The 2018 Mexican American film “Roma” received 10 Oscar nominations for the 91st Academy Awards and won three including Best Foreign Film (Mexico’s first Best Foreign Film win). Alfonso Cuarón won for Best Director. The film, shot in black and white so beautifully, can be seen as a study of near devastation of human relationshipsContinue reading “RKS Retro Film: “Roma”: A Mexican American Film That Explores Societal and Relationship Devastation”
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
RKS Wine: Portugal Comes on Strong in 2022 Tastings
I can’t recall encountering a Portuguese dud in 2022. And the best wine so far is not from the Douro but from Beira Interior. Alentejano wines are proving to be solid wines at more than reasonable prices. We try a 2019 Coutada Velha Signature 2019 which is a Vinho Regional Alentejano. There is some CabernetContinue reading “RKS Wine: Portugal Comes on Strong in 2022 Tastings”
“Travels to a Different Time” : 17July1974: Bucharest, Romania: Too Much East German Beer: Jumped by Gypsies at 2 a.m.
I finally bought the sheepskin vest and with help of some black-market exchange I ended up paying $20. The day was roasting hot as I went to the market to purchase ingredients to make another batch of spaghetti. I purchased all the ingredients at the market and went into the “tourist shop” to buy EastContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 17July1974: Bucharest, Romania: Too Much East German Beer: Jumped by Gypsies at 2 a.m.”
“Travels to a Different Time” : 16July1974: Bucharest, Romania: Stay Away From “Nick the Big Boy”: Overnight in a Romanian Villa
Up at ten for a big spaghetti brunch. Sorin loved it but with the right spices it would have been worthy for the top bureaucrats in the Romanian Communist Party! After the tasty feast Sorin left for work while I washed some clothes and started to pack up. I am planning on leaving in aContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 16July1974: Bucharest, Romania: Stay Away From “Nick the Big Boy”: Overnight in a Romanian Villa”
“Travels to a Different Time” :15July1974: Bucharest, Romania: Sorin Has to Register Me with the Police: Meeting up With Pusha the Daughter of a Defector: My Imitations Cause Mirth and Terror
Up at 10:30 and Sorin and I went out to buy some milk, bread, cake and Romanian “Corn Flakes”. The milk was not very good and Sorin said if you arrived before 8:30 there was a higher quality milk available. Sorin has never had spaghetti and meat sauce! Is that possible! So we went toContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :15July1974: Bucharest, Romania: Sorin Has to Register Me with the Police: Meeting up With Pusha the Daughter of a Defector: My Imitations Cause Mirth and Terror”
RKS Film: “Visionary Gardeners”: Episode # 3 “People and Plants”
The Canadian television series “Visionary Gardeners” is a five-part series premiering March 7, at 9 p.m. ET on Vision TV and it runs for 5 weeks in half hour segments. It features avid Canadian gardeners with their own vision of what a garden is. You may think the series is about them and their gardensContinue reading “RKS Film: “Visionary Gardeners”: Episode # 3 “People and Plants””
RKS Wine: Wine from Alentejano in Portugal
There has been an increasing number of wines coming our way in Canada from the Alentejano Region in Portugal. They have all been red wines. The Monte da Ravasqueira is a blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. As for aromatics there is some black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and some spice. On the palateContinue reading “RKS Wine: Wine from Alentejano in Portugal”
“Travels to a Different Time” : 14July1974: Contanesti, Bucharest, Romania: Getting My Ass Pinched by Romanian Girls
Auto stopped into Constanţa with a truck driver. We stopped for a lunch of 4 grilled meatballs and bread which cost 70 cents. I eventually found the train station and took the 3:30 train to Bucharest. The train was overcrowded with you guessed it no seats so we were stuck in the corridor with peopleContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 14July1974: Contanesti, Bucharest, Romania: Getting My Ass Pinched by Romanian Girls”
“Travels to a Different Time” : 13July1974: Contanesti, Romania: No Tourist Ghetto for Me: Invasion of the Ladybugs
Pierre and part of the gang packed up their tents and were off. I headed off to the beach and ran into Vasha. But as soon as I sat down a huge invasion of ladybugs descended. They covered the air like locusts. It was hilarious watching everybody twitching trying to swat off the ladybugs. InContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 13July1974: Contanesti, Romania: No Tourist Ghetto for Me: Invasion of the Ladybugs”
“Andrij The Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog” : Chapter 12: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!
As I sit in the cockpit of the US Navy jet taking me to Buffalo New York, I have time to ponder many things. First and foremost is the attack of autocrat Tsar Putin on my country very much like Hitler attacked Poland in 1939. He is ordering the murder of civilians. His sophisticated missilesContinue reading ““Andrij The Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog” : Chapter 12: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!”
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