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caught this outside our window 🩵

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Frank Dillane | Venice Film Festival [Harvest] © Red King Creative 2024

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Frank Dillane (and a bonus Caleb Landry Jones) | Venice Film Festival | Harvest © Red King Creative 2024

are they incredible? no, and I know that. My hands were shaking from pain, and they're taken on a cellphone. But it was a special moment, and he's a beautiful person. Congratulations, Frank, and to the rest of the cast and crew of Harvest.

I want to add that we met him and Caleb Landry Jones afterwards. I was in my wheelchair. Crowds are not easy to navigate, and definitely safer for me to be sitting, and Venice is big. I'm thankful that I still have the ability to stand and walk, but I'm equally thankful for my mobility aid. Frank knelt for photos, even after I told him I could stand. I would have preferred to stand, in truth, but I take a little bit to get up and didn't want to waste his time. He was sweet, kind, and patient. The same can be said for Caleb, who, while my partner tried to figure out my phone (after photo bombing a pic I took of a sweet moment of celebration, more to capture the memory than to share with the world,) he had a conversation with me. I asked what advice he'd give for acting, as that's truly the career path I wish to pursue, but it's difficult to maneuver as a disabled person. He obliged. I truly appreciate both of their time. I know it's not easy. I wanted to ask Frank as well, but he'd already been so patient and I didn't want to bother him.

What they don't know, and what I didn't get to tell them, is that today marked an incredibly difficult day for me for the past 17 years, and this year is even harder. This year means I have been without my dad in my life for the same amount of time I had him in my life. Today and every September are a black hole. Today, both of them and their kindness have added a little light to a day that has been a nightmare. Finally, I have something positive to associate the day with.

I doubt they'll ever see this, but on the off chance they stumble upon it, I want to say thank you, Frank and Caleb, for being so down to earth, treating me like an equal when others have not, and for giving me a positive memory on the darkest day of the year. Congratulations on your film. Both my partner and I enjoyed it. I absolutely plan on pursuing a path to a career in film.

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Austria © Red King Creative 2024

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Deutschland © Red King Creative 2024

After visiting Schloss Neuschwanstein, we grabbed dinner and rested up in Weingarten. There was a cow.

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German Castles © Red King Creative 2024

Schloss Neuschwanstein & Schloss Hohenschwangau

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we found a taco place that actually uses corn tortillas! they didn't have as much flavor, because northern Italian palate is sensitive to spicy, but they did have a few sauces we could put on for heat and flavor. best tacos I've had here. they were actually really filling, too. my hands smell like tacos and my mouth is happy.

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i really really like when this happens

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Passing through Austria, August 2024 © Red King Creative

I am absolutely aware that 3 of them are the same with different edits. I liked it too much to pick just one version.

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We tried food from Argentina and Ghana. I would love to get my hands on recipes for the rest. 🤤

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Toscana

© Red King Creative 2024

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Taste of Tuscany

A 5 Star Experience on a budget

Ribollita: a vegetable and bean soup, thickened with bread. Enjoyed at a cozy restaurant, Trattoria Rigoletto, at the foot of San Gimignano.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina: a real treat of a well known Florentine T-bone. Served salted and sizzling, and yes, we got to choose our own. Enjoyed right in the food market of Florence.

Mint and Lemon Ravioli: A light and refreshing meal. The restaurant was lovely, and they had delicious crostini which we gobbled up before taking a photo even crossed my mind. Il Caffè degli Amici, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa

Chicken and Waffles: not something commonly found in Italy, so it was a rare remedy for homesickness. Actually really on point compared to a lot of American cuisine found in Italy. They even had American coffee with refills. This restaurant in Florence absolutely understood the assignment. Rooster Cafe, Florence

Lampredotto: a sandwich made with tripe and spinach. Absolutely amazing. Tripe is tender and juicy. A bit greasy. Very messy. Definitely a comfort food. A long wait, but worth it. Prètto Prosciutteria e Convivio, Siena

I read a lot of articles that made it seem super easy to find these things, and it wasn't. These Tuscan dishes aren't found all over the place. We traveled to Livorno for cacciucco, and we couldn't find it. The restaurant that we went to served it, but we had to make a request in advance, so we neither got to try it or explore Livorno. So if you want to try these things, be careful and plan ahead. Do your research. They're worth it, but it's not as easy as articles would lead you to believe.

We did get dinner and a show in Tavarnelle. A couple was celebrating an anniversary, and their choir sang. It was a lovely night and a rare experience. Definitely a night and a trip to remember. Each place had incredible food with fair prices, and our airbnb greeted us with a bottle of chianti, which we enjoyed with a chocolate hazelnut tart from a local supermarket.

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Toscana, Aprile 2024