometimes tough to get around in, but as a city it is truly a fantastic blend of East and West**</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5.) Santiago (2018)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Znb1hjvkpog/WmkS2c5CJqI/AAAAAAAAIA0/nwgDOrC8dG4lF5HeW5UP8ZXzqzcGeEKVgCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B6%2B-%2BSantiago.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Znb1hjvkpog/WmkS2c5CJqI/AAAAAAAAIA0/nwgDOrC8dG4lF5HeW5UP8ZXzqzcGeEKVgCLcBGAs/s640/New%2B-%2B6%2B-%2BSantiago.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Midway through my second day in Santiago, I started debating how high it would go. Honestly, on the initial drive to the airport, through beautiful underground tunnels and well manicured streets, it earned its place on the list. Many great meals, multiple vibrant and differing neighborhoods, enough sites to last you days, and a cleanliness of Europe and culture of the Americas, and Santiago morphed into a truly special city. You have views, like at the top of Santa Lucia Hill. You have museums. You have regal government buildings. The restaurants are amazing, going from good street food to world class tasting menus. The competing Barrio Italia, with its Portland-esque vibe, and Barrio Bellavista, with fun bar after fun bar, add the neighborhood vibe as well. It all mixed to a truly brilliant city.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><b>4.) Jerusalem (2018)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9X60v-jXgvY/XGzNQPL-kuI/AAAAAAAAIZI/0cw37IheppsoOJM9KgNjoJg7F5Un7TOvQCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B11%2B-%2BJerusalem.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="760" height="412" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9X60v-jXgvY/XGzNQPL-kuI/AAAAAAAAIZI/0cw37IheppsoOJM9KgNjoJg7F5Un7TOvQCLcBGAs/s640/New%2B-%2B11%2B-%2BJerusalem.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Religion's most important city remains the best new city I've been to since I last wrote this piece. I'm floored by how much I enjoyed every aspect of Jerusalem. The obvious important religious sites were incredible, but the food spots in the city, the areas in the old town that are disconnected to religion, the great beer bar tucked inside the great Mahane Yehuda market. All of it was excellent. If I spend more time in Tel Aviv, maybe I add that to the list to, but for Jerusalem, it was a perfect mix of history and culture. Truly, the religious sites are so enormous in their gravity it is hard to not be astounded, even for someone who is practicing but not necessarily devout. The energy in the city is just tremendous - helps we went around Christmas of course. It was a perfect mix of circumstances, but it was just incredible from start to finish, a perfect mix of first world luxuries and historical beauty. <br /><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>3.) Kyoto (2013, 2023)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ntHm5lyFAPql4LzYR9_01zUEMqEWJWBpC_zS2JbFA95BpFyVI2aL2Vq0YRYfiqHDAiDMMKDGWVkSyjOunp_sYR0C_h13AvD80HAiYBCayBRO4eFvQPtlOgD5uqxxr-C8gXFIRRI8_btBh1-b1jc-nw-LcFnhq_o01Nn0OYnA6NZ7rQAHN2kJF3XFQYk/s1200/05%20-%20Kyoto.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ntHm5lyFAPql4LzYR9_01zUEMqEWJWBpC_zS2JbFA95BpFyVI2aL2Vq0YRYfiqHDAiDMMKDGWVkSyjOunp_sYR0C_h13AvD80HAiYBCayBRO4eFvQPtlOgD5uqxxr-C8gXFIRRI8_btBh1-b1jc-nw-LcFnhq_o01Nn0OYnA6NZ7rQAHN2kJF3XFQYk/w640-h426/05%20-%20Kyoto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Kyoto is the 3rd biggest City in Japan, but resembles so little of Tokyo (the biggest city) that makes it seem like a different country. Sure, the food options and the bustle is still there, but Kyoto, in some ways, is like a supersized Siem Reap. The real highlight of Kyoto is the ridiculous amounts of Temples and historical Japanese<b> </b>buildings. All of these are encircling the downtown area of Kyoto. Of course, that downtown is quite large, with beautiful malls, tall buildings with summer beer gardens (umlimited beer buffets for $30) and plentiful up-scale food options. Kyoto even has the most expansive Geisha area of Japan. Kyoto is the perfect city to experience what people's idea of Japan is, temples and pagodas and sushi, oh my! <b>**2023 Update: Everything I wrote about is true in 2023, but the stuff I didn't get overly into - mostly because I didn't focus on that as much - from the high end restaurants, to the bar & nightlife scene, upped its game. The fact the main parts of the city, be it the shopping districts, the nightlife drag, and where the sights lie, are all within sort of walking distance, ups the game for Kyoto. Also, there is a chance I was, if anything, underrating the sights. There was truly ne negative to Kyoto, other than maybe the heat but that's more on me picking this specific time of year than anything else.**</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><b>2.) Madrid (2001, 2010, 2018, 2021, 2022)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glVDIZsEmFU/UhKpSn4JMVI/AAAAAAAAFew/Hwg1kryrxWo/s1600/01+-+Madrid.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glVDIZsEmFU/UhKpSn4JMVI/AAAAAAAAFew/Hwg1kryrxWo/s640/01+-+Madrid.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />I’ll never forget Madrid. It was where I turned 10 years old, in April of 2001. It was where I saw my first naked woman in real life, as I saw two nude woman near the pool in Madrid (given my age and their age, this wasn’t a good thing). It was where I first traveled alone, and where I learned the inherent joy of visiting a place a 2<sup>nd</sup> time. Barcelona might be more ‘fun’, but I can’t think of a place that combines everything I want from a city more than Madrid. Madrid has a dependable airport, and a dependable subway system. More than that, the city is small enough in its center that you can easily walk from the Prado side on the East, to the Palace on the West and not break a sweat. It has some of Spain’s best museums. There is more than enough to see. And, of course, you are still very much in Spain. It isn’t as relaxed as Barcelona, but is just as Spanish, with open squares, easy food and drink, a lot of youngsters (and a lively area for them at night). This wasn’t a criteria, but a lot of people speak English there to boot. Madrid is basically a perfect city. Small enough to walk, with enough sites to not get bored, enough food to not go hungry, and a relaxed, but not too relaxed nature that you won’t ever get tired of doing nothing for an afternoon or two.</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>1.) Cape Town (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eg7NqPUzEvc/UhKpSSrIHqI/AAAAAAAAFes/H6kqhbUM8_o/s1600/02+-+Cape+Town.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eg7NqPUzEvc/UhKpSSrIHqI/AAAAAAAAFes/H6kqhbUM8_o/s640/02+-+Cape+Town.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />I've been wondering whether doing Cape Town first helped increase my perceptions of it. I was at my most curious and excited at the start of the trip. Then, I remember everything amazing about Cape Town, like the incredible scenery and breathtaking views, the active harbor and Long Street areas (for the youngsters among us), the great food of every type and the wine region to one side with the Cape of Good Hope below it. Cape Town is a special place on the total other side of the word (laterally speaking). I've really never been any place quite like it, which is why I want to go back there more than any place in the world. <b>**I've oddly never updated my write-up of Cape Town since the first time I did this list. Mainly because I from the start had it ranked #2. But after going back (and back, and back...), I think it is time I just move it to #1. The restaurants, bars, clubs, and unending hikes and views just give it such a perfect balance in terms of what I would want out of a city to visit.</b></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-70745182194524759272024-03-11T14:51:00.001-04:002024-03-11T14:51:38.244-04:00My 60 Favorite Intenrational Cities, Pt. 1: #60 - #31<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><i>I like that this is a living, breathing document since I first wrote my Top-20 cities back in 2013. Anyway, we're up to 60-now, and in reality, if I remembered more about my trips in 1999-2001 to Europe, I probably could have added quite a bit more.</i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><i><br /></i><i>*************************************************************************</i><br /><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">Again, these are ranked as cities I would visit (all of them I have visited), not where I would live. I would live in Geneva, but probably not visit again because there isn’t much to do, it is cold, and some other reasons. There are places that I wish I could rank because from what I’ve heard from family/friends that have been there they seem really good, like Moscow, Berlin and Hamburg, and when I visit them, I will update this list. Also irrelevant is the ease of getting to this city. Singapore isn’t hurt because it is the farthest commonly visited location from NYC than any other place, and London isn’t helped because it is 6 hours away.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br />A city includes sites and destinations that are a reasonable distance away, so Barcelona won’t get credit for the Playas that are 2-3 hours away (and are closer to Valencia), and Athens won’t get credit for Ephesus which is 3 hours away, but London would get credit for Stratford (or whatever it’s called where Shakespeare is from, or Oxford – and Rome gets credit for the Vatican, which for being a different country, is totally part of Rome) which is reasonably close.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>Honorable Mentions - **New Area**</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">To keep us at 60 and needing to add a couple spots, I've reclassified three cities as Honorable Mentions because my visit there was too long ago to really remember it. I'm sure these cities are great, and whatever fleeting memories I have of them are strong, but I can't really compare them in any real way vs. the one's I have a far better memory of.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">= Munich (previously, #49)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">= Prague (#39)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">= Budapest (#38)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>60.) Tiberias (2018)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeiJGb8roXGE-Lzetl1X_G_c8tqcyoIL50CHPwo74LRAD9SAmu4cF8Rgjl1XgV-jTzCKR3ydOAdwr1_L5BYCH2zGhLCTpFFRyyqCWLfE5bsIeCJrTokniSSYZr0YllLD8aMfuet92AR0UBMUinC_rn0n6_6s8rgbB6D4C-V-7uGLxEO-y-IRJKnyAx-o/s980/60%20-%20Tiberias.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="980" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeiJGb8roXGE-Lzetl1X_G_c8tqcyoIL50CHPwo74LRAD9SAmu4cF8Rgjl1XgV-jTzCKR3ydOAdwr1_L5BYCH2zGhLCTpFFRyyqCWLfE5bsIeCJrTokniSSYZr0YllLD8aMfuet92AR0UBMUinC_rn0n6_6s8rgbB6D4C-V-7uGLxEO-y-IRJKnyAx-o/w400-h258/60%20-%20Tiberias.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">The city bay the sea of Galilee, the city surrounding the areas of various events of Jesus's life. The city itself is small, but thriving with some nice restaurants with great local, fresh fish nad of course kebabs. They even had some nice bars in teh city as well. But the sites are great, from the mystical/religious (say where Jesus walked on water, etc.), and just plain beautiful, like the Church of the Transfiguration on the hill. Tiberias is a bit of a pilgrimige, but a worthy one. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b></b><b>59.) Da Lat (2013)</b><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VdVQJ4JDuts/UhKpb7mlnCI/AAAAAAAAFhk/QI4jZ6ZNvVY/s1600/25+-+Da+Lat.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VdVQJ4JDuts/UhKpb7mlnCI/AAAAAAAAFhk/QI4jZ6ZNvVY/s400/25+-+Da+Lat.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdMufYNzKX0/UhKpW8HgfGI/AAAAAAAAFgU/E2AayH7f6x4/s1600/14+-+Tokyo.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">The little hamlet high above the Vietnamese hills, Da Lat was probably the most pleasant surprise of any place on my RTW trip. The city itself is modeled after European cities, with parks, downtown circles and even a model Eiffel Tower. The surrounding areas houses more traditional Vietnamese fair, like temples, Buddhas, waterfalls and even roller coasters, all underneath a cool mountain air. Da Lat's hills hide many nice restaurants, bars and clubs. It isn't nearly as loud or as famous as Ho Chi Minh, Nha Trang or Hanoi, but Da Lat may be the most pure mix of Asia and Europe that I have seen. Also, it has an incredibly nice airport given the just six flights that fly there each day.<br /><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>58.) Kuala Lumpur (2013)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjUlmqfOewY/XafdYYUqqcI/AAAAAAAAIoA/HwpuG7SBShMOd3h-UBMu4fC1LUGRnLXXACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2B59%2B-%2BKuala%2BLumpur.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjUlmqfOewY/XafdYYUqqcI/AAAAAAAAIoA/HwpuG7SBShMOd3h-UBMu4fC1LUGRnLXXACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019%2B-%2B59%2B-%2BKuala%2BLumpur.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><b><br /></b>Our first day in Kuala Lumpur, I hated it. We didn't really plan much to do and aimlessly went around. The second day, where we had a plan, it became a lot better. There are a few standout sites, like the Menara KL, the Petronas Towers, the Bird Park. The food was excellent, from down home Malaysian cooking, to fancier places. The shopping is quite nice. There are myriad cooler cities in Southeast Asia, but when you give KL a chance, it really starts to shine.<br /><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>57.) Warsaw (2014)</b><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hl7ZkpJOIAk/WmkS0M2ayqI/AAAAAAAAIAs/bnuqwRthFqwZoDVMKBWhGrrxrte46viVgCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B37%2B-%2BWarsaw.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="250" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hl7ZkpJOIAk/WmkS0M2ayqI/AAAAAAAAIAs/bnuqwRthFqwZoDVMKBWhGrrxrte46viVgCLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B37%2B-%2BWarsaw.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><br />Warsaw may have gone higher had I spent more time there, but like many other European countries, the capital is often a bit too commercial, a bit too gray, than the smaller pearls of cities (like Krakow, for Poland). Warsaw has some great sites, like its main street and clock tower, the palace, and I'm sure a whole host of others I forgot about or didn't have time to visit, but it is a bit lost in a city a bit too big for its own good. The food is decent, but what I really want to commend is its bar scene. There were some great gastropubs and beer bars that littered across the Warszawa Central district.<br /><br /><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>56.) Nikko</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5e1R0mNZLaVG7dnRAo3p64_bjaxWp-1JKWFWhMqwe4xCi-Pth2sjxMrX2kYLORGFdWfI7ucgSrWPgsToubFjpD57X0SO_vw6C7OvFVaonC8bnyPpk25J_Bd4aCYLqU4mmOQYzZqAdKI4Zohvt-RfPvfNd_r1-tTpoikCObe-49aY14gISkQNf3UrEPo/s321/57%20-%20Nikko.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="321" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5e1R0mNZLaVG7dnRAo3p64_bjaxWp-1JKWFWhMqwe4xCi-Pth2sjxMrX2kYLORGFdWfI7ucgSrWPgsToubFjpD57X0SO_vw6C7OvFVaonC8bnyPpk25J_Bd4aCYLqU4mmOQYzZqAdKI4Zohvt-RfPvfNd_r1-tTpoikCObe-49aY14gISkQNf3UrEPo/w400-h196/57%20-%20Nikko.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">Japan's answer to the one/two-road, tourist heavy town that will appear further up from other countries, Nikko was a great little break from teh urban bustle of Tokyo. Truly a one-road town, with most of the shops, restaurants, bars all being on the main drag, but in that area contained some good sushi spots and of course a craft beer bar. Further afield came a bunch of great sights, including a "Temple Circuit" of four good temples, one of which was one of the more impressive ones I saw during my time in Japan in the Toyusho Temple. Nikko also had Lake Chuzenji and the nearby Kogen Waterfall within an hour of its base, along with other hiking areas even further afield.<br /><br /><br /><b>55.) Belgrade (2017)</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNpbHbMsBxs/WmkSz-sn7xI/AAAAAAAAIAo/AEiZ7E0BWOcWP2WIDlCfUbUCkm-BTc0GACLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B40%2B-%2BBelgrade.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="578" height="250" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNpbHbMsBxs/WmkSz-sn7xI/AAAAAAAAIAo/AEiZ7E0BWOcWP2WIDlCfUbUCkm-BTc0GACLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B40%2B-%2BBelgrade.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br />In 20 years, Belgrade may deserve a spot well up this list, but for now for a city on the rise it gets on. For advantages, Belgrade is cheap, it houses some nice history, really good restaurants, and a great bar and club scene. For negatives, none of these things are marketed well enough. Belgrade should continue to grow, and as it does it will replace dirty streets with cleaner ones, complete the renovation on its main church, and just overall work on the edges. Then again, I kind of like a city that can still have cool ass floating clubs with affordable bottle service.<br /><b><br /><i><br /></i></b><b>54.) Jeonju (2022)</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM1DB99bwpZ_7qoO1963bEA3Fuyh8jOQKRI19lW3cY4rttG2gCnMKxKltgp64P6oLQsvhMLvVODXgwUyvL04erwL3dvcXprayb-rKMTo6hZvlfIfWNhlXErh4sPUzGf60H44eRqgHmZXHn6BIWloTsE7WAYMjMRXjjHV9hwEQj9dTBAI0pxSCjux3/s2121/55%20-%20Jeonju.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="2121" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM1DB99bwpZ_7qoO1963bEA3Fuyh8jOQKRI19lW3cY4rttG2gCnMKxKltgp64P6oLQsvhMLvVODXgwUyvL04erwL3dvcXprayb-rKMTo6hZvlfIfWNhlXErh4sPUzGf60H44eRqgHmZXHn6BIWloTsE7WAYMjMRXjjHV9hwEQj9dTBAI0pxSCjux3/w400-h266/55%20-%20Jeonju.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></b></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">Jeonju was not even supposed to be on my Korea trip itinerary, a secondary choice after my primary place of Busan was taken away from me due to a typhoon. Busan maybe would have ranked higher (same with Jeju, also axed for the same reason). But anyway, I went, and found a lot to like. The Hanok Village, showcasing a modern take of traditional Korean architecture and livign was lovely. The bibimbap, made famous in Jeonju itself, was a great addition itself. The sites aren't world beating, but nice enough, from the Gyeongijjeon, to the Wibongsa temple in the outlying mountains, to fill a couple days easily. Jeonju is known as the "traditional" tourist home of Korea, and that traditionality is fully earned, warranted, and lovely.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b><b>53.) Penang (2013)</b><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiGynGHlabU/UhKpabB3WLI/AAAAAAAAFhc/xUnD3Z8fgi0/s1600/24+-+Penang.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiGynGHlabU/UhKpabB3WLI/AAAAAAAAFhc/xUnD3Z8fgi0/s400/24+-+Penang.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b></b><br /><br />There are positives and negatives to Penang, and depending how important the positives are relative to the negatives to you, Penang could rise or fall on your rankings. Personally, food and culture are really important to me, and Penang has both in spades. It may be a little overrated with food, but the seafood night markets that litter both Georgetown (the main city) and the beaches (all within an hour or so from Georgetown) are wonderful. The Nyonya food in Penang is far better than that in Kuala Lumpur. There is enough to see, including a nice little trek in Georgetown to some interesting historical buildings (the Cheong Fat Tze is a nice highlight). Of course, Penang is also very crowded, slightly dirty and the beaches themselves are quite barren. In the end, I find this fair for what I still consider a great eating spot.<br /><br /><br /><b>52.) Positano (2019)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPSWK3SF4Wk/XMe2ydfpOMI/AAAAAAAAIeI/T0XieMVuLsY391O3kS26JaCYfAZREjNogCLcBGAs/s1600/45%2B-%2BPositano.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPSWK3SF4Wk/XMe2ydfpOMI/AAAAAAAAIeI/T0XieMVuLsY391O3kS26JaCYfAZREjNogCLcBGAs/s400/45%2B-%2BPositano.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><br />Positano may have ranked differently if we went a week later - after the start of their 'busy season'. Maybe it would have ended up higher because that's how most people see Positano, or maybe lower because the crowds and prices would have been unbearable. Anyway, Positano might be one of the prettiest towns I've ever visted, with incredible views from all directions, whether up top looking down and across, or down at sea level looking up to waves and waves of houses. Positano also had a slew of nice restaurants, shops and tourism fare, be it hikes or boating. Positano is also well connected to a bunch of other Amalfi Coast towns, be it Amalfi or Sorrento or otherwise. Nice town, but a bit too overpriced and popular (in the busy season, at least).<br /><br /><br /><b>51.) Parma (2015)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5A0eNKOn0U/XafeZhQ8JeI/AAAAAAAAIoQ/Iu-NspkD17gaS7CWZfrjy8g50c0TQp2mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2B50%2B-%2BParma.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="759" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5A0eNKOn0U/XafeZhQ8JeI/AAAAAAAAIoQ/Iu-NspkD17gaS7CWZfrjy8g50c0TQp2mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019%2B-%2B50%2B-%2BParma.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b>Italy is the one country where I would love to just visit a lot of their secondary cities. Parma was a fantastic little slice of Italia. The food was excellent, and the eponymous cheese was even better. The balsamic was the cherry on top. Yes, Parma is almost fully a food tourism place. It also was a beautiful little town, replete with nice lanes serving drinks and good times late until the night. I wish I got more time in Parma to experience the life in the city.<br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>50.) Cairo (2018)</b><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqTZe-iSauo/XGzLieYDqGI/AAAAAAAAIYk/imFJIvWPetMXO6XR6XxNoJqYx-KfIsl4QCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B40%2B-%2BCairo.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqTZe-iSauo/XGzLieYDqGI/AAAAAAAAIYk/imFJIvWPetMXO6XR6XxNoJqYx-KfIsl4QCLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B40%2B-%2BCairo.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><br />My ranking of Cairo definitely includes Giza (about 30-60 min away, depending on traffic), and Saqqara, and adding to those two pyramid and druin complexes, if you add in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo has some truly top notch sites. Of course, my view of cities go beyond sites, and that is where Cairo starts to struggle, be it the lack of truly great food, the restrictive nightlife that puts most fun places out of the reach of solo travelers (the old 'couples only' rule). These things are important to me, particularly the food aspect, and Cairo doesn't stack up. It does with key sites though, and when you add in some nice neighborhoods, there is a chance I am being unfair here.<br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>49.) Jaipur (2013)</b><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxMt4dguXGo/WmkS1GbNaGI/AAAAAAAAIAw/hQvYQ1OY0bAAJmKCBukPS16JQuvSMoqHgCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B35%2B-%2BJaipur.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxMt4dguXGo/WmkS1GbNaGI/AAAAAAAAIAw/hQvYQ1OY0bAAJmKCBukPS16JQuvSMoqHgCLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B35%2B-%2BJaipur.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><b><br /></b>I hated traveling in India in my limited tourist experience in India prior to Rajasthan. First was Agra, where the Taj was nice but completely offset by the filth of Agra. Kerala was a mess. Given those two, was not too excited to be going to Rajasthan, but I have to say it was great. Jaipur is slightly too touristy, with most of the city, at least as far as I could tell, built off Forts, Palaces, strange Astronomical objects, and of course shopping. For pure tourism, it is probably the best city in India, even if it gets a bit too hot at times.<br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>48.) Johannesburg (2016, 2018)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fljbj-dBbyA/XGzL270I7SI/AAAAAAAAIYs/OBS1BqMQmj0VQqHPb6_ZsZeT9kTKHpDPwCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B38%2B-%2BJoburg.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fljbj-dBbyA/XGzL270I7SI/AAAAAAAAIYs/OBS1BqMQmj0VQqHPb6_ZsZeT9kTKHpDPwCLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B38%2B-%2BJoburg.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>I've flown into and out of Johannesburg three different times, but spent a total of one night and about two days in the city, seeing a few of the main sites, but in reality not enough to get a real true sense of the city. What Joburg does have are some nice sites like the Apartheid Museum, a few gentrified neighborhoods, some classy foods and areas, the nice lion safari on its outskirts. The negatives are its sheer size (it takes forever to get from place to place), and the danger. Now, that danger part is being unfair - Cape Town has a higher murder rate, though most of that is localized into slums - but when you drive through posh districts and suburbs and every street has barbed wire it gives a less than stellar impression.<br /><br /><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>47.) Hanoi (2019)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orl4tTBQ0VU/XafhtEHM-XI/AAAAAAAAIok/zeKerCo-qt00WgUvvpeJNeCbK49MOVLIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2B44%2B-%2BHanoi.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orl4tTBQ0VU/XafhtEHM-XI/AAAAAAAAIok/zeKerCo-qt00WgUvvpeJNeCbK49MOVLIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019%2B-%2B44%2B-%2BHanoi.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b>If we average out the mess present at times in its clustered old town and the beauty of its large West Lake area, you get a truly great city. Hanoi is a bit more staid than its Vietnamese colleague in the South (further up the list), but it still has its charm. The lakes throughout city create a more atmosphere and some truly stunning temples and pagodas. The food, as it surely is thrughout Vietnam, is excellent. The beer flows well. There's nothing wrong with teh city, but there's no one feature that sets it apart.<br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>46.) Siem Reap (2013)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEx1IiJ8og/XMe2yQgGC9I/AAAAAAAAIeM/I7NhzWyyqiAJfK_0VWsTB3RAYZXMH_2HgCLcBGAs/s1600/39%2B-%2BSiem%2BReap.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEx1IiJ8og/XMe2yQgGC9I/AAAAAAAAIeM/I7NhzWyyqiAJfK_0VWsTB3RAYZXMH_2HgCLcBGAs/s400/39%2B-%2BSiem%2BReap.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br />Siem Reap is a one-stop town, in that the only real thing to see there is Angkor Wat, but do you know what (excuse the pun), that is enough to get it a spot on the list. Looking back at my time there, even the town itself of Siem Reap is quite nice - good restaurants, nice bars, enough to do when not lollygagging around the Angkor Wat complex. Anyway, that's not to say that it would be ranked had Angkor Wat been there. Angkor Wat is one of the better two day tourism sites I've ever been to, a parade of amazing history. It's an added bonus that they've developed the town enough to make the nights fun as well.<br /><br /><br /><b>45.) Punta Arenas (2017)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stwCWMeNDDs/WmkSyASBD0I/AAAAAAAAIAk/c7ZtymAClpMG126pCtNRlBAEBCoVcm9KACLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B34%2B-%2BPunta%2BArenas.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="449" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stwCWMeNDDs/WmkSyASBD0I/AAAAAAAAIAk/c7ZtymAClpMG126pCtNRlBAEBCoVcm9KACLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B34%2B-%2BPunta%2BArenas.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><br />It's odd that none of the Patagonia cities are that close to the sites that surround those areas, so they were hard to judge. Punta Arenas is probably the most substantial town of the three we visited, with an actual down-town, with nice ornate buildings and squares, The best part of the city is an unexplainable sense of being so far away from home, from anywhere, with Punta Arenas being the Southernmost city of more than 50,000 people. There are of course some nice restaurants and bars, and a good mix of locals and tourists, which created a nice atmosphere as well. Of course, with the Tierra del Fuego and Isla Magdalena Penguins within driving distance, the tourism isn't too bad either.<br /><b><br /></b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>44.) Turin (2015)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ii7sPioZfrM/VacWgvjzV8I/AAAAAAAAGuY/twIvJrmj1IY/s1600/New%2B16%2B-%2BTurin.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ii7sPioZfrM/VacWgvjzV8I/AAAAAAAAGuY/twIvJrmj1IY/s400/New%2B16%2B-%2BTurin.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br />Picking Turin allows me to count the Piedmont wine country, and those little towns that dot it. Turin the city though, is a understated version of how incredible Italy is. It has the requisite churches and squares, but also has the open palacial squares and river-fronts that you normally associate with other countries in Europe. It has some incredible little hamlets of food, with great options for eating throughout the day (some excellent tea joints). My favorite place in Turin actually wasn't one of the two main squares, but Piazza Vittorio Veneto, one that borders the river with an amazing view of the city behind it. It was the last place we went to in Turin, an incredible capper to an unexpected amazing day in a great city.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><b>43.) Udaipur (2013)</b><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tC_hLwpQJGg/VacS8oIoQ6I/AAAAAAAAGt4/P2WTE8JNSLw/s1600/New%2B27%2B-%2BUdaipur.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tC_hLwpQJGg/VacS8oIoQ6I/AAAAAAAAGt4/P2WTE8JNSLw/s400/New%2B27%2B-%2BUdaipur.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br />As somehow who hated traveling in India, picking a city that is in one of the hottest areas in the country, and a city I visited during their hot dry season, this high might seem surprising. Well, I can't recommend Udaipur, along with Rajasthan as a hole, enough. The city has some beautiful scenery being built on a far more hilly area of the country than you would expect. They have famous lakes that hold famous hotels built on famous castles. They have nice food and street shows that line the corridors of the inner city. THere's the strange love for the movie Octopussy, where screenings are shown nightly. There's a beautiful palace inside the city. And I'll stretch my 'sites withing 1.5 hours count' rule by saying that the Jain Temple at Ranakpur was incredible - and in any modern country it would be within 1.5 hours.<br /><br /><br /><b>42.) Split (2017)</b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njd5saRQOfk/WdWVlb9zDnI/AAAAAAAAH6o/zaKNpygyADM4ew2GRljf2lZ-Ofb_2PUswCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B26%2B-%2BSplit.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="1400" height="142" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njd5saRQOfk/WdWVlb9zDnI/AAAAAAAAH6o/zaKNpygyADM4ew2GRljf2lZ-Ofb_2PUswCLcBGAs/s400/New%2B26%2B-%2BSplit.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b>There is so much to like about Split, be it the sprawling old town with enough sites and small alleys lined with shops and restaurant to keep you busy way too long, or the modern clubs and restaurants, or the sites from its hills. I guess in theory I can include the island of Hvar as well as that is within a 1-hour boat ride away, which adds beautiful beaches and mountains to this as well. Split as a whole might be a little too commercialized - they had a lot of stalls selling the normal tourist fares that aren't always appreciated, but the city truly is a beautiful slice of culture deep in Croatia. I do love how varied the drink and food scene is there as well.<br /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /><br /><b>41.) El Calafate (2017)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_H6Mq6xpXFU/WmkSwcBa6bI/AAAAAAAAIAY/I9wHv1mIbhoLNrmtG-MXgyl-xbtSyXQcwCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B26%2B-%2BEl%2BCalafate.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_H6Mq6xpXFU/WmkSwcBa6bI/AAAAAAAAIAY/I9wHv1mIbhoLNrmtG-MXgyl-xbtSyXQcwCLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B26%2B-%2BEl%2BCalafate.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b>I have a few inexplicable choices on this list, and El Calafate, a more or less one-road town, might be at the top of those odd choices. I mean, literally 95% of the restaurants and shops are either on, or right off of, the main road. Of course, those restaurants and shops are fantastic, a great number of restaurants with fine Argentinean fare (Parilla's, and more earthern restraurants). Of course, the bars are great as well, from chic library-style cocktails, to an American craft beer oasis. However, none of that would place it on this list, but the irreplaceable Perito Moreno does. One of the greatest tourist joys of my life was walking around and then on that amazing, stunning glacier. A perfect mix of blues and whites, cascading chalks of ice, and the hoth-like conditions when traversing its face. All of it special.<br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>40.) Aswan (2018)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JdrN66tQ0Sk/XGzMHd4LuSI/AAAAAAAAIY0/HASJMIjpt2Qpe91SX9DKf_hTJuqodM90ACLcBGAs/s1600/New%2B-%2B34%2B-%2BLuxor.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JdrN66tQ0Sk/XGzMHd4LuSI/AAAAAAAAIY0/HASJMIjpt2Qpe91SX9DKf_hTJuqodM90ACLcBGAs/s400/New%2B-%2B34%2B-%2BLuxor.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>Sadly, I can't list 'The Nile Cruise' as a city, because combining Luxor, Esna, Edfu and Aswan would probably deserve quite a higher spot. However, only the last of those (Edfu) is probably within the 90 minute range. Aswan is a nice city, with open streets, nice restaurants and hotels off of the Nile, architectural marvels both new (the Aswan Dam) and old (Phillae temple complex and Elephantine Island). When you add in the sites within its radius, it starts to glow as Egypt's less cluttered jewel.<br /><b><br /></b><b><br />39.) Takayama (2023)</b><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jk4i-BMYjETEYj8m-mRC4RLhmUGW3PkmtoBayWbNFvIzdiXJ-RfD452T7aBDaberATMXXdl5HiVCojKk-6EMwJoIeEnLaodwiFpAvnJqiq0Z58fCW8wIjYqSVJ_RyD6modJU697kq5KDKSGgdavJqJNWKqUkP7ZIYn4n-0HVEX6e9YXkGt2VnTHt0uY/s770/38%20-%20Takayama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="770" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jk4i-BMYjETEYj8m-mRC4RLhmUGW3PkmtoBayWbNFvIzdiXJ-RfD452T7aBDaberATMXXdl5HiVCojKk-6EMwJoIeEnLaodwiFpAvnJqiq0Z58fCW8wIjYqSVJ_RyD6modJU697kq5KDKSGgdavJqJNWKqUkP7ZIYn4n-0HVEX6e9YXkGt2VnTHt0uY/w400-h311/38%20-%20Takayama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">Takayama was a perfect mdi sized city. Everything was walking distance. It had some great unique elements, such as the Sanmatchi district with pedestrian streets full of shops and restaurants with such great wood design, to the litany of temples all around that so well incorporated the forests and giant cedar trees. The food and drink options in Takayama were charming as well, from the various shops selling the local Hida Beef, to wonderful Izakayas, and great night options with small, charming mom & pop run bars that served great cocktails and had great vibes. Within the 90 minute rule also lies the beautiful Kamikochi National Park, where you can get lost like you would in the Western US. Takayama was a perfect little contrast to the bustle of the other sites in Japan, but one that could give enough bustle itself.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>38.) Melbourne (2013)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaIumGKaofo/UhKpYecBc2I/AAAAAAAAFg4/_ZDMvBtMHs8/s1600/15+-+Melbourne.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaIumGKaofo/UhKpYecBc2I/AAAAAAAAFg4/_ZDMvBtMHs8/s400/15+-+Melbourne.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />Melbourne could be a Top-20 city to spend four or five days in. There is not too much to do, but enough to keep you occupied. If you like sports, which I do, then it is even better. Melbourne tries to lay claim to the Sporting Capital of the World, and when you mix together one of Tennis' four main tournaments with the 2nd most famous Cricket Ground (and most famous Aussie Rules ground) in the world right next door, it is hard to argue. Melbourne's riverfront is a beautiful area, with amazing views of the city around it. It's food options are endless, with really good Asian cuisine throughout the city. The nightlife seemed nice enough. It also has some really beautiful scenery around an hour of its boundaries, with beautiful parks, wine regions and the Great Ocean Road. Add into that Philipp Island, which just hits the cutoff to be included with Melbourne, and you get a solid, Top-40 city.<b></b><br /><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>37.) Izmir (2007, 2024)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlnPBoMgfQM/XakKOmoqCXI/AAAAAAAAIps/XRP34IWIIp89P1D3TmSPDNhOm_mQXliUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2B29%2B-%2BIzmir.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="960" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlnPBoMgfQM/XakKOmoqCXI/AAAAAAAAIps/XRP34IWIIp89P1D3TmSPDNhOm_mQXliUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019%2B-%2B29%2B-%2BIzmir.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>I don't know how I forgot about Izmir the umpteen times that I have done this. I loved my trip to Turkey and for a while only had Istanbul on the list. I finally remembered how much I loved Izmir when I went back and saw an album. It was a pristine coastal town, with unbelievably fresh seafood, a lot of interesting Capadoccian sites nearby, and just a cool air about it. The food and the fun alone put it well up in my mind - and also makes it a place I absolutely want to return to. <b>**2024 Update: Izmir moves up slightly, mainly from me now considering Ephesus as within the 90-min rule of sights. As I noted, Izmir is a wonderful place to live, roam around, imbibe life, with its great food, great, compact nightlife and energy and beautiful views. Not much to do within city walls, but be it Ephesus or Pamukkale, you get things in the 60-min range. Wonderful secondary place within Turkey**</b></div><b><br /><br /></b><b>36.) Panama City (2012)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I5jOuC4bQps/UhKpXFMvwHI/AAAAAAAAFgY/mjY22F-ksvg/s1600/16+-+Panama+City.JPG" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I5jOuC4bQps/UhKpXFMvwHI/AAAAAAAAFgY/mjY22F-ksvg/s400/16+-+Panama+City.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />I went to Panama with really low expectations, and I was blown away. It has a really impressive skyline, one that holds its own even if you forget that it is a poor latin country. It has great food of different cuisines. It has a ton to see, with the Panama Canal and the rainforest both falling into its sights. Other than Calgary (which I talked about in the last list) I don’t know if any trip I’ve gone on has been such a surprise as Panama, the Caribbean’s only truly modern city.<br /><br /><br /><b>35.) Phnom Penh (2013)</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csObiq_kwD4/UhKpYLJ5R7I/AAAAAAAAFgo/WvASYX0KD3Q/s1600/17+-+Phnom+Penh.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csObiq_kwD4/UhKpYLJ5R7I/AAAAAAAAFgo/WvASYX0KD3Q/s400/17+-+Phnom+Penh.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />I lied when I said that Da Lat was the biggest surprise of my Round the Worldtrip. Phnom Penh was. I wasn't expecting too much from Canbodia's capital, but the mix of history, good and bad, food, nightlife and surprising urbanity made Phnom Penh a real highlight for me. I really loved Cambodian food, and it was at its best in Phnom Penh, a perfect mix of Malay and Thai cuisine. Phnom Penh itself embraced its own history, not shying away from the terrible acts of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, maintaining multiple areas in the city to pay tribute to those who died. The rest of the city pays tribute to the rich culture of Cambodia that preceded the destruction, with large pagodas in beautiful parks and nice museums. Phnom Penh also has a nice riverfront area that is really, really lively at night. Add into all of this that the currency of choice in the Dollar, and you get a really nice, underrated city.<b></b><br /><br /><p><b>34.) Luang Prabang (2019)</b></p><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTDx2_dScaY/XakG4IsEAZI/AAAAAAAAIpg/XYC7-pZtNa0QMrw1-ECJ-oouXMD1WgSQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019%2B-%2B30%2B-%2BLuang%2BPrabang.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTDx2_dScaY/XakG4IsEAZI/AAAAAAAAIpg/XYC7-pZtNa0QMrw1-ECJ-oouXMD1WgSQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019%2B-%2B30%2B-%2BLuang%2BPrabang.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>There may be no better small three road town than Luang Prabang, a well manicured slice of Laotian heaven deep on the banks of the Mekong. The place is built for tourists, but expertly combines Western modernity in their restaurants and bars, and Eastern serenity. The amount of temples within this small town is truly incredible, all quite well adorned and decorated. The Laotian cuisine is always a hit. Much like another town on the list in El Calafate, its main street is so full of life. From what I know, unless you want to get really down and dirty, this is as good as Laos gets.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>33.) Goa (2011, 2013, 2015)</b><div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AHmZFmdAx-c/UhKpVs9HS-I/AAAAAAAAFfw/oEiphqjoHB0/s1600/11+-+Goa.jpg" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AHmZFmdAx-c/UhKpVs9HS-I/AAAAAAAAFfw/oEiphqjoHB0/w400-h300/11+-+Goa.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><b></b><br /><br />Yeah, yeah, yeah, my initial ranking of Goa was a little ridiculous. It was built off of an admittedly awesome trip to Goa in 2011, but that was a perfect storm. We were staying in the best part of Goa for a first timer who loves food on beaches at 2 AM. I was fresh off of an alcohol cleanse (which of course came after the opposite of an alcohol cleanse), and was greeted with $0.50 beer. Goa still has all those things, but I quickly realized upon my second visit that the area of Goa you stay in makes a huge difference. Stay too far South and you get isolated beaches, which I am sure are nice to some, but they don't have the same nightlife and food options littering the beach. Instead, they have litter littering the beach. Stay in the right part of Goa and it is amazing, the wrong part and it is merely OK. Still, it is unlike anything else in India, and for that it will always be in my part.<b><br /></b></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b>32.) Bilbao & 31.) San Sebastian (2021)</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-21VfzLqujqI/YYRyLlEqnMI/AAAAAAAAJys/Z1aT-9NFJjUGXLBcgZysz_03aq1_EUW0gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-21VfzLqujqI/YYRyLlEqnMI/AAAAAAAAJys/Z1aT-9NFJjUGXLBcgZysz_03aq1_EUW0gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YjwTNWfG6X4/YYRyO0dE8YI/AAAAAAAAJyw/_5TliMBlLigBHhD8GTrZ8nNB3A75jFk2QCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="color: #296695; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="385" height="364" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YjwTNWfG6X4/YYRyO0dE8YI/AAAAAAAAJyw/_5TliMBlLigBHhD8GTrZ8nNB3A75jFk2QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h364/image.png" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12.87px;">Another combination, this time not because I can't truly remember the difference (like Prague & Budapest), but because they're similar. Both cities have beautiful little old towns just jam packed with Pintxo Bar after Pintxo bar. Both cities have truly world class restaurants as well, including Azurmendi which was a truly amazing experience. They have nice coasts, great scenery and beaches, and so much else. Gun to my head, I would pick San Sebastian, whose old town is a little more cozy and inviting. Bilbao is slightly bigger, with its larger churches and museums, and open squares, but honestly I would gladly go back to either, two gastronomic capitals of the world. Especially would love to go back in a time where we have some ability to go out at night, as the few instances of being out until 1:30am belied towns with great drinks, pretty good craft beer, and a love of dancing. Honestly, the basque region is awesome.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-66617718839089975182024-02-26T05:26:00.002-05:002024-02-26T05:26:43.249-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 11 - The Great TableI've now been to Cape Town seven times. After today, I've been to the top of Table Mountain four times. It has some of the greatest views in the world - both of Cape Town the city below it, and the long expanse of rocks and peaks and beaches that extend southward to Cape Point behind it. It has some great hiking trails on top of it. It's one of the great tourist sites of the world. That's not hyperbole either. Somehow though after going to the top in 2018 and doing the hike across the flat top over to Maclear's Beacon, I got somewhat disallusioned to it. Maybe I felt myself to be "above" Table Mountain, too much of a faux local, and so did not go in either 2020 or 2022. <br /><div><br /></div><div>That changed last year when I came to Cape Town with my parents, and seeing their endless mouth agape in glory reaction to Table Mountain - from the second the cable car took off, to every moment at the top, I relearned the magic of this incredible site. I declared then that I would never not do Table Mountain on a Cape Town visit again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, after this lengthy preamble, needless to say Table Mountain was the centerpiece of my day on the Cape, but far from the only memorable moment. The day actually started with a waltz through Bo Kaap, seeing the various pastel colored houses. I stopped for a coffee there as well, but the real beauty is the colors, brought out well in a partly cloudy day that still very much had a great deal of sun. </div><div><br /></div><div>From there I head for lunch to the Neighborgoods Market, housed in the Old Biscuit Mill, which also is the home of Salon (dinner Friday Night) and The Pot Luck Club (lunch tomorrow - a last gasp attempt to dull any sensation of depression that will undoubtedly be approaching). The Market is only open on weekends and while there are some stores and wares, the real key element of the market is the giant food market section, fit with live music, beer and wine stalls, and a whole host of food options. I have no idea how I never came here on any trip prior to last year, but after coming for lunch last year it has become now a staple.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some of the stalls seemed familiar, but others definitely new. It is marketed more for locals, so many of the stalls unsurprisingly feature non-African food, with multiple Mexican stalls, multiple BBQ, a Korean, a Japanese. All of thsoe looked good, but I wanted something more special to this part of the world, and ideally two half meals (or more realistically, two stops that would get me 1.5 lunch's worth of food). The first was a set of four pork spareribs in a Ghanian glaze sauce, which were excellent. The ribs were perfectly fall off the bone tender. The seoncd set I got was a braised beef stew with chapati from a Tanzanian stall, that again was cooked really well. More than the food though, what i love more is the vibes of the place. Just a ton of people enjoying good food, some music, some drinks and having a great time. I'm sure many cities have something like this - but how many have the shining mastiff of Table Mountain overlooking it?</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of, from there I went to the aforementioned mountain. I was a bit worried what the clouds would be like when I got to the top. All day there have been clouds over Table Mountain - luckily in this case over and not enveloping it / spilling over its face, which happens super often. For me today it made the top quite cold but the pictures from all sides were left unaffected. I did a mini hike - wanting to go about halfway to Maclear's Beacon, as from my memory from 2018 the second half of hte hike is quite tiresome and the views aren't that great (or at least no better than what you have at the start). It's a fairly good route, starting out moving southward getting views of the Twelve Apostles, further extended peaks behind it, various slivers of things like Hout Bay and Simons Town, and then swing back aroun to the front side that has the city view.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the middle of the mini hike you have to cross the very top bit of Platterklip Gorge, which is a small slice between two parts of the mountain that does have a trail that extends basically from ground level up to Table Mountain. From what I understand it takes about 2.5 hrs, doesn't require equipment or anything, but far more arduous than I have any uinterest in. I'll gladly just take a quick photo of the gorge, and go on my way. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is hard to describe just how great the views from the top of Table Mountain are, similarly it is hard to describe how good the views of Table Mountain are from the Waterfront, where I did a third walk around the waterfront shooting photos of Table Mountain from various angles. At least today with the mix of clouds the pictures will look a bit different than the cloudless ones from Thursday and Friday. The stroll through the Waterfront, including another walk through the Watershed, getting a beer from the TimeOut Market (still not a fan, but far more lively today than Thursday), and imbibing people finishing their weekend makes me already a bit emotional and nostalgic for these trips. </div><div><br /></div><div>You'd think I wouldn't feel this way given this is the seventh time here, and the fourth in five years, but if anything knowing how quiet Cape Town can be on Sunday Nights is what is getting me down. What I really should do is fly out on Sunday and come in a day earlier, but usually I'm flying United back from Cape Town to Newark, which runs every other day and is on Monday Night, not Sunday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, let's get out of depressionville and back to real stuff, and in this case new stuff with dinner at La Colombe - a beautiful restaurant high up a hill-side winery in Constantia. The setting is beautiful, though admittedly too dark to really see much. The setting was pristine, as you would expect from a white table cloth, white plate brilliant restaurant. Each dish was made with such care and invention, from the bread course where the spread was made to look like various fruits or vegetables, in my case a red pepper andouille sausage spread made to look like a tomato. Or the incredible qual two ways, teh second of which was qual breast stuffed with crayfish with a bit of sweet seafood bisque as a sauach. To of course the final main dish of lamb. </div><div><br /></div><div>La Colombe is run by the people who also run Pier, Foxcroft and other top class restaurants around the Cape. Pier is more seafood focused, while this was more refined I would say - but both quite amazing overall. I don't know if this meal was better than Salon, but about as good and a more than great way to have a last dinner on this trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cape Town is super quiet on a Sunday apart from quite seedy Long Street places. I've long complained about this. In 2020, I was able to find respite with one last great night at The Dubliner (RIP). In 2022, it was a place called YOBO Wine Bar, which was near The House of Machines (closed on Sunday), and YOBO has since closed. Last year, it was with my parents and we went to Cause Effect, which is open on Sundays but super random with its closing time. This time I reached the Waterfront aiming to go there but arrived at 11:25 as they were doing last call (the stated closing time is 1am).</div><div><br />So I had to go next door to Mitchell's, the one bar (restaurant) that was staying open till 1:30. Now, Mitchell's was a place I went to a lot back in the day, especially before Cause Effect opened (for my 2018 trip), It had a great people watching spot in the edge of the Waterfront, with views of Table Mountain. They used to have their own beer, one of which was called Milk & Honey and I loved it. By my 2020 trip they had taken most of their own beers off the menu and became more of a standard pub, which was super sad. Well, not only was it a welcome respite, but the IPA I ordered tasted just like what I remember Milk & Honey to be.</div><div><br /></div><div>The crowd was decent, and I had a long chat with a couple from Ottawa who had flown in that afternoon. They were starting a 3-week trip to South Africa. I put aside the jealousy of their trip being just starting and mine effectively ending to give them some advice on palces to visit, eat at, drink at, and them having come to Cape Town once before in 2018, we could trade stories. It may not have been my planned Sunday Night, but ended up being quietly a great one and a great way to end night in Cape Town.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-74467526776482178312024-02-25T11:11:00.001-05:002024-02-25T11:11:46.342-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 10 - Chasing CloudsToday was the wild card day, all week long the forecast for the day called for clouds with a period of 3-4 hours of rain. When I started the trip, the rain was supposed to be from say 7-10pm. By yesterday, it seemed to be 2-5pm. As I start writing this sitting at Cause Effect at 5:15pm - the rain finally did come with the skies opening up at 4pm. Looks like Cape Town is almost off the grid as every weather site I could find would say things like "it is currently cloudy" when I can visibly see the rain. Anyway, it seems like it may end up being 4-8pm, which isn't too bad (assuming it does end by 8-9 or so). Because of this wild card, I had planned a noon hike of the Contour Path ending in Kirstenbosch, and then indoor activities in teh Waterfront - from a trip to the Two Oceans Aquarium (haven't gone since 2020) and a more thorough than normal traipse through the Watershed.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Everything went off without a hitch. The cloudiness enveloped Table Mountain from teh start of the day, and I was worried when there was a light drizzle on teh drive out to Constantia Nek (where the hike starts), but by the time we reached the sun was poking out between clouds, and it actually ended up being fairly lovely weather for the hike - a cool breeze and enough cloud cover to avoid the sun-drenched pain at times yesterday with the Pipe Track. </div><div><br /></div><div>Prior to this I had a quick "toastie" grilled cheese with mince and caremalized onions at Bootleggers, got a couple meat pies from Woolworths, and then went on my way. The Contour Path hike is so different in terrain to the Pipe Track it is crazy that this is the base of what is effectively the same mountain (table mountain) but on a completely opposite side. The views start with the towering Table Mountain backside on the left - today with clouds covering the top - and a changing series of beautiful lush green views on the right. It starts with well manicured wine and farm rows on hills. Then it becames the East part of the city, super green with houses poking in and out. And finally becomes an aeriel view of Kirstenbosch Gardens, both a closed to public preservation and research area, and then the park itself.</div><div><br /></div><div>The lasting upside of the hike is it ends in Kirstenbosch, basically giving you free entry to the Botanical Gardens as a present for the 90 minute hike preceding it. Granted, you enter at kind of a random part of the gardens, super far away from the entry, so it does make it suboptimal if you were using it to see the park proper, but brings you to the section of rows of open space and protea and roobois flowers - teh msot South African of flora. </div><div><br /></div><div>From Kistenbosch, I flipped over to the Waterfront, with teh skies darkening by the second - taking respite indoors at the Two Oceans Aquarium. On a busy Saturday, there was about a 15 minute line to get in, seemingly a bunch of locals and kids and couples, all enjoying the fish. I hadn't gone to Two Oceans since probably my 2020 trip, and while probably not much has changed, it seemed fresh. It's a tight 45 minute walk through various exhibits, the centerpieces being two large tanks, one with a classic glass tunnel to walk through with rays and tuna and a bunch of other fish, and the other one being two levels with tuns of fish and sharks. There's also a really nice penguin area with classic South African penguins and Macaroni Penguins. </div><div><br /></div><div>The other exhibits were great as well, the one that seemed new or at least I didn't really remember from 2020, was a dark hall with various columns with types of jellyfish. It was really cool to see them floating around and lit up across all the darkness. Overall the aquarium is a really nice experience, especially when the skies fully open up outside and you could walk around the fish inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took a quick jaunt through the Watershed on the way to Cause Effect, getting a bit wet as I stupidly left my jacket with a hood in the AirBNB, for some reason thinking I had escaped any rain. Luckily the rain did subside in time for me to walk back to the AirBNB fairly unscathed and get a quick rest up before Belly of the Beast, which has been a tradition now for all trips since 2018. </div><div><br /></div><div>Belly of the Beast is on the "other side of town" in a sense - an area that is getting gentrified but isn't really a normal tourist stop. The gentrification is working, in that there are more bars and restaurants popping up in teh streets around Belly of the Beast than there used to be. Anyway, for Belly of the Beast, as always it served its seven course tasting menu featuring new takes on their classic formula: oyster and mussels to start, bread with two insane "dips" (in this case their version of babaganoush, and antelope tataki), tuna sashima, chili & beer fried hake, a great lamb main, a cheese course and then a dessert. What I love about the place is that their dishes are just so composed and, frankly, tasty. It isn't the craziest preparation, and in their open kitchen you can see the team plating all of it. It is just a super dependable spot, that has also kept its price of around $50 constant over the past four years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Belly of the Beast only has one sitting at 6:45, and even though the meal takes about two hours, it gave me ample time to hit up a trio of night spots - first Cause Effect, then House of Machines and Modular. The last two were great as always, though I will say that Modular was surprisingly less crowded tonight compared to yesterday. Cause Effect was pretty full but luckily had one stool at the bar. Various people came in and out, a lot knowing the scene well. I got some of their classics, a gin-based cocktail served in a terrarium, a cocktail served in a plastic replica of Table Mountain. Most of their drinks change year over year, but those few classics remain. Similar to my views on Cape Town in general - some classics change, some spots come and go (RIP The Dubliner, as mentioned yesterday) but net net ir remains as good a spot as any conceivable.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-84874297357316074582024-02-24T10:11:00.001-05:002024-02-24T10:11:23.085-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 9 - The SunIt was another cloudless, startingly blue skied day in Cape Town. I think from my memory a good 70% of my days spent in Cape Town have been like this, with another 25% being generally sunny with some clouds that stroll and roll across the top of Table Mountain. This won't always be the case. Tomorrow it is supposed to be cloudy most of the day with some showers in teh afternoon, which is hard to believe given how cloudless today is. Just a one afternoon hiccup, as the rain should be gone by 5pm tomorrow, with the clouds lightening ahead of similarly sunny days on Sunday and Monday. <div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I got up a bit lazily (no surprise when one goes to bed at 3:30, by far the latest so far on the trip), with not too much planned other than my "first whole day in Cape Town" standard of hiking The Pipe Track trail that traipses along the side of Table Mountain base towards the 12 Apostles. Why is this a standard? We'll get to that.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>First, I had a quick coffee at Bootlegger's a Cape Town chain that has a location at the foot of the road my AirBNB is on. Then off to an early lunch at Between Us, which is a great lunch spot (they serve dinner as well) half the way from the Waterfront area to the turn-off towards Table Mountain - where the Pipe Track Trail starts. Between Us hasn't altered its menu much over the years, but arguably has no reason to - the dishes are all quite good. I got a ricotta and marjoram gnudi as a starter, which was tasty but not at all what I expected visually - being more just quinelles of ricotta cheese and diced marjoram, with full leaves of marjoram to add a final kick. For the main I got the oxtail ragu parpardelle, wihch I've had before but wanted primarily due carb up before the hike.</div><div><br /></div><div>The hike starts literally at the meeting point on Google Maps of the large green expanse marking Table Mountain, and the smaller green expanse marking Lion's Head (the second most famous peak in the area). One day I may hike Lion's Head also, but today was not that day. The Pipe Track follows the side of mountain, with incredible views of Table Mountain (though from the side, so not the famous flat-top view), Lion's Head, the glistening Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay town adn beach, and the series of peaks that are visible for a few miles before slightly turning inward and down, ultimately ending at Cape Point.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not the most arduous hike, and if anything the main issue is the lack of shade. There are the picturesque shaped-by-wind trees at spots, but generally you are exposed to the sun. That same brilliance of a fully blue sky doesn't help so much now. What the path does have is just endless moments where you have a feeling of (1) it's just insane being here, this far away from home, staring at the beautiful Atlantic and (2) it's just too beautiful. Truly, it's an amazing visual experience, and ends at the rows of amazing houses built into the lower cliff-face above Camps Bay. Often I've looked at the prices of these houses - given exchange rate they're not outrageous, but also probably not worth it if I'm here just five days a year!</div><div><br /></div><div>After was my first go at ambling around the waterfront (I guess second, since I did a bit of that yesterday). Again, no real object in mind, just strolling through the lifeblood of Cape Town, just as post work on a Friday mood setting in for the locals. Again, without a cloud in sight I couldn't stop myself from taking even more pictures. It might be the best view in the world from anywhere in a major city - except maybe beaten by the view from Signal Hill in Cape Town itself. After a couple more cocktails at Cause Effect, including one of their classics of a honey gin lime drink with frozen nitrogen and stuff, I was ready to go to my first tasting menu meal of the time in Cape Town.</div><div><br /></div><div>For years, the most prominent restaurant in Cape Town was The Test Kitchen, run by Luke Dale Roberts. It was a notoriously difficult table to snag, and I never had luck in my 2018 and 2020 trips. By the pandemic, it shut down, with him keeping on running the sister tapas style restuarant of The Pot Luck Club (been 2018, 2020, 2023 and going again Monday for lunch). Well, I guess Mr. Roberts, through a combination of the world economy recovering, and the itch for brilliance, opened a new space called Salon - an 11-course tasting menu journey across all types of cuisines, but all places that Roberts worked or lived. Three of the dishes were South African, but the rest went as wide as Mexico, Lebanon, Philippines, Korea, France, Germany. Usually I wouldn't trust a place to try to give you such disparate cuisine. But I should've realized that there's no reason to ever doubt Mr. Roberts.</div><div><br /></div><div>The meal was incredible - I think the best I've ever had in Cape Town (though Pier is close). The dishes were all so well crafted - delicate, super flavorful, inventive, and true to each cuisine. My favorite was probably an immaculate take on duck l'orange as the first main, or what was called a "tuna ceasar" from Mexico which ended up as an undescribably concoction of differet types of Mexican cooking featuring tuna tartare. They also had an affordable drink pairing that was primarily wine but also featured a tequila cocktail for the Mexican dish, and a sake for teh main of kalbi short rib and maitaki mushroom rice. My other meals will be I guess more South African, but hard to expect any to be better.</div><div><br /></div><div>For my post-dinner time, I essentially just replayed the same routine from the day before at The House of Machines and then Modular. I was initially hoping to go back to Cause Effect, but didn't have realistically enough time after the meal at Salon took 2.5 hrs - will save Cause Effect for tomorrow post-dinner. Both House of Machines and Modular were busier than the day before - including at least ten people I ran into at Modular that were at House of Machines before it. Maybe on my next trip I'll get more inventive with bar options aside of House of Machines - or as early as Sunday as Cape Town is notoriously (to me at least) quiet on Sundays. But House of Machines has the advantage of being walking distance from Modular. I'm sure there are a bevy of other places, like the series of them higher up on Kloof Street, that are as good as House of Machines, but why tkae risks away from something that works.</div><div><br /></div><div>Modular was the usual level of crowded for a Friday, which is great. I'm always a bit of fearful of what Saturday may bring - generally at least a line to enter, though its more to process the cover as there's rarely been any sort of crowd control. It was a fun night had by all - another set of good DJs, quick pace bartenders and the rest. Walking by Halo - the Reset replacement - as it is on the way from the House of Machines to Modular and I'[m thankful Modular has kept its true belief of being a top notch spot for techno and EDM. Cape Town needs it.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-36417055838787614092024-02-23T11:30:00.001-05:002024-02-23T11:30:54.956-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 8 - Hello Old FriendIn my aisle row of the middle set of three in the plane, I couldn't see the gorgeous rolling moutains turn into karoo plains on teh descent into Cape Town. I did see enough craning my neck to see that there wasn't a cloud in teh sky. It would be this way for the next two to three days, turning a bit cloudy Saturday night into Sunday afternoon, before clearing back up. No rain. Cape Town weather almost never disappoints. The city never really does either, and I needed that after an interesting, but not alltogether bad, experience with Turkish.<div><br /></div><div>For a quick run through, I had paid to get what are essentially Premium Economy seats for the 11-hour journey, about $175. I got a text soon after I checked in that due to an aircraft change my seat had radically chagned - still to an aisle seat but now towards the back of the plane. Panicking, I had no less than four different Turkish Airlines agents check the system, reassuring me every time that I am still in my assigned seat of 09D. Of course, what they neglected to tell me is that there was an aircraft change, and on this version of Turkish Airlines's A350-900, 09D is the first row aisle seat in economy (not in Premium Economy).</div><div><br /></div><div>Some may see this still as a win, and the extra legroom was appreciated to help me sleep, but what wasn't great is the seat was no wider or better than normal economy. Also because it was first row I was reprimanded into keeping the video screen down for take-off and landing. Then for whatever reason my video screen had a weird "sleep mode" type setting on where it would go off every 20 min or so. Again, no idea why. The food, service adn flight as a whole was fine, and had I not paid to get into a premium economy seat, I wouldn't have cared about any of this, but it was a bit of a misdirection.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not a misdirection is Cape Town man. 30 minutes after landing I was awaiting my Uber - immigration and baggage claim was a breeze. Because of this, I almost reached too early to my AirBNB - about two buildings further up the same road that I stayed with my parents last year. This whole start of the trip is giving me a hint of nostalgia for that one. Even if most of my activites on Day-1 (especially post dinner) would be things I would have done solo last year, it's a change being here alone again.</div><div><br /></div><div>My first stop was to Woolworth's grocery to pick up some puffs to have throughout the weekend - probably needing to go back again since their volume was a bit limited today. Then was a trip to my favorite craft beer spot in tity, Ukharba Brewworks, which is on the far end of the Waterfront area. It was a nice first stop, though I will say this particular part of the Waterfront - a large building called Maker's Landing, which is a portion if the cruise terminal, really hasn't further developed in the last two years.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, the Waterfront continues to change, for both better and worse. The better is that it is just a whole lot cleaner - if anything the city as a whole seemed that way, a nice sign of continuous improvement over the 11 years of me coming here. The worse is, and not surprisingly, things get increasingly corporatized. The biggest version of this is the now opened Time Out Market, in what used to be the V&A Food Hall. The general sense is the same - a bunch of stalls selling various types of food, with a couple bars - but now it has the overly tidy set-up of the Time Out Market. This isn't a terrible thing - the Time Out Market in Lisbon is excellent, but it does seem a bit too sterile.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before this though I had done one new activity - in going to the MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), with is housed in a beautiful old silo tower near the Waterfront. It's a building I've walked by countless times without ever stepping foot inside. The building is six floors, though the top is just a terrace with some amazing views. Every other floor has 1-2 exhibits. Frankly, some of them while pretty and captivsting were a little too "modern" for me, a couple being more video art than actual paintings. The ones that were more traditional modern art (oxymoron very much intended) were more my scene, and all in all it was a worthy pit stop and one of the few out and out new things I will be doing on this trip to the Cape.</div><div><br /></div><div>The constant in the Waterfront though is the views. Those endless different angles of Table Mountain, with Lion's Head and Signal Hill aside it. On a cloudless day like this, with an almost hilariously clear blue background, there may not be a more stunning view in the entire world. In my one walk traipsing aroudn the Waterfront to Cause Effect (of course), I took probably 40 photos of Table Mountain, with teh city in teh foreground. They're at different angles in theory, but showing the same thing, but I tell you adn trust me, there are not ever too many angles of this incredible sight. The rest of the Waterfront remained fairly unchanged, with the Watershed as interesting to walk around as ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cause Effect hadn't changed too much other than having a new style of menu, which I think they've done basically every time I've come here. This time it is under a label of "Bar Terroir" - a menu easy enough to steal back home, which I don't think I had done for one of their menus previously. I tried a couple new cocktails, the more interesting of the two was gin based with fermented shitake mushroom and sisho paste, both liquefied for something funky and great.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner was at Miller's Thumb, the place that has somehow kept its reputation for years, if not actually now decades. Same Mom (front of house) and Pop (chef) run joint, with its humorously garish orange and green painted walls that stick out like a sore thumb. Same menu concept. Why change if it works so well year after year. For a starter, I got calamari "moroccan" style, which was really nice - for calamari they usually serve just the tubes which is an interesting twist. For the main, I got geelbek "Cape Malay" style, which was excellent. Again, this place knows its game. Your presented with a giant butterflied filet of the fish, covered in cape malay chili sauce, with a side of flash grilled veggies. No fuss, no bells and whistles, just great taste.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My post dinner adventures first started with a walk down Kloof Street which turns into Long Street. As I've written about a few times, my days of running up and down Long Street have definitely passed me - partly age but also partly it leans way more into hip hop. Kloof Street has built up a lot, more with social bars and cocktail spots, none all that well reputed but all packed. My goal was House of Machines which is off of Long Street a few blocks after the crazy part. House of Machines had a DJ spinning interest stuff, and a great collection of all types of people - from bikers to tourists, to a bachelorette party that stopped by for a bit. Just a great way to time waste and have a couple barrel aged cocktails (their specialty). This was to get me to midnight, which was my planned time to head over to Modular.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end I probably should've given myself a bit more time at House of Machines, as Modular was shockingly nigh empty at 12:15. Thursday is a quieter night than Friday and Saturday (which is a madhouse, usually), but still usually busier than this. I perservered though, and by the time I left aroudn 2:45, it was busier than I'd seen it on previous Thursday's - just a great time all around. Cheap drinks that are poured fast and well, good DJs, great air conditioning and ventiliation, a great crowd as always. They put stickers on the cameras on the phones to enforce a no picture policy and while I'm sure there are times I would love to take a video, I think that policy jus sets a great energy and mindset for the place.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before I wrap, I do want to hit on two related point on Cape Town nightlife. First to continue the theme of the ruination of Long Street, one of my old haunts used to be Dubliners, an Irish Pub that usually had live music in the nights. I memorably had one of my favorite nights in Cape Town ever there on teh last night of my 2020 trip, being one of the few places that stayed open late on a Sunday. By 2022 and 2023, it was still open but turned hip hop heavy. Now, it has turned over into "TAO Cape Town" - unclear if connected to the TAO group, but I would think not since a peek inside made it seem the same interior decor.</div><div><br /></div><div>The second one was even more annoying. During that same 2020 trip, there used to be another techno/EDM option in that area named Reset. It was a two-level space with heavier stuff downstairs and lighter upstairs. It was a great spot, from my memory preferable to Modular today. The space that it was in laid empty in my trips in 2022 and 2023 (it closed during Covid). Now, it's been reopened as a place called HALO - which in theory is advertised as a similar spot, but from a peek inside seem more like a velvet rope club, or at least a space pretending to be one. Not a fan at all. Glad for me Modular still exists and even if it took an hour to calm my initial fears, it remained a great spot to close down a night.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-51657468858481925562024-02-22T10:45:00.002-05:002024-02-22T10:45:34.358-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 7 - The PalacesThere's a nice symmetry to what I did on my first full day in Istanbul (Saturday) and what I'm doing on my last (Wednesday). The first day I saw two of the key sites to visit in Istanbul - it's most famous mosques in the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Today, I'm ending it with seeing two of the other key sites to visit in Istanbul - it's palaces, in the Dolmabahce Palace and the Topkapi Palace. You could credibly say these are the four main tourist attractions in Istanbul, and I segmented them fairly well. Now, granted I had planned to do the Topkapi Palace on Sunday, but weather got in the way. Helps that today was a gorgeous, clear day in Istanbul.<div><br /></div><div>I awoke not wanting to leave the lovely Renaissance Bosphorus (which ironically isn't that close to the Bosphorus - though with great views of it), but I got myself out the door by 10am and at the Dolmabahce Palace by 10:15. Being a Wednesday, the lines weren't too long, but there were a half dozen school groups about which was fun to see but did at times get in the way. The Dolmabahce Palace is perfectly situated on the banks of the Bosphorus, a large complex housing one giant palace building split into three sections in the middle - the Semalik, where the functions of the state were held, the Harem, the personal living quarters of the Sultan, his wife, his mother and various concubines, and a back area converted into an art museum. It was a lot, in that it was great.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is only one big downside in that they don't allow photographs inside the buildings. There area bevy of security people, who smartly stick most to the msot gorgeous rooms, and there are a lot of those. While super annoying, it probably did save me about 200 further pictures. I managed to sneak in a few, in unsurprisngly some of the lesser rooms, and the views from outside with the ornate carving, the well kept gardens and the Bosphorus to the side, were still quite good to capture.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Selamik and the Harem both had probably four to five just stunningly beautiful halls - well painted, great furniture, absurd roofs and chandaliers. The only thing close I've been to was Versaille, and it wouldn't shock me if this is just better. The Dolmabahce became the seat of the Ottaman Empire for it's last 60 or so years, and as I would learn from the Topkapi Palace, the Sultan glowed up in a big way. Truly it may have saved the best for last, as in the deep recesses of the Harem sat the Sultan's Great Hall, with a blue toned theme, giant painted porcelain vases, myriad chandaliers, and museum-like paintings on walls and ceilings. It had about five guards just itching to tell people to not take photos.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Painting Museum at the back serves essentially as an art museum, with about 20 rooms showcasing Ottoman era art - from a hall room converted into portraits of all of the Sultan's, to rooms showcasing art of the court painters, to ones of battles. It was quite good and maybe the single best lit art museum I've ever been to - each room fairly dark except for perfectly aimed lighting shining perfectly on each painting. Truly it was stunning. The whole Dohlmabahce experience was something else. The Sultan of the empire must've gotten jealous of hearing how every other European monarchy had far better digs than him - in this case a great example of Better Late than Never.</div><div><br /></div><div>For lunch, I made a quick stop to Ayasofya Kebab House - another parallel to my day last Saturday. Truly their Adana Kebab is the best I've had in my life. So juicy without going to the point of soaking bread or leaking. So perfectly spiced. A great sides of herbs, greens, red cabbage and onion all with a great sprinkling of turkish chili flakes. I'm sure anyone I recommend the place to would be surprised that I'm picking something that is in a true tourist trap location - just a five min walk from the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace, but the place deserves its 4.8 rating on Google.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Topkapi Palace - where the Sultan lived from basically the founding of Istanbul in the 1400s through to the completion of the Dolmabahce, if anything serves more as museum than a palace. The wonder here is the openness of the grounds, the great tilework and calligraphy in teh rooms, halls, mosques and towers (a stark contrast to the more secular grandeur that was the Dolmabahce), and then the exhibits that doubled as a history museum for life of the Ottomans. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were some jewels strewn in - one case being literal jewels with a nice collection of the finest jewerly, gold-work, chalices, swords and the like of the Ottamans. They may have waited a while to live in resplendent glory, but they dressed like it far earlier. The place is laid out in an easy to follow format, with three courtyards with areas on the sides that were either living quarters, special exhibits, or mosques. The Harem being a separate ticket off to one side. The last courtyard featured some excellent little "pavillions" (basically small rooms decked out in tile to honor various victorious campaigns), and views of the city.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Harem was of course far less grand than the Dolmabahce's, but nonetheless quite nice with open courtyards, halls and again a bunch of very intricate tilework. I think I would have been better off seeing this first - end it with a bang with the Dolmabahce, but in a way it is nice to go backwards in time as the day pressed on. The Topkapi also had a really nice audio guide - didn't bash you over the head with information, but gave good support on key atreas. Such as the large collection of Ottaman finery (dress, swords, jewelry, etc.) they picked abuot 10 items to give 45-60 second soundbites on.</div><div><br /></div><div>From there, I got an uber back to the hotel, quickly packed up my things (the 4pm late checkout matching well with teh 4pm closing time of both palaces), and found myself with a lot of time to spare given the flight to Cape Town is at 2am. I had a dinner at 8 that would be my final stop prior to the airport, so realistically had about 90 minutes to kill (given the driving times). I chose to go to the Craft Beer Lab once again - it being a less than 10 min drive from teh hotel and being a place that truly offered a wide selection of craft beers, even if none are on tap (seems like a common thing to be honest). I had both a nice dry IPA, and a stout, soaking in the last bit of Turkish drinking / socializing culture which I've come to enjoy quite a bit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner at Alaf was a unexpected joy. First off, it got me to a new part of the city - Kurucesme, well up the Bosphorus but on the coast. Bright lights, cool bars, a lot of fancier clubs. Definitely seems like a pricier end of the city, but one that housed some great views and great places, Alaf being one of them. A more earthy restaurant looking to showcase old cooking styles from across the entire country. I went with a tasting menu option which on its face looked like a 5-course meal, until I realized what I thought were a bevy of ingredients in one dish often was 2-3 dishes separate.</div><div><br /></div><div>The food was incredible - I truly think better than either Mikla or Neolokal (not to say either of those was not good or not worth it...). The place really was more inventive and playful say than the other two. I don't know if the tastes were as delicate or refined, but just as gastronomy forward. Couple of my favorite dishes was a kokorec (normally an offal wrapped in beef or lamb skin) turned into a mini burger, or a camel meat nata/pie, or a dessert served as a large chili but that really was chocolate and chili ganache coverd in a triple layered and frozen phyllo. Just incredible stuff. It was a great way to end my time in Istanbul and Turkey.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll cover the airport and my flight to Cape Town along with the whole entirety of the rest of that day in Cape Town separately.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-44141739999790298852024-02-21T16:06:00.000-05:002024-02-21T16:06:42.670-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 6 - Bye, Bye BeautyAs I write this from the Turkish Airlines Lounge at Izmir Airport (quick sidebar: better quality than the one in Istanbul's domestic terminal, and still having the weird coach bus to the airport setup...), I once again gave way too much time for transit to the airport and thereafter security and what-not. Izmir is the 3rd biggest city in Turkey, and the airport is quite large, but from what I can tell there are eight Turkish Airlines flights left in the day, seven to Istanbul and the first is two hours later than mine. Needless to say, I wasn't fighting foot traffic.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, because of this I had a pretty limited window to do things in Izmir before needing to head to the airport. The AirBNB owner allowed me to stash the bags in the AirBNB while he was having it cleaned, but also needed me to pick them up by 2pm - effectively the time I was going to do so anyway. This was helpful since the only left luggage place I could find on AirBNB that seemed credible was smack dab in the middle of the consumer center (the main area I've eaten in and went out at night), and the two sites I wanted to see were both walking distance from teh AirBNB.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first was their version of the Blue Mosque, which is way smaller than the Istanbul one, but if anything more blue, having about three different shade of blue tiles on the outside walls, dome and ceiling. The only negative being the inside was closed, but from outside it was pretty and situated at the top of the cliff right before by road a series of twists down to the sea level. From this high perch, the view of the city around it was quite picturesque. </div><div><br />Similarly so at the next site, which is the Izmir Elevator (Asansor) which takes you roughly from the level of the mosque, if not a bit lower, to about 200 feet higher (I entered from the bottom). It is crazy how hilly this part of Izmir is and any time you go up, there's always seemingly another daunting series of steps that could take you higher if need be.</div><div><br /></div><div>The bottom of the Asansor was interesting in its own right, a weird little bohemian village of 2x3 blocks that randomly popped up aroudn the elevator - truly out of nowhere given teh blocks surrounding it were all relatively residential. The places were all empty (it was about 11am) but looked intriguing were I had more days in Izmir. From the top you can once again see the true size of Izmir, extending seemingly endlessly on both directions. What's a bit sad is from most of these common vantage points, be it up top here </div><div><br /></div><div>The last stop in Izmir was lunch, but on the walk to Tavaci Recep Usta (the lamb spot I went to my first night), I went past a small pottery shop with the owner/potter in there workjing the wheel in the back. In the end I bought to small espresso cups, $9 each - far more reasonably priced than I was expecting. A small last gift from this wonderful place. Lunch itself was great too - knowing it would be a while before my 9pm dinner, I ordered their version of Adana Kebab (excellent, just the right amount of spice) and their braised lamb over a bed of rice dish that they served with this lovely hard to place sweet salsa that worked perfectly well. Tavaci is undoubtedly a popular place but has earned its reputation.</div><div><br /></div><div>So did my dinner at Mikla - one of Istanbul's other michelin starred spots (if you're wondering why the jump straight from lunch to dinner, realize that again I ended up at the airport too soon, then from landing to taxiing Istanbul's giant airfield, to a traffic filled drive to the hotel, not much went on between these times). They have a 7-course listed tasting menu, with snacks and petit fours thrown in. It is on the top floor of an office building, with a great view of the part of Istanbul featuring the Blue Mosque lit up well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The menu much like Neolokal's was heavy on Turkish ingredients made in incredible ways. What I really loved about this place, as a nice comparison to Neolokal, was it was fairly easy sounding dishes just made to perfection. I should say, I'm not saying this is better than Neolokal's more haute cuisine. But like say Mume in Taipei, or even Pujol in Mexico, these are dishes that when I receive them I coudl conceivably make a version of - it just won't be as precise, as flavorful and as complex in ingredients or taste. My favorites were their monkfish over a bed of lentis and other seafood in a sauce, the main of the braised lamb with basil cream and their desert, humorously titled "Birdshit" that had pomegranete and pistachio gelato with a single phylo layer of baklava fried perfectly. A really nice meal, worth the price I would argue.</div><div><br /></div><div>After dinner was two cocktail stops, first a last go aroudn at Flekk, where the bartenders knew me by this point. It was surprisingly full for a Tuesday night, but there was a barstool at the bar, which anyway I prefer to a table given I can interact with and watch the masters at work. The other was Geyik, which is what was too busy on Saturday night - and only say 50% less busy now. Again just a solitary barstool available, though the crowd thinned out a good amount by 12:30 (1:30 being last call). Geyik is probably a little more buttoned up - more intricate drinks, more variety. Flekk I think going for more fun and vibrancy - again two nice complimentary spots both situated at either ends of Taksim's lovely late night scene.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before I wrap, I want to talk a little about Izmir. One thing I will say: in the city limits itself there is not all that much to see. The sights are limited, unless we count Ephesus, or Pamukkale - both about an hour away. Now, both fall within my radius for counting them in my city rankings, but where Izmir nevertheless shines is the vibes of the city itself. If anything, it is more polished, more welcoming than Istanbul (though less choice, I geuss). The restaurants in the main area are great. There were various other neighborhoods of more family style or doner restaurants as well (including a great Lahmacun spot - O Lahmacun - that I went to yesterday). The nightlife is fairly contained in one part of town but has everything you would want. A great place to just spend time in. Till next time, Izmir.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-33882834499162777612024-02-20T07:00:00.001-05:002024-02-20T07:00:24.703-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 5 - EphesusToday was Ephesus - a great memory from our tour in 2007 that has wisped away with the winds of time in the seventeen years since (it still astounds me I consider Turkey a trip I took basically as an adult - maybe the first one - and it was 17 years ago). The day started with needing some audibles, as I found out the day prior that my Viator booking was cancelled as the tour operator didn't have enough people. I got a lesson in economies of scale as that tour which was $90 included transit to and fro, plut the guided tour of the site and the entry fee - stuff that I would've spent double booking independently (in the end skipped the guide for the audio guide which sufficed). My first google was "can you visit Ephesus for a self-guided tour?", as that came back a resounding yes I swerved to that approach.<div><br /></div><div>The plan initially was to Uber there and then go bus back (requiring a quick taxi to Selcuk - the nearest actual city). Instead, just as we left Izmir proper the taxi driver proactively looked to make a deal - for basically what amounted to the price of my tour, he would drive me there and back and wait. This actually was less than 2x the fare (taxi is far from the best option) but more of course than if he were to just drive back solo, so it was a decent compromise option.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, Ephesus - the old Greek turned Roman city that has been uncovered but left mostly to the imagination apart from some amazing sculptures. I remembered really liking it in 2007 without a great memory of what it was. Certainly, the fairly staid entrance area and parking lot, with far less shops and stalls than I would've expected (more than made up for at the exit...), and the middling ruins right past the exit, got me a bit worried. Luckily, the place is more than that initial area.</div><div><br /></div><div>One interesting aspect of Ephesus is the myriad signage in the place expertly tells you what used to be there but then has renderings, both 3D and floorplans, of what that old structure is. In most cases on parts of that remain so it requires a bit of imagination - but I am glad they've resisted any urge to recreate them unfaithfully or quarry newer rock to make them more complete. It makes the areas that are complete all the more special.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the first fun site is an amphiteater which I thought was cool until I saw the map and saw the outline of the far larger amphiteater to come. Anyway, this one was nice too, and then we arrived at the long colannade down to teh main area, with the Celsus Library tri-level facade gleaming in teh distance. That was the first image I truly remembered of the first trip - it was still about 300 meters away, but the excitement was then growing.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way was a weird box structure into the hill, marketed as the "Terrace Houses", and when you enter into that you go into another world. It's a large area of about 4-5 levels built into the hillside, that were all houses of the wealthy in the Ephesus days. Some areas were quite well restored with wall and floor mosaics and frescoes and paintings and the rest. This area was intentionally well preserved to show what the life of the people really was like, given that most of the key sites elsewhere are business and cultural buildings.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Celsus Library itself aws incredible, three story facade with statues and intricate marble work everywhere. No idea why they put so much effort into a library, to be honest, but it resulted in one of the more memorable and picture happy spots. Next to it was a large open area with half-ruined columns along the borders of a square which was The Agora. Here is where you wish they maybe took a bit more liberties reconstructing stuff, but it still worked </div><div><br /></div><div>Down another colannade was the Odeon Theater, the real amphiteatre, which is just spectacular. It's imposing enough from the groudn level, but when you go in and start walking up the rows of semicircles and get a sense of what a tremendous sight it must've been 2500 years ago. I would put the capacity at say 8,000 or so. You could climb a long way up and they still cordoned off the top tranche of rows. It is crazy that this exists and I'm sure was sold out often.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next to the Odeon theater are more ruins of this and that, and a newly built musuem that basically offered the same AV-tied experience I got in Istanbul for the Hagia Sofia, but this time recreating life in Ephesus during Greek and then Roman rule. It was quite cool and really well done, my only complaing being it was way too short for the price (20 minutes, $20). It did do a nice realistic version of what the main drag must've actually been like during the heyday of Ephesus, and similarly the Amphitheater and the Terrace Houses, but I would've loved a bit more on the Library and a few other sites. Still, it's a really cool concept that Turkey has really leaned into.</div><div><br /></div><div>From there we exited the main Ephesus area and my taxi driver took my up a ton of twists and turns up to the House of Mary, the purported last home of Mother Mary before the assumed into heaven. There's admittedly not a whole deal of confirming details around this, but Catholicism has more or less agreed on this (cimapred to Orthodoxy, where there is a house in Jerusalem that purports the same). It's a small location, quaint in keeping with it being just the place Mary lived out the end of her life, but it was a nice pilgramage all the same.</div><div><br /></div><div>From here we headed back to Izmir. I was hoping first to get lunch in that area but because this was the low season (granted, there were quite a lot of tourists) the restaurants near Ephesus were closed and the taxi driver was itching to get back to town. I had him drop me off on the main seaside drag in downtown Izmir (Alcanscak neighborhood), heading for Balikci Hasan, a fish restaurant. One of dozens that line this street, but from really quick research seemingly one of teh better reputed ones. </div><div><br /></div><div>The place was empty (it was 3pm) so I got the food out quick, a really nicely, calmly, grilled bream, skin-on, with salad and a really nice sauce you could put on the fish. This is helpful since I was surprised at the restraint of the grilling - not much spice, just the fish grilled to close to perfection. I was already planning to go to one of these spots later in the day, but Izmir is known for its seafood, so I didn't feel too bad going to the same type of spot twice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Following this was a nice stroll on the shorefront road, which has been turned into a thin park with bike lane, jogging lane, a bunch of sculptures and great views of the giant Bay of Izmir, with another neighborhood (Bostanli) seen on the other wide (admittedly you can drive there on a ring road). Izmir is every bit as beautiful as I remembered it being. It is also a lot more cosmopolitan, as my first stop after the walk would attest to.</div><div><br /></div><div>La Puerta may sound like some Spanish-themed bar, but go inside and its a large, perfect little gastropub, with a beer garden type setup in the back, brewing its own beer and selling more Turkush craft beer on draft. I tried two of their IPAs, neither was amazing but both plenty good enough. The scene, given it was post-work on a Monday, was also quite interesting to watch and observe - just young (20-40) Turks enjoying life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Same with post dinner, where I mostly replayed my night the day before, but prior to that I went to Deniz Restaurant, arguably the most famous, popular fish spot no the drag (at least from my Google research). It was much like the lunch spot except bigger (it sits at a corner of a block), and way busier - granted I came at 8:45pm. Same type of main course where you go pick a fish, they weigh it and then prepare it for you. This time I went a bit bigger with a seabass that they grilled and served butterfly style, with a turkish chili oil on the side, and it was again just really fresh and well grilled. They don't overwhelm with fanciness, just a place that knows certainly well they can cook fresh fish great.</div><div><br /></div><div>Replaying the rePUBlic Beer Bar and Studio House wasn't the most inspired choice, but given what they offer is what I wanted most it worked perfectly. Both were consdirably more full than the night before despite me getting there later. I had two half pour beers, one stout and one winter ale, at the craft beer spot - both were excellent. Sadly, I can't seem to find a craft beer store that sells beer bottles or cans to go in Izmir, but I've slapped it on my list for Istanbul. At Studio House, I went more conventional withc cokctails, taking their take on a negroni and old fashioned, both excellent. The place really is surprisingly upscale and exact for what is the mdidle of an alley in the party/late night drag.</div><div><br /></div><div>The final stop on my last night in Izmir was at Adres Belli Irish Pub, on the same alley as RePUBlic - packed with people again just having a great time - some playing darts, four couples alternating at foosball, and drinks and food flowing at what was by then 12:30 on a Monady. I had a couple more craft half pours, did some people wataching, chatted to a couple interested locals and then went on my way, another fun night in Izmir down. I have to say, despite coming here for what arguably are teh two worst nights of the week to judge a city's late night scene by (Sunday, Monday), Izmir held its own easily. If anything, makes me more concerned about how rough it may be on a normal weekend.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-90119490335989585092024-02-19T09:22:00.001-05:002024-02-19T09:22:41.827-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 4 - Travel DaySo, one of the few things I hate most about any part of a trip is if there's a period of unknown. My biggest unknowns on this trip were the massiveness of the Istanbul airport. It's located 40-min away from teh city with no traffic. It seems huge, on its face - and it very much is. Granted, the flights chronicled in this past are domestic in nature, but I had no way of really predicting the (1) security on the way there, and (2) the wait at baggage claim on the way back. <div><br /></div><div>For this purpose the days got a bit squished. Not that I didn't do a lot and enjoy every bit of it, but as I sit here writing the first part of this after my first experience with domestic travel in Turkey, I definitely gave too much deference to it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the day began with a misty morning, and with me doing reverse math back from a 6pm flight which had me needing to get the cab at 3pm. This was tough - especially since my planned site for the day was the Topkapi Palace which given potential wait times couild be rushed. Instead, I decided to defer that to Wednesday, couple it with the Dolmabahce Palace on teh same day. The mist forced me inside as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The main tourist activity of this day was the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, based in the shadow of the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace. The museum is well laid out, and even despite having a couple of exhibits closed, was a very good time. The ground floor had a series of Sarcapohogi picked up from around Turkey and Syria (oddly), and then a long stretch of sculpture including room after room of busts from Ancient Greece adn Rome. The top floor also spoke to this part of Turkish history. The museum basically stops at the fall of the Roman Empire.</div><div><br /></div><div>And why not, if anything Istanbul's long history as an important part of this world under its past names of Byzantium and Constantinople get often overlooked. This museum was a testament to that era, from the sarcaphogouses, to a room of all types of tiny coins that was quite cool to see, to a great exhibit around the 10 layers / iterations of Troy in the bedrock, fit with a (fake, I'm assuming) giant stone in teh middle with the layers visualized for everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div>The sculpture section was something else though. You can right up close to them in a way that is more intimate and fun than in the large museums of a London or a Paris where they're all on a pedastal. Sure, none are world famous, but many so intricate. There was a wall of busts of various emperors, including 4-5 of good old Augustus Caeser, teh one at the time of Christ. The museum as a whole was excellent.</div><div><br /></div><div>As was my lunch ad Hocapaca Pidecisi, a whole in the wall family run Pide spot that is super well reputed in the travel blogosphere, and for graet reason. Simple place, simple picture menu of their various Pide's, with what I assume are lifelong business partners if not outright family making them in a giant tile oven in the ground floor. I got one with minced lamb (the standard) plus bacon, aptly titled the "Sinner". This is a special spot.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was also on the path back towards my AirBNB that took me near the Egyptian Bazaar, which is basically a giant spice market. Now, it was a nice stroll but my one question is that each stall sells basically the same thing. The same collection of 15-20 spices, plust 10-15 herbal teas, plus various desserts. They're all interchangeable. How any differentiate themselves is super lost on me. </div><div><br /></div><div>The time at the airport was quite sad, if only that I needn't leave that much time. The domestic check in counters and security were fairly empty. It left me an hour in the Turkish Airline lounge, which was strange. The lounge was fine but nothing special (assujming this is because it is the domestic one). The weirdest part is that they have a system where you can board from teh lounge by bus that takes you to the gate. Which is nice, except they take you basically at the last possible moment where everyone else had boarded. Luckily I had space for my carry-on. Not a fan of this service, less so the fact that there was seemingly no other option.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon enough we were landing in Izmir and after a weird AirBNB address probloem, I had checked in and ubered to their main restaurant & bar area, which borders the sea. I had vague memories of really enjoying Izmir 17 years ago, and so far this was more than proving itself. The calm air, the suniness (after two dreary weather days), the great life in the city even it being a Sunday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner was at Tavaci Recep Usta, which is a white table cloth, giant hall serving lamb in about 40 different ways. I had two styles, one a take on an Adana Kebab but crunchier, served with a great sauce to make little pita's with. The second was a braised lamb on a hot griddle with light veggies. Super interesting, not at all what I would've pictured as Turkish, but it worked nevertheless. \</div><div><br /></div><div>After dinner was getting lost ambling around various alleys that go from the seaface road (all restaurants) to a open esplanade that is pedestrian only two streets in. There is about 4-6 alleys in a row that are all a series of bars of all types. One road is primarily clubby, which I'm going to pass on (too much Bangkok going on in these bars, if you know what I mean...), but the others were quite lovely. First a place called RePUBlic Beer, which was a beer bar that served about 50 various Turkish craft beers. They have a pretty good craft scene going on, even if it is hard to find the stuff conventionally. Had both a "cold IPA" (not sure what made it col - other than it was very chilled, but so is most beer), and a really nice Stout. </div><div><br /></div><div>They were closing early (Sunday), so I ambled a couple alleys over to Studio House, which was a multi level bar that had some good cocktails - a rarity from what I could tell in Izmir. The place was giant, with a large downstairs (like below street level) at the back end with an open cieling. A really nicely adorned spot deep into teh alleys, not what I would've expected to be hidden down these alleys of Izmir.</div><div><br /></div><div>Similarly was my late night food, which was a kebab rapped in pita with yogury and a red sauce on top - so simple but so good, and a five minute walk from my AirBNB (which is a 10-min uber drive away from the main night areas). Super iunexpected, but a great way to end what is probably a late night given its a Sunday (1am in bed). Big day tomorrow with Ephesus ahead, but a great start to my little jaunt through Izmir.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-48806523525268397612024-02-19T01:23:00.007-05:002024-02-19T01:23:57.974-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 3 - The Mosques<p class="MsoNormal">In the end I don’t have all that much time in Istanbul itself
– leaving for Izmir tomorrow evening, and heading back on Tuesday night. That
said, it’s not like there’s a week’s worth of stuff to do in Istanbul anyway. Today
was the day for the mosques, and a few other places of interest. The two
imposing, regal, hauntingly beautiful domed mosques that rise up from the Bosphorus.
I remembered going to each of them last time I was here in 2007, but not well
enough to not be surprised by their beauty again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first stop was the Blue Mosque, noted for its light blue
giant dome and six minarets. There’s no fee, but a winding line to get in. Once
inside though, it is among the most beautiful places of worship. Non-Muslims
are kept to one side, but enough area to walk around and stare at too many to
count vantages of the ceiling artwork. It is truly hard to describe. The multiple
levels of domes, the insane amounts of calligraphy and artwork on each, the
brightness of the colors. It is all quite intoxicating, craning your neck upwards
and taking it all in. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the middle of the area where we can walk there is the
courtyard, where you can get a truly up close look at the minarets and the
imposing nature of the Blue Mosque. I’m a person who takes too many pictures by
default, but probably never more so than here. I never want to forget the beauty
of this building. Now, I’m sure I felt something similar in 2007 and then very
much did forget the beauty of it. But now with probably 80 photos of evidence,
I for sure won’t again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next stop after a walk through Sultanahmet Square was
the Basilica Cistern, a giant underground Cistern that served as a primary
source of the city’s potable water for centuries. It has been excavated and
turned into a haunting museum of Istanbul’s past. The place is really well laid
out with a winding steel grate path over the remaining bits of water, and
through the hundreds of columns. It may seem a bit repetitive, but there were
two cool aspects of how they laid out the space that kept it lively. First was
the flood lighting which was turned into a mini show, changing colors every 4-5
minutes, from very dark with a hint of white light, to green to orange, making
it where you got different views at different times. Second, they had
interspersed a bunch of sculpture work by local artists throughout, turning it
into a mini-museum. Overall, a really nice experience for what is a fairly
staid spot (given most European cities probably have/had a similar thing).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next was lunch, which was ,e taking a bit of a risk. There’s
a bunch of restaurants in this area, but it is a heavily tourist area so the
restaurants are generally similarly so. You know the set-up – some outdoor and
indoor seating, a picture-card menu facing the street, 2-3 men hounding
passerby’s (I exaggerate, generally less hounding here than other places I’ve
been). Hard to really tell one from the other. One spot caught my eye though.
The Ayasofya Kebab Restaurant was the place, with its staggering 4.8 rating on
Google, with 3000+ regiews. Now, I was of the opinion that this was probably some
stuffing of the ballot box, but the real reviews (the ones with actual
sentences and pictures) all talked about how great the food was.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They were right. I had an adana kebab plate, which may have
had the best adana kebab I’ve ever had. So juicy, so perfectly spiced, so well
grilled. It was inconceivably better than adana kebabs in the US that are generally
overcooked and dry. They also had really nice salad, herbs and onions, with
cuts of pita that you could make into mini wraps. All around great. The whole menu
looked appealing. I played it down the middle and was rewarded big time. The only
disappointment was the Kunefe dessert was merely good but not great and nowhere
near as good as Kunefe I had in Jordan. The brilliance of that adana kebab was
good enough to make up for it though.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last strictly touristy stop of the day was the Hagia
Sofia mosque, the oldest and most famous through its history. I did remember
this one, but even this was overwhelming on a second visit. What has changed in
the interceding 17 years is that it is a fully operational mosque and to
enforce that the ground floor is now limited to only Turkish Citizens – I guess
the thinking being limiting it to only Muslims is hard to police. Everyone else
goes straight to the second floor that overlooks the cavernous mosque. Of
course, the Hagia Sophia for centuries was a Catholic begat Christian church,
so they’ve nicely left/recreated some of the mosaics of Jesus and Mother Mary,
along with the again giant, stunning Islamic calligraphy. The walk around the
Hagia Sophia gave countless views of the cavernous atrium and main area. It’s
not as stunning as the Blue Mosque, but you can almost feel the history of a
building that dates itself basically back to the founding of Constantinople as
the head of the Roman Empire (granted, the original building from those times
was knocked or burned down a few times).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The ticket for the Hagia Sophia Mosque comes with a ticket
to the Hagia Sophia museum. That was an experience, even if I don’t know if it
qualifies as a museum. The star bit was a 30-minute audio tour through the Hagia
Sophia’s history, done in a group. Basically you go through a series of about
20 rooms, all with giant video screens playing out the images, while batches of
people hear audio (in their required language) concurrently. It’s a weird, but
ingenius set-up that results in a really nice AV-enabled tour of the cool
history of the building, through its first being built and then rebuilt under
Justinian, to the conquering of Sultan Mehmet and the Ottoman Empire. It was
certainly strange, but super effective of giving you the history both of the
building, and of Byzantium begetting Constantinople begetting Istanbul in
parallel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From there, the tourist part of my day was finally done, in theory. Not sure if you call strolling through the buzzing, giant, maze-like Grand Bazaar to be tourist or shopping or what. Certainly there were a ton of tourists along with me, but more locals (it is a Saturday, after all) and I was there to shop - get a few souvenirs for back home. There were about 4-5 different types of stalls, each having seemingly hundreds of options. There was one with spices, deserts, teas, ones with tile & metal work, ones with artwork, ones with stone handicrafts, and ones with jewelry. Maybe an additional one where they were selling Turkish lamps (something I'm curious about getting but don't know realistically if it will hold up). The sheer vastness is quite awe inspiring to experience, same with the little niceties like a team vendor strolling through giving people tea. All in all, one of the better giant bazaar/shopping experiences I've had.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Continuing the good experiences was dinner at Neolokal, one of the finer Istanbul restaurants. Perfect setting, in the second floor of an old converted bank building, the space had modern touches and floor to ceiling views of the Bosphorus, with what I think was the Hagia Sophia shining brightly. The space was packed, and the meal super professional and tidy. Eight courses, all well presented and plated and tasting excellent. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The place leans into its name, with all the ingredients coming from different parts of Turkey, which the waiter was happy to explain each time. Baby shrimps from the Adriatic Sea, larger shrimp from the Aegean Sea, lentils from here, chilies from there, lamb from the next one. The place really just featured, focused and stressed Turkish nature and abundance. None of the dishes were that revolutionary, except for one mushroom dish that featured mushroom ravioli (as in the ravioli is made from mushrooms, and stuffed with mushroom) with lightly grilled morel mushrooms and like eight other preparations of mushroom, served on a plate made of soil. Top notch stuff. The rose-flavor inspired dessert was also a favorite as well.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After dinner, I attempted to go to another cocktail spot, Geyik, but it was packed more than any spot I've seen. Seemed like a great place, it was seemingly all locals (I shouldn't be surprised about this given Feb is not tourist season), and no discernable way to order despite pretty clearly people being able to drink in the area outside the space. So instead I did what I normally don't like, and went back to Flekk. It was more crowded than yesterday, but less than Geyik and the bartenders remembered me and brought me to a seat at the bar where I tried a few more of their concoctions. From there, went to a couple clubs, neither packed but both good (one being Temple Club again, which was, glad to report, about double the crowd of yesterday but still less than the crowd should be). This will probably be my last super late nigth till Cape Town, so I enjoyed it well and ended with an Adana Kebab wrap as a parting gift, as one should.</p>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-80461040632259148162024-02-19T01:23:00.006-05:002024-02-19T01:23:48.874-05:002024 Feb Trip: Day 1-2 - Turkey Awaits<div>This is a weird one. After last year's trip to Cape Town, where I tacked on four days at Victoria Falls with my parents, I realized that there is a great bit of luxury in adding a few days on to my normal President's Day trip to the Western Cape. Make it a week, make it a full vacation rather than a perverse, singularly weird version of a long weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year, I had a hard time picking where those additional days would be. First I tried for Madagascar, but that wouldn't work. Then Dubai, but that seemed too surface and didn't get the approval of friends. Finally, we settled on Turkey - Istanbul and Izmir namely. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had gone to Turkey - 17 years ago. There's a weirdness in saying that, both given (a) how little I remember of that trip given I was 16 (turned 16) and (b) it was more than half my life ago. I should remember it more, I guess. I remember Istanbul enough that when I first did my Top International City rankings in 2013, I ranked Istanbul #3. I've kept it number three, despite not having been there since. More than anything in this trip, I'm super curious if that ranking and feeling will get reinforced, or if I will realize I was way off on it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the trip started with a late upgrade to business class, and a quick trip to the Polaris Lounge in Newark. It was nice as always, just wishing I could've had more time. My only regret with picking Turkey as my first stop, and a route that takes me first to Frankfurt - my dreaded Europe red-eye. Luckily I have a three hour layover in Frankfurt, and a short hop to Istanbul to try to sleep enough. The flight was great, with a nice set of wines and and my choice of a schnitzel-type main for our 3-course meal hitting well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The second fligth from Frankfurt to Istanbul (with a brief trip at a nice, but stripped down Lufthansa Club) was pretty harmless. In a full economy flight, but a nice meal of a turkish beef kebab with some veggies as the food, and decent movies to watch. Adding in some sleep and before I knew it we were landing at Istanbul's massive, and I mean truly massive, airport. What was funny is the airport is giant and we walk down these cavernous hallways from teh gate to the arrivals area, and the immigration area is "be careful you might miss it" small. Once past there and to the baggage claim and again you are in a cavernous hall.</div><div><p class="MsoNormal">The first impression of the drive from the airport to Istanbul
was quite mixed. Mostly because of the weather, a misty gray that would remain
for the night (but not really bother anything from occurring). Also your
passing mostly empty fields and industrial area, but at some point you get over
a hill and see the giant city of Istanbul splayed out in front of you, and it
is quite mesmerizing. The endless minarets from the various mosques – the giant
Blue Mosque standing out among all of them. The maw built into the hills around
the Bosphorus. I got an up close and personal view of this on the drive to my Airbnb,
which is up the hill from the river level. What I would soon learn is that
there are two levels, essentially, the river level and then everything else.
While there are some ups and downs in the everything else, it si more or less
flat after you get past the 300 steps. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My dinner the first night was at Murver, an upscale
a-la-carte spot about a 20 min walk (from river level). The walk over was nice,
past the posh Galataport mall / open area, which was really well lit and shiny.
Murver was on the rooftop of the Novotel, and had a really nicely designed menu
of about 10 starter options and 10 mains. This is where coming alone has its drawbacks.
I took two of the starters, a confit duck in harissa mix, which was nicely
sweet and really good as a dip for bread, and then a fire roasted celeriac
which some tangy Turkish sauces. Both great, and not too big to where I could
still enjoy my main of braised beef cheeks with beet root, which was out of
this world. Even the dessert, a black cumin and tahini ice cream with pumpkin
cake, was awesome. These are the types of places I don’t go to enough, favoring
the combination of tasting menu spots w/ food markets to balance cost, but it
hit the sweetspot.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also hitting the sweetspot was Flekk, a bustling cocktail
bar on the edge of the buzzing Taksim neighborhood. Taksim is a bit mainstream
(but also where a lot fo the clubs are), but Flekk was a bit off the main drag,
next to a bunch of other bars & coffee shops. At first it was too crowded
where I had to get my first cocktail outside. Wasn;t an issue since there were
about 3-4 groups waiting, like me, and a slew of smokers coming in and out (lot
of smoking in Turkey). After about 25 min I got a spot at the bar, which was
great to watch the Flekk mixologists work. Nothing too fancy or crazy – just really
good cocktails all featuring their homemade bitters of every conceivable
flavor. My favorite was a mezcal based horchata type cocktail – too sweet to
have more than one, but that one was the best glass of milk I’ve ever had.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From there I went to Taksim proper, getting to walk down a
massive promenade that is made pedestrian only at night. It was a buzzing place
of life – tons of people of all ages mixing (this was around midnight). I went
to two places mainly, both of which were really well set-up with great music,
but sadly too empty. The first was called Temple Club, which had all the
elements of a great EDM spot. Basement of a restaurant, with a dark but super
airy room, with an affordable bar and a great DJ. At most there were 20 people,
but usually less. I asked the bartender what was up and she said that despite
it being a weekend, Friday is just generally far less crowded than Saturday. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After going to another spot called The End, I think I have
to agree. Granted, The End is closes at 8 am while most other clubs close at
4am, so I think it si truly catering to people looking for a last stop. Same
setup with a good DJ and a good space, but not enough people. Running into
random people in both spots and around that main Taksim drag gave some vitality
to the night anyway, as did the perfect doner to end it off. I lived off doner
kebab and adana kebab on my list time in Istanbul. I waited until 2:15am to
have one this time, but man was it so damn good. After seeing it in Korea,
Japan, Bangkok – Doner/Kebab/Gyro is the world’s late night drunk food, so
there’s a certain bliss in having it in its true home.</p></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-34809813886128397162024-02-12T22:42:00.003-05:002024-02-12T22:42:10.349-05:002023 NFL Playoffs: Super Bowl LVIII Review<b>Player of the Game: Steve Spagnuolo (DC, KC)</b><div><br /></div><div>Ok, not a player, but this Chiefs season is defined by Spags and his defense every bit as much as Mahomes. In the AFC Championship Game on the road and then the Super Bowl, the Chiefs went 17 straight possessions without a TD. In that time, their defense gave up 13 points. That is absurd. Spags's defense was brilliant all game. His blitzes in the closing downs at the end of regulation and then OT won them that game. Period. Every bit as much as Mahomes. He's now the first coordinator to win 4 Super Bowls. His magnum opus will always be Super Bowl XLII, but 1% behind is what his defense did these last four games against four of the best offenses in the NFL. Masterful stuff from top to bottom.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Mahomes was damn good though. It took a while to realize it, but the second that the 49ers front finally slowed down in the 3rd quarter, Mahomes exploded. Game ended TD-FG-FG-TD, with some incredible late down moments. Mahomes read each blitz perfectly. He used his legs excellently. He had a few fuck you throws like the 52-yard bullet to Hardman. He was in total control. He hadn't yet had a great Super Bowl - last year's came close but also involved big punt returns and defensive TDs. His first win was arguably his 2nd worst playoff game of his career except for that 3rd and 15 and like two other throws. This was about as good as it gets.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Goat of the Game: 49ers OL</b></div><div><br /></div><div>For maybe the fourth time in five years, the Super Bowl really didn't have a true goat (the exception was the Bucs win over the Chiefs). Every unit played reasonably well. Why I'll single out the 49ers OL is they lost all day against the Chiefs front, and then the times Spags dialed up blitzes, in clear blitz situations, they left unblocked man after unblocked man. Yes, it is tough to read through the muck at times, and Spags unleashes some diabolical shit, but they were overmatched at key moments. Also, while people will point to the 49ers "abandoning the run", in reality they were getting very little push.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Runner-Up: Kyle Shanahan's Game Management</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I don't even think the biggest issue is his decision to take the ball first in OT. By all analysis the choices is basically 50/50. But this was not Kyle's best effort otherwise in some game decisions. It isn't surprising he basically threw in the towel on the drive right before the half - but 20 seconds and two timeouts is absolutely enough time to get a FG opportunity. The Chiefs, quite memorably, did it with 13 seconds and two timeouts. Then was his inability to adjust to the blitzes which lead to the play that would've probably won them the game - had they picked up the 3rd and 4 at the 2:00. Honestly, I think maybe they should've run the ball twice in that spot, as the 53-yarder wasn't a gimme either. Would force the Chiefs to take one of their remaining timeouts anyway. Then there's the call to kick the field goal on 4th and 4 in the OT drive. Arguably you should go for it there, being the downside leaving the Chiefs just needing a FG, but backed up at their own 9.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Surprise of the Game: Chiefs Receivers</b></div><div><br /></div><div>They weren't great, but other than MVS's weird dance to turn a 6 yard gain into a 4-yard loss, that was about the cleanest, best game the receiving core has played in a long time. MVS caught his other targets. Hardman caught deep balls and the game winner. Rashee Rice continued to be dependable. No drops, no misread routes. The receivers were certainly capable enough, and gave just enough more to add to Kelce's great 2nd half to pull it out. There's something so poetic that the two TDs were by MVS and Hardman.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Chiefs Linebackers</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The Chiefs defense is great. Their front is great (more to come on that), with guys like Pennel stepping up alongside the constant of Chris Jones. The secondary is dominant (more to come on that). The forgotten unit is the linebacker core, but they were amazing today. Nick Bolton led the team in tackles and was a side by side force. He picked up Kittle well in coverage. Leo Chenal forced the fumble on the first drive, after the 49ers had to that point gone right down the field. They were great agaisnt the run all day. Understandably so other parts of the defense are more hyped, but this was a solid game by the entire 11.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Disappointment of the Game: 49ers Injuries</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's rewind to the moment Dre Greenlaw took that ill-fated step that cost him his achilles. It was right after the 49ers downed the ball to the 2-yard line up 10-3 with the Chiefs not doing much and Travis Kelce having one catch for one yard. Immediately on the next play Kelce goes for 9 yards. They abused anyone who wasn't Dre Greenlaw, after he and Warner were flying around all over. It was beyond Greenlaw though, with Kittle hurt midway through and seemingly playing teh entire game at half pace. Deebo missed some moments. The 49ers were supremely healthy coming into the game, playing basically every expected starter back from Week 1. Their injury luck turned at the worst moment.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: The OT Coin Toss Discourse</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I don't get the criticism here at all other than just relying on tropes like "Mahomes is guaranteed to get a TD" or whatever. All the analysis says it's about a 50/50 call, and in thsi game will the Chiefs had scored on three straight drives, two of those were field goals. The 49ers defense had just been on the field for a long time. It was defensible. The only thing I'll note is the logic of "we'll get the ball 3rd" isn't super true if both teams score TDs - in that case the Chiefs should go for 2 for the win (or loss). But this is a 50/50 call, though I'm sure because of this huge failure the next few times a team is in this spot in the playoffs, I'm sure they'll choose to kick.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Team Performance of the Week: Both DLs</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Both teams fronts were dominant - though each notably slowed late in the game after a draining five quarters of football. The only real separator is when teams had to turn to the blitz, the Chiefs shredded the 49ers blitzes and the 49ers couldn't handle the Chiefs. But back to the lines. Chris Jones was dominant, but Karlaftis was excellent and Pennel stuffed a ton of running plays. The other side though was even more shocking for three quarters - this was the 49ers DL we expected when we see Bosa-Hargrave-Armstead-Young. All four were dominant at times, locking down the Chiefs in the red zone, forcing Mahomes off his spot. Rushing with so much discipline. It wore out in the 5th quarter, but can't blame them for that.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Chiefs Secondary</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Finally let's get to the last element of the Chiefs defensive brilliance - their secondary which was great apart from basically two plays (Sneed's personal foul, and McDuffie's holding penalty). The Chiefs secondary was amazing, locking down Deebo and Aiyuk, doing a number on Kittle, and only beaten by surprising games from Jauan Jennings on the depth players. McDuffie and Sneed were incredible. One of my favorite clips was McDuffie basically running a Deebo inbreaking route for him, requiring Samuel to very clearly interfere with McDuffie to avoid a pick. Just an incredible performance by probably easily the league's best secondary.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Team Laydown of the Week: The non-specialist parts of the 49ers Special Teams</b></div><div><br /></div><div>When we think about Special Teams, we fixate on the kicker, punter, gunner and return guys. Those guys were all good. Wishnowsky punted great. Moody drilled two 50-yard field goals, including for a moment the Super Bowl record. Chris Conley as the gunner was exceptional, with the coolly downed punt at the two, and a blistering hit on another punt. But the other parts? Disasters. The blocker that had the ball hit his leg to fumble it back to the Chiefs was bad enough. The blocked extra point was even worse. There was no outright bad unit, but half of this unit was truly awful.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Runner-Up: Nothing...</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Truly, I have nothing for you here. Overall just a great game, even if it took a while.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Storyline that will be Beat Into the Ground: Mahomes GOAT Talks</b></div><div><br /></div><div>You would think, one of teh leading Brady haters, would love the fact that people are starting to ask the question in real terms. And yes, Patrick Mahomes is very much on the track. But also, I'm more annoyed because it's becoming a quick distillation of "The Ringz" argument again, with Patriots fans and idiots staking ground on the "Brady won 7!" position. But can't we just enjoy Mahomes without having to make GOAT comparisons already? He's an insane player, he's way better than Brady was at this same stage of having three rings in their career. He has put together the best 6-year stretch of QB-ing ever. These things are not debateable. The GOAT claim won't be certain for another 8 years at minimum, so let's just enjoy the damn ride.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Storyline that Should be Beat Into the Ground: Andy's Place on Mt. Rushmore</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Andy Reid is 4th all time in wins for coaches, behind just Shula, Halas and Belichick, with 284 wins (Belichick is at 334, Shula at 347, Halas at 324). This is a ridiculous run, which was well aided a long time before he got Mahomes that kicked his legacy into overdrive. But more than the wins, and now the rings (tied with Walsh and Gibbs, with just Noll and Belichick with more), we should remember all of it. The offensive innovation that was clear from his Eagles days. The incredibly deep, strong, successful coaching tree he has. And yes, now those three rings. Andy Reid is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. On rings alone he'll probably never match Belichick, who certainly had higher highs, but it's really hard to make the case for anyone other than maybe Don Shula as being better than Reid in teh Super Bowl era. Others had similar playoff success (Walsh, Noll) but not the sustained run. Where Andy Reid is now is incredible.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Storyline that Should be Beat Into the Ground, Pt. 2: The Snakebit 49ers</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, Andy Reid should give Kyle Shanahan hope that there may be better days ahead - as his reputation now is quite similar in a way to where Andy Reid was in the Eagles days - a guy who lost all teh big games, had memorable coaching issues in big spots. He found his talisman in Mahomes. Shanahan still needs that. But more tahn anything, this run for the 49ers is so tough to look through. If we go back five years, we have two Super Bowl losses where they led by 10 in each game. Two more NFC Championship losses, of which they led by 10 in one of them, and had their QB injured on the first drive in the other. Extend further back and the 49ers get three straight years of making the NFC Championship in 2011-13 only to lose twice in heartbreaking fashion, and lose the other year in the Super Bowl by three. Yes, they were rough in the middle, but that's 13 years with seven trips to the NFC Championship Game, going 3-4, and 0-3 in the subsequent Super Bowls. No team has gone so deep so often in a sustained period without winning a title. It's shockingly now been 29 years since their last ring. Longer than the much more mocked Cowboys. Yes, they've gone deeper way more often (going back that far adds another NFC Title Game loss in 1997), but it's been three decades and a bunch of heartbreak along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Insanely Early Super Bowl LIX Prediction: Ravens 27 Packers 21</b></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-63682151668853001672024-02-07T23:06:00.001-05:002024-02-07T23:06:27.857-05:00Re-Post: The Nostalgia Diaries, Pt. 16: Super Bowl XLIII<div><i>It's 15 years since this game happened - meaning it's also 15 years since I graduated high school. It's 15 year's since I became an "adult". Not sure why this is hitting me harder than when it was 10 years since all that happened - but maybe it's because 15 years before 2009, I was three years old. I don't remember that time. I'm old man. I write below how my interest/obsession/love with the NFL peaked in the 2008 season and maybe reached it's true apex in that Super Bowl. There's definitely truth to that. What's a weirder question to ponder is did my life in a weird way reach an apex as well. I don't think it did, but I'm also not ashamed to say that at that specific moment in 2009, with school effectively an afterthought, a solid group of friends, and yes the addition of alcohol, things were pretty damn well perfect.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>______________________________________________________________________</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div>On paper, Cardinals vs. Steelers was a strange Super Bowl. The Steelers were undoubtedly a good team, but a bit underwhelming one given how the AFC tturned out after Tom Brady's week one injury and Peyton Manning's soft end.<br /><br />The Cardinals were the first 9-7 team to make a Super Bowl since 1979, a team that outscored their opponents by one point, a team that lost games by stupid-bad scores in the second half of the season.<br /><br />I've talked many times about my love for the 2008 season, a year defined by imperfect teams, flawed units, with a few great ones (like the Steelers and Ravens defenses) sprinkled in. What I haven't done much, however, is talk about the playoffs that capped that season. Probably because it didn't feature that many special games before Super Bowl XLIII. There were a few nice ones - be it a fun NFC Title Game between a 6 seed and a 4 seed (neither won ten games), and the defensive bash-fest that was Ravens @ Steelers, Pt. 3.<br /><br />But that Super Bowl, then. A great capper to a great season of football, a season that would forever change my connection to the game, and a Super Bowl that would be a memorable experience for all different reasons.<br /><br />I think in my larger piece about the 2008 season, I mentioned that it was my senior season of high school. I had about as serious a case of senioritis as possible, touting my (relative) freedom to drive where I want, flout the system when I want, and do what I want. Ironically, I got better grades that year than my Freshman or Sophomore years, but that's a story for another day.<br /><br />One of the benefits of being a senior, especially in an era before there were online systems that tracked grades and attendance that parents could watch over, was the concept of Senior Cut Day. For us, it was two days that the senior class would decide to take off. I completely forget when the first day was. The second day, I will never forgot. It was the Monday after the Super Bowl.<br /><br />I was sick the couple schooldays the week before the Super Bowl. I think it was a regular flu or head clod. It was bad. I was barely recovered when Super Bowl Sunday hit. I probably should ahve just sat at home. I didn't. I enjoyed a great game, great friends and a truly great time. It was the conflience of a great year at school, and a great year of football, both memories that will never leave me.<br /><br />I won't get into all the details,. but my firends and I all went to one of our friends houses for a party. This wasn't some raging kegger with people getting drunk and passing out and banging and all the rest. It was a relatively tame 10-15 friends get together, have a few beverages, watch football, light fireworks, and all the rest.<br /><br />I don't truly remember what we drank. I remember fighting with myself if I should, given the sickness I was just coming out of. But I knew the next day was off, a surprisingly great Super Bowl was on, and there was no better time.<br /><br />The game was wonderful, with so many 'holy god' moments. Be it James Harrison's interceptipon return, something I think we debated the merits of for the entire halftime show. Be it Larry Fitzgerald's amazing second half, especially that catch and run splitting the middle of the field. And then of course that final drive. By the time Santonio Holmes made his tiptoe catch (which I still haven't seen one definitive view of), we were all a bit tipsy, and just spent a long time hoo-ing and hawing at what ridiculousness we just saw.<br /><br />After the game ended, 10pm EST, the real fun began. Though looking back, my interest, my love, of the NFL might have hit its peak in that single moment.<br /><br />I probably watched more football, or at least loved watching football, more in 2008 than any other year. Be it the Ravens vs. Steelers regular season games, or the Titans run to 10-0, or the great Week 16 'Win and your #1 seed' Giants vs. Panthers game, or the Colts amazing run from 3-4 to 12-4. The whole season was great, and it ended with a bang. At that moment, my football life was as happy as it would ever be.<br /><br />In some ways, so was a lot of my personal life. Sure, the luxury of being gainfully employed, continuing friendships, etc., has its spoils, but so too with those things comes their associated challenges. Here we were on a lonely February in winter, a Sunary of all days, as far as lonely as possible, living in our personal dream with no school to wake up to the next day.<br /><br />We set off fireworks that night. Real fireworks - big ones. Fireworks that definitely woke people up - pity those that did not have senior cut day the day after teh Super Bowl. We ran back to our friends house, staggered, humoured, elated. This was life. Football was a part of it. Maybe too big a part of it, but the greatness of the moment helped fuel an amazing night.dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-34779960888408166602024-01-29T21:00:00.003-05:002024-01-29T21:00:28.876-05:002023 NFL Playoffs: Championship Games Review<b>Player of the Week: Steve Spagnuolo (DC, KC)</b><div><br /></div><div>Because of what he did to beat the 2007 Patriots, I've always been a Spags stan. It crested during last season when he took a fairly middling talent team through a great playoffs. I'm so glad Spagnuolo is finally getting his flowers this year, and his defenses performance against the Ravens was masterful. Yes, it was helped by some odd playcalling, but he loaded the box and dared the Ravens to throw. They did, and his team responded by owning what had been a good OL, covering receivers well and turning guys like Drue Tranquill into superstars for a day. Spags's defense has been great all year. I lost my mind when people were saying "this is the worst team Patrick Mahomes has had." Worst offense? Maybe. But best defense, led by a masterful Spags at his best.</div><div><br /><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>Runner-Up: Christian McCaffrey (RB, SF)</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>It really could go to a number of 49ers but McCaffrey to me exhibited teh msot calmness and poise throughout the 49ers huge comeback. His runs were excellent, against what had been a very good Lions rush defense. His play on the edge, with stiff-arm after stuff-arm, was something else. He consistently got 8 yards when others would've gotten two, or 20 yards when others would've gotten 8. He's the most important part of that offense - the 2023 version of Marshall Faulk for the Greatest Show on Turf Rams. The numbers didn't overwhelm, but he was the one guy the Lions had no answers for the entire game.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Goat of the Week: Lions's Hands</b></div><div><br /></div><div>All this annoying discourse about 4th down decision making could have been avoided if the Lions, up to that point playing basically a perfect game, had remembered to catch the ball. Josh Reynolds was by far the worst and most impactful offender - his drop on the first 4th down in the second half, taking away what would've been a sure 3-points in teh 24-10 game, stemming any early momentum. Then of course his drop on 3rd and 8 on the drive after the 49ers tied the game. The 49ers had the momentum, but Reynolds found himself wide open for a 15+ yard gain - which could've reset things. Instead another awful drop. And of course who can forget the drop and facemask pop-up by Viledor. That one was bad execution adn terrible luck that it turns into a 50-yard completion, but in that second half, the Lions hands just disappeared.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: The Ravens Poise</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>OK, this is a weird once since it isn't exactly a player. I thought of giving it to Zay Flowers, who ahd the most impactful mistake with the fumble at the 1/2-yard line, but that was also just a great play by Sneed. But how about the taunting penalty, or him cutting his hand in disgust. There was the Jackson forced throw into triple coverage after quick-snapping the Chiefs. There was the personal foul by Kyle Van Noy, one fo the more experienced Ravens in big games, which turned a likely Chiefs run-out-the-clock into an eventual field goal drive. The Ravens just seemed over-amped to their own harm.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Surprise of the Week: Lions Secondary</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Odd that I'm picking a performance from a losing team, but I want to throw one out for the Lions oft-maligned secodnary. Sutton had generally a good game, forcing some tight window throws to Samuel and Aiyuk. Various guys did well on Kittle - his one good play being when covered by a linebacker. On the 50-yard catch by Aiyuk, it was great bracket coverage. The Lions secondary didn't lose this game. I guess you can say they dropped two additional interceptions, so didn't help "win" it enough, but for what was the clear weakness of the team coming in, played out closer to a draw than you would expect.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Chiefs Running Game</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>This shouldn't be a surprise by now. Pacheco was incredibly important in the Chiefs title run last year, but his ability to churn out 3-6 yards so consistently is such a hidden weapon for the Cheifs. It helps when Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith also had their best games of the year in opening up slight lanes that the hard charging Pacheco did well to work through. The Ravens had a great rush defense. The Chiefs consistently won that battle. If anything, they didn't run enough in that second half, after the Ravens got a beat on the Chiefs passing game.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Disappointment of the Week: Raven's Abandoning the Run</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Pretty obvious one here. I'll never understand them calling just 6 runs to running backs in the game. Gus Edwards had one carry for 15 yards in the first half. It isn't like the Chiefs were stoning every run play. It wasn't like they weren't getting quick pressure on Lamar. I get that they were loading the box, but the Ravens are the best rushing team in the NFL and just abondoned it cold. Just bizarre from Monken and Jackson.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: The 4th Down Discourse</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>It shocks me that so many people seem to actually be seriously criticizing Dan Campbell. Firstly, he has said many times these are "gut" decisions for him and not some by-the-book analytical play. But anyway, he has been aggressive his whole tenure. His kicker is not all that good, so bypassing 47 and 48 yard field goals is hardly surprising. On one of the 4th downs Reynolds should have caught it and converted. It bums me that so much of this is due to result over decision. If anything crystallizes this point it is that the most unconvetionally gutsy 4th down call was the Ravens going for it on 4th and 1 from their own 34 in the first quarter - Jackson got 20+ yards and not one peep after that. Just be consistent.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Team Performance of the Week: Chiefs Secondary</b></div><div><br /></div><div>What the Chiefs did in that game was stunning in its completeness. Everyone in the secondary was amazing. Sneed and McDuffie with great coverage throughout - erasing everyone but a few big plays by Zay Flowers. Tranquill was excellent as a semi-spy, semi-blitzer. Justin Reid was fantastic as the last line of defense and spot TE-coverage duty. They kept things in front of them. They tackled well. The Chiefs have invested a lot in that secondary the last few years. They were already good heading into this season but took it up a notch, no more than their performance to put the clamps on the Ravens - fit with the biggest play of the game in Sneed's punch-out.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Runner-Up: 49ers OL</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The Lions best strength on defense is its DL. They had a few nice moments particularly in teh first half, such as the bull rush that led to the pick, and a couple stuffs. On the whole though, a generally maligned unit in the 49ers OL (Trent Williams excluded) won that matchup throughout. The running lanes for CMC. The great protection in the second half for Purdy, even doing well to clear paths for him to step up and run. They'll need this level of OL play to have a chance in the Super Bowl.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Team Laydown of the Week: Ravens OL</b></div><div><br /></div><div>A week after road-grading the Texans, teh Ravens OL suffered all day. Ronnie Stanley had some awful moments, including the strip-sacks where he was beaten almost instantly. Then comes Simpson being bull rushed into Lamar repeatedly. They had a tough time picking up blitzes. Jackson was pressured under two seconds repeatedly. Sure, maybe they could've had more hot reads and what not, but the Ravens OL that was such a strength all year picked an awful time to have their worst game.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Runner-Up: Nothing (yeah, it was that type of week)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Storyline that will be Beat into the Ground: Chiefs Dynasty Prospects</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The discussion has already started - this is the game the Chiefs can cement themselves as a dynasty. Forget that they really already are - six straight trips to the AFC Title Game, four to Super Bowls, two titles. Win or lose to me this is a dynasty. But anyway, what I more hate about this discourse is we're starting to see the first time the "Is Mahomes > Brady?" question being raised and unsurprsingly this has led to some truly awful discourse. I do want to see a back-to-back winner for the first time in 19 years. I do want a clear true dynasty. But also I hate that this storyline will dominate the two weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Storyline that Should be Beat into the Ground: 49ers Pass Rush, Where Art Thou!?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>There will be a lot of mentions of Super Bowl LIV as we head into this game - a game that the 49ers were controlling at 20-10 into the 4th quarter, to that point forcing Mahomes into legitimately a bad game. How? Well their pass rush consistently won down after down through most of that game. Some Mahomes brilliance - and Garoppolo misses - turned it all around, but the 49ers showed in that game how they can slow down the Chiefs. The 2023 49ers, at least the version from this last 6-7 weeks, is a far cry from 2019 though. Bosa may be the same, but Arik Armstead has been relatively quiet. The Chase Young experiment is working yet. Jovan Hargrave has been quiet. There's no Deforest Bucknor this year. Then again, the pass rush came to life in the second half of the title game. The 49ers have to hope that was the rebirth of what should be a huge asset for them. If that continues, it can really turn the Super Bowl around.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Early Super Bowl Prediction: Chiefs 27 49ers 23</b></div></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-44844920909233229032024-01-27T22:15:00.000-05:002024-01-27T22:15:36.556-05:00New York City vs London - The (Subjective) Objective Head to Head<div>Just spent a week in the UK for work, first an internal training a few hours outside London, and then a few days in London itself. Today as I write this, I'm in the air on the way from London back to New York. It struck me on days like today that I am doing something in one day that about 100 years ago would've been mind blowing - being in London and New York on the same day.</div><div><br /></div><div>London and New York run the world in a way - even in the globalized world we live in right now. There's a study/panel called the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Research Network, a blue-ribbon type deal that every 5-6 years will categorize the cities of the world into groups of how integrated and connected they are to the global world economy. While the study is a bit business-focused (vs. say culture or tourism), it is basically a proxy of "how important and meaningful is this place". The highest level is Alpha++, then Alpha+, Alpha, Alpha-, Beta+, Beta, Beta- (then on and on). There are seven Alpha+ cities in the 2020 release: Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Fair enough. There are just two in the Alpha++ bucket - unsurprisingly it is London and New York City. There's a lot of, simply put, "coolness" being in the standout two most important cities in teh world in the same day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've long talked about my relative cool feelings around London compared to other leading world cities - this is moreso from a tourism, culture, anthropological way. I've ranked it in the low-teens of the Top-60 Cities (International) list, and fundamentally don't think it should be higher. But anyway, what I really wanted to do is just compare these two Alpha++ cities head to head. Basically, of these two, which do I find to be just the better city.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, as an American who grew up in New Jersey, now works in New York, this is an obvious decision. Spoiler Alert - New York City will win. I have about 15-20 different dimensions that I'll split 10 points among the two cities. They won't all go to New York. There will be some that London wins in a rout. But I think I can go fairly clear here and list out the reasons why I prefer, nay I just can effectively state, that New York is the superior Alpha++, global megacity - whether to live, to tour or to just be....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Public Transit (Metro v Subway):</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, let's start out with one that London wins, though I would argue by not as much as people would think. What London's Tube absolutely has over New York is the cleanliness of the standard tube station, and the reliability of its lines. Far less delays, far less random weekend diversions. That said, I do think New York's lines and layout is far better (way too many times in London you have to change lines for what should be a fairly straight path). And I think the actual subway cars are, at this point, even. New York City has the awful C-line trains, but their no worse than just say the Piccadilly line. The good trains in New York are, I would argue, better than London. Also, major bonus to New York's system being 24/7 - because as we'll get to in the next section, above ground public transport is worse in London.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>London wins 6-4</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Driving / Street Layout</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a huge rout for New York City, to be honest. London's street system is the most ludicrous set of turns and curves and random splits. It takes forever to go anywhere, and again routes that as the crow flies are perfectly straight, end up being bizarrely turn-heavy. What makes it worse is there's zero coordination between traffic lights. New York doesn't have good traffic, but the parallel grid in Manhattan, and largely parallel grid everywhere, is so superior. As is the light coordination. Every true New Yorker has that experience in a cab and uber late at night when they can go from 50th street to 20th street on one go because the green's line up. I've never had a good driving experience in London. I've had many in New York. This is easy.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 9-1 (only not 10-0 because at rush hour NYC traffic is as bad...)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Historical Sights</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, easy one for London here. To me historical has to mean before 1950 or something, so NYC does have the Empire State Building, St. Patrick's, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and some smaller sites within the city, but that's nothing compared to London with the Parliament Building, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and so much else. London is just a city that has been in its standing for far, far longer than New York City has. I'm not going to argue this one further here.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>London wins 8-2 (as you'll come to see, there's not really going to be any 10-0's)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Museums</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe my first controversial pick - but New York City wins this, for one huge reason: the great museums of London are a pointed reminder of teh unabashed raping and pillaging of the world by the Crown under Colonialization. Now, it's not like when you see an Egyptian exhibit at the Met in New York it's because New York "discovered" it - but at least we didn't steal it in an era when we colonized Egypt. The British Museum is one of the great museums in the world - but also is a telling reminder of how awful the Crown was to the full world. Anyway, I would almost argue New York City could win this anyway. The main art museums in New York (The Met, the Guggenheim) to me are just flat out better. I prefer the Natural History Museum in New York to anything in London. On merit alone New York would squeak it out - add in the history, and it's a no brainer.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 8-2 (would've been 6-4 if not for, you know...)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Walk Around during the Day</b></div><div><br /></div><div>New York is a nice city to walk around in, but the concrete jungle of it all, and the parallel-ness of the layout can get tiresome. In London proper it is not. The architecture of the buildings, the rows of rows of ornateness, the history teeming from the walls. It all adds up to a great city to walk around. Now, pretty much any European capital is (again, why I ahve places like Paris, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona ahead of London on my city rankings), but London has this. New York City just doesn't.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>London wins 7-3</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Walk Around at dusk & night</b></div><div><br /></div><div>New York comes back here with a vengeance. At night, the concrete jungle turns to lit office buildings and brightness that gives solid truth to the "city that never sleeps" of it all. There is truth to that. The old buildings of London recede into the background. The brightness of New York, the life of it at night is just superior to London. It's a bit of a mirror image here, but an important one to give credit on both sides.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 7-3</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Food</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I know many are going to disagree with me here (including members of my family) but I honestly think New York City wins. For one reason: South & Central America. If that continent didn't exist, maybe you can edge towards London, but even in that case New York City has great cuisine from every culture around the world. Yes, Indian food is better in the UK (again, colonialism!) but there's damn good Indian food in New York City, and I would argue better Japanese, Thai, Korean food in New York. If we just talk about the local cuisine, you can keep your tea & crumpets, but there's a reason we all laugh at British food. You can deride American food if you want but as a standalone it is simply a better cuisine. And finally - it might be changing slowly, but the wealth of Latino immigrants has resulted in incredible Central & South American cuisine, from street food, to hole in the walls to sit-down to tasting menus. That is something London simply does not have. I think it's close, but the better food from that Continent swings it for me.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>New York City wins 6-4</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fast / Late Night Food</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know if this is as controversial, but New York City in my mind wins here. Both have a plethora of the world's late night good - gyros & kebabs. London does have the doner (so prevalent in Europe) but the carts of New York more than hold their own. New York City also has pizza - which is just something that London can't match in any design, especially since legitimately good, renowned pizza spots stay open late. Both have traditional fast food about equally (won't ding London that a lot of those are American chains...). London's only unique factor is fish and chips, but pizza way outweighs that.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 8-2</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beer / Social Drinking Scene</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Another spoiler - this is my biggest win for London, mainly because they have the pub culture which there is just no equivalent in the US. Yes, the craft beer in the US is better, but there's a reason most of the mainstream beer spots in the US are pubs. But they don't have the spill-out-to-the-streets, the revelry, the singing, the fun of it all. The after work to the pub is probably my favorite aspect of all my work trips to London over the years. New York City got a taste of this during the pandemic when outdoor drinking was more allowed. It was great. It should come back. It went away and London retains its spot pretty easily.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>London wins 7-3</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Party Culture</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Big, Big, Big win for New York City, Granted, I haven't gone out super-late too often, but there is a squalid-ness to the London club scene, and sparse lack of late-night cocktail scene, that New York City just hammers away at. There are so many cool art spaces w/ DJ spots in New York, or world-class cocktail spots that stay open till 3/4 in New York City. London shuts down at 3am - but post say 1am it is mostly dingy clubs that are too chav-filled and poorly maintained to really compete here. Also, the crowd in London doesn't know how to handle their booze past a certain time - the streets of soho wreak of piss in spots because of this. Big win for New York City.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 9-1 </b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Views</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This one is close. Neither have particularly great views within the city. Where I think London wins though is the low-ness of most of its areas mean you get views of the tall buildings, the main areas, from more parts of the city. If you take just the view of Manhattan from Hoboken or from Brooklyn it is better than London - particularly since most of the development in London is north of the Thames, but if you are in Manhattan itself, it becomes a bit too urban maw too quick.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>London wins 6-4</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Main City Squares/Circles</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Gonna nudge New York City here - taking its collection of all the Broadway intersections with Avenues, be it Columbus Circle, Time Square, Bryant Park, Flatiron, Washington Square over London's Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, St. James Square and others. Trafalgar might be the best out of all of them, but I would put the next 3-4 as New York City spots. Columbus Circle is underrated in its awe. Flatiron is a perfect urban spot. And yeah, Times Square gets a bad wrap, but since Giuliani it has been kept really clean, and its brightness and life is still enthralling. It's comparison point is Piccadilly Circus, which is a pale, pale, pale imitation that is leaning into the worst aspects of Times Square without any of the good ones.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 6-4</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Outer Boroughs</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Big win for New York here - but I'll admit I'm probably fairly unqualified to talk about London's areas outside of the main Cities of London & Westminster. Their doing ok to rebuild out the docklands, and Kensington is nice and whatnot, but Brooklyn is world renowned as a place of cultures, arts, waterfronts, neighborhoods. Queens has its moments. I don't think London is markedly worse but I also don't think London has anything quite like Brooklyn.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 6-4</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Parks</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh I would love to give it to New York City, especially after the cleaning up of Central Park but I just can't reasonably do so. Central Park has some amazing areas. The big parks in Brooklyn are wonderful. But I can't in good faith say any are better than St. James's park (yeah, the adjacent royalty stuff is there) or Hyde park. New York City is a greener city than people give it credit for but there's a difference between a decently green city and London.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>London wins 7-3</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bridges</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm talking here about the beauty of the bridges more than the actual utility of them. For London you get all the bridges that cross the Thames, led by the stunning Tower Bridge. For New York, you get the various bridges in and out of Manhattan and a few other notables ones (Verrazano, Guwanis) led by the Brooklyn Bridge. I think London squeaks this one out but might be the closest one that we've had so far. On the London side, they have the single best bridge - the Tower Bridge is just an incredibly picturesque and memorable spot. Few of the other bridges are even close, but they all have amazing views and are easily walkable. New York City has probably my #2 and #3 with the Brooklyn Bridge and the Verrazano (which has such a regality to it), but the rest are all fairly staid, and I have an unnatural hatred for the George Washington bridge.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>London wins 6-4</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>CBD / City Center Skyline</b></div><div><br /></div><div>London's skyline is getting better. With the Shard, whatever that Walkie-Talkie building is, the other tall spots in Canary Wharf and the City of London and what-not - it is not a bad skyline, arguably the best in Europe. It isn't close to New York City son. Some of the Asian cities may have overtaken NYC by now, but few have the collection of buildings, in multiple areas, than New York City's downtown (complete again post Freedom Tower conclusion) and midtown, with the Hudson Yards redevelopment and other skyscrapers just adding to the beauty. You even get the great mix of old and new, with the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building still with good prominence. Few cities have the clustered brilliance of New York City.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City wins 8-2</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Relevance to World Pop Culture</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, walk with me on this journey for a second. Over the last 50 years, the world's axis turned to the US and moreso to New York City. Hip Hop / R&B / Rap has many homes - but New York is either #1 or #2 in that list. The art culture of the 21st Century has its roots in New York City. Fashion is far more prominent in New York City than London (though say a place like Milan still holds an edge). New York City is just the far more relevant place in the global pop culture, from movies to art to fashion to culture. It sets trends in a way maybe London did 100 years ago. This isn't close, and a fitting way to end.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>New York City wins 8-2</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Final Tally:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>New York City 98 London 72</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, it's closer than I even thought. I'm sure there are also a lot of fields I didn't really think about or consider. Cost of Living / Price being a big one - I probably should've noted somewhere that rent is far more ridiculous in New York City now, but day to day expenses are worse in London, particularly when adjusting for average income by job type in London being far lower than New York City. You can add different factors for days - the airport system arguably better in London, the music scene far better in New York, the play/theater scene a toss-up, etc. upon etc. Anyway, across these various dinemsions, I do think America's pearl is just that - it is the alpha of all alpha's in the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>London will never lose its relevance. Colonialism alone will assure that, as it is the guiding light for so many nations that spent centuries in squalor under English rule. It's location relative to Africa also will make it the go-to destination for a Continent (similarly USA / NYC is for South America, though a far less populated one). For all the years I've done my Top Cities ranking, I've made it international, and similarly rejected including New York City on my list of favorite USA / Canada cities - namely because I live in its metro area, I work in it wholesale. I've been there probably 1,000+ times by now. But I know it enough to know where it struggles and where it shines. New York City is the world's center now. Maybe 200 years that changes, but as long as English is the primary language of the World*, it will remain New York City.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>**Sidebar: I've long held that the reason English is the world's most prominent langauge, be it the world's most commons secondary language (i.e. the langauge most people would learn after their native tongue), and it being the language of comptuers, the langauge of media, the language of signage in airports, etc., is because of America being the prominent country in the world. Granted, America speaks it because of the UK (as does Australia, Canada, others), but the reason China teaches students English, the reason so many others do, is because it is the language of the USA**</i></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-43824453567811328952024-01-19T17:00:00.003-05:002024-01-19T17:00:25.019-05:002023 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round PicksNo time for lengthy explanations:<div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sat, 4:30 - ESPN</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>(A4) Houston Texans (10-7) @ (A1) Baltimore Ravens (13-4) (BAL -9.5)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Texans 17 Ravens 30 (BAL -9.5)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sat, 8:15 - FOX</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>(N7) Green Bay Packers (9-8) @ (N1) San Francisco 49ers (12-5) (SF -9.5)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Packers 23 49ers 29 (GB +9.5)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sun, 3:00 - NBC</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>(N4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) @ (N3) Detroit Lions (12-5) (DET -6.5)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Buccaneers 24 Lions 27 (TB +6.5)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sun, 6:35 - CBS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>(A3) Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) @ (A2) Buffalo Bills (11-6) (BUF -2.5)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Chiefs 20 Bills 24 (BUF -2.5)</b></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-66587148958448329892024-01-17T22:38:00.002-05:002024-01-17T22:38:50.411-05:00Re-Post: Nostalgia Diaries, Pt. 19: 2005 - 2008 Divisional Round & Region Band<div><i>Ahead of Divisional Weekend, I'm in an intreresting conundrum in that I might miss one of the games. Actually, probably better put that I might miss the tail end of the final game - with a flight to London on Sunday taking off at 10pm, more or less when Chiefs @ Bills should end. The last time I unintentionally missed part of Divisional Round weekend, was back in 2005-2008, when region band took over that weekend annoyingly three straight years.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Now, there are a few exceptions that I'm overlooking. First, in 2010 (so 2011 January), I was on the way back from India, but had my Dad DVR the games so I could watch them effectively live when I got home. In 2012, I rejected watching the Sunday games, too desolate after the Manning loss against the Ravens. In 2013, I intentionally skipped the Chargers @ Broncos game - too nervous to watching Manning (yeah, I was in a weird place....). I've intentionally missed various Brady/Belichick thrashings over the years (and one Brady loss, in 2021 to the Rams). But this is a first, where I want to watch all four games and I'm deathly scared the Chiefs @ Bills game will be close at the gun and me 35,000 feet above the Atlantic when it ends. It got me reminiscing about the last time this was a concern... so here we go....</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>******************************************************************************</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Divisional Weekend is the best weekend in the sports calendar. It's not even a question for the NFL, but even if you open it up to all sports, probably only the first weekend of March Madness comes close. Four great games, eight great teams. Some of the all time moments in the sport's history have come on that weekend.<br /><br />However, divisional weekend also matched up directly with the New Jersey Region Band - a prestigious tryout-only band that was the apple of so many musicianed eyes back in my high school days. Of course, I was in no position to say to my parents 'hey, I'm not going to try out for region band, to shine in something you've poured a decent amount of money into, because I want to watch football'. So I tried out. I made it (I was rather good at the old tuba). And I learned the early ills of DVR, and trying to hide an increasingly mobile world.<br /><br />Music was a big part of my high school experience. I started with the trumpet in 5th grade, playing that through 6th grade. I was decent, but not great. I decided then to switch to tuba, an instrument no one in my grade played - because then it wouldn't matter if I was good or bad, I would automatically be the best because I was the only.<br /><br />I ended up being quite good at the tuba, and parlaying my expertise to playing it in our school's full Orchestra ('band' instruments joined in Orchestra starting in High School) which itself led to both a series of amazing experiences (Orchestra trip to Vienna) and a love of Orchestral music that remains through to today.<br /><br />Anyway, back to region band. We used to try out in November or so, and if picked you would be part of a long-weekend practice and concert. It was all-day practices Friday and Saturday, and then a performance on Sunday, always overlapping with the best damn weekend in football. The hours practicing were excruciating mainly because it was slightly boring band music. I guess it is the life of a musician, but that life wasn't for me, especially when football was on instead.<br /><br />I still remember racing home after each Saturday practice, trying to catch whichever divisional game was on. During this period, we got a Comcast box that had DVR, so it made life easier to not miss the games, but then it also brought with it a now-endless challenge of trying to both watch games way after they happen and avoid any type of stimulus that could potentially give me information on who won.<br /><br />It wasn't always easy, and sometimes just outright failed. The worst moment was probably in 2007, when after our band's concert I came home, turned the TV on, but it was left on NFLNetwork, that was already talking about the Colts harrowing 24-28 loss to the Chargers - the game where Philip Rivers would tear his ACL and Billy Volek would lead a comeback. Now, in a way maybe it was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to avoid watching three hours only to have my heart-broken, but I wasn't ready for that drive-by.<br /><br />The year earlier, it worked perfectly when it had a lot of stakes, with me being able to watch the entire Colts vs. Ravens game on DVR when I returned home, enjoying every minute of that ridiculous chess-match. That said, I missed to many of the Sunday games. I missed most of the Colts loss to the Steelers, reaching home just in time to watch the fumble by Bettis and that ridiculously painful ending (still my 2nd worst loss as a sports fan - #1 being the Tuck Rule).<br /><br />Overtime, I've gotten much better at avoiding seeing what happens. Be it memorizing the buttons that need to be pressed to open a recording prior to putting the TV on, or putting your phone on Airplane Mode to avoid texts. There's been some times I've really stretched the limits, like avoiding scores when taking flights and only watching games days later (2010 Divisional Round, when I returned from India), or avoiding watching the 2013 AFC Championship Game by watching The Godfather, Pt. 2 instead.<br /><br />It all starts with those damn weekends in regional band. It's somewhat surprising those years coincided with my highest love - if not outright obsession - with football, which really wasn't a thing week-in and week-out until high school. Region Band still forced me to miss watching a bunch of games live, but it was the natural end result of being good at the tuba. And given what that led to in terms of the Orchestra side, a few all-day practices, and a few tape-delayed games isn't too much of a price to pay.dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-83089398424437072782024-01-16T20:39:00.002-05:002024-01-16T20:39:40.452-05:002023 NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Round Review<b>Player(s) of the Week: Jordan Love (QB, GB) & CJ Stroud (QB, HOU)</b><div><br /></div><div>It's hilarious how close their stats are that they ended up both with a 157.2 passer rating, basically each one incompletion away from a perfect 158.3 (Love had that before he was inserted back in). What's more crazy is how each got there so easily, blending hitting wide open guys (because their coaches did an amazing job scheming) and hitting some absolute dimes of the highest order of difficulty. Seriously, throws into tight windows, throwing guys open, hitting them perfectly in stride. All of it was just so commanding. Yes, the defenses gave them all the openings (more on that in a second), but these two guys cemented their place among the game's best young stars.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Runner-Up: Lavonte David (LB, TB) & Vita Vea (DT, TB)</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I could give this to many players on the Bucs defense, but let me give it to of the longer tenured guys, the guys that made the Super Bowl winning team churn, and came back to life here. David has been doing it for years that he's probably working up a reasonable HOF Case by now, and he was so spry, tackling perfectly, running through gaps, and generally ruin any plans the Eagles had at running the ball. Of course, if David didn't, than Vita Vea did as well. The giant man was every bit as big and brilliant as he was at his peak. The offense gets the headlines, and because the Eagles offense has been in a mess for weeks it's easy to overlook the Bucs defense holding them to 42 yards rushing and basically making them fully one dimensional from the first drive. That's a way to make a lasting statement.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Goat of the Week: All the Cowboys</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to like this Dallas team. I predicted preseason for them to make the Super Bowl. They dominated so many (admittedly bad) teams throughout the season. But the signs were there. Granted, I don't think anyone would've predicted an embarrassment of the highest order but Jesus that is what we got to a tee. Not even sure which side of the ball I want to place more blame on, the high performing defense that looked like it had never played a Lafleur defense before, or the offense that was so explosive needing to grind every yard against a generally bad offense. All of it was just disastrous for what almost certainly will end the Mike McCarthy era - an era I always thought was being too harshly criticized, but alas in the end all of those other people were absolutely right. </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Jim Schwartz</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>For the Cowboys, everything went wrong. For the Browns - while Flacco and his pick-sixes certainly didn't help, it was the defense that was so surprisingly awful in that game. Seriously, what the hell was that by Schwartz. I get that he never wants to really alter his scheme, but he seemed to have zero answers when his superior talent had a surprisingly quiet game. Garrett was locked up. The secondary was mostly useless. The secondary pass rushers were quiet. I feel bad I guess singularly putting this on Schwartz, but so much of that defense is based on the attitude of him and his coordinatorisms. That was just all so absent.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Surprise of the Week: Chiefs OL</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Chiefs win was so boringly dominant from teh get-go it was hard to really pinpoint any one area to focus on - but it did jump out to me over time how quiet Sieler and Wilkins were on the Dolphins front. They are nominally the strength of that defense (with Chubb and Phillips out) and were quiet. It's because the Chiefs much maligned OL came to play in style. The middle guys of Humphrey, Thuney and Trey Smith were all brilliant. Both in opening up lanes for Pacheco and keeping Mahomes relatively clean. The receivers still messed up, but in reality the biggest difference between the 2022 Chiefs and 2023 Chiefs in terms of output is their dropoff of the OL. This was a great sign, my only caveat being the Dolphins more or less decided not to show up.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Lions Red Zone Defense</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The offense went 3-3 on TDs in the Red Zone. The Rams offense went 0-3. That's the game right there. The Lions defense was the more surprising of the two easily - this is a below average red zone defense all year that got all up in its business in this one. The Rams run game did nothing in the red zone. They got pressure on Stafford at crucial times. Their much maligned secondary got hands on balls, contested fades and made life tough. It was a great performance by that unit where even one of those field goals becoming TDs could have swung that game fully.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Disappointment of the Week: Mike McDaniel's Creativity</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't want to kick him too much. That team was so injured it was always going to be uphill. But Jesus I've never seen such a fold down by a dynamic coaching style than that one. Just not challenging deep at all. So many third downs where msot routes were well behind the yard to gain. Just a fallow, flaccid performance by an offense that lit the world on fire. I genuinely like Mike McDaniel and wish him long success as a coach, so I'm truly hoping that this wassn't a season long culmination of people figuring his stuff out. I still think the future is bright, but that was just a disaster of a game playcalling wise as much as execution.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Eagles Offensive Adjustments</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The only reason this isn't a full on disappointment is I think we all saw this coming for a while, but it was still startling to see the Eagles have no adjustments, no plan, no well... just... anything. No answers for the blitz, no sensible hot routes, no in breakers, no anything of all the things that so many other teams have started doing. It was all just pathetic, and showcased nothing of the ingenuity of the team from last year. I guess it is just may come down to Steichen and Gannon secretly being geniuses and the brain drain being too tough to overcome.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Team Performance of the Week: Packers Skill Position Guys</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It wasn't all Jordan Love on that one, or even Lafleur. It was a team wide domination and every skill position player got in on the fun, from Romeo Doubs to Wicks to the two great young TEs and of course to the brilliance that was Aaron Jones. The Packers skill position players, Jones aside, are all super young and really untested. They grew along with Love all season long, and we saw it all in full degree in that one. Just an incredible performance from first drive to last by the Packers receivers and running backs. 500 yards of offense against a supposedly great defense. Pure domination.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Runner-Up: Bills OL</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Allen was great, Cook was great, but the OL was even better for the Bills. Grading space for Cook to run through time and time again. Did well to keep Allen clean basically all night as well. Yes, the Steelers were missing Watt which was a problem, but Heyward, Highsmith and others got nothing further as well. Ahead of what is going to be a far trickier challenge in the Chiefs front, this was a really encouraging sign.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br />Team Laydown of the Week: Eagles Tackling</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We can blame Matt Patricia for many things, and I think we all should blame Matt Patricia for many things. The defense got worse after he took over - for reasons that still haven't really been adequately explained (around why exactly we needed a DC change to begin with). But you can't blame Patricia for the ridiculous amount of missed tackling, bad angles and just general sense of "we don't want to be here." Even in the second half, when the DL showed some life with the three sacks and kept the Eagles somewhat in the game, the linebackers and secondary were just awful. The worst part is the countless times they tackled Bucs guys forwards, giving them an extra 1-3 yards consistently. Pathetic performance.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: Rams Secondary</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I feel a bit bad since they're definitely undermanned and were very outgunned against the Lions receivers, but man were the Rams secondary players just useless. Bad in man coverage, bad in zone, bad on tackling especially in run support. The Lions offense had everything going early on. Even in the second half when the Rams were slowed down, it was the pass rush rediscovering a bit of life and getting on Goff a little bit more than anything the secondary did. Brutal performance by what is the clear weakness of the 2023 Rams.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Storyline of the Week that will be Beaten Into the Ground: Chiefs @ Bills, Pt. 3</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, we get it. These two teams played an instant classic two years ago. These two teams played in the AFC Title Game the year before that. They've played in teh regular season three straight seasons, with the Bills winning each of those. But this game is so different than those others. First off, it is in Buffalo, rather than Kansas City. Secondly this Chiefs team is so different than the ones from 2020 and 2021. This is an offense getting buy on one guy's signature brilliance, but more than anything the Chiefs are a defense first team. It really will come down who wins that Spags vs. Allen/Brady matchup. Forget the Allen and Mahomes stuff.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b>Runner-Up: The rise of the Texans & Packers</b></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I get it, both of the young QBs guys are on epic heaters. Stroud had one of the more impressive rookie seasons ever. Love is having a 11-game run that evokes Rodgers. They also are on teams that lost a bunch of suspect games. Stroud was great against teh Colts in Week 18, but they were a terrible drop away from potentially losing their playoff spot to a Gardner Minshew led team. The Packers were 9-8, including barely beating Carolina. The teams aren't that great yet. The QBs are. The playcallers are excellent, but more than likely that was just two amazing games, and not some re-set of the entire NFL axis. Of course, what I love is both play their conference's #1 seed, giving me a chance to look really right, or just stupid, in five days time.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Storyline that Should be Beaten Into the Ground: Packers @ 49ers Redux?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In teh Aaron Rodgers era, despite the 49ers famously passing on him in 2005, the 49ers owned the Packers, beating them in the playoffs in 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021 - and a slew of other times in the regular season. If anything is going to cement that this is a new era of Packers football under Jordan Love, delinking itself from Aaron Rodgers, it is making this game even competitive. And the Packers have some of the pieces to do it. Namely, they have an offense with a bunch of movement, with an OL playing well, and a run game that can potentially do to the 49ers a bit of what the Ravens did. Let's not talk about the other side of the ball, but Rodgers rarely got to 20+ against the 49ers (garbage time aside), and here they should do at least that.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Runner-Up: Detroit, Sweet Detroit</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>What a perfect rebuild. 3-14 in year 1. 8-9 in year 2, including a hot end to the season, including knocking the Packers out of the playoffs in Green Bay. And then 12-5 in year 3, with home playoff games. This team jsut did it all right. And then after they get screwed out of the #2 seed on the eligible receiver nonsense, they get the Divisional Round game at home, getting the benefit of the first #7 over #2. And not only that they get what looks to be on paper the easier matchup. The Lions earned this. Jared Goff earned it. Dan Campbell, a coach so many mocked early on, earned this. They have a genuinely good team with a great unit (offense). They have great fans that didn't see a home playoff game for 32 years. It's all different now. It's all special now. Soak it up for seven more days, Detroit.</i></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-54477460818729939312024-01-12T21:23:00.002-05:002024-01-12T21:23:07.741-05:002023 NFL Playoffs: Some Random ThoughtsBefore the season started, I talked about how this was going to me my favorite season following the NFL in forever, mainly because a certain Thomas Brady was no longer around. He kept his word by not unretiring, and I kept my word by enjoying this season more than most. The boogeyman was gone, and no real enemy took his place. I loved the season following a bunch of different storylines. Yes, I have a soft spot in my heart for the Bills, but even their weird 6-6 start didn't dampen things. <div><br /></div><div>In the end, I am so ready for these playoffs as well. I'm going to eschew my normal picks and instead just give some random thoughts about what excites me, interests me, grabs me, about each game as I gear up for what promises to be my favorite season in memory.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sat, 4:35 - (A5) Browns (11-6) @ (A4) Texans (10-7)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>= I just love that the Texans are back in the 4:30 Saturday slot, just like it is supposed to be. The Texans have made the playoffs in their history in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and now 2023. Seven times, and seven times they've played the first playoff game of the run, the great 4:30 playoff spot. Even this time when this game does have some interesting juice, be it Stroud, or the Flacco renaissance, the others are all just better...</div><div><br /></div><div>= CJ Stroud is even better than I expected him to be. I was so hoping the Colts would get him, falling in love with Stroud watching him nearly beat Georgia in the playoff last year. Alas, he went to a division rival of all places. Let's see what becomes of Anthony Richardson, but no surprise for me. Him against this Browns defense is a match made in heaven.</div><div><br /></div><div>= While the Flacco story has been great, I think we're all overlooking the fact that he's still thrown ~2 picks a game, and there is a very good chance at some point in this playoffs he turns in a disastrous performance. Could easily be this week. I hope not just because I do want to see a potential Browns @ Ravens game for all the various storylines (Flacco, of course, at the top of the list), but I do think there is a chance this weekend just goes quite badly against a pass rush that should be healthy.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Browns 17 Texans 23</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sat, 8:15 - (A6) Dolphins (11-6) @ (A3) Chiefs (11-6)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>= I find it really weird the amount of Tweets I've seen this week of people, seemingly seriously, suggesting the NFL should move the game away from Arrowhead because it is going to be -4 degrees and around -30 wind chill. I get that -30 wind chill is definitely "dangerously cold," but NFL games have been played in the dangerous cold for years and no one died. One of my favorite games in memory had very similar temparatures, the famed 2007 NFC Title Game in Lambeau - and the cold is absolutely part of the reason it is so well remembered.</div><div><br /></div><div>= It is really strange to see this game as a Wild Card matchup given how great these two teams were early on, but here we are. I just wish the Dolphins were healthier. Even despite my soft spot for the Bills, watching the Dolphins at their best at the start of the year, with Tua humming, that offense so dynamic was great. The Dolphins are the rare team that had the league's best offense at one point in the season, the league's probably 2nd best defense at another (for like a week or two) but overall nothing close to either at the end of the season.</div><div><br /></div><div>= I'm so excited to see what crazy stuff Spags comes up with this playoffs. They truly need him to go off on one of his great runs this season. That offense is not recoverable this season, but the Chiefs have a Top-5 defense, relatively healthy and playing great over the second half of the season. So curious to see what he dials up for that OL and to stop Hill.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Dolphins 20 Chiefs 27</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sun, 1:00 - (A7) Steelers (10-7) @ (A2) Bills (11-6)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>= </b>Sean McDermott needs an apology from the general public. They scorched him after the Dorsey firing, which was coupled from that weird hit piece that probably rightly outed him as just a weird guy, but also made him out to be some sort of monsters. It's pretty clear despite him being blunt at times, the team loves the guy - and he is on a defensive coaching heater throughout this entire run, resembling his work with the 2013 or 2015 Panthers.</div><div><br /></div><div>= I don't think the Steelers have much of a chance but the spectre of a ton of snow definitely has me concerned. The one Bills weakness in reality at this point is their rush defense adn we just have to look back at last year in the divisional round to see how snow could hurt the Bills.</div><div><br /></div><div>= That all said, many teams in the past were great for multiple years, losing awful playoff games, only to finally win with their most middling team. Think the 2006 Colts, or the 2012 Ravens, or the 2020 Dodgers. It happens a whole lot. The Bills this year could maybe be the greatest case. Of course, they also have very much the ability to turn it over four times and lose 13-16.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Steelers 13 Bills 24</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sun, 4:35 - (N7) Packers (9-8) @ (N2) Cowboys (12-5)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>= I love the symmetry of the playoff matchups, with the the schedule having the 5-4, 6-3, 7-2 matchups on the AFC followed up with the 7-2, 6-3, 5-4 matchups on the NFC side - a beautiful little seeding palindrome. Nothing more to say really. Especially since I;m a bit surprised this is the afternoon game, with the Rams @ Lions being the nightcap.</div><div><br /></div><div>= I've talkeda bout the fact that the revenge game for McCarthy has been a bit understated. In terms of the matchup though, McCarthy offense, which is fairly predictable at times, is actually perfect to beat the weaknesses of the Packers defense. You can kill them over the middle of the field and by calling simple slats and in breakers and the like. Well guess what? McCarthy knows little else. </div><div><br /></div><div>= The Jordan Love era is so exciting to watch bloom. Yes, I'm sure for people that hate the Packers, it is maddening to see them go from Favre to Rodgers and now see Love already play this well. Still super unlikely that he gets anywhere close to those levels, but Love's season this year is oddly similar to Rodgers in 2009 (his first time taking the Packers to the playoffs). That's the real worry for the NFC, that come this time next year, the Packers fix their defense and this team is primed for a decade of dominance - again.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Packers 24 Cowboys 30</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sun, 8:15 - (N6) Rams (10-7) @ (N3) Lions (12-5)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>= It's so cool that the Lions are seen as a big enough story (plus all teh Stafford/Goff stuff) that NBC would choose this to be the SNF game on Wild Card Weekend. This is just an incredible matchup. All offense. All fireworks. Both defenses aren't that great. Goff to St. Brown & Williams vs. Stafford to Kupp & Nakua. Just perfect.</div><div><br /></div><div>= An underrated story to me is that this is the first playoff game at Ford Field. The stadium opened in 2002. I can't imagine another stadium in NFL history took so long to get its first playoff game. I remember when Reliant Stadium in Houston hosted its first in 2011 - that was 10 years into its life and it seemed like forever. This is over a decade longer, of waiting, of myriad awful seasons, of brown paper bags and the like. But it's here, and with an offense first, dynamic team. Just perfect.</div><div><br /></div><div>= People seem to be overlooking the Rams finished 7-1. Teams rarely make the playoffs after 3-6 starts. We see that stuff a lot when teams start 0-3 or 1-4, and this is later into the season to be three games under. To do that and end this good, especially with the one loss being in OT in Baltimore - tehre is a good chance teh Rams might be the second best team in teh Conference right now.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Rams 30 Lions 24 </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Mon, 8:15 - (N5) Eagles (11-6) @ (N4) Buccaneers (9-8)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>= I find it just absurd that I'm reading stories that Nick Sirriani might be coaching for his job. Granted, there have been crazier things, but this team went 25-5 over a 30 game stretch from the start of last season through the 10-1 start this year. Yes, things have gone to shit since, but you don't just fire a coach after one bad stretch.</div><div><br /></div><div>= That said, Jesus Christ is this defense indescribably awful since they switched playcallers to Matt Patricia. Ever since that late game TD drive allowed to Seattle, they've been arguably the worst defense in the NFL. Far be it for me to make your panic "break glass in case of emergency" move switching to the guy who is almost famous for how bad his defenses have been.</div><div><br /></div><div>= The Bucs honestly shoudl be favorites. The Eagles are reeling and somewhat injured. The Bucs are fairly healthy, and can take advantage of that paper-thin secondary of the Eagles fully well enough. The main reason I want to will that into truth is clear: it would be amazing for this crazy season, the one post-Brady, the one that I've loved more than any since probably 2013, to feature Baker Mayfield leading the Bucs to (1) more regular season wins than Brady did last year, and (2) further in the playoffs. All hail the Baker.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Pick: Eagles 20 Buccaneers 28</b></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-36639592273229791712024-01-08T22:45:00.002-05:002024-01-08T22:45:18.980-05:00NFL 2023: Post Regular Season Power Rankings & The Rest<b>32.) Carolina Panthers = 2-15 (236-416)</b><div><br /></div><div>A horrific season from start to finish mercilessly ends. One of the more interesting random things is this Panthers team is the first super extreme record in the 17-game era. Until now no one had gone worse than 3-14 or better than 14-3, but here we are with a team that never took a snap with a lead in the 4th quarter. I'll be interested who they go after this offseason - many teams will probably line up for Belichick, but certainly Tepper, after getting deservedly clowned all season, may open his wallet unbelievable wide.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b><div><b>31.) Washington Commanders = 4-13 (329-518)</b><br /><br /></div><div>Hey, here's another team that might go extreme on Belichick. More realistically though, their going to do some galaxy-brained move after bringing in Bob Meyers for some reason in the committee to help find a new coach. The roster tanked well so they have a lot in the cupboard to reload, and clear path to a new QB, so the future at least is somewhat bright.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>30.) New England Patriots = 4-13 (236-366)</b><br /><br /></div><div>I found it weird how confidently people were talking about that being the end of the Belichick era. Where there's smoke, there's fire, so I assume this is true. I also find it hilarious already one of the names that have bubbled up is Josh McDaniels. God, I hope the Patriots make that ridiculous decision. I said when Brady and Belichick split that I found myself taking the side of Belichick. Still true now as well. I hope Bill goes somewhere to coach Herbert and the Pats cast their lot with McNasty.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>29.) Arizona Cardinals = 4-13 (330-445)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>They should keep Kyler. There was enough there, and Gannon has that team playing well. They're in positioned now to go draft Marvin Harrison Jr., give Kyler a real top receiver to work with, and things can look a lot different. Kyler may have his faults but they had the league's best run game once he came back. This team was just not talented enough to really make a run at it in 2023 by design. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>28.) New York Giants = 6-11 (266-407)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I just don't know how they weasel out of the Daniel Jones conundrum. The play didn't work. It just didn't. They looked so much better whether it was Tyrod or DeVito in there. I also am confused about the Wink Martindale move. I guess it is mutual, or maybe pushed by Wink, but that defense was far from the issue here. In the end, unless Daboll can manufacture a league average offense like they were able to last year, this team has very limited upside.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>27.) Los Angeles Chargers = 5-12 (346-398)</b><br /><br /></div><div>I'm not ranking this on where I expect these teams to be next year. If I was I would have teh Chargers higher, as I'll assume there ire no long lasting effects with Herbert's recovery. Anyway, for this season, it was disaster - and outside of just Herbert it lay fully clear that the rest of the roster was nowhere near as complete or skilled as people kept saying. Full reset here - another team I can see opening up the wallet for Belichick, but more than that they probably need a reliable GM to pick better players than Telesco did for years.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>26.) Atlanta Falcons = 7-10 (321-373)</b><br /><br /></div><div>Man this offense could be so fun if they get someone with his head less up his ass next year than Arthur Smith was. What w waste that entire Smith era was. Clearly also they need someone better than Ridder at QB as well. The name that intrigued me is hearing some NFL twitter folks throw out Justin Fields if the Bears were to decide to go with Caleb Williams. Sign me up for that with a coach who knows how to scheme to the best of his players' talent.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>25.) New York Jets = 7-10 (258-355)</b><br /><br /></div><div>So we're just going to do the Aaron Rodgers thing next year? I think I said it a couple weeks back, but I really hope the Jets draft a QB in the first two rounds. Other than reinforcing the OL they don't ahve many weaknesses assuming Rodgers returns as a capable QB. Invest in the future. I like that Saleh is coming back because we can say "why didn't get go get Name X" but realisstically their season was over four plays in.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>24.) Tennessee Titans = 6-11 (305-367)</b><br /><br /></div><div>No surprise at all that the Titans beat the Jags - just the type of game they would win. If this is for Vrabel (more in the sense he's a hot name as a potential Belichick replacement) than he went out in style, as did Derrick Henry. I'll always remember the Vrabel era as giving us the weirdest #1 seed of the 32-team era (in my mind at least). For the future, hope Levis comes back healthy and see what you have in 2023. The Hopkins experiment worked better than I thought it would, but it would also be prudent for them to ivnest further in weapons.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>23.) Denver Broncos = 8-9 (357-413)</b><br /><br /></div><div>I'm not sure what Payton's plan is at QB. Clearly they're done with Russell Wilson. Stidham did nothing as a replacement and is also not a long term answer. I guess they coudl go the draft route but don't have a top pick, and I can't imagine the offense Payton wants to run is something too easy for a rookie to pick up. Seems to be a bit of treading water season next year as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>22.) Chicago Bears = 7-10 (360-379)</b><br /><br /></div><div>Even if we assume this is it for Justin Fields, man does the future for the Bears look a whole lot brighter than it did a few weeks back. Eberflus's defense took off. DJ Moore showed up, as did the running game even outside Hurts. At this point I want them to go with Caleb Williams and really take off. Not sure any team (outside of whoever nabs Belichick) has a more interesting offseason to come.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>21.) Minnesota Vikings = 7-10 (344-362)</b><br /><br /></div><div>The rumblings on Cousins taking a home town discount to stay is growing louder, and I'm fully for it. There's no reason to close that door if Cousins is open to it. The team showed throughout this season they are good enough to compete. Flores defense even played above its level and could do with some further reinforcements. Cousins injury derailed what probably would've been another wild card team (or at least 9-8 and let tiebreakers fall where they lie). I trust in KOC as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>20.) Las Vegas Raiders = 8-9 (332-331)</b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>God help us all if Antonio Pierce is passed over for the full time job. Hard to see what more he could've done, from resurrecting that locker room after the excised the tumor that was McDaniels, to having the defense improve basically overight, to keeping them in most games with Aidan O'Connell having to take most of teh snaps. Not sure what options they have at QB, but even then they should trust Pierce with a multi year contract to see what he can do wtih his players.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>19.) Seattle Seahawks = 9-8 (364-402)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Seems like they'll keep Carroll. They need to invest in the interior DL. The run defense has been too bad for too long now. I still like this offense enough with Geno back there - this year was very much proving that last year was not a fluke. Can they compete for a Super Bowl with Geno? Maybe not, but not sure what better alternatives they have.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>18.) Indianapolis Colts = 9-8 (396-415)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The whole controversy about that last play was so overhyped to me. Taylor was clearly a bit hampered, and the play-call schemed Goodson wide open. just have to make that catch. Anyway, the future is still bright because the weakness of this team was Minshew's erraticness. I hope they invest a ton in the DL because you can't just assume thsi group will be as productive again. Anyway, the thing they absolutely got right is Steichen is a great coach.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>17.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 9-8 (377-371)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>What a brutal collapse but in reality this team is basically the same as last year's team - that did this in reverse with a miracle finish to steal the division. I hope they don't overreact, but look to improve where this team is the weakest - the back-seven and the OL. That all said, Lawrence has to improve. I guess you can chalk up some of the late season play to various knicks and bruises (and of course the concussion that took him out two games), but he didn't really seem to get any better this season, which is certainly alarming.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>16.) New Orleans Saints = 9-8 (402-327)</b><br /><br /></div><div>It's so weird this team will end up with a +75 point differential, but miss the playoffs and it is hard to feel really bad for them. Looking back they were one of the ultimate paper tigers losing to basically any good team they played. Were they better than teh Bucs? Probably, but them's the breaks and again I don't think anyone feels like we're missing out on a good team here. The incoming cap crunch will be hilarious to see them navigate.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>15.) Cincinnati Bengals = 9-8 (366-384)</b><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, they were never seriously going to challenge after the Burrow injury, but what their end of season play under Browning showed is that this team is more talented top to bottom on the roster than you would think. Similar to say the Colts making it to 9-8 with their backup, this shows a good roster with a good coaching staff, missing the head of the operation. The Higgins contract will be interesting to watch, but at the end of the day, getting Burrow back means a whole lot more than losing Higgins.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Some Random Ramblings on Wild Card Weekend:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>= Are they just going to call it Super Wild Card Weekend for eternity? Like I got it the first year in 2021 as a way to signify we have two more teams, and two more games - three games Saturday and three games Sunday. But it's year three now. Pretty soon many won't even remember the ancient 8-team wild card round set-up. At some point it should become just "Wild Card Weekend" again, no?</div><div><br /></div><div>= So weird to see the schedule be the three AFC games and then the three NFC games. With the jumbling of who broadcasts what, I guess no real complains for CBS and FOX since they just get the one game each. I remember a few times in the old era we would get both Saturday games be AFC and then Sunday was NFC. But anyway, just found that curious.</div><div><br /></div><div>= Think the Mike McCarthy revenge game is getting totally lost in the glow of the Jared Goff revenge game, and the Joe Flacco / Cleveland revenge game. Maybe it should be, but McCarthy was certainly, most would say fairly, scapegoated for how things ended in Green Bay. He found greener pastures, and has this team generally rolling. I do like also the nuance of the Packers recent history ruining the Cowboys life in 2014 and 2016 that Dallas will try to also take revenge for.</div><div><br /></div><div>= Dolphins @ Chiefs may be my favorite game. Strength v. Strengh with the Dolphins offense against the Chiefs defense (and yes, I know how weird it is to type that...). Spags the God going up against Mike McDaniel is a great one. On the other side, if tehre was ever a team that the Chiefs could get right against it is a Dolphins defense missing a ton of people (though maybe Zavien Howard gets back). Just a great one, along with the backdrop of what should be like 10degree weather in Arrowhead. Good stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>= More to come later this week</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-53019735625762362802024-01-01T19:26:00.001-05:002024-01-01T19:26:07.432-05:00NFL 2023: Week 18 Power Rankings & The Rest<b>32.) Carolina Panthers = 2-14 (236-407)</b><br /><br /><div>Forgot the abhorrent play of the team, the real thing we have to talk about is the behavior of David Tepper. It pleases me to no end that this guy just assumed he would come in and blow away the NFL with his innate brilliance of his mind. This shit isn't wall street buddy. This is a real meritocracy, not a weird quasi-oligopoly that teh finance world lives in. I doubt the NFL does anything too serious but it is so great to see him so upset.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>31.) Washington Commanders = 4-12 (319-480)</b><div><b>30.) New York Giants = 5-11 (239-397)</b></div><div><b>29.) New England Patriots = 4-12 (233-349)</b><br /><br /></div><div>So these three teams are all going to face interesting QB questions. For teh Commanders, it is a fresh start (will be interested to see if they trade up). For the Giants and Patriots it is can they get out of the guys they've put some investment into. With the Giants, they need to cut bait with Daniel Jones. Whether it was DeVito or Taylor, the Giants just looked better in every way with anyone who wasn't Daniel Jones. Guys like Slayton need better QB play, teh deserve it. For the Patriots, Zappe clearly isn't the guy either. They need a fresh start. Will be tough for them to get the #2 pick at this point, so they will be praying that the Bears pick someone at #1 and not trade that pick.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>28.) Tennessee Titans = 5-11 (277-347)</b></div><div><b>27.) Arizona Cardinals = 4-12 (310-434)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Grouping these two as the talent deficient teams that have at least given it a really good go this season. The Titans need to ride with Will Levis next year. I liked some brief glimpses of him this season. They need some better weapons for him, but the line is solid. For the Cardinals, this late season push probably keeps them with Kyler for next year. Saw Robert Mays compare this late season improvement as similar to say the Lions last year. I think that's wildly generous, but the Cardinals are a reasonable team with a solid coaching staff behind them.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>26.) Los Angeles Chargers = 5-11 (334-385)<br />25.) New York Jets = 6-10 (251-352)<br />24.) Cincinnati Bengals = 8-8 (335-370)<br /></b><br /></div><div>All three have been befelled by QB injuries. Backups are never really sustainable, and the rest of the teams are good enough to steal or spoil but not to truly contend. The Bengals were teh closest but we've seen regression from Browning these last two games. For teh Chargers, it's all about who they hire to replace Staley and, maybe more importantly, Telesco. The roster has been overrated/aging for a while now. The Jets are keeping Salah and Douglas; well fine. I think that is defensible. What I don't think would be defensible is that if they didn't take a QB in the first or second round. The "let's jsut wait for Rodgers" to be back solution can work but even then for at most two years. They just can't have no plan for the post-Rodgers year.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>23.) Atlanta Falcons = 7-9 (304-325)<br /></b></div><div><b>22.) Las Vegas Raiders = 7-9 (305-317)<br />21.) Denver Broncos = 8-8 (343-386)<br />20.) Minnesota Vikings = 7-9 (324-332)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>These four are in the parade of 7-9 / 8-8 / 9-7 teams. Technically the Falcons can be a playoff team, but all four are almost certainly not in the playoffs, and they shouldn't be. If I had to rank my optimism for them as we look ahead to 2024, I would put them in this order, or maybe swap the Raiders and Broncos. For those two, it will really depend on what happens at their QB spot. I doubt O'Connell is the long term play in LV, and Wilson is very openly not for Denver. The Falcons just seem to have a ceiling on this team as long as Smith is the coach, and Ridder projects to get a lot of snaps. For the Vikings, I think at this point they endeavor to bring Kirk back, figuring they can get him at a lower pricepoint. He/s a cult hero in Minnesota at this point, and with the way the defense has shaped up, inject even a lesser version of Kirk into that team and they would've been in the playoffs.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>19.) Pittsburgh Steelers = 9-7 (287-314)<br />18.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers = 8-8 (339-325)<br /></b></div><div><b>17.) Seattle Seahawks = 8-8 (343-382)<br /></b><br /></div><div>I hope none of these three make the playoffs, though they all have fairly clear paths in. The Bucs get in with a win. That's it. The Steelers get it with a win and a Bills loss to Miami (eminently possible). And the Seahawks need the Packers to lose to the Bears (again, possible with this improved Chicago team helping out). For the Seahawks, their lack of rush defense is what will kill them at the end of the day. They've eked out close wins the last two weeks but it all came home to roost in this one. For the Steelers, Rudolph has done well to get George Pickens into the offense more, and its revolutionized that unit. The defense has slipped a bit in recent weeks which is what them drops me. For the Bucs, it admittedly might be an overreaction on my part to just how fallow that performance was against the Saints. Granted, they would've entered that game basically knowing that the game was meaningless, since a Week 18 win against the league's worst team is all they needed to wrap up teh division. So maybe it was just going through the motions. But still, just a disastrous performance for a team that should be better.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>16.) Chicago Bears = 7-9 (351-362)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I knew the Bears were playing better, but I don't think I appreciated just how much better. Not only are they a 7-9 team, but if not for throwing away that game to Cleveland, they would be 8-8 and playing for a win-and-you're-in game against Green Bay. If anything, this is the team that is reminiscent of the 2022 Lions. Rough start of the season followed by a super strong second half. A defense that was awful to start getting quietly better. Even teh season can end the same way, as just like Detroit last year, the Bears go into Week 18 with nothing to play for, other than a chance to knock the Packers out of the playoffs.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>15.) Indianapolis Colts = 9-7 (377-392)<br />14.) Houston Texans = 9-7 (354-334)<br />13.) Green Bay Packers = 8-8 (336-341)<br />12.) New Orleans Saints = 8-8 (354-310)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>These are my four teams that I think are wild card fodder more or less. Granted, three of the four if they make the playoffs could do so as a division winner. Anyway, the Colts defense is so up and down, but does so well against middling offenses. The consistency of the pass rush is a concern, but at its best its a top-5 unit. The Texans pass rush similarly can be so great when Will Anderson is in there. I still don't know of the long term gain of that pick to combine basically Stroud and Anderson, but Anderson has been as much a stud as Stroud. For the Packers, hard to really tell if that defense is getting any better, or they had a 5th round rookie just fed to them to feast on. Love though has become super dependable. For the Saints, I get that it is hard to trust them and David Carr has alternated a good game with 2-3 middling ones throughout the season, but a +44 point differential, with a Top-10 defense is a team taht should be taken more seriously than it is. If I'm the Eagles (the likely #5 seed), I would definitely want Tampa to win its game and avoid needing to go to the Superdome.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>11.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 9-7 (357-343)<br />10.) Los Angeles Rams = 9-7 (383-357)</b><br /><br /></div><div>Hard to know how much of that Jags defensive performance was their strong play, or the Panthers being that bad. Still, Allen and Co., are a devastating pass rush at their best. The offense was bleh, but hopefully Lawrence is back for the finale. I don't know if any team taht could conceivably win back-to-back diviions titles would ever be as uninspiring as the 2022-23 Jaguars, but who cares given what Jacksonville had precedently. For the Rams, I had them as a playoff team before the season started. They were better than their 3-6 start, so I'm happy of this run of them catching fire . This 6-1 stretch includes some fairly impressive wins (blowing out the Browns, beating the Saints convincingly), and their only loss was taking the Ravens to OT. Good team, beyond even Stafford, Kupp, Nucua and Donald.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>9.) Cleveland Browns = 11-5 (382-331)</b></div><div><b>8.) Philadelphia Eagles = 11-5 (423-401)</b></div><div><b>7.) Kansas City Chiefs = 10-6 (358-282)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Browns are fascinating. Flacco's insane performance probably has 1-2 more weeks, but their defense is good enough to make them a tough out. Not as tough outs right now? Our two Super Bowl teams. The Eagles defensive struggles are so maddening. I still have no idea what the idea was behind giving playcalling duties to Matt Patricia. Just a weird move as it wasn't like the defense was notably bad under Desai. The Chiefs defense is excellent, but their offense is jsut not good enough. The most surprising part is the strange dropoff of their OL, which was a strength last year when they had to deal with similar skill position player issues. It's not like the receivers are worse this year, it is just that the line notably is.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6.) Buffalo Bills = 10-6 (430-297)<br />5.) Miami Dolphins = 11-5 (482-370)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>What a way to end the season next week, with winner getting the AFC East. I think the Dolphins are better but their injuries on defense have come close to matching what the Bills have had to deal with. The Bills need their OL to step up after two rough games following their domination of Dallas. For the Dolphins, same in a way but my larger concern is if Waddle can get back. The Bills are great at not giving up huge pass plays so they'll need Waddle's athleticism, with my view that the Bills can put the cap on Hill.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4.) Detroit Lions = 11-5 (431-375)</b></div><div><b>3.) Dallas Cowboys = 11-5 (471-305)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Won't talk about the ending here, more just to say I really enjoyed the rest of that game and a potential rematch in teh divisional round. Just great matchups everyhwere. The Lions defensive secondary improvement over the year has been fun to watch, and is needed against whoever they would go up against Divisional Roudn onwards. Their OL did a great job against Dallas's pass rushers most of the time. On the Dallas side, Prescott to Cooks is improving every week and getting those secondary pass catchers involved will be huge. Defense finally showed a bit more calmness and down to down strength than in recent weeks when they were getting blown off the ball.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2.) San Francisco 49ers = 12-4 (471-277)<br />1.) Baltimore Ravens = 13-3 (473-263)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>These are teh best two teams in the NFL by some distance. I hope we get a rematch in teh Super Bowl. I just know the NFL rarely gives us such gifts.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Projecting the Playoffs</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>AFC</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1.) Baltimore Ravens = 13-4</b></div><div><b>2.) Buffalo Bills = 11-6<br />3.) Kansas City Chiefs = 11-6</b></div><div><b>4.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 10-7</b></div><div><b>5.) Cleveland Browns = 11-6</b></div><div><b>6.) Miami Dolphins = 11-6</b></div><div><b>7.) Houston Texans = 10-7</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>NFC</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1.) San Francisco 49ers = 12-5<br />2.) Dallas Cowboys = 12-5<br />3.) Detroit Lions = 12-5</b></div><div><b>4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers = 9-8</b></div><div><b>5.) Philadelphia Eagles = 12-5</b></div><div><b>6.) Los Angeles Rams = 10-7</b></div><div><b>7.) Green Bay Packers = 9-8</b></div></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-46317745297143758082023-12-27T21:49:00.003-05:002023-12-27T21:49:28.056-05:00NFL 2023: Week 17 Power Rankings & The Rest<div><b>Tier I - The "2024 Is Almost Here" Trio</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><b>32.) Carolina Panthers = 2-13 (236-381)</b><div><b>31.) Washington Commanders = 4-11 (309-453)<br />30.) Arizona Cardinals = 3-12 (275-403)</b><br /><br /></div><div>These three have separated themselves at such a low level, but let's go with some optimism in each area. First for the Panthers, Bryce Young has certainly looked better these last two weeks once Frank Reich left. The cupboard is still so barren but at least this offers some glimpse of a future. For the Commanders, next season is the real first one under new ownership without any Snyder stench left over. For the Cardinals, they could be in perfect position to get their QB of the future (assuming they don't mess things up and stick with Kyler....).</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Tier II - The "Stupid QB Factory" Trio</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>29.) New York Giants = 5-10 (214-371)<br /></b></div><div><b>28.) New England Patriots = 4-11 (212-322)</b></div><div><b>27.) Los Angeles Chargers = 5-10 (326-369)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This group are teams that are having to me the most hilarious QB situations. The Giants rode Tommy DeVito to 15:01 of his fifteen minutes of fame. Tyrod Taylor is less high variance and more effective, I guess, but hard to say this inspires any confidence. If any team should throw the boar at the Bears for that #1 pick (assuming the Bears don't keep it), I would think the Giants are tops of that list. For the Patriots, they are almost assuredly not getting a Top-2 pick now. There goes the weird moment where all of us laughing at them for their ineptitude would get our just desserts when tehy drafted Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. But no, turns out we can continue to laugh. For the Chargers, good on them for giving the Bills a tough game. Easton Stick has a better arm and threw with more anticipation than I would have expected. Nothing really to discuss here - Herbert will be back next year and Easton will be some fever dream fading memory. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Tier III - The "Eh, Meh, Eh" Trio</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>26.) New York Jets = 6-9 (231-315)</b></div><div><b>25.) Tennessee Titans = 5-10 (274-321)</b></div><div><b>24.) Chicago Bears = 6-9 (314-345)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Jets are so weird in how they can look absolutely dominant on defense for stretches, but then their pass rush goes weirdly silent for long stretches at times. I get that this isn't Robert Saleh's MO, but they need to mix up more blitzing. For the Titans, another inspired performance in a loss. Oddly this season (and to similar degree, last year) makes me more impressed with Mike Vrabel than his playoff teams he coached in 2019-2020. They have a lot of work to do to overhaul the roster, but Vrabel can coach them up when happens. For the Bears, they've quietly been decent for two months now. Justin Fields still isn't great but good enough that it will be a really interesting discussion in Chicago on what to do with that Panthers draft pick.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Tier IV - The "Annoyingly Still In It" Quadro</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>23.) Atlanta Falcons = 7-8 (287-288)</b></div><div><b>22.) Las Vegas Raiders = 7-8 (285-294)</b></div><div><b>21.) Indianapolis Colts = 8-7 (354-372)<br />20.) Denver Broncos = 7-8 (327-377)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>There is such a huge mess of teams at either 7-8 or 8-7 - fourteen of them. Literally close to half the league. I guess if you assume a fairly normal distribution then it isn't too unexpected, but man has it created a jumble that was so tough to rank. The Falcons are my worst ranked team mostly out of spite - spite towards Arthur Smith for dicking around for weeks and not feeding his trio of Top-10 picks. Spite towards some of the NFL media that overhyped this team to all end. For teh Raiders, I just hope they give Antonio Pierce that job full time. He has the defense playing as one of the Top-12 defenses in the league since he took over full time. I know that there is a long trial of interim's fizzling out quickly when given the full time role (remember Freddie Kitchens?), but he's done more than enough to deserve it. The Colts haven't totally blown their chance at teh playoffs but man did they come out so flat for that game. I can't blame Steichen, this team is way overperforming and even if they lose out, while it may harken back some 2021 memories, most expected a 5-6 win season for the Colts. Finally the Broncos - writing this after the announcement that Russell Wilson is being benched/put on ice. A sad, but not surprising, end to the Russ experiment. Interested to see where he lands, and similarly interested in what Payton tries to do next there.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Tier V - The "Middling, Middlers" Trio</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>19.) Cincinnati Bengals = 8-7 (318-345)</b></div><div><b>18.) Green Bay Packers = 7-8 (333-331)<br />17.) Pittsburgh Steelers = 8-7 (257-291)</b><br /><br /></div><div>Hey, three more 7/8 win teams! The Bengals finally saw Jake Browning turn back into a pumpkin. That may be harsh, but in reality he was awful in taht game. They have some inkling of a shot at the playoffs, but if the Jake Browning sheen is gone then we probably don't want them in the playoffs. The Packers are just a year early. Promising signs as the season progressed with Jordan Love and his connection with various skill players. For the umpteenth year the defense is not as good as it should be given the talent. Joe Barry needs to go, and Lafleur needs to get an older hand to bring some stability to that side. For teh Steelers, big win in their quest to avoid a losing season - but two tough games ahead. What is super interesting is the prospect of an 8-8 Steelers team going to Baltimore to play a 13-3 Ravens team. In that scenario they would've already clinced the #1 seed, but I'm sure many in Baltimore would want them to roll starters and take a shot at ending that streak.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Tier VI - The "QB Conundrums" Trio</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>16.) Houston Texans = 8-7 (328-331)<br />15.) Minnesota Vikings = 7-8 (314-299)</b></div><div><b>14.) New Orleans Saints = 7-8 (331-294)</b><br /><br /></div><div>All three teams have shots at teh playoffs, but QB issues that may short-circuit any chances. For the Texans, the Stroud injury I'm thinking is more the Texans being careful and patient with their rookie superstar - and probably for the best. The division is right there for them, but the long game should be their focus at this point. For the Vikings, Mullens is just too turnover prone. They still have a clear path to the playoffs, but so hard to trust them with Mullens. Really curious what they do in the offseason at QB - ride with Cousins off his achilles injury with a better than we thought roster around him, or try something else? The Saints have their starter (most of the time) in Carr but the performance just isn't there week to week, or even quarter to quarter. The rest of the team is actually quite good, and their point differential is fine, but the Carr offense has held them back at times.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tier VII - The "Good 8-7 Teams" Quadro</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>13.) Seattle Seahawks = 8-7 (320-352)<br />12.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 8-7 (331-343)<br />11.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers = 8-7 (326-302<br />10.) Los Angeles Rams = 8-7 (357-332)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Hey, it's four more 8-win teams. I really just can't get over how much of the league is in this bucket. Anyway, I do think these four are a cut above, though even that is probably overstating the Seahawks and Jaguars. The Seahawks have won their last two, but both required last minute comebacks. Geno being back is huge but the defense is nowhere near where it was earlier. For the Jags, four straight losses are rough. Lawrence hopefully is not out long term. They are still to me the most talented team in that division, but it isn't a shoo-in decision anymore. The Bucs ideally will win that division, as I do think they are the best and most likely to give us a competitive Wild Card game. Mayfield is playing really in structure at the moment. The Rams are not a shoo-in for the playoffs, but I too hope they get there. Aaron Donald has quietly had another great season. Stafford has just been unreal this year. Looking back, they really screwed things over by blowing games like to the Steelers. Anyway, do hope they get in.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tier VIII - The "Joe Flacco's Moment" Uno</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>9.) Cleveland Browns = 10-5 (345-311)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Joe Flacco io the year of our lord 2023 doing this is insane. Was always a Flacco guy in the sense I loved his arm, liked his poise and found him a compelling character in taht 2008-2012 Ravens run that was so instrumental. I have no idea how much longer it lasts - if the Jake Browning experience is any indication maybe not too much longer, but they're basically a playoff lock at this point and seeing Flacco in a playoff game will be just wild. The defense remains excellent despite losing Delpit and that offense is good enough. Flacco's used to this type of team formula enough as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tier IX - The "Super Bowl XLVII Feels So Long Ago" Trio</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>8.) Kansas City Chiefs = 9-6 (333-265)<br />7.) Philadelphia Eagles = 11-4 (392-366)<br /></b><br /></div><div>Oh, wasn't it just yesterday these two played in a super competitive Super Bowl with all units playing well and generally seeming a level above. The Eagles had a semi get-right, and the Chiefs are still going to win that division, but how so much has changed? For teh Chiefs, the offense is just very much a problem - all the issues that cropped up the very first week have not been solved. They're plainly average at this point. Lucky for them the defense has been legitimately very good this season. The upside is still there. Same for the Eagles - the upside is there. On their good drives they look dominant. It's just the scatter-shot nature that is not helping. hey should be able to be far more consistent.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tier X - The "Second Level Contenders" Quadro</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6.) Buffalo Bills = 9-6 (403-276)</b></div><div><b>5.) Detroit Lions = 11-4 (412-355)</b></div><div><b>4.) Dallas Cowboys = 10-5 (451-286)<br />3.) Miami Dolphins = 11-4 (463-314)</b><br /><br /></div><div>I wouldn't be shocked if any of these four win the Super Bowl. Granted, I wouldn't pick them necessarily, but these are the next set behind the two in the next group that have separated themselves. The Bills have gone from being 11th in the AFC two weeks ago to being alone in 6th and with a fairly reasonable chance to clinch a playoff spot this week (just need Steelers and Bengals losses). The Lions offense really has come to life once Ragnow came back. The defense can be had, but they are the one offense I think can outscore the 49ers. The Cowboys have looked a bit fallow the last two weeks, but let's give them a bit of a break losing two road games to good teams. Granted, they'll need to play various road games in the playoffs, but I still (stupidly) believe. Finally with Miami, this is more about getting a good deal of comfortability and trust with their defense at this point - especially a reborn pass rush this last few weeks. That defense can overcome an offense that has, we all have to admit, been slowed down effectively by basically any good defense it has played against.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tier XI - The "Let's Play it Twice" Duo</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2.) San Francisco 49ers = 11-4 (444-267)<br />1.) Baltimore Ravens = 12-3 (417-244)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, the Ravens won that game rather imposingly, but the 49ers still moved the ball well at times. It was surprising to see their OL rocked as consistently as the Ravens got to them. The Ravens offense was able to commit to the run, but I do worry about their tackle situation, as it is clear this Ronnie Stanley is not, and never will be, the super All-Pro that he was prior to his injury. Not surprising I guess that this is the case. Anyway, as for these two teams, to me they are the clear best two in the NFL this season. I would very much welcome a Super Bowl between them, fully expecting it to be more competitive than this one was.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Projecting the Playoffs</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>AFC</b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>1.) Baltimore Ravens = 14-3</b></div><div><b>2.) Buffalo Bills = 11-6</b></div><div><b>3.) Kansas City Chiefs = 11-6</b></div><div><b>4.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 10-7</b></div><div><b>5.) Cleveland Browns = 11-6</b></div><div><b>6.) Miami Dolphins = 11-6</b></div><div><b>7.) Indianapolis Colts = 10-7</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>NFC</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1.) San Francisco 49ers = 13-4</b></div><div><b>2.) Philadelphia Eagles = 13-4</b></div><div><b>3.) Detroit Lions = 12-5</b></div><div><b>4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers = 10-7</b></div><div><b>5.) Dallas Cowboys = 12-5<br />6.) Seattle Seahawks = 10-7</b></div><div><b>7.) Los Angeles Rams = 9-8</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Looking Ahead to Next Week's Games</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>16.) Arizona Cardinals (3-12) @ Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) (1:00 - FOX)</b></div><div><b>15.) Atlanta Falcons (7-8) @ Chicago Bears (6-9) (1:00 -CBS)</b></div><div><b>14.) Carolina Panthers (2-13) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) (1:00 - CBS)</b></div><div><b>13.) Los Angeles Rams (8-7) @ New York Giants (5-10) (1:00 - FOX)<br />12.) San Francisco 49ers (11-4) @ Washington Commanders (4-11) (1:00 - FOX)</b></div><div><b>11.) Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) @ Denver Broncos (7-8) (4:25 - CBS)</b></div><div><b>10.) New England Patriots (4-11) @ Buffalo Bills (9-6) (1:00 - CBS)</b></div><div><b>9.) Tennessee Titans (5-10) @ Houston Texans (8-7) (1:00 - FOX)</b></div><div><b>8.) New York Jets (6-9) @ Cleveland Browns (10-5) (Thu. - Prime)</b></div><div><b>7.) Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) @ Denver Broncos (7-8) (4:25 - CBS)</b></div><div><b>6.) Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-7) 1:00 - CBS)</b></div><div><b>5.) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (8-7) (4:05 - FOX)</b></div><div><b>4.) Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) @ Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) (4:25 - CBS)</b></div><div><b>3.) Green Bay Packers (7-8) @ Minnesota Vikings (7-8) (SNF - NBC)</b></div><div><b>2.) Detroit Lions (11-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (10-5) (8:15, Sat - ABC)<br />1.) Miami Dolphins (11-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (12-3) (1:00 - CBS)</b></div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853386493416267262.post-7587444716994660902023-12-26T23:02:00.002-05:002023-12-26T23:02:44.975-05:00The Places I Most Miss<div><b>10.) Mak N Ming (Vancouver)</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GIAUM5ExBDNvXGy2YK6T9MigDPaqtwmaCbO725osxsXq2Eo8Qegha6GtcIJHOEkYks57_N35ANb00g2n9RTmQyL1dbu0MhwtH27IvFDbA5VAvsA74Ou0BfQBer5Oi5rEKAZ7YsmOHSEbh6foyWmBF-SUjViCQnd2hQbdzjcWrJQSH9POIKCxj0-hIWs/s4032/20180608_213417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GIAUM5ExBDNvXGy2YK6T9MigDPaqtwmaCbO725osxsXq2Eo8Qegha6GtcIJHOEkYks57_N35ANb00g2n9RTmQyL1dbu0MhwtH27IvFDbA5VAvsA74Ou0BfQBer5Oi5rEKAZ7YsmOHSEbh6foyWmBF-SUjViCQnd2hQbdzjcWrJQSH9POIKCxj0-hIWs/w225-h400/20180608_213417.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Being honest, I have no idea when I would go back to Vancouver. However, if I were to, or if I were to know someone who was who was hunting for recommendations, I would definitely toss out Mak N Ming, which is not possible anymore. It was a husband and wife co-chef spot that served an Asian Fusion (in the best form of that term) 7-course tasting menu. Nothing was groundbreaking, but for the pricepoint, you don't need ground breaking, you just need solidly great food, which Mak N Ming produced. They had a great ramen, an invetive dish called "dirt" (picture above), and some other great dishes with enough flavor and spice to know that these were authentic folks cooking it up. Sucks that it's gone, but great that it was there when I went.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />9.) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>8.) The Petrol Station (Houston)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3RlrqcW0i-rJ9nACeCFAxQhjNFce7IjckeaeDMZHTU9k9j3Cq5N9xydcA_8o-EvN8RNxNPq8trx60BYAo7IC2Gfwvc5uHyUSMfQQTEjqZjFg0WxfNihT5ZDzNm_QWJqu59hJnmc1VcQ_hujFRPITdcn9IBiNPMnwqrxP7iBOh9MQR0FbyIAy0MeGZjo/s4032/20181029_202539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3RlrqcW0i-rJ9nACeCFAxQhjNFce7IjckeaeDMZHTU9k9j3Cq5N9xydcA_8o-EvN8RNxNPq8trx60BYAo7IC2Gfwvc5uHyUSMfQQTEjqZjFg0WxfNihT5ZDzNm_QWJqu59hJnmc1VcQ_hujFRPITdcn9IBiNPMnwqrxP7iBOh9MQR0FbyIAy0MeGZjo/w400-h300/20181029_202539.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Part gourmet burger bar, part craft beer mecca, all buult into a small country house in a residential street halfway between Houston downtown and The Woodlands. The Petrol Station was a great spot. I once called it the best craft beer bar in America. Granted, that may not have been true, but it had probably the best food of any craft beer bar I've been to. The burgers were excellent. The place had some great beer options from all over the country, not necessarily just from Texas. It was a super dependable spot that I would go to when arriving into Houston in the evening on a project I did in late 2018. Petrol Station to my knowledge cclosed before Covid. Unsure why as it was always fairly busy. There are equally good spots in Houston (such as my beloved Hop Scholar Ale House), but this had that perfect combination of food and drink in a residential setting.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>7.) Habitat Living Sound (Calgary)</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36I5ktVAwZ_2mFuYSTiv_tPEf0wXNR3_A9x8PYzZBR6it88YZz5vbuc8eUPnZ_HizIEH7Y54b0SwViKqwhHg0jm_CswdS8M42fQgk74LuRv1pyPXYLm_Zth-1NNabGjf_DRnPLoc3AG-_A3GLDLpAPQUkSLNrpjHUP5KSAJdybXbrdrhr47WTVTfVWwY/s4032/20190803_000955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36I5ktVAwZ_2mFuYSTiv_tPEf0wXNR3_A9x8PYzZBR6it88YZz5vbuc8eUPnZ_HizIEH7Y54b0SwViKqwhHg0jm_CswdS8M42fQgk74LuRv1pyPXYLm_Zth-1NNabGjf_DRnPLoc3AG-_A3GLDLpAPQUkSLNrpjHUP5KSAJdybXbrdrhr47WTVTfVWwY/w400-h300/20190803_000955.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Truly one of the best EDM clubs I've been to in North America. Perfect size, great crowd control, drinks weren't too expensive (like $8 for a mixed drink, which had a good enough amount of alcohol). Wasn't the hardest stuff in terms of music, but also wasn't that type of atmosphere. It was bright enough to see people, and the crowd was cool, young and carefree enough that it was better seeing people and making connections. The Calgary crowd that summer weekend was a perfect blend to make it a fun spot. Honestly, it should be higher, but given my age now I wonder if I would find the place as appealing today as I did four years ago. Still, from what I can tell there hasn't been a similar place to go for this type of fun in Calgary today.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>6.) Janse & Co (Cape Town)</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RdDgR7cNmx0cOUckyMfbGCdMDdauyi7e0M3-zg4X4wpKacmHXC5r4D1MoH7azoeAtIZUuafOLYcaTcMFrgbfQlRy89ohgWvRQsIyuvozRpn7FY_c4v-SVw4tJJnKBK1JE1rchdQIL5Km1bnLw_jkIUXUAa_gNqwkHR-V7lGLvdZzu0hR1gMdJX6bQm0/s1079/IMG_1050%20Screenshot_20200718-012859_WhatsApp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="1079" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RdDgR7cNmx0cOUckyMfbGCdMDdauyi7e0M3-zg4X4wpKacmHXC5r4D1MoH7azoeAtIZUuafOLYcaTcMFrgbfQlRy89ohgWvRQsIyuvozRpn7FY_c4v-SVw4tJJnKBK1JE1rchdQIL5Km1bnLw_jkIUXUAa_gNqwkHR-V7lGLvdZzu0hR1gMdJX6bQm0/w400-h294/IMG_1050%20Screenshot_20200718-012859_WhatsApp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>There are many fine restaurants in Cape Town remaining, and as I've shown from 2022 through 2023 (and soon to be 2024), the closing of Janse & Co hasn't stopped me from going back. But still, Janse & Co., was a pretty perfect set-up. Chose a 6/7/8 course list out of about 15-18 options, all super South African in spriit, produce and design. All came out with the precision and exactness of a five star tasting spot. Becuase it was - my favorite part was the random local South Africa fish they would pull in, thinks like Jacopever and what-not. Because there's still a wealth of other dining options in Cape Town it isn't higher up. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>5.) Robin Square (Montreal)</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NIGeu5KS2rjAU9_8lc4cad5ygmw0lg5BliLervkqvm4EGzwXMndt8ynE_XfkHWuFSNhf7wBAoHKbMSKeq0dVfKd1OdIwUsSDsj3MY2gu3V-o2QJ5gwlev0_C315ySMwma9__eLZGpGcSBZT6Yz7ln8B6np_7AwjrYoHaXPp4RzLNhI2GAPSCJ5pBQWs/s4032/20180511_212833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NIGeu5KS2rjAU9_8lc4cad5ygmw0lg5BliLervkqvm4EGzwXMndt8ynE_XfkHWuFSNhf7wBAoHKbMSKeq0dVfKd1OdIwUsSDsj3MY2gu3V-o2QJ5gwlev0_C315ySMwma9__eLZGpGcSBZT6Yz7ln8B6np_7AwjrYoHaXPp4RzLNhI2GAPSCJ5pBQWs/w400-h225/20180511_212833.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I think I went here about five times. First was on a bachelor party, where we gorged down basically the entire menu over the course of two hours, including triple helpings of some dessert that we effectively called "The Momma." Not for no reason, the place was a super new Canadian style spot with Father adn Mother as chef, and kids as the front of house adn bartender. The food was great, particularly what I remember being some of the best pork belly preparations. Let's cut to the chase though, one of the reasons why I have a fond memory of this place was one waitress that weved me on a couple occassions - once the barchelor party and a second for work - who was truly one of the most beautiful people I'd ever seen. She also moonlighted as a DJ and was super chill. But honestly even if they didn't have this superstar waiting tables, this would be a long forgotten spot.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4.) Falling Rock Tap House (Denver)</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhr6mK5D4pl2khD4XaxOva6HE3Uv5I920sU9u9GxwsV_qwNcZC7IRBhkbR-8KFLKr50lkjn_W64yNfWoGup5A6sMAewwnGlIThfqF6pyNaKbRkanGHMkYOsqYXl36OP3e1AOvIo9n0JUzbXpUnsYu1r1rEAMCIKP2xiuLsNMNXWwkoFMXeLr-Fv6UbFA/s1200/Falling%20Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhr6mK5D4pl2khD4XaxOva6HE3Uv5I920sU9u9GxwsV_qwNcZC7IRBhkbR-8KFLKr50lkjn_W64yNfWoGup5A6sMAewwnGlIThfqF6pyNaKbRkanGHMkYOsqYXl36OP3e1AOvIo9n0JUzbXpUnsYu1r1rEAMCIKP2xiuLsNMNXWwkoFMXeLr-Fv6UbFA/w400-h210/Falling%20Rock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Most of these places closed due to Covid. To some degree, Falling Rock was similar in that it was open the last time I went to Denver in January 2020, and closed by the time I went back in August 2021. However it closed due to some weird rent dispute with its landlord. If any place wouldn't close due to Covid, it was this one. It was stuffed at all times. It had about 30 beers on tap at all times, including a majority being Colorado local brews. Tons of stouts. Tons of great options. A great low-key vibe and decor, despite being placed a stone's throw from Coors Field. What's even worse is that there really is no similar place that has come up to replace it. Denver is a beer haven in the US, and its startling that there's no option that has come up to take the mantle from Falling Rock, which makes the loss of it even worse.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3.) Earth Bread & Brewery (Germantown)</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReMmsVbZUJZ4Zx38CvEeCp0AS2ol0sQ1k9cdtEBGbakxM1ZtLbvYIFnz5URdjJsfi4TVlb42tvYZSo0iBTERgsPJNiXOYLqs5bDRplLBSWhMFWY-U2xS9LaVl9MgBPwKHWZhu6WjI-EJz5pCStabwldhLae-c_lLNxnWZibTxghlgw-_1PqtSZoThmg4/s2048/Earth%20Bread.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReMmsVbZUJZ4Zx38CvEeCp0AS2ol0sQ1k9cdtEBGbakxM1ZtLbvYIFnz5URdjJsfi4TVlb42tvYZSo0iBTERgsPJNiXOYLqs5bDRplLBSWhMFWY-U2xS9LaVl9MgBPwKHWZhu6WjI-EJz5pCStabwldhLae-c_lLNxnWZibTxghlgw-_1PqtSZoThmg4/w400-h300/Earth%20Bread.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I actually don't think I've written about this place previously, which is a shame. This is a weird spot in a suburb of Philly that I took a few ventures out to on the way to Parx casino a few times. Basically it was a spot in a charming, quiet little town that served its own craft beer, and flatbreads (pizza, basically). It was perfect. The waitresses were nice, good enough memories to basically remember me by the end of it. The flatbreads were amazing, and huge for the price. They were eco-conscious, being one of the first places I remember that gave you foil to wrap up any leftover slices. Covid was the death of Earth Bread & Brewery, sadly, and my aimless drives into random town PA will never be the same,.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2.) Reset (Cape Town)</b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r4J3j71T4XOc3XcnWvyZXrd6vOMSCM1FurTWyVq-_-2mvz2saIqbYjxdf1us-_4VzeK6lVeSj3Co0FN8t4f3j7NVz6Eq2xBeISxyMxFGcYGaYUC3vtHyvUjXO-1eOyWgpPvwdli5xatO9Nx2JgVywWbCGV-wFNGAa2BrwSCdnSKEMBhdWo0-VT9eqs0/s300/Reset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r4J3j71T4XOc3XcnWvyZXrd6vOMSCM1FurTWyVq-_-2mvz2saIqbYjxdf1us-_4VzeK6lVeSj3Co0FN8t4f3j7NVz6Eq2xBeISxyMxFGcYGaYUC3vtHyvUjXO-1eOyWgpPvwdli5xatO9Nx2JgVywWbCGV-wFNGAa2BrwSCdnSKEMBhdWo0-VT9eqs0/w400-h224/Reset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>To be honest, I don't know why I have this so high up given Cpae Town has a fairly similar EDM spot still open named Modular. But as each Saturday with tis lenghty lines attest - the Cape could use another EDM spot, and for that reason I rue the loss of the superior Reset. It had two levels, one with darker, harder musign downstairs and lighter but still authentically good music upstairs. Three bars. Great crowds. Good crowd control. It all added up to just a great spot. Reset was a great, great spot. I named it my 3rd favorite EDM spot recently and for good reason. What I really loved most was the combination of the two floors with separate vibes, boths o close to each other but differents worles to enjoy. And most places I go to with that type of set-up heavily favor one or the other. Here, they both got equal attention and care.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1.) Canis (Toronto)</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma3sn5LkLdOWkzPm_F1JfXdZVIiDZRo9xDTjhAWaCRP3qujAPir4JIdSZ1QVQT48kxvQVyovNtbP-ZS9CLfaQnBx8yO2Qvce3Me64tPxLdIpVD-puoeIPEu_jY97Ap2vb62FFfBFz1Inv3uVkR081idqu77SsYDQoNrEqPszfvV2WOh-G6RKse7ycyHs/s4032/20200312_200926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma3sn5LkLdOWkzPm_F1JfXdZVIiDZRo9xDTjhAWaCRP3qujAPir4JIdSZ1QVQT48kxvQVyovNtbP-ZS9CLfaQnBx8yO2Qvce3Me64tPxLdIpVD-puoeIPEu_jY97Ap2vb62FFfBFz1Inv3uVkR081idqu77SsYDQoNrEqPszfvV2WOh-G6RKse7ycyHs/w300-h400/20200312_200926.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Nothing will top losing this. I first when to Canis in 2019, when I had my flight back home after a week on site cancelled. It was a small place, seating about 24 people or so. A tasting menu joint with some incredible neat, tweezery, brillaint food but zero pretension. The staff were incredible. The food was divine, featuring inventive preparations on Canada based ingredients. I always loved the start with a hard taco and duck terrine done in the most playful way. The place was so well intentioned. Covid ruined it. I've tried to find alternatives in Toronto, but none truly come close, with both Canoe and Alo being more expensive and arguably not as good. Canis will long be in my memory.</div>dmstorm22http://www.blogger.com/profile/03753008059799848291noreply@blogger.com