I am at the end of the most fantastic holiday, and so I am trying to think of highlights (as i keep getting asked by fellow travellers).

So my best of....
Bread - I salute you acme bakery San Francisco best sourdough in the world.
Icecream - a combination between the salted caramel icecream in san Francisco and anything from grom in Siena.
Pizza - my local trattoria in nocelle, smoked mozzarella, rocket, cherry tomatoes and Parma ham
Salumi - OMG the truffled mortadella in monterosso al mare, I can still smell it
Wine - every single alcoholic drink that passed my lips in italy
Unexpected experience - the impromptu kitchen tour of chez panisse restaurant in berkley
People - meeting my family in conneticut
Personal dream achieved - living in a farmhouse in tuscany for a week and cooking local food for friends, you must do this at least once
Best shopping - new York and Milan and Florence.
Art - the met and moma in new York, absolutely worth the hype and then some, the mosaics and frescos and stained glass in the churches of Italy
Natural beauty - the cinque terre and the men of Italy
Manmade beauty - Venice and the basilica st Marco, balbianello villa in lenno, the high line in new york
Chocolate - san Francisco hands down
Traditions I will take home with me - there are two, I am now a firm convert to the joys of expresso and the aperitif ritual (spritz drink).

I cannot pick a favourite place as I had different reasons for choosing everything on the itinerary, but all met or exceeded expectations. Italy is certainly about the good things in life and that alone is enough reason to travel here. America has it's own attractions, San Francisco hands down the best food in America, and new York just for being new York. I hope to return to all these places someday, but am extremely grateful to have seen them once!

So my travel day has been cruisy so far.... The driver to Naples was the best way to go, I was driven in a shiny new mercedes no less, and the drive was beautiful. Lufthanza were so nice to me, gave me confirmed seats right away on a full flight. I met a cool brother and sister from San Francisco who were so happy to meet a friendly person they bought me an expresso and talking to them passed the time nicely. I had my last Italian meal, a plate of veges which were great, but I belatedly realised I was in Naples and saw the neopolitan pizzas too late, they looked incredible.

The flight was delayed departing, and we were kept in a holding pattern landing due to storms in Frankfurt. I immediately know I am in Germany by the sheer efficiency of operations. Also the smell of bratwurst, I have one as soon as I collect my luggage, and all the food looks so good. I wait for hours for the qantas checkin to open, they take my bag but to go standby at the gate and only as far as Singapore. There is a security scare and the terminal is temporarily shut! I meet other fellow staff travellers and have friends in the uncertainty...

Good news I get on in premium economy with a business class bed, and a business class seat back to Brisbane. I am so happy the volcano is not playing up, and I can get home without any further drama. Sad to see the end of such an amazing holiday but it is time to return home to my friends, family, puss and life!