2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version: 12September2026:Thessaloniki. Greece: Thessaloniki Museum of Photography: Laszlo Moholy-Nagy: “Light Play”

Always a mandatory stop when I am in Thessaloniki is the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography. Intimate and never crowded. A relaxing café and bar overlooking the ocean if you are in the mood.

Hungarian László Moholy-Nagy (1895-1946) has been a prominent figure of the modernism that exploded in the visual arts in the first decades of the 20th century. Multifaceted and pioneering, he worked in painting, photography, theatre and opera sets while he designed books, exhibitions and shop fronts. In 1923 he joined the Bauhaus where he taught the basic course, photography and metallurgy until 1928. In his more than 400 photographs he explored abstraction.

A visionary, multimedia, experimental artist he groped for the boundaries between media, techniques and materials, while in the relationship between art and technology he saw the threshold of a “brave new world” and the fulfillment of art’s social role.

The exhibition runs until 11November2026.

2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version: 12September2026: Thessaloniki, Greece: MOMUS Experimental Center for the Arts

Headed to the old port area an enjoyable 20-minute walk from Daios Luxury Living, our hotel. The old wharf’s structures have been restored maintaining its flavour as a port with warehouses converted for cultural purposes. It reminds one, at first blush, of the Distillery District in Toronto.

One can always expect an interesting exhibit at the small and highly manageable MOMUS. The exhibition is a display of graffiti by Orestis Pangalos which runs until 4October2026.

The exhibition features more than 500 photographs of murals and graffiti, dozens of photographs of his installations and public spaces, objects collected from the streets, dozens of projections and videos and historical archival material spanning four decades, fourteen countries and thirty Greek cities and regions.

This exhibition-journey revolves around a sweeping and anti-nostalgic chronology, which functions not as historical documentation, but as a record of an obscure human geography of Thessaloniki’s parallel underground life, which also constitutes a major local cultural force.

Orestis Pangalos is an architect, visual artist, Ph.D in Art Theory and university lecturer. His works span the field of contemporary art, theory, architecture and public space combining artistic practice with research, writing, publishing, and university teaching.

RKS Ontario Wine: Big Head Red #14

Having scored 91 for Big Head Red #8 and 94 for Big Head Red # 11 I have high expectations for Big Head Red # 14.

There are enough grapes in this blend to encourage dizziness;

49% 2024 Cabernet Franc

21% 2024 Cabernet Franc (appassimento)

10% 2024 Syrah (appassimento)

10% 2024 &2025 Dornfelder (appassimento)

5% 2025 Merlot (appassimento)

2.5% 2024 Petit Verdot (appassimento)  

2.5% 2024 Malbec (appassimento)

Fermentation occurred in concrete and terracotta. Matured in Garbellotto and Moldovan oak.

Aroma: Primary and dominating notes of sweet red cherry and raspberry liqueur. Secondary notes of vanilla, plum and milk chocolate.

Palate: Medium high tannins. Ripe red cherry and sweetened cranberry juice. Short tartish finish.

Overall Impression: The wine is taking its baby steps. If you have the patience open in 2028.It will be a memorable wine. Requires food as it is a bit brutish at the moment.

Cellarbility: Consume no later than in 2032.

Food Match: The winery says, “Pair it broadly-grilled meats, burgers, tomato-based pasta, roast chicken or hard cheeses….”. I would add Greek goat or lamb kleftiko.

Price: $28.80 CDN.

RKS Ontario Wine Rating: 92/100.

Big Head Red # 14, VQA Ontario, Big Head Wines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, 14%, 750 ml.

2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE : Short Attention Span Version

12September2026: Thessaloniki, Greece: Nothing better (not really) than a good sleep and a great breakfast

Slept seven and a half hours and woke up a tad groggy. Jet lag causes physical fatigue but it also befuddles the mind making simple decisions a bit more complicated than they deserve to be.

A pleasant morning brought clouds and sun with warmth and not heat.

To the left on our balcony there is a partial sea view with mountains in the distance the view obfuscated by mist and fog today. Some days the mountains are not visible because of it. Facing us are a series of condos with one of them having a small white barker that gives us a piece of his mind when inclined to do so when we are on the balcony before disappearing back into the flat. That bark makes one feel somewhat at home as we have a few dogs in our Toronto neighbourhood.

The room at Daios Luxury Living is beginning to show its age. The slatted wood in the bathroom could use a coat or two of varnish and around the sink it is looking somewhat battered. The shower door has a bad squeak to it.

Although in the city centre the noise level is minimal as after all this is not Athens with a steady roar of traffic on the main streets. You hear a motorcycle occasionally or even an argument and yesterday a short demonstration on the seaside promenade. On every visit to Thessaloniki, I have encountered a demonstration.

As I have mentioned a real smash up breakfast at the hotel. Freshly squeezed orange juice to start and a barista who knows her stuff preparing an excellent latte and cappuccino. Thessaloniki is coffee town! The usual variety of eggs with excellent breads and cheeses, pastries, bruschetta, sauteed mushrooms super delicious roast potatoes and fruit particularly the oranges and grapefruit. Today there was a delicious Cretan bruschetta. Greeks always work magic with roast potatoes.

Nothing like a good breakfast to start the day when on the road. We rarely eat lunch while on the road.

RKS Literature: Penetrating the Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)

We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness. It was very quiet there. At night sometimes the roll of drums behind the curtain of trees would run up the river and remain sustained faintly, as if hovering in the air, high over our heads, till the first break of day. Whether this meant war, peace, or prayer we could not tell. The dawns were heralded by the descent of a chill stillness; the woodcutters slept, their fires burned low; the snapping of a twig would make you start. We were wanderers on a prehistoric earth, on an earth that wore the aspect of an unknown planet.

Joseph Conrad, “Heart of Darkness”, 1899

RKS Film: Ah Biao’s “Border”: Sort of a Zombieland

“Border” is, could we say, a participatory film. The basic plot is not that difficult to pick up but there are gaps where the viewer must make decisions what is transpiring and in what direction the film is heading towards. One could enjoy the participatory ride or suffer from annoyance and frustration. Not a mass market film.

The setting of the film is a drab coal mining town on the Chinese Mongolian border. It is a bleak, barren, grimy and decaying town. The film’s characters are not much different than the town they inhabit almost completely devoid of emotions. Even during a murder both murderer and victim are robotic without fear or anger.

The impression conveyed is both the town and the souls inhabiting it are soulless.

There is minimal dialogue and where you encounter it too has no emotion.

Luo Jia (Zheyan Li) is a young coal miner sharing a flat with an older security guard at the mine. It could be there is a sexual relationship between the two but it is more boredom than passion.

Su Qing (Feng Qi) is a sex worker and she can often be seen in the street wearing bright coloured clothing. An old fashioned “street walker” with a pimp-accountant.

Jia gradually enters a relationship with Qing but again there is no passion. Jia proposes in a most nonchalant way with Qi responding, “Can you afford to keep me?” Early in the film we hear her say on her phone, “Mommy is working”. Qi has dependents.

The mine closes and all the miners are unemployed and try as he may Jia is unsuccessful in finding employment.

Jia has a pistol and he approaches a car parked on an empty rooftop parking lot with a man and a young boy in it. Classic abstract arty moment with a spinning top with the boy watching it. Has Jia committed a murder? Yes, one of the many abstract moments in the film.

Why are the film’s characters soulless? Something you might wish to consider.

The film’s conclusion is extremely abstract with Qi’s young boy crawling on the dusty ground of a farm then standing up. Almost as if it’s the child being symbolic of that bone flipping in the air in “2001 Space Odyssey”. See what I mean the “participatory film genre?”. The thrill of the guess!

Not sufficient emotional content to classify the film as “neo noir”.

A Hong Kong/South Korea/USA production.

The film recently screened at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

RKS Film Rating 65/100.

RKS Literature: Fine Fellows These Cannibals (Joseph Conrad)

I don’t pretend to say that steamboat floated all the time. More than once she had to wade for a bit, with twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing. Fine fellows-these cannibals-in their place. They were men one could work with, and I am grateful to them. And, after all, they did not eat each other before my face: they had brought along a provision of hippo-meat which went rotten, and made the mystery of the wilderness stink in my nostrils. Phoo, I can sniff it now.

Joseph Conrad, “Heart of Darkness”, 1899

Photo: R. Kennedy Stephen

RKS Literature: The Fascination of the Abomination (Joseph Conrad)

Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga-perhaps too much dice, you know-coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes. Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed around him-all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forests, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men. There’s no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible. And it has a fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination-you know. Imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate.

Joseph Conrad, “Heart of Darkness”, 1899

2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version:11September 2026: Are the clouds behind me now and can I look to bright sunshiny days ahead?: Finally in Thessaloniki!

11September 2026: Are the clouds behind me now and can I look to bright sunshiny days ahead: Finally in Thessaloniki!

Was it a two hour or 4 hour “sleep” at Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel. Having finally crawled into bed at 01:00 and setting the alarm for 04:00 it was 3 hours in bed and it was hardly restful; a tortured sleep. Trudged over to the airport and took the elevator up from the arrivals hall to the departure hall and checked in with Sky Express for a 07:25 43-minute flight to Thessaloniki but not before returning to the hotel for a mediocre breakfast buffet which I had no interest in partaking.

Upon arrival in Thessaloniki the baggage was delivered to the baggage carousel immediately unlike in Athens. A 25 Euro taxi ride to my favourite Greek hotel Daios Luxury Living. Lots of space and huge balconies. On our last visit we had a full sea view but this time a partial one. The hotel is right on the seaside road and promenade and to its side heavily treed streets and upscale shopping. They lay out a smash up breakfast which we enjoyed tremendously just after checking in particularly an excellent latte. I also relished two Euro fried eggs so much better than in Canada. Help yourself to water, beer, soft drinks and water in the minifridge at no charge.

By the way we lost a night here because of our forced stay in Athens.

Crashed out for two hours awakening in that groggy discombobulated state.

We were picked up around 19:00 by Dearest F’s cousin and her husband. It was their 15th wedding anniversary, and we were there for the wedding. I was under the impression we were heading over to their house for dinner but we kept on driving out of the city proper stopping to pick up an anniversary cake. Our destination was Peraia which is a 35-minute drive from Thessaloniki city centre. You can also take a ferry there from the port. I wouldn’t venture to swim on its beaches. Peraia used to be a small seaside retreat but has transformed into a suburb of Thessaloniki. Its boardwalk has a multitude of seafood restaurants. Every dish was astounding. The fried octopus melted in your mouth and the lightly battered zucchini flowers heavenly. Even the Muscat wine, dry of course, was enjoyable. There was live music on the boardwalk and patrons were dancing with joy in their faces. No tourists that I could see. Back in the hotel at 02:00. I have been in effect sleepless for two days but with a meal and conversation outdoors I think I can see the clouds behind me.

You simply must visit Peraia for seaside casual dining if you are in Thessaloniki!

Photo: R. Kennedy Stephen

THE PENNY PENSIONER’S VIEW OF CHEAP WINES: A GERMAN PINOT NOIR

A Pinot Noir for $13.95. OK it’s a Spätburgunder that’s the reason?

I don’t care what a $13.95 Pinot Noir tastes like but rather is the wine pleasantly drinkable. While I lead a most comfortable life it might be you are a poor pensioner even more likely if your only source of income is a measly “state pension”. So we go cheap and hope for the best. In this case a measly (for me) $13.95 a price at which you should be more concerned about not going blind after drinking it!

Amberish red in colour and a bit brownish on the edges.

It has a nose of bright red cherry, cranberry and melted chocolate.

Now for taste expect fine tannins. raspberry and a hint of cranberry. None of the elements of a Pinot Noir shine here but damn quaffable with whatever you pensioners are slogging down your gullets these days.

A delightfully low alcohol level at 12%! The Penny Pensioner warns any alcohol may make you faint resulting in death or serious injury. Consume with caution. May interact with over 463 medications 26 of which could cause death. Download our APP for a list of deadly drug interactions. By consuming this wine you agree you shall hold harmless The Penny Pensioner against any and all liability he may suffer as the result of the consumption of this wine. By clicking on my website including this article you agree to all that is contained in the APP which you have religiously opened and is for clarity half in Mandarin Chinese.

Great with mildly spiced chicken wings or perfectly prepared Sweet Potato Fries. Boy, chill a bit more than you usually do and serve with Tom Yum Soup.

OVERALL: Delightfully drinkable red wine. Do you really need to know anymore? As I have a Masters in Wine Baloney, I could wax on for 6 more paragraphs.

Ninja Kicks Pinot Noir 2024, Qualitätswein, Rheinhessen, Schmitt Soehne, Germany