Tourism is enormously important for Greece generating approximately a third of its GDP. Given the swelling mass of tourists I have encountered in this visit Greece faces a potential overtourism problem that must be managed to avoid a negative boomerang. Given the inability of Athens Eleftherios Airport to manage passenger flow, one enters and leavesContinue reading “2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version: 14September2026: Pythagorio, Samos: Embarrassing Reluctance Being a Tourist: Get Those Cruise Ship Daytrippers Outta Here!”
Category Archives: Food
2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version:13September2026: Thessaloniki and Samos: The Rapidly Ageing Doryssa Seaside Resort
After a long flight transporting you to different time zones one thinks of sleeping like a baby but for me that is rarely the case. I had a restless sleep waking up at 03:30 and tossing, turning and dozing thereafter. That afternoon nap might have backfired on me. Down to a wonderful breakfast at 10:00.Continue reading “2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version:13September2026: Thessaloniki and Samos: The Rapidly Ageing Doryssa Seaside Resort”
2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version: 12September2026: Thessaloniki: Of Old Farts, Second Rate Seafood and Rain
Returning from MOMUS and the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography we discovered at last the construction of the Holocaust Museum of Greece has started. There has been talk of constructing the Holocaust Museum of Greece for a decade and finally construction is underway with an opening expected in 2028. Germany has pledged ten million Euros forContinue reading “2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version: 12September2026: Thessaloniki: Of Old Farts, Second Rate Seafood and Rain”
2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version: On the way: More airline pig slop and 9 1/2 hours of boredom Toronto to Athens 9September2026
On the way: More Airline Pig Slop and 9 ½ Hours of Boredom Toronto to Athens: 9September2026 I was last in Greece three years ago to cover the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. I have been visiting Greece since 1971 and the Greece of 1971-73, before the tourist boom, envelops my fondest memories. In the faceContinue reading “2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version: On the way: More airline pig slop and 9 1/2 hours of boredom Toronto to Athens 9September2026”
RKS WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA: Glenelly 2018 Estate Reserve
This is a red blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 14% Syrah, 11% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. Grapes were hand picked, destemmed and lightly crushed into stainless steel tanks. Matured for 18 months in 300 Liter French Oak barrels. 62,280 bottles produced. Aroma: Immediate richness. Blackberry, cassis, licorice, dark chocolate and ChristmasContinue reading “RKS WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA: Glenelly 2018 Estate Reserve”
RKS Literature: Easily Swindled Americans at Hotel X in Paris (George Orwell)
“According to Boris the same kind of thing went on in all Paris hotels, or at least in all the big, expensive ones. But I imagine that the customers in Hôtel X were especially easy to swindle for they were mostly Americans, with a sprinkling of English-no French- and seemed to know nothing whatever aboutContinue reading “RKS Literature: Easily Swindled Americans at Hotel X in Paris (George Orwell)”
RKS Literature: The Outlook of a Waiter (George Orwell)
“The waiter’s outlook is quite different. He too is proud in a way of his skill, but his skill is chiefly in being servile. His work gives him the mentality, not of a workman, but of a snob. He lives perpetually in sight of rich people, stands at their tables, listens to their conversation, sucksContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Outlook of a Waiter (George Orwell)”
RKS ONTARIO WINE: NO FOG WITH FOGOLAR’S 2022 CABERNET FRANC FROM NIAGARA’S PICONE VINEYARD
Fogolar produces some superb Ontario wines. I was off the Ontario Riesling rails for quite some time until Fogolar Riesling set me back on track. Warm fermented for 28 days in stainless steel and aged in French oak for two years. The Fogolar Cabernet Francs must not be ignored including the Fogolar Picone Vineyards 2022Continue reading “RKS ONTARIO WINE: NO FOG WITH FOGOLAR’S 2022 CABERNET FRANC FROM NIAGARA’S PICONE VINEYARD”
RKS PORTUGUESE WINE: Ravasqueira Encantado Red
A blend of Syrah, Touriga Franca and Alicante Bouschet. Grown in clay-limestone soils with rocky influence of granite and schist. The vinification of the Syrah and Touriga Franca was in open stainless steel lagares and the Alicante Bouschet in stainless steel fermenting tanks. The blend was aged 8 months in new French oak barrels. TheContinue reading “RKS PORTUGUESE WINE: Ravasqueira Encantado Red”
RKS Wines Of Greece: Xinomavro a Most Difficult Grape Unless….
Xinomavro, a Greek red grape, is problematic. It can be highly tannic and grape quality aside, if not sufficiently aged, your mouth is in for a battle. For this reason, I largely avoid Xinomavro. Yet I have had the pleasure of Xinomavro aged some twenty years and it was remarkable. I was at the TorontoContinue reading “RKS Wines Of Greece: Xinomavro a Most Difficult Grape Unless….”
