Category Archives: literature

“Travels to a Different Time” : 6August2000: Athens, Greece: The Albanian Issue

Greece has been homogenous for quite some time. On this visit I am amazed to see the ethnic diversity that is starting to emerge in Greece. The new groups are starting at the bottom rung so as to speak. Many Greeks are uneasy with the influx of illegal immigrants. The Albanians are treated with suspicionContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 6August2000: Athens, Greece: The Albanian Issue”

“Travels to A Different Time” : 5August2000: Athens, Greece: Interesting Hotel in Athens Besieged by Shady Albanians

Last breakfast in Samos at the hotel. Horrible bickering amongst the hotel staff. If it continues that chef is going on a stabbing rampage! The taxi driver with the bum ticker picked me up and off to the airport. A beautiful last glimpse of Samos but the two rusting cars at the side of theContinue reading ““Travels to A Different Time” : 5August2000: Athens, Greece: Interesting Hotel in Athens Besieged by Shady Albanians”

“Virus # 26″ Director’s Cut: Chapter 13:”Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs: the Politicos”

The politicos at first glance seemed to be managing the COVID outbreak. Sadly the inability of the medical systems to handle the initial wave was a result of continual cuts made to the medical systems by the politicos. That meant less PPE and less front-line medical workers, no vaccine or anti virals and in effectContinue reading ““Virus # 26″ Director’s Cut: Chapter 13:”Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs: the Politicos””

“Travels to a Different Time “: : 2August2000: Samos, Greece: Bickering, Pale Chicken and Semi Raw Potatoes: Taxi Driver with Bum Ticker

At this small hotel there are often bursts of bickering. It started off in the morning very loud and heated. Over what the bickering is in honour of no idea. I have a limited Greek vocabulary. After breakfast off to the archeological museum in Vathi. Very small but some marble statues from 300-600 BC fromContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time “: : 2August2000: Samos, Greece: Bickering, Pale Chicken and Semi Raw Potatoes: Taxi Driver with Bum Ticker”

“Virus # 26” : Director’s Cut: , “Lessons Learnt From the COVIDs: The Cult of the Front-Line Worker”

There are the medical professionals and politicians who form the top of the pyramid in the COVID narrative but there are also grocers, gas station attendants, bus and taxi drivers and a whole host of people in “essential businesses” that remained open throughout the COVIDs. Hey I was one of those front-line workers as aContinue reading ““Virus # 26” : Director’s Cut: , “Lessons Learnt From the COVIDs: The Cult of the Front-Line Worker””

“Travels to a Different Time” : 1August2000; Samos, Greece: Salivating Dog Wants My Jugular; The Impeccable Logic of Greek Coffee

After breakfast down the hill to Vathi to pick up a ticket on Olympic Airways to Athens. I sometimes go down a dirt path as a shortcut but there is a vicious dog that would like to sink his teeth in my neck and rip it out. Thank goodness the brute is chained but IContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 1August2000; Samos, Greece: Salivating Dog Wants My Jugular; The Impeccable Logic of Greek Coffee”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 31July2000: Samos Greece, Ephesus, Turkey: Off to the Ancient Greek Ruins: Turkish Merchant Harassment  

Out the door at 06:15 to the port to catch the boat to Ephesus or rather to Kusadesi in Turkey then a bus to Ephesus a la tour! Breezed through passport control and aboard a small excursion ship at 08:45 to Kusadesi. An hour into the journey on calm waters and one could see theContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 31July2000: Samos Greece, Ephesus, Turkey: Off to the Ancient Greek Ruins: Turkish Merchant Harassment  “

“Virus # 26” Director’s Cut: Chapter 11: “Lessons Learnt from COVIDs: The Failure of Social Distancing”

During the COVID-19 waves there was a politico-medico obsession with social distancing to the extent failure to adhere to it could result in warnings from COVID-19 “police forces”, fines, imprisonment and of course the dressing down given by “outraged” municipal, state, provincial and federal governments. These dressing down tantrums were as tedious as the propagandaContinue reading ““Virus # 26” Director’s Cut: Chapter 11: “Lessons Learnt from COVIDs: The Failure of Social Distancing””

“Travels to a Different Time” : 30July2000: Samos, Greece A Beach from a Different Era

The manager of the hotel related a story to me how years ago, many years ago, they swam at a beach called Mauones which is at the far end of Vathi. Being curious about the beach of yesteryear headed down the road. But there was no beach but a break wall with rusted pieces ofContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 30July2000: Samos, Greece A Beach from a Different Era”

“Travels to A Different Time” :29July2000: Samos: Off to Kokari: Too Much German Flesh Oozing All Over the Place: A Walk to Ano Vathi

Some of the morning spent booking a tour to the Turkish Archaeological site Ephesus. Prices varied from 14-23,000 dracs including lunch. Selected the 14,000 dracs option. Breakfast a spinach pie and a Fanta leminoda. Stopped at a local wine shop. No bottles there but large vats you fill up your own bottles with. About $2Continue reading ““Travels to A Different Time” :29July2000: Samos: Off to Kokari: Too Much German Flesh Oozing All Over the Place: A Walk to Ano Vathi”