“Travels to a Different Time” : Latest Song in the Czech 1975 Hit Parade

The Latest Song on the 1975 Czech Hit Parade

I love those Russians like my mother but even more
they prevented us from being a capitalist whore
We love them so ooh ooh ja ja ja!
I want to be a star for The Party
Like my deceased comrade Uncle Marty

The Russians liberated us in 1945
and since then we’ve become a bee in their loving hive
In 1968 capitalist roaders brainwashed us thinking we were strong
thank God Russia taught us we were wrong

They tell us what to do ooh ooh ooh
We love you so Mother Russia
If anyone dares start gnawing at your Empire
you’ll show your ire
with rockets, rapes and pillaging fire
like you did in Berlin in 45
let’s put our patriotism in overdrive oh ooh oh

I love my comrades in Russia
they are stronger and wiser
we love to listen to our CSSR party
they are yours and mine
and led by Gustáv Husák they take the Russian line
Oh to be a satellite under Russia’s mite
is like being under a joyous bright light and My mama and papa love the times
because it says so in all those big red signs
We’ll soon forget 1968
as they have eliminated everyone we could possibly hate

We are the CSSR at least so says the party in the USSR that tells us we are

Mother Russia we love you so ooh ooh ja a ja

 Comrade Robert K Stephen (approved by the Czech Ministry of Holy Mother Russia Friendship)

:Travels to a Different Time” : 11June1975: Brno, Czechoslovakia: Bartering a Cesar Chavez Farmworkers Button for 4 Beers

Woken up by the maid thinking I was leaving today. But that is not the case. At least clean sheets and towels out of the inconvenience. What a luxury but I am paying for it so enjoy. I walked around the factory district many of these factories are old and dingy looking. Czechoslovakia has always been an industrialized country. Capitalism or communism there will always be factories. Are the workers happier in a communist country? I walked into a tavern in the factory district full of workers after their shift. It was noisy and packed. As I sat down a Czech guy came and started talking to me but I simply couldn’t understand what he was saying. He wanted to give me 4 beers for my “Support the Farmworkers Button”. A good deal and the beer was exceptionally good. Rather bloated I walked into the train station to a buffet and had some goulash. Buffets are places where you eat standing up and are cheaper than cafeterias. The food in Czechoslovakia is better than in Romania and Bulgaria but there have been a few rough spots! The proles will be found in buffets. Back home at 8 am and listened to music for the bar below. Off to Prague tomorrow.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 10June1975: Brno, Czechoslovakia:

As I was in bed at 20:00 up at 07:00 woken up by workmen banging in the hall. I dressed and washed my face and headed down to the breakfast room for ham, cheese, fresh rolls and mineral water. It was a delicious breakfast. As it looked like rain today I booked another day at my hotel, Hotel Slovan. Whatever the weather I will depart tomorrow, by train if it is raining by hitching if it is not raining. The suburban part of Brno is full of crumbling apartment buildings but there are plenty of parks and greenery. I also went up to Špilberk Castle which had been used as a prison for many years and the Nazis were in the process of converting it into an extermination camp before the Russians “liberated” Brno. Walked back into town looking for that elusive delicious Czech beer. I went to a tavern and it was just the right size and nicely decorated.  Pilsner and dark beer, both rather flat, were 60 cents each. Went to a buffet place and had a huge plate of rice with some unidentifiable meat, a roll, two pastries and a bottle of mineral water for 60 cents. I took the tram home to my luxury suite at the Hotel Slovan.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 9June1975: Brno, Czechoslovakia: Propaganda Blaring from Loudspeakers in the Street: Where are the Brain Police?

Up at the usual time to the 22cnd cloudy day in a row. I seriously wonder if the weather is going to cause crop failure in Eastern Europe. I packed up and bought a full breakfast at a supermarket and ate in my room and headed out on the road. Gruelling after gruelling walk. Fortunately, as a belting rainstorm moved in I just got a lift in a truck all the way to Brno where I checked out for rooms but just my luck there was a welding convention in town! I went to a CEDOOK tourist office and they really dug in and found me a room in a B class hotel for a staggering sum of $8.50 including breakfast. As I walked to the hotel loudspeakers on the street were hammering away with propaganda. This is heavy stuff with propaganda posters, patriotic music and propaganda read out praising CSSR/USSR “friendship”. Where are the brain police? The room was nice but small. I walked all over Brno eating as I walked about. Chicken rice, beer, dates, ice cream and pastries etc. Then I sat down at a café for a beer before I headed home. I could hardly walk I was so stiff. I had my first hot shower in 10 days! Heaven.

“Travels to a Different Time: 8June1975: Olomouc, Czechoslovakia: Russian “Friendship”

Had a nice warm sleep and a good one until 09:30. Bread, honey, chocolate wafer cookies and mineral water for breakfast. I washed after and lamented there is no hot water in this place. I am overdue for a shower. Everywhere you go in this town it is coated with propaganda. Those disgusting Russian pigs the biggest insult to Marxism and communism. I’d like to rip up the idiotic posters proclaiming Russian Czech friendship. They stress this friendship endlessly but I think no one, even the communist elite, believe it. It is hoax. What friendly country invades another? I do my best not to become angry about these lies. There are plenty of Russian soldiers here showing their “friendship” to the Czech people!

Dizzy from the excess propaganda I went for a couple of ice creams and a Pepsi. Soup and sausages for dinner. I watched the clock in the town square strike 6. There are figures that stick out and are supposed to do wonderful things but half were not working. Home early and read then off the bed at 20:00 hours.

I should say I have no beef with the Russian people as many of them suffer under the yoke of their distorted communism. I have met many good people behind the Iron Curtain who detest the Russians and the communist political system. So my beef is with the Russian government that exercises muscle power over its rude “friends”. Their Czech lackies are even bigger traitors.

Photo http://www.guk-prague.cz

“Travels to a Different Time” : 7June1975; Olomouc, Czechoslovakia: Squealing Russian Car; A Friendly Czech Army Officer

I woke up early and it was so cold I just wanted to stay in a warm sleeping bag. I forced myself up, packed and dismantled my tent. I had some salami, chocolate cookies and mineral water for breakfast. I took the bus to Mikulas and wanted to get off at the highway but the conductor said no. Yes a big effort to let me off eh? I walked back to the highway in this crappy Czech weather. Cold, dark and windy. It was so cold that in addition to my jacket I had to drape a blanket over me. They are swimming in Greece and I am in the snow. I got a lift with a speed maniac in a Russian car that had tires that squealed loudly at every turn. These Russian cars ain’t so good! He took me out of his way to a good spot on the highway and I had two girls walk by me and they were too close to me when they put their hands out for a lift. They got the first lift and then I got a lift with an army officer, a captain. Thank goodness he was a Czech and not a Russian army officer. I don’t trust these Russians. They invaded Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968. He had a new Yugoslav car and the ride was smooth. Beautiful scenery up here in the Tatra Mountains. He had his young son sitting in the back. We stopped for a Pepsi. He drove me around to a few hotels and found a cheap one at $6.20. Cold water only but spotless and right near the city and the highway to my next destination Brno. It is simply too cold to camp. I had a good dinner and a flat beer for $1.75. I returned to my room and read for a bit and slept in a warm room. Tomorrow is Sunday and I am sure everything will be closed.

RKS Wine: Christmas in April: Stag’s Hollow Media Pack Part 1

Imagine driving the other half to downtown Toronto and heading back after the drop off to buy ¾ of a tank of gas for $90. Then a package at the doorstep from Stag’s Hollow in British Columbia’s Okanagan wine district. Unexpected as if Santa was pleased at me for being such a good boy not uttering a word by me being robbed by Big Gas!

The first delight (hopefully) was a 2021 Syrah Rosé. Stag’s Hollow arguably crafts some of the best Syrah in Canada so their rosé should follow right?

In the glass it has a copper colour. On the nose some sweet red cherry, raspberry, strawberry persimmons, cedar, banana and fresh baked cinnamon buns. On the palate the first thing I notice is a long finish with a tad of heat and an undercurrent tinged with a wisp of white pepper. It is light on its feet but the undercurrent buffs up its sneaky muscular nature. It has a great bod! It’s tight and not flashing its fruit. Due to its tight structure best with food or on its own on a hot day. I would pair with a summer tomato salad with tomatoes from the Douro in Portugal but given the geographical distance made with the sweetest field tomatoes Canada can produce. There is enough acidity to match tomatoes but not enough to demean and cheapen the wine. It would also suit some grilled baby goat. There are a multitude of nondescript rosés on the market. This is not one of them.

It is so interesting that this is so light on its feet whilst the Stag’s Hollow Syrah’s are so robust. There is no oak involved and the grapes were hand harvested and destemmed before pressing. Removing the stem prior to pressing reduces the tannins.

Only 180 cases were made. The winery thinks it has ageing potential over the next three years. I won’t argue with that. Would it suit salmon? That’s a hard one. Farm raised for sure but wild salmon I am not certain but worth a try. 1% Viognier in this. I wonder what 5-7% Viognier might do?

(Stag’s Hollow 2021 Syrah Rosé, Okanagan Valley, BC VQA,  Stag’s Hollow Winery, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, $25 (or $32 for 4 x 250 mL cans) 750 mL, 13%, RKS Wine Rating 91/100).

Given the scant production best to order from the winery at www.stagshollowwinery.com

“Travels To a Different Time” : 5June1975: Podbanške, Czechoslovakia: Simmering Hatred for Mother Russia: It’s Snowing

As I head into the Tatra Mountains it is getting increasingly cold. Went to the train station and took a train heading up towards the Tatra Mountains. An incredibly beautiful ride and it was snowing when I reached my destination. Took a quick look at a couple of hotels but pricey at $8 so I hit the road and obtained a lift with a Czech couple. Their hatred for the Russians and their 1968 August invasion was unbridled. The Russian soldiers are still occupying the country. They dropped me off at a camping site. The poor bureaucrat was unsure how to treat a Westerner and he had mounds of paperwork to complete. I set up my tent and gathered some firewood for a small fire. The chill in the air is monstrous for June! Somewhat warm I crawled into my tent. Boy it was cold.

6June1975: Podbanške, Czechoslovakia: Loud Czech Teeny Boppers Had the usual wash and shave chattering in the frigid air. I walked into the village and bought some beer, cookies and fish. The bread would be ready in an hour so forget the bread. After this lunch a walk up the mountain slope which was both invigorating and scenic. Back at 5 to a crowd of Czech teeny boppers on a school trip. Gathered some firewood and a nondescript supper. I started a fire but the rain came and extinguished it by 9:30. By 10 drifted off to sleep with the noise of the excited teeny boppers

RKS Film: “Geographies of Solitude”: Toronto Hot Docs Festival

“Geographies of Solitude” features Canada’s Sable Island which is 20 miles long and 1 mile wide. It is some 100 miles off Nova Scotia. It might be described as barren and lonely as there is no residential population and no place to stay for potential visitors.

Zoe Lucas has been living on Sable Island for some 40 years conducting research. Filmmaker Jacquelyn Mills set out to explore the island through Lucas. The viewer will be treated to the unearthing of the rugged beauty of the island and of course its famous wild horses some 450 of them. There is an abundance of flora, fauna and geography to marvel at. It will banish the notion Sable Island is barren or desolate. Follow Lucas and she takes you over the island and explains her work.

Not to trivialize but watching the documentary is like taking a vacation combined with innovative cinematography as a bonus. Mills is in the background and Lucas is no red-hot flaming ecologist. She works quietly and with determination. While Greta Thunberg might give you a throbbing headache Lucas is quiet and worth listening to.

Lucas tracks and records just about every living creature on the island. Like many of us she is concerned with plastics in the ocean. Of the dead seabirds she analyzes stomach contents of she discovers 72% of them have significant amount of plastics. Then there are plastic containers and balloons from all over the world washing up on the beach and those pernicious plastic pellets. 

The movie concludes with a dead horse on the beach which upsets Mills and me! Lucas says with sincerity death is part of life on Sable Island as the decomposing carcass will fertilize the ground letting plants and flowers thrive which the horses and foals consume hence the cycle continues.

As a reviewer of film I often scribble pages of notes and stop, start and replay a film. I cruised through the entire film without taking many notes partially because the visuals are hard to describe in words but mostly the story and cinematography were very compelling so why stop and ruin it! Move over world and Galapagos we have Sable Island in Canada.

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

The film shows at Toronto Hot Docs Festival on April 30/May 4 and as of May 1 you can stream it for 5 days.

RKS Film Rating 91/100.

RKS Film: “My Two Voices” (Mis dos voces)

The documentary “My Two Voices” by Lina Rodriguez offers an intimate portrait of three Latina women who have immigrated to Canada.

It may throw you initially because you hear their voices but it is not until the conclusion of the documentary you see their faces. Strangely this works in such a way that you focus on what the women are saying and are not distracted by their faces or prompted to make any value judgements based on their faces. The result is to create a fuller sense of intimacy. In addition, your attention is distracted by the camera focusing on various items such as jewelry or plants. And when you see their faces they look you in the eye without any dialogue so that you feel they are in the room with you. Brave and innovative filmmaking.

The documentary is about the Canadian immigrant experience and thoughts raised about that which many viewers will not be familiar with particularly if they have had little interaction with newly arrived immigrants to Canada. For example ordering food can be a daunting experience. I will let you discover their inner thoughts when you watch the film.

As one women says we have two voices one of which is your language and the other is the new language. But it is more than language it is about having dual personalities.

Bravo Ms. Rodriguez. You have done a fine job!

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZNSAaTq05I

Showing at Toronto Hot Docs Festival April 29/May 3 and available on April 30 for 5 days of streaming.

RKS Film Rating 87/100.