Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Wine: Carmenére Confusion

For 145 years Carmenère in Chile was thought to be Merlot! It was only in the mid 1990’s that what was thought to be Merlot was actually identified as Carmenère. Although more Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is planted some say it is Chile’s signature grape. Originally a Bordeaux grape it was wiped out by diseaseContinue reading “RKS Wine: Carmenére Confusion”

“Travels to a Different Time” :August 11, 1970: (Volos/ Thessaloniki) :No Not Another Tantrum! A Crappy Birthday

From Volos we made a connecting stop at Larissa and boarded the train to Thessaloniki and arrived at 4 p.m. While at the train station we bought a ticket to Istanbul. We found a B class hotel called the Rotunda and just loved the hot water. On the way to dinner I bought a pairContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :August 11, 1970: (Volos/ Thessaloniki) :No Not Another Tantrum! A Crappy Birthday”

“Travels to a Different Time” : August 8-10, 1970, Skopelos, Greece: Big Game Hunter Spears a Prize! Why Are These People Staring at Us?

August 8, 1970: I woke up at seven to get some fresh bread and we had strawberry jam, bread and hardboiled eggs for breakfast. We took the 9 am bus to the beach with Theodore, Rick and Dee. We preordered our lunch of calamari before walking down to the beach. Theodore borrowed my speargun butContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : August 8-10, 1970, Skopelos, Greece: Big Game Hunter Spears a Prize! Why Are These People Staring at Us?”

RKS Film: “City of Vultures”

I recently saw “City of Vultures II” which will be released on February 1st and you will see my review on January 31. But the original “City of Vultures” is now available for free on Tubi at https://tubitv.com/movies/417685/city-of-vultures?start=true You need not see the original before you watch the sequel but if you do you willContinue reading “RKS Film: “City of Vultures””

“Travels to a Different Time”: August 7, 1970: The Great Jellyfish and Fly Massacre

Up at 6:30 this morning. Read a few chapters of my book “The Family” then rolled over and slept until noon and killed 23 flies before eating a meager breakfast of grapes. We went into town to buy supplies for lunch at the beach but missed the bus to Stafilos Beach so we took aContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time”: August 7, 1970: The Great Jellyfish and Fly Massacre”

“Travels to a Different Time” :August 5, 1970: Living in a Grape Arbour Now in a Partially Completed Hotel! Trapped in the Bathroom!

As soon as we landed onshore on Skopelos I waited in a café while Mom hunted for a room and only managed to find a room in a partially constructed hotel! As we unpacked the entire family of the hotel manager was watching us! There is no door for our room and instead there isContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :August 5, 1970: Living in a Grape Arbour Now in a Partially Completed Hotel! Trapped in the Bathroom!”

“Travels to a Different Time” : August 1970 More Skiros: No More Mackerel Sandwiches Please!

August 1, 1970: Up at 8 a.m. to take the bus to a new beach. On the way to the bus stop we bought some canned mackerel and sardines and bread. We were on the bus at 9 and at the beach at 10 and we had to walk through a forested area of pineContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : August 1970 More Skiros: No More Mackerel Sandwiches Please!”

RKS Wine: Go with The Bordeaux Flow?

Over the past few years in Ontario there has been a steady steam of low-cost Bordeaux wines appearing in the market. These bargain basement prices remind one of the cost of many wines from Chile, South Africa, Spain and Portugal. Bordeaux has a lot of “goodwill” attached to its name like “Champagne” does but weContinue reading “RKS Wine: Go with The Bordeaux Flow?”

“Travels to a Different Time” : July 29, 1970: Sleeping in a Grape Arbour on the Outskirts of Skiros: Watch For Scorpions! I Love Goat Stew!

We arrived at the tiny port town of Linaria in Skiros and no luck in finding rooms. Somehow we ended up on the outskirts of the equally tiny town of Skiros sleeping outside in cots in a grape arbour. I have been to camp in Vermont so this was going to be another adventure. AsContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : July 29, 1970: Sleeping in a Grape Arbour on the Outskirts of Skiros: Watch For Scorpions! I Love Goat Stew!”

“Travels to A Different Time” : July 1970 Squabbles in Iraklion, Crete and Robert to the Rescue

July 25, 1970: Up early at 7:30 today. Mom hand washed some of our clothes and we went down for breakfast at the pension we were saying at owned by Ismini Georgiadis. Bread and honey with scrambled eggs. Mom had a little squabble with Ismini over a cup of coffee. When we arrived at herContinue reading ““Travels to A Different Time” : July 1970 Squabbles in Iraklion, Crete and Robert to the Rescue”