I could call Torremolinos a cesspool but being polite I will say it is a meagre place full of pasty and ill behaved Brits boozing it up and partying away drinking British beer of course. Just like home! Why would people cram into chartered jets and save all year to come to Miami Beach here? Hopped on a bus in search of a beach and it seemed most stunk of sewage. Crashed a hotel pool full of Scandinavians. Trudged home in the blazing heat and had a shower with water spilling out all over the place. What a pit this place is. Dinner at the Moroccan frequented Lanjaron restaurant for chicken with potatoes, soup, salad and mineral water for $3.75. Back home after an ice cream to an increasingly depressing room. It gives you great confidence to return and see a rat scurrying over your doorstep. And while at dinner there was a near gypsy riot in front of our table. There was a dispute amongst the gypsies and the hustlers. Begging is big business in Torremolinos.
RKS Wine: Dão Memories
My last media trip to a wine region was to the Dão in Portugal. You know those days prior to COVID. I must have visited over a dozen wineries all in beautiful settings. I think the star grape was Encruzado which makes a beguiling white wine. For what we see in Ontario the Douro leads the Portuguese pack followed by Alentejano. The Dão regrettably is way back.
This Evidência is a blend of Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Bical. On the nose tangerine, apricot and guava kissed by minerality. On the palate a dry and smooth wine. Just when you might think it lacks character there is a sudden updraft of blood orange. A short finish. This would suit white fleshed ocean fish or grilled chicken breast that has been marinated in beer, smoked paprika, merquen and a hint of Saigon cinnamon. For vegheads an Umbrian Carbonara might do the trick or some Turkish green beans. A decent quaffer on those hot summer days and at $12.95 an inflation beater.
This a creature of stainless steel with no oak.
Parras is a huge producer of wines throughout Portugal. They have a 100% Encruzado so I can only hope we see it in Canada so you may be able to share my fascination with that grape all on its lonesome.
(Evidência 2020, DOC Dâo, Parras, Portugal, $12.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 25244, 750 mL, 13.5%, RKS Wine Rating 89/100).
“Travels to a Different Time” : 22July1978: Torremolinos, Spain: Eating That Stinky Smoked Ham and Cheese Sandwich on the Bus! Moroccans and The Tittering British Girl
There must be a horrific heat wave as woke up in a soggy sweat very lethargic. Took the bus to Fuengirola and Mijas. I made the mistake of eating a very stinky sandwich on the bus. Clear the decks. Mijas has changed drastically since my last visit 5 years ago. There seem to be a million tourist shops especially jewelry. The little American ex-pat hippie artistic community has morphed into a tourist trap. Went to the cheapo Moroccan frequented restaurant and hit the Piper’s Club discotheque which was busy but jammed when I left early in the morning. Stopped for some grilled shrimp and a beer. Upon returning home to Moroccans next to me were having a grand time with some tittering British girl. Dropped off to sleep amidst grunts and groans. I hope the poor lass survived.
“Travels to a Different Time” : 18July1978: Vila Real, Portugal & Seville & Torremolinos Spain: Drunk and Fornicating Brits and Moroccan Sexual Predators
Up early in the blazing heat and off to the market for yogurt, peaches, figs and wafer cookies. Off to the ferry for a ten-minute trip to Spain. The crowd was pushing and shoving like in a panic. In a tiny town in Spain found the bus station and booked passage to Seville at 16:30. Dropped off baggage at bus station and headed out for lunch with sweat rolling down. The bus to Seville was a milk run and finally arrived in Seville at 120 degrees. It was too late to make a connection to Malaga so ended up in a hostel pit. Had a great dinner although the waiter made a “mistake” and I ended up with a massive fish. Gringo rip off? A huge $9 dinner with a fish fit for two.
20July1978: Torremolinos Again! Sleazy Moroccans
Back in Torremolinos again. Was it 1972 I was here with Mom? It was raunchy and touristy then and it has declined since then. Many youths soaked in liquor and decadence mostly Brits. Immature and ignorant. Why leave England when you have British pubs and clubs in Torremolinos. Monkey’s playing about on chains and hey take a picture of it gringos. And lager ladies and gents puke all over the place when clubbing and fornicate in the streets. AH….the British Empire!
Staying in a meagre room very basic with sleazy Moroccans desperately cruising for European girls and a dream of escaping Morocco across the strait. It is sex and seduction for the Moroccan greasers. Money is running out so go where the Moroccans go. Like the Lanjoran Restaurant up the street for $3.00 chicken and a glass of wine. In addition to Moroccan sexual predators and pasty pissed Brits there are fat waddling tourists from God knows where. What a vulgar middle-class breed.
Photo: Daily Mirror
RKS Wine: Ontario Rosés: Run To, Run Away or Keep Your Distance: Peninsula Ridge
Cabernet Franc in Ontario is one of Ontario’s great strengths. Can it translate that strength to a rosé made from Cabernet Franc? The only way is to try a Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé 2021.
In colour somewhere between dark and light pink. As for aromatics an interesting combination of strawberry and orange Creamsicle. Some raspberry and tangerine. On the palate there is definitely some substance and bulk to the wine. This is far from an anemic and insipid rosé. There is a sudden updraft of tangerine after the initial watermelon, cranberry and cherry entanglement. A bit more than a short finish. I like my rosé with some backbone and this medium bodied example can stand well aside a seared tuna steak, lamb burger or a Niçoise salad. Best drink by December 26th as this might be an interesting match for turkey and a winner with roast ham.
This is an Ontario run to rosé!
(Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé 2021, VQA Beamsville Bench, Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery Limited, Beamsville, Ontario, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 177840, $15.95, 12.5%, 750 mL, RKS Wine Rating 91/100).
“Travels to a Different Time” : 17July1978: Vila Real de San Antonio: The Cheating Vicious Vendor and the Plate of Snails
Woke up in the pit a 09:00 and had a peach and a pear then off to the beach in a lethargic mood as it is blistering hot. The sea air, water and sun both saps your energy yet revitalizes you. Munched on a donut and hit the surf. Lunch at 12:30 which was seafood soup, fried squid and a glass of Casal Garcia vinho verde. It took the waiter over half an hour to bring the bill. Returned to the beach until 5 and had a beer at a seaside café watching a drunk insisting on buying children rides on a merry go round. Bought a sweater from a vicious looking woman who tried to cheat me on the exchange rate. Had a plate of delicious snails and a cold beer and took the bus into town. A cold shower back in our uncleaned room. We tried a restaurant but seemed to be a victim of tourist discrimination as we were not served despite the fact we were there before many of the locals who received prompt service. Went to Gomes again and ordered but all three dishes ordered were sold out so we settled for a cod dish. Had a Sumol at a local café and returned to the pit.
“Travels to a Different Time” : 15July1978: Monte Gordo & Vila Real de San Antonio, Portugal: Overwhelmed by Garlic Fumes
Had the crappy continental breakfast which even by continental breakfast standards was junk. The first Portuguese continental breakfast in Lisbon at the Hotel Flamingo was a delight in comparison to this one. Off to the bus stop for trip to Vila Real de San Antonio. There were too many people stuffed on the bus so took a taxi to Vila Real, found the tourist office and they had only three pensions in this town so went to one of them and like the continental breakfast in the morning it was crappy and reeked of garlic. This is the only town in the Algarve where streets are laid out in geometric fashion which it makes it easier to find your way but reduces the charm. Found a restaurant called Gomes which was packed with locals. The food was excellent. Walked about in the main square and had an ice cream before returning to the garlic factory.
RKS Film: “Desert Space”: Fascination vs. Credibility
Who amongst us is not fascinated by UFO’s? But who believes there is evidence that enables us to transcend fascination and convert us into a believer?
The Chilean documentary “Desert Space” reveals the fascination with UFO’s is a universal phenomenon or at least it extends to Chile.
Leonel is 58-year-old man who is a security guard at a mining company in the Atacama Desert. He is an airplane nut and has a large collection of military and commercial aircraft models. His interest in UFOs began when he was living in Sydney and took countless photographs and videos of planes landing and taking off. But in these there were sometimes shimmering silver objects that he believes were UFOs and identical objects are found in his Chilean photographs and videos. Are they birds or weather balloons? Apparently the first documented case of UFO sightings was in the Atacama Desert in 1868 by a group of miners who reported seeing a metallic bird flying in the skies.
There are like minded UFO believers in Leonel’s community and many of them have given up trying to persuade others of their UFO sightings. Leonel calls a UFO sighting vigil in the dessert and a dozen or people assemble and hold hands around a fire and point lasers in the sky to no avail. No alien contact.
We learn that Leonel has his ex-wife arriving from Australia to remarry. A strange somewhat incongruent wedding ceremony becomes part of the documentary. I am not sure why other that it establishes Leonel is no eccentric as he can focus on more that UFO’s and have a good time at a party?
Walk away with what you can after viewing this documentary. My take is that Leonel is nothing but a regular guy with a passion for UFOs. And like many of his ilk they remain a minority in a sea of skeptics always seeking cold hard evidence and even when they see it they refuse to believe it.
A documentary about a man with a passion. Call him a nutball if you wish but do revel in the stunning beauty of the Atacama Desert which is so spectacular it looks like a scene from a different planet. In the opening and closing scene Leonel is holding what appears to be a diving rod in the desert. It is as if Leonel is in another planet himself. Is it that his beliefs have in effect made him an alien on earth!
The documentary had its international premiere at Toronto Hot Docs a few weeks ago. It no doubt will be making the rounds on the documentary film festival circuit.
You can see the trailer here https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/hot-docs-festival/films/2022/desert-space
Directed by Yerko Ravlic.
RKS Film Rating 81/100.
RKS Wine: Ontario Rosés: Run To/Run Away? Featherstone Estate Winery 2021 Rosé
I can’t say I have been running away from Featherstone Rosé over the years. It is from the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario. Ontario rosés can compete with the best in the world. It would have been nice if the label informed us which grapes are used in the wine. Given its dark colour I am guessing Pinot Noir is in the mix. I am right but according to their website there is also some Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
It has a dark pink colour. A beguiling aroma of red cherries, raspberries and strawberries. On the palate loads of cherry, raspberry and hints of raspberry Jello. A solid no nonsense fruit forward rosé with a moderate finish. Ideal for sipping on a hot summer day and a great match for grilled goat or lamb. If you can stash a few away for colder months this would be a stellar match for a Christmas ham with scalloped potatoes. For vegheads as asparagus is in season pair with a Sichuan-Style Asparagus and Tofu Salad (see www.seriouseats.com).
Generally speaking the darker the rosé the more apparent the fruit is. Often the paler rosés are too acidic to be a quaffer.
This it will make it into mid 2023. Featherstone delivers a consistent and delicious rosé at an attractive price.
Run to the Featherstone Rosé!
I am writing Santa Claus with a wish for a case of this beautifully crafted wine!
(Featherstone Rosé 2021, $15.95, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Featherstone Estate Winery, Vineland, Ontario, Canada, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 117861, 13%, 750 mL, RKS Wine Rating 94/100).
“Travels to a Different Time” : 14July1978: Monte Gordo, Portugal: Finally Warm Portuguese Water: Victimized by Tiny Clams: Zombie Faced Gamblers
What a pathetic breakfast so no wonder it is “free”. One roll, two thin chocolate cookies and watery coffee. Off to the beach and finally water you weren’t numbed out by. The beach is in a bay so the water has a chance to warm up. Lunch at the beach was a delicious bowl of clams but they were so tiny it took a long time to eat. A walk along the beach which is so relaxing listening to the waves and inhaling the salt air. Picked up some water at the supermarket and came home for a siesta. The salt air, ocean and sun is almost hypnotic. Living it up went to the casino for an excellent $12 meal. A cheesy night club act followed. Strolled through the casino seeing the zombie faces on the slot machines.
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