If you want to meet a planner, let me introduce you to Alice. This year was not the Alice Alice. With her heart surgery, her work and my photo shoots. we had little or no time to prepare. We decided not to commit to the vacation until we were confident with Alice's surgery result. When the Dr came into the recovery room to speak with Alice and I, he prescribed a vacation to Italy.

This year we decided to "live like the locals" on our vacation to Italy. The only thing we locked down was the airplane and the the apartment in Rome.

Alice's preparation was mainly what shoes to buy and bring.

My preparation was what camera equipment to bring. My biggest dilemma was which camera to bring and should I bring a backup. Our focus was different but the result will be amazing.

My chosen camera get for our Italy trip.

Train ride from Delray Beach to Miami Airport

We love to take the train from Delray Beach to Miami airport. The Tri-Rail train does not compete with Brightline. However, it drops us right off in the middle of the airport. We love that. You would be amazed how many people actually take the Tri-Rail to the Miami airport.

Alice on the plane with the Italian Stallion

Due to our last-minute scheduling of our flight to Rome, we were unable to book a pair of contiguous seats on the airplane. Our confirmed seats were with someone else between us. We had hoped we could talk the middle person out of their seat so we could sit together and hold hands. So here we are in the middle aisle with three seats, and both of us, taking the aisle seat and the middle seat, waiting for the unknown traveler. I was worried we may get a 400 pound Covid infected traveler laden with twins who she was nursing mid flight and refused to change the seat. While we are boarding the plane, I teased Alice telling her that some lady may take the middle seat, and I may mistakenly hold her hand. as the travelers boarded the plane, I looked anxiously at each person coming in one by one. Oh no this can't be the guy. This is the guy. Yup the Italian stallion with the look of a cross between Dr Mcdreamy and George Clooney. His looks, his aura, his clothing .... I knew I was in trouble. Sure enough it was him. He has the middle seat. I looked at Alice and she smiled. After asking the young Sylvester Stallone if he could exchange seats, she looked at me and smiled, "I get to sit by the two best looking men on the plane". I wasn't alarmed I knew he didn't have the entire Schmuki package.

Alice with the second best looking guy on the plane. What a lucky girl!

Our first walking tour and night out

We had a great first day in Rome. After resting a bit and unpacking we went out and took a look at our neighborhood. We love it here.

The food is so cheap here!

Girls from Vienna Austria

British Embassy

My favorite model: Alice

We had a great dinner at an Italian resteraunt just next to our apartment. We enjoyed the best pasta with pesto we have ever had.

Limoncello

Pasta with Pesto, the best ever!

We met 2 great fun couples from Long Island at the resteraunt who promised to read my Pompeii city of sin blog. They asked me to take their picture because they saw my fancy Nikon on the table.

Our new friends from Long Island New York

Day one is over and we still like each other a lot. Looking forward to days 2-40. Please let me know you are reading and enjoying my blog. This is a lot of work, but mostly a labor of love and a documentation of our wonderful life together.

Tom Schmuki

June 21, 2022

Photography Gear for Italy Trip

Tom Schmuki

June 21, 2022

This blog is dedicated to those camera buffs interested in the camera gear I chose to bring to Italy. I will not only itemize the gear but also provide some commentary.

The camera equipment I have brought and enjoyed in Italy

Camera body: Nikon Z 6 II

A lightweight fantastic mirrorless camera. Issues: sometimes focus and the amount of time between turn on and ready to take the shot. Latest firmware is installed.

Nikon FANS

I have been so pleased to see all the Nikon’s in use here in Italy. I must say I have seen more photographers with Nikon’s than any other brand. As a matter of fact it seems you could add Canon, Sony, etc and still not equal the number of Nikon’s I have seen. YEA. I love my Nikons.

GoPRO Hero 10

If you have been following me you have seen many GoPro videos taken on my Harley Davidson rides. I usually mount it on top of my helmet.

So far in this trip I have taken 1,833 videos with an average length of about 20-30 seconds. Love this thing, however I forgot to bring the proper cables to attach to my Iphone, therefore using the videos in my active daily flow is not nearly as easy as using the IPHONE. We look forward to siting down on the couch with POP CORN and viewing the videos of this wonderful trip. I am sure I will be creating some published videos soon incorporating the videos taken from my GOPRO.

iPhone PRO 12 PRO MAX (Tom)

I have taken a few videos on my Iphone but mostly photos when my Nikon was not available. Most of the time when I wanted a video, I used my GOPRO 10.

IPhone PRO 13 PRO MAX (Alice)

Alice has been clicking and taking videos the entire time. I wonder who took the most? I am so very proud of Alice’s photography and videos. What a great student. Maybe soon the student will become the master.

Lenses

Nikon 24-120 F4 S

My newest lens. I am in love with the range, of course I wish it was faster like my other 2.8 lenses. I love the new programmable ring which I use for F stop. I now wish all my lenses had it!

Nikon 80 1.8 S

This is my favorite Nikon lens and takes the greatest portraits. Beautiful bokeh (background blur) and fast focus. I had intended on using this lens for a model shoot in Rome that unfortunately did not work out. For this trip this lens has been used the least and a better choice would have been my 50mm 1.8 or 35mm 1.4.

Nikon 28 2.8

This lenses almost a pancake lens. Very small and lightweight. Almost a perfect ken’s for street photography. I am surprised how much I have used it on this trip. Focal length is great, it is fast 2.8, and the results are very sharp and clear.

Rokinon 2.8 13 MM Fisheye. Manual

I love to shoot with fisheye lenses. They are artistic. I know there are many who don't like the results. I'm so glad I brought it. Many great shots taken specially inside beautiful chapels with painted ceilings.

Taken in the Saint Peters Basilica with 12 MM Fish eye

Let me repeat this is a manual focus lens and focus can be tricky for the non professional. I grew up on a totally manual camera including focus.

Nikon FTZ lens adapter.

This adapter allows me to use any of my F-Mount lenses on my mirrorless Nikon bodies. For this trip this lens adapter is only need it for my fisheye lens.

Flashpoint Zoom Lion Z R2 N

Seldom used but when I need it the results are fantastic.

Flashpoint Zoom Li-ON III

Have yet to use this flash on this trip but if I will be shooting a model in Rome I will be using to flashes including this one.

Magmod flash adapter

Purpose: to attach different modifiers to flash including gels and bounces. Once you use magmod’s you never go back.

Tripod: Manfrotto MINI tripod (Made in Italy)

Seldom used. I have yet to be comfortable with using a tripod. I love to MOVE around and hit many different angles at a fast pace.

Low Flipside Trek 350 AW pro camera bag

I have loved this bag for this trip. I purchased this bag from Adorama while we were in New York. I am very happy with this bag. Only downside is my 13.5" Macbook Pro laptop does not fit in it. Huh????

Interesting Statistics from Metadata

Here are some interesting statistics from the metadata available in Adobe lightroom regarding my lens usage.

Number of camera clicks

Rokinon Fish Eye: 593 clicks

Nikon 24-120: 5,793, Most common focal length used: 24MM with 1,625 clicks. many came clicks between 35-50 MM, surprising smaller amount above 100 MM

Nikon 28 MM: 1,172

Nikon 85 MM: 683

Lets review

After reviewing these numbers, the statistical analysis confirms my prior assessments on the usage.

If I had to do this all over again, I would NIX the 85 MM and put in my 35MM 1.4.

Tom Schmuki

June 6, 2022

The food of Florence

Tom Schmuki

June 6, 2022

Dinner always starts with wine. I love red wine.

From a non foodie

I believe Alice can be categorized as a true foodie, which in my opinion is someone who knows a lot more details about resteraunts, the preparation and even the ability to recreate it in her own kitchen. I have always called Alice a great CHEF while I am a pretty good cook. There is a great difference between the two.

I am not a foodie nor a chef, but I have always loved great food. I am opinionated you will from my commentary ons this blog.

What I have discovered about the restaurants in Italy including all three cities we have visited Are the following similar items:

Every lunch and dinner you're given a bag of bread. The bread especially in Florence has no salt in it. And they are proud to say that.

You are the salt of the earth

There seems to be a long history of Florence NOT using salt on any of its bread products including bag of bread, pizza dough and others. Salt was historically a matter of money and contention with ROME. Florence refused to use salt to support the romans in their salt as it was commonly used as a precious commodity even to the value of money. To this day, NO salt in Florences bread products. I miss the salt.

Note: Since I have been with Alice she has used little or NO salt in her cooking and food preparation even to the level of her guests bringing in a SALT shakers of their own to make their point. I normally add salt to everything she makes. I am the salt of the earth. HEY, you only live once.

A bag of bread, in Florence the bread is unsalted and has little taste.

Water, would you like flat or sparkling

Every Lunch and dinner the waiters and waitresses ask you if you want water. They then ask you if you want sparkling or still. We always ask for still water And it comes out in a sealed glass bottle and the water taste fantastic. When your bottle of water runs out you just ask for another one. The price of the bottle water is from 2 to 4 Euros each.

Could I have that menu in English please?

Nearly all the menus are written only in Italian. Very few menus have English as an option. Sometimes it is moderately easy to translate the words into their English counterpart but others it is nearly impossible.

Check please

It is always always always a struggle to first get your check and then to pay for your food. There is no rush to push you out of the table for the next patrons. they have no problem with you sitting at a table for 2 to 3 hours. It seems almost common.

Tipping

Tipping is an odd thing. They don't even know how to handle a tip. It seems I don't even expect one. This is very odd! When you pay for your bill on your credit card they bring out a machine swipe your card and there is not even a spot to add a tip. I guess it is customary to pay cash for tips. I understand the workers in the restaurant are paid a fairways and not expected to earn their income on tips and gratuities. This presents a whole different way of thinking and service by the restaurant staff.

We have both been amazed by how hard the help works in these restaurants. They have great pride in what they do from the bartenders to the waiters and waitresses and all the help involved. They all work hard with a smile on their face. This makes the dining experience a very pleasant one.

It seems nearly every restaurant we have been to excluding a few have the standard staples of pizza, spaghetti, and other Italian dishes.

You want Italian food, you got it!

Good luck finding a Mexican restaurant. We were told there was one with mediocre food and average margaritas.

If you love pasta and pizza you love the restaurants in Florence. Having observed many of the beautiful dishes deliver to the patrons of the restaurants in Florence, it is most common to see pizza and pasta.

We have both found by eating the carbs associated with Italian food, when we are hungry we are very hungry and it happens fast.

What I love most about the restaurants here are the people.

The Italian restaurants here in Italy don't seem at all like the Italian restaurants in the United States For the reasons I have described above.

Gelato, a staple in Florence

Gelato is an Italian frozen treat originally created in the 16th century. It is made with a lot less fat and is churned at much slower speed to prevent air. As a result, you get a denser texture and more intensive flavor. We have had lemon, pistachio, coconut and chocolate. My favorite so far was the pistachio. During the heat of the Italian summers I have been craving for this each day.

I have already had 4 servings and can’t get enough. Yummy.

Mother and child enjoying a Gelato in style!

Gelato stores are everywhere and they are always crowded

Wine, Wine and more wine

We have a new respect for Chianti wine from Tuscany and perfect for the hot weather. Our favorite was a Chianti was a mix of 80% Sangiovese grape and when drinking with the cold cuts from a charcuterie board, it cleanses the palate as the wine seems to wash away the heavy after taste. We will be putting a few bottles of Chianti Classico in our wine fridge for the summer months. It’s the perfect red for summer!

CHARCUTERIE BOARD

A selection of preserved foods, especially cured meats or pates as well as cheese and crackers or bread is also a staple at most all Italian restaurants. They restaurants have great pride in the presentation of their charcuterie boards. They can clearly define each cut of meat and where it came from, and how it was cured. We like this very much, however it seems very salty and we only occasionally order it.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie

Every restaurant serves pizza and it seems nearly every customer orders it. The pizza is plain and simple, the crust is thinner than pizza crust from the US and for me does not really have much taste. The sauce, oh the sauce!

Ham and mushroom pizza was one of my favorites so far

Spaghetti Italian style

I have ordered spaghetti many times and I must say I do love the spaghetti from Italy. It is much different than spaghetti in the United States. It is simple and uncomplicated with tomato sauce and sometime cherry tomatoes in it. They don’t serve large portions of it here, but the amount seems just right. The noodles and the sauce are mixed carefully before placed on the serving plate with care. It goes great with their Italian bread (no salt and all)

Diet coke - coke 0

It seems to be the simple things in life that make us happy, something familiar. There is no Diet Coke here, but restaurants will be happy to serve you Coke 0.

The Florentine steak

Many restaurants in Florence have their butchered cows hanging in the window allowing their steaks to cure. The servings are large and plentiful. I have had 2 steaks in Florence and they were both fantastic. The taste is nothing like the taste of meat in the US. The Italian steak made of young steer of heifer that, combined with the specific preparation, makes it one of the most popular dishes of the Tuscan cuisine. Only seasoned with salt and pepper.

Typical T-bone steak dinner after server sliced it up for us

Photos and commentary of many of our meals in Florence

Very reasonable prices

It has been our experience in all three cities we have visited thus far that the prices in our chosen restaurants have been very reasonable. As a matter of fact, we are convinced it is more expensive to eat a comparable meal in a Delray Beach restaurant than in the restaurants in Italy we have gone to. I could gustimeate the prices are anywhere from 30-40% cheeper than in South Florida.

More photos of our food experiences in Florence

The following photos are just a sampling of the many wonderful meals we had in Florence.

Bon apetit

We have both thoroughly enjoyed our visits to the restaurants in Florence. We ate out every meal from breakfast to dinner. All is good here. Come on out and enjoy

Prego

Chef Alicia and Cook Tomasso signing off

Tom Schmuki

June 3, 2022

A long walk in Florence

Tom Schmuki

June 3, 2022

This beautiful river is just a few blocks from our apartment and we walk here multiple times a day

Recovering Plantarfasciitis

When we started dating 2 years ago I was suffering with Plantar fasciitis in both feet. I could not walk the mall without pain and differing in my feet. I had been suffering with this for well over a year. Took me entirely out of tennis my bi-weekly tennis games and other sport activities. Soon after our first few dates we had started planning our vacations together with great concern that I could walk the distance and steps required for an Italy vacation. Alice did all she could do to help cure my feet woes. Visits to podiatrist, orthoditcs, massive amount of nutrition pills, collagen, just to name a few. Nearly 2 years later my feet are much better thanks to Alice! Both feet are still numb and or tingly at times.

Pelotom - My effort to be 35 again

November of last year I purchased a Peloton stationary bike because biking seemed to be one of the only exercises my feet and knees could take. Burning nearly 1,000 calories a day for the last month on my peloton before our trip I had hoped to get in shape, not only to look better but to be able to walk miles and miles each day.

When I met Alice during the beginning of covid she was walking 5-6 miles a day in her old neighborhood of Riverwalk.

We both love the health application in the apple phone applications as tethered to our apple watch. Every night we compare stats to determine the "winner" in each category. We look closely at heart rate, miles walked, trends, blood oxygen and others.

Our nightly routine

Every day we get home, turn the air conditioning on and check our health numbers on the iPhone. We were patting ourselves on the back with an average step count of about 15,000 steps per day until we read a post from someone who is averaging 30,000. Reminded me of competing with the Peloton studs I somehow can't compete with. Never to forget there is always someone way better than you.

OUr competition. actually only mine

Alice beats me in step count every day by an average of 1,000+ steps…. makes no sense to me
Alice beats me on step length every day, again what?
My blood oxygen numbers are normally better than Alices, averaging more than 95%
Resting heat rate, I will give Alice a tie
Calories burned, I win, because I am a man and Alice says men burn more calories than women.

Our steps are often as if we were in a 3 legged race. One, two, one two.

Tom walking the streets of Florence very close to our apartment

Apple Technology discrepancy. Steve Jobs where are you?

We have noticed a major discrepancy in steps taken between us. Alice seems to walk 1,000 or more steps a day even though she is always at my side walking. It also notes her stride is longer. I believe both statistics are erroneous. I have a long gate being 6'1" tall. I just think the devices are not calibrated correctly. We will do our own calibration tests soon by putting both phones in my pocket.

There are other challenges walking the streets of Florence. They are very narrow with a small walking path that normally fits no more than one person. Watch out for speeding scooters, bike riders and taxi cabs. They would rather run you over than give you a chance to get out of the way.

This narrow alley way is everywhere, small paths and bikers, scooters and taxies speeding past you

Peloton studs I am coming for you!

Tom Schmuki

May 24, 2022

Flight to Italy via Paris

Tom Schmuki

May 24, 2022

Our flight to Italy on Air France via Paris

Tom Schmuki

May 4, 2022

Italy Trip Planning - my first blog about our trip

Tom Schmuki

May 4, 2022

A birthday gift from Alice

It was my birthday last year when I was surprised with Alice’s offer to fly us Business Class to Italy. Due to her business commitments and scheduling we decided the best time to go would be the month of May. We finally set our specific dates from May 23rd through June 23rd. One month in Italy. WOW! The plane tickets have been purchased and we are flying Air France to Paris, then a plane with 1 hour layover time to Venice Italy. We are a bit concerned about the short layover time. We are assuming if we miss the connection, Opps, lunch in Paris and we take the next flight.

I have never in my life flown first class or business class. I smile at the SNOBS in the front seats as I clank people on the head with my luggage as I am passing by. Alice tells me they want you to fall to sleep on the plane as we fly over the “big pond.” Here is a photo of what the business class seats look like on Air France. Oh Alice, where are you?

Air France Away…

When the lights go out the bed goes down. Oh flight attendant, where is my cognac?

Amenities of flying business class

Some of the amenities of flying Business class on this airline include: socks, an eye mask, a tooth brush and Clarins skin care products. We will be offered a multi course meal designed by a rotating cadre of top chefs. Starters include things like lobster or shrimp, foie gras, hot bread and of course French butter. Alcohol is complimentary. I think we will be drinking wine and a cognac after dinner.

Time to plan

As of September 12th last year (my birthday) we have been planning our agenda. Alice has been to Italy two times in the past, last time being about 11 years ago. I have basically never been out of the country except for cruise line ports in most of the Caribbean. I have never been to any country in the Eastern Hemisphere. Go figure, my heritage is German and Swiss. Where do you think I got my blue eyes and blond hair from? Yes I have most of the features of a handsome German man — NOT.

Alice the master planner

Let me introduce you to a planner…… Alice. She has diligently spearheaded our agenda including flights, cities to visit, hotels, tours, etc. Of course she has included me in every decision. Take a look at the stack of books and brochures Alice poured over to plan this trip. If I move that stack of books I get the “don’t move those books.”

Italian Trip Planning — Just a subset of all the books, periodicals, internet queries (GOOGLE) and of course Rick Steves video series

Lets buy some luggage

Of course we needed matching luggage. I just hope there will be enough room for my Nikon ha ha.

Tri Rail test ride

We decided to try using Tri-Rail from the Delray station to the Miami Airport. In our planning mode we decided today to test the theory. We love it. The train takes about 1.5 hours, just a few steps to the shuttle which takes just a few minutes to the airport. All in it takes 2 hours from the train station in Delray Beach to walking in to the airport and checking our bags. I highly recommend this! Here are a few photos of our Tai-Rail planning day:

Cities we are staying in

Venice, Verona, Florence, Naples, Sorrento (Amalfi Coast), and Rome.

Some of the tours we have already booked

Tours we have already scheduled: Vatican and Saint Peters, Colosseum and underground Rome, cooking classes, Pietrantoni Palazzo Colonna and others.

Ilian Rochev - an amazing artist and talent!

I also plan on meeting my friend and fantastic artist Ilian Rochov in Rome. I hope to be shown many of his great works. He is also going to help coordinate a few hours with a model in Rome.

I will be bringing my Nikon mirrorless camera with just a few lenses and flash. Alice is concerned about what fashion to bring, I am concerned about what camera gear to schlep around the country. I plan on taking many fantastic photos and writing and sharing my blogs with those photos as much as I can. Stay tuned for my next blog which may be the day we leave.

Read all my blogs

You can read all my blogs in reverse order as I have created them. I am always amazed when I run into people who I never knew would read my blogs but have been all along. Just follow the link air the bottom of each blog to the previous blog. This makes me very happy. Support me with some encouragement and you will see some great blogs with photos on our trip of a lifetime to Italy.

Tom Schmuki

June 10, 2021

Blog day 3 - National Treasures in Washington DC

Tom Schmuki

June 10, 2021

No parking in Washington DC

We got up early in the morning to go out to see our national treasures in Washington DC. Our first objective was to see the Vietnam war Memorial. If anyone knows me I want great light for my photography. I call it the golden hour of the gods. Nothing drives me more crazy than trying to create great photography during the flat hours of the mid day sun.

Our motorcycle ride to the Memorial was less than 20 minutes. We discovered quickly that there was no parking anywhere in all of DC. We finally found a parking spot amongst dozens of other motorcycles at the Pentagon. Of course I took my camera out and started taking a few pictures. We were approached by a very nice man fully decked out in his Military uniform. He told us to be careful and not take any photos as my photography gear may have been confiscated. He also told us we could not park there nor almost any place in DC. We decided to drive the motorcycle clear back to our hotel.

DC Metro rail

We then took the metro rail which was a great experience for both of us. Clean, fast, efficient, and very affordable. Our rides each way was less than four dollars.

Now, we are off with Nikon and GoPro hand. Some of the national treasures we saw and photographed are: The Washington Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial, World War 2 Memorial, World War 1 Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, and many others. We walked well over 5 miles with my heavy photography gear, bad knees and bad feet. I took at least 400 photographs with my Nikon and many beautiful video clips with my GoPro. Unfortunately many of those photos will not be available until we gat back to Florida.

We met an older lady at the Vietnam War Memorial wall. She asked us to take a photograph of her with her camera. She told us about her son and pointed to his name. She started to cry, 55 years later she is still crying. Alice teared up. It was a very touching moment. Such a senseless and worthless war. Did you know that my generation was the first generation without a mandatory war draft. I think my older brother Randy just missed the draft to the Vietnam war.

The security at the White House.

I was saddened and disappointed to see the massive fences and guards preventing even a "looksy" at the White House. I took a few photos of the one glance I could get over the massive solid white 15' plus wall. Mr President: "Tear down these walls!". I wonder what the world will look like for my grandkids.

We had a late lunch at a place called the Corner Office. Alice had a veggie burger which she said was the best she ever had. I was struggling to make it back to metro station where's my bad knees and feet.

With a big grin on her face we took the metro back to the hotel.

After resting in the hotel room we decided to venture back out on the motorcycle to have dinner by the Potomac River. Alice was on a quest to find her soft shell crabs. I never heard of soft shell crabs. I guess they molt once a year. The females have sex right after molting. From what I understand it is one and done for them. We found the soft shell crabs and we were both under impressed by the presentation.

It was a great and memorable day. We will never forget!

Rain storms scheduled in DC all day tomorrow. Means our plans to hit the mountains on the Harley will be delayed. Maybe another day on the Metro rail. Museums I hope.

Don't forget to tell me you are enjoying these blogs otherwise I will stop writing them.

Tom Schmuki

July 16, 2020

Denver visit to Colorado - Emotional and meaningful

Tom Schmuki

July 16, 2020

Time for me to start blogging again

For those of you who have read a few of or the select few who have read all my blogs, you may have noticed I stopped writing blogs almost a year ago. There are many reasons for this neglect. I discovered very few people read my blogs or at the very minimum acknowledged they had read them. If you have not read my blogs and this is your first one you will find that I am a very honest and transparent writer. Transparent even to a flaw. Perhaps blogging for me is more about inter perception than blogging for external reasons, perhaps even like a personal journal. I know it is healthy to sit down with pen and paper and write down your thoughts. Perhaps this entry is for me and a select few may enjoy some of my thoughts here.

If you want me to continue writing my blogs, a little encouragement may be necessary lol.

If you have not read some my my blogs here are a few of the more popular ones or maybe my favorites:

The Shy man with a Camera

https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/8/16/the-shy-man-behind-the-camera\

My Birthday Wish

https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/9/11/my-birthday-wish

Ten things you probably don’t know about me

https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/9/17/ten-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-me

The moment you find out your child is schizophrenic

https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/9/21/the-moment-you-find-out-your-child-is-schizophrenic

Five things you probably don’t know about me

https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/10/14/5-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-me

N95 Mask, Face Shield and gloves soon to be worn on my trip

Day 1 -travel to Denver Colorado

Flight from Fort Lauderdale to Austin Texas

The Fort Lauderdale Airport seemed almost a ghost town when I arrived. My flight was on Spirit Arlines with a connection and layover in Austin Texas. My round trip airline cost was less than $140.00. I paid in advance for 1 checked bag which cost less than $40.00 When I made my reservation there was a COVID-19 disclaimer which required acknowledgment that I have NOT been sick nor in contact with anyone who has been sick for the last 14 days, and my temperature is NORMAL. I was extremely surprised and was expecting a mandatory temperature check to get on the airline, but there were no checks at either the Fort Lauderdale Airport or the airport in Austin. I was surprised and disappointed.

My flight to Auston from Fort Lauderdale was about 50% occupied and therefore there was moderately good spacing between guests. Luckily I had an isle seat. I wore an N-95 mask, face shield and gloves during my entire flights. I noticed only a few other passengers had on shields and no one else had gloves on. Surprised again. Drinks and beverages were served for a $ on the plane. Of course that meant you take your mask off to eat and drink. Again, moderately surprised and disappointed.

Flight from Austin to Denver

The Austin airport was even more ghost town than Fort Lauderdale. However my plane was at least 95% occupied with two rows of 3 each on the plane, Same situation with masks, shields, and gloves.

Another disappointment: not organized formal way to debark the plan with safety and social distancing. When the plane landed, everyone stood up and crowded the isle in a rush to get out of the plane Why did the airline allow this? Organized departure by row would have given us all safety and social distancing

Denver International Airport- Arrived at about 10:00 local time. Again the airport was a ghost town. So different the the hustle and bustle I was used to in this airport for the last 30 years or so. Does anyone remember the old Stapleton International airport that preceded the Denver International Airport?

Stay tuned for my blogs on Days 2-6.