RKS Wine: The Return of the Penniless Pensioner and the Tirana Tigress in Albania

After months of radio silence, I received a Facetime call from the Penniless Pensioner from the capital of Albania, the glistening Tirana. We chatted like it was yesterday!

His last love affair with the Russian Svetlana crumbled rather quickly after her yacht was confiscated in Montenegro. Apparently her yacht was stolen from Crimea when the Russians annexed it from Ukraine. The Montenegrin’s were tipped off by one of her many enemies.

PP decided to fall in love with Lola Freiberg known in Albania as the Tirana Tigress a woman of incredible beauty and business acumen P noted. PP proudly recounted she was hugely successful in “immigration consulting” offering “placements” in Germany to migrants fleeing violence, war and famine. What a gal PP waxed effusively. A heart of gold. Helping to place these migrants predominately in Germany, the land of milk and honey.

Well not to squash P’s lust and pride after our call I researched “Freiberg Consulting” and contacted my close relative at CSIS in Ottawa Canada’s intelligence agency. Lola is under investigation by the authorities in Germany for human trafficking, bribery, intimidation and a few of her “troublesome” clients allegedly have taken a swim with cement shoes. A truckload of her “clients” were found frozen to death in the back of a trailer tractor on its way to Dresden. What all her clients were doing in the back of this truck was a mystery to her but not her Swiss bank account. PP looks like he is headed to the rocks of a romantic crash. Should I head to Tirana and rescue the blind lovesick puppy? But I am retired and do I need more adventures at my age?

In a German state of mind I decide to head to a German wine a Spaetburgunder otherwise known in many countries as a Pinot Noir from Königschaffhauser Steingrüble.

As for aromatics there is no mistaking this for a Pinot Noir with notes of raspberries, strawberries, beets and a thin line of milk chocolate. On the palate smooth with notes of French raspberry jam, small Bing cherries and slate all capable of being appropriately characterized as being just a bit beefy. Lola Freiberg is an oversized woman and she just might like a less than overly genteel Spaetburgunder.

The wine can smooth out a bit more in the bottle over the next two years. Grown in volcanic soils. As for food lamb, mushrooms and a simple pasta sauce made with field tomatoes onions, garlic, fresh rosemary, oregano and basil as the fresh herbs give the sauce a lighter flavour more attractive to Pinot Noir.

So what am I do to with the Penniless Pensioner. Hop aboard Air Albania and hope for the best? Or should Lola escape the noose and “Run Lola Run” ?

Should Lola run from Tirana?

(Königschaffhauser Steingrüble, 2019 Pinot Noir, Baden, Qualitätswein, Germany, $18.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 460410, 750 mL, 13%, RKS Wine Rating 89/100).

“Travels to a Different Time” : 9August2004: Montreal and Malbaie Quebec: Trip from Montreal to Malbaie

Stayed with in laws in Montreal. Had a great barbequed Porgy with Swiss Chard for lunch before heading out on a 5 hour drive to the Charlevoix region of the Province of Quebec. We slipped out of Montreal heading east with little traffic. Out of Quebec City on the 138 the scenery was glum with gas stations, cheap hotels and malls but the closer we were to Malbaie the scenery became more interesting with the St. Lawrence River in sight. We arrived at our hotel the majestic Manoir Richelieu. Even in Canada the hotel rule would be give the crappiest room you can quite frankly not expected from a Fairmont Hotel! Our initial room had an obstructed view of the St. Lawrence River and a full view of the casino. Being sick and tried of this silly hotel practice I complained and voila a beautiful deluxe room with an unobstructed view of the St. Lawrence River. After settling in Andrew and I went for a marvelous steam bath. We noted the two pools were saltwater. We trundled up to our room invigorated but pruny. For dinner at the hotel restaurant Fotini and I had a bottle of decent Quebecois white wine with blue cheese seafood tortellini. Andrew had the seafood crepe and we all had Crème Brulé for dessert. We had planned to watch an in-room movie but were just too tired.

March 2004: Trip into Costa Rican Rainforest

My son Andrew and I headed into the Costa Rican Forest leaving the girls behind for spa day. We left at 08:15 in a minibus with 12 other people. Our guide seemed knowledgeable and some of the facts he related to us that I remembered were.

  • Huge amount of Nicaraguan migrants are causing a strain on Costa Rican social system
  • The cashew nut comes from a fruit. The nut is in the stem and you have to roast the stem to extract the nut
  • There is income tax in Costa Rica
  • Forest fires are a big problem in Guanacaste province  
  • There are over 150 species of tree frogs in Costa Rica
  • At one time cattle in Guanacaste province supplied McDonalds with 70% of its beef
  • The cattle industry is now in decline

Upon arrival we climbed up towards the mountain and the higher you climbed the greener the vegetation and by the time we arrived at the lodge we were in a sea of green. Brief bathroom break at a urinal tiled and sloped so it drained. Periodic streams of water swept away the pee. We had a three hour walk in the rain forest. Thousands of “leaf cutter ants” marching about carrying leaves. Howler monkeys followed us screaming saying this is our territory and what are you doing here. The three suspension bridges afforded a spectacular view but they were swaying. Mosquitos were well behaved until the end of the walk where they drilled right through your shirt. Bug spray was effective. After our walk we had a mundane late lunch and headed home.

RKS Wine: Château de la Chapelle Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2018

The wine is a blend of Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%).

As for aromatics blackberry rules supreme. To a lesser extent blueberries, black cherry, root beer and a bit of lavender. I am noticing an increasing streak of root beer in some high alcohol wines. This wine is 14%.

On the palate the tannins are of a moderate nature. The palate is chunky and dense and a bit hot due to its alcohol content. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon might have liked “Some Like it Hot” but not all wine drinkers do. Black currants, cactus pear and loganberry. A lack of complexity. If I want some warmth on a cold fall day I’d prefer a bourbon over this heat box. But you may like a red wine with some “punch” so you’ll be content with this.

You may wish to decant two hours prior to serving which in this case muffled its burn. Alternatively use Pinot Noir stemware and swirl generously. I sense a beauty in this wine but the question is how to bring that beauty to the forefront.

(Château de la Chapelle 2018, Blaye, AC Côtes de Bordeaux, Vignoble Luc Schweitzer, Berson, France, $20.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 25385, 750 mL, 14%, RKS Wine Rating 87/100).

RKS Film: “Dead Bride”: Spaghetti Horror Film?

Do you remember those delightfully different Westerns in the 1970’s shot in Spain and Italy. Not only were they enjoyable but they played a role in reviving a languishing genre of film so popular in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

The horror genre of film has never really languished but the Italian “Dead Bride” is a horror film very much directed toward the English-speaking audience. Most of the actors and technical crew are Italians but nowhere is there an explicit reference to the locale of the film other than a quick reference and possible hint by one of the characters that some Americans will be coming to visit the demon possessed family. The actors speak English and there are no subtitles and thank goodness no dubbing.

The plot is not overly complicated. Alyson (Jennifer Mischiati) and Richard (Cristoph Hülsen) decide to move into the country house of her deceased father who had committed suicide. They have a newly born boy Seth. Alyson’s mother, Susan, had certain demonic difficulties and died when Alyson was 9. Alyson herself has suffered some trauma through a series of nightmares as a child when living in the house. She is on psychiatric meds.

To make a long story short Alyson’s grandfather killed his pregnant first wife and married Susan who gave birth to Alyson. Why is Alyson suffering from these horrible nightmares?  Why is all this rather tiresome spooky streak now plaguing the house?

A priest by the name of Father Elbert (Sean James Sutton) spills the beans. Alyson’s father had contacted Father Elbert some 25 years ago for his help with his wife Susan who appeared to be slipping into violent madness. But no she is possessed by Madeus the Lord of Wrath and Vengeance in the underworld. He possesses Susan in a terrifying scene. The Bride through Madeus wants her revenge for her murder and particularly for the murder of her en ventre de sa mere child. Father Elbert says the Bride’s raging spirit can be placated by finding her remains, blessing them and burying them in holy ground.

Seth is kidnapped by the Bride and paranormalist Dave (Douglas Dean) is brought in and sends Alyson on a nail biting and spooky different dimension adventure that raises the film a few notches over the “usual horror film”. Does she find Seth? Just when you might be celebrating a predictable and happy ending, you’ll be blown off your seat and you might be left with your mouth open. Everyone must have forgotten Father Elbert’s edict about what must be done to placate the Bride. Father Elbert was also very clear in saying the curse of the Bride is on the family and not the house.

While this is no “The Exorcist”, “Carrie” or “Strawberry Flavoured Plastic” it is several notches above the plethora of spooky films swirling around the upcoming Halloween season. The cinematography makes it classier than most horror films.

The acting is good throughout with Douglas Dean as the paranormalist being an essential power to push the film to a satisfying conclusion. Be very careful to pay close attention to his final conversation with Alyson particularly his comment about age!

It is written and directed by Francesco Picone.

It is available on VOD.

You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyUNGko4nFQ

RKS Film Rating 78/100.

RKS Travel: How Has COVID Changed Air Travel?

  1. Getting to and From the Airport

In Toronto little has changed although airport taxis and limousines now have protective plexi-glass screens separating you from the driver. Going to and from the three Greek airports I passed through there were no screens in taxis/limos taking you to and from the airport.

  • Seats Need to be Booked Before Check-In

Of the 5 September flights I was on each was sold out. However there was ample seat selection to choose upon booking our 3 Greek flights. Two flights I took in Greece were mostly on short turbo prop flights with seating two and two. Air Canada from Toronto to Athens was a different story. I booked a month or so before those flights and don’t recall being given the option by my points provider to choose a seat which was not disconcerting because pre-COVID you checked in 24 hours prior to flying and there were plenty of seats available. This time checking in for 2, 24 hours prior to departure on a huge plane there were only 3 seats available. I sat in the last row by the galley and the WC graced by line-ups and noisy vacuum flushes for nine hours. It would seem many people were spooked by flights being oversold they booked a seat just to ensure they would not be bumped in an oversold situation or perhaps I was penalized for booking with points? If you don’t want to be marooned like me choose your seat upon booking despite the annoying nickel and dime approach of airlines to charge for anything they can possibly charge for. They are not charging to use the toilets yet. Ryanair tried that a few years ago and suffered withering public criticism. On my return flight from Athens to Toronto I paid close to $100 for an aisle seat.

  • There May Be Delays

For the three internal flights in Greece two were “rescheduled” weeks before departure. Due to labour shortages for security staff, baggage handlers and customs officials expect possible delays at major airports. Further delays may be expected for the airplane to access the runway and connect to a deplaning gate. You may experience a delay in exiting the airplane particularly at Toronto Pearson Airport as connecting passengers are whisked off the plane with priority in groups with a wait between each “release” so customs was overly swamped. I had over a 40-minute wait in Toronto to leave the plane.

  • Stick to Carry on Baggage

If you have the option as I did for my September flights to survive a trip out of a carry-on bag you just, for the time being, may wish to restrict yourself to a carry-on bag. Toronto Pearson Airport had horrible stories of thousands of checked in bags sitting unclaimed so Toronto passengers were paranoid about checking in their bags. The airlines nickel and dime passengers in many instances to grab revenue for processing check in bags yet there are so many carry-ons, many not policed for permissible dimensions, there is no place to put them on the airplane so free check in may be offered at the gate. The offer of free check in on my Toronto Athens flight was offered to the mirth of waiting passengers failing sufficient passenger take up mandatory check in was required!

  • Major Airports are Crammed

Stir crazy and formerly virus terrified passengers are crawling out of their shells. Airports and airplanes are crammed. Lineups may be the norm for airport shops and restaurants. I had an hour wait at Toronto Pearson Airport to access Plaza Premium Lounge. Given the poor quality of food and beverage that was a big mistake. Mandatory masks are no longer required in many airports or on airplanes.

  • Arriving Early for Your Flight?

Suffering from Toronto Pearson Airport horror stories we arrived three and a half hours prior to our flight. In and through security without any wait. In Greece arrival in a regular time frame was fine. With the resolving of labour shortages normalcy of arrival time at airports if not already in place may surface again. Probably best to check the relevant airport website to determine appropriate arrival to airport time.

  • Decreased Legroom?

On my last transcontinental flight in 2019 on Air Canada from Paris to Toronto I seem to recall having four inches between my knees and the forward seat. My knees were touching the seat ahead of me on my September Air Canada Toronto-Athens flight. Could it be that some airlines financially pummelled by COVID in an attempt to recoup revenue have repositioned seats to fit more passengers in?

In summation flying has evolved into a most unpleasant experience and it is often an evil that has to be suffered. As the air travel world normalizes it is hoped the aggravation subsides. If you are caught in a web of unpleasant experiences chances are you can little to alleviate them so just accept and avoid stressing yourself.

RKS Wine: Alentejano Wines Keep Charging Ahead

If we discuss Portuguese imports of wine to Canada the Douro leads the pack but over the past few years the wines of Alentejano are catching up.

Let’s try Valcatrina from the Alentejano from well known producer Casa Santos Lima. Unfortunately, the label only states the wine is made from “typical grape varieties”. Hardly helpful for one curious and willing to learn about Portuguese wine.

The wine pours purple. On the nose stuffed like a Christmas bird with blackberry, black cherry with a bit of cherry liqueur. There is a gentle nudge of what I think is older oak. On the palate more black fruit with a certain tartness to it. One might call it juicy counterbalanced by a wide swath of milk chocolate. Low tannins. Straightforward and simple. The cork powder that settled on the wine after the pull is worrisome to one contemplating ageing the wine. A cheap cork on the pull doesn’t auger well for ageing.

For tomato lovers in Ontario we are just about at the end so eat eat and eat them as who can stand hot house tomatoes or Mexican imports. I think this wine suited a late fall pasta sauce made with field tomatoes, red peppers, onions, local sweet garlic with a good dash of red wine.

(Valcatrina Tinto 2020, Vinho Regional Alentejano, Casa Santos Lima, $15.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 25249, 750 mL, 14.5%, RKS Wine Rating 89/100).

“Travels to a Different Time” : March 2004: Puntarenas Costa Rica: A Gringo Tourist for a Moment: Canopy Trail Zipper Ride

In some countries you can escape being typecast as a gringo tourist. Costa Rica is not one of them. You participate in gringo attractions you predominate even more. So off to the Canopy Trail Zipper Ride with son Andrew. We were picked at the hotel at 15:30 and had a 90-minute ride to the Ride. It was a 50-minute drive and the most interesting was the last 10 kilometres on a dirt road. We were in what looked to be “cattle country”. The cattle all have lumps on their backs so they are called Brahmans. They try to sell you some ecological benefits of the Ride i.e., that you are amongst wildlife at the treetops. However, at this height there is not so much wildlife to be seen except for some Howler Monkeys making a grunting noise giving the impression they are larger than they actually are. We had a training session and after you are buckled in a pulley and off you go with a loud ZZZZZZ as you zip along the cable above you. You can brake by grabbing on to the cable wearing the thick gloves that they give you. A short but thrilling ride with photographs of your ride available for sale! About the most educational part of the expedition was the 10-kilometre ride on the dirt road. The cost is $50USD per person.

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: Prostitution and Art Theft

“Beautiful art, like beautiful women, provokes desire. A desire to possess and be possessed, a yearning to have created, a sense of peace and majesty, to hold this sublime proof of the existence of God, who must be great indeed to have created a thing of such beauty. In this manner, if you’ll forgive the analogy, the patron is soliciting a prostitute, the beautiful whore is a work of art, and the thieves who provide her, the pimps.”

Noah Carney “The Art Thief” 2007 Washington Square Press

RKS Film: “The Last Out”: Cuban Fodder for Major League Baseball?

“The Last Out” is a PBS POV documentary which you can stream free (assuming you are not geoblocked) until 2November22 at pbs.org and the PBS Video app.

It chronicles the trials and tribulations of three Cuban baseball players fleeing the poverty and lack of baseball opportunities to make their career, hopefully, in American professional baseball (MLB). You’ll be introduced these young men, “Happy” Oliveros, Carlos Gonzáles and Victor Baró in Costa Rica training to be noticed by MLB scouts. It is a Los Angeles based agent Gus Dominguez footing the cost hoping his prospects will be signed to a contract by an MLB team and if so he’ll collect 20% of the player’s signing bonus. Hundreds of Cuban wannabe baseball players have left Cuba in the past 5 years to make it in the MLB but only 6 have landed in American professional baseball.

The documentary was filmed over a period of 4 years.

The Cuban players suffer from loneliness and a lack of a strong family presence but is their hope in making it that gives them the fortitude to continue.

At this point:

  1. Will any of these Cubans make it?
  2. Are they treated like commodities by the MLB machine?
  3. Do they have any bargaining power or are they driven by desperation?
  4. What is the state of Cuban baseball?
  5. Are sports dreams of making it professionally any different than any other migrant trying to make it to the golden land of the United States?
  6. The US trade embargo with Cuba made it illegal to sign a professional player with Cuban residence. Was this a misguided policy penalizing Cuban citizens?

In addition to baseball centric issues viewers will see the attempt by one of players to make it through Central America including a trip with smugglers to enter Mexico. One of many thousands fleeing crime and poverty in Central America. These people are literally running to the American border for a dream of peace and economic prosperity. As Cubans they hope for asylum.

Two of the players join their Cuban expatriates in the USA while a third signs a contract with a Dominican Republic baseball team. Do you think they miss baseball?

Is this a baseball or migrant story? It is both and consequently can be enjoyed by a wider audience.

As a closing comment I have a buddy that had a son years ago that was gung-ho into hockey at an elite level. Incredibly he related the story that half the parents thought their children would be playing in the National Hockey League. Could it be that professional sports aspirations are delusional respective of the country they originate in!

RKS Film Rating 90/100.