“Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006: Trip from Samos to Ephesus in Turkey

Fotini, Andrew and I took the trip from Samos to Ephesus 6 years ago so I suppose it is only fair that Alexandra see it so off we went on the “Samos Spirit” a bit of a rust bucket across a few kilometres to Turkey. We left the house at 07:15 and stopped at aContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006: Trip from Samos to Ephesus in Turkey”

“Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006 The Death of a Neighbour in Samos

The day after the Samos Wine Festival we heard a man moaning very loudly in the middle of the night. It sounded like moans of pain or someone trying to communicate or perhaps a bit of both. It was Harry the grandfather just up the way next door who had suffered a stroke a fewContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006 The Death of a Neighbour in Samos”

“Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006: Samos, Greece: Feast of the Dormition of Theotokos

August 15 is a big day on the Greek Orthodox calendar. Everything is shut tight except what directly serves the tourists like mini marts and restaurants. I watched a bit of coverage on Greek TV and just like the old days the priests, politicians and military seem glued to each other. Still in 2006 theContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006: Samos, Greece: Feast of the Dormition of Theotokos”

“Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006: Steve the Original Lonely Guy of Samos!

Steve is the original lonely guy of Samos. Alexandra and I encountered Steve at the establishment we were having coffee at. Steve has retired from Germany and moved to Samos. Steve is in his mid seventies and every day he takes the bus from Pythagorio to Vathi and sits at the same table in theContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : August 2006: Steve the Original Lonely Guy of Samos!”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 4August2006: Amsterdam/Samos: The Spectacle of a Thorough Search!

Up at the absurd hour of 04:00 for a shower in a groggy fog. No breakfast and hopped in a taxi to the airport delayed by bridge construction sending the meter on its happy way with the result a staggering 80 Euro taxi fare to Schiphol. Happy my booking on Martinair to Samos was successful.Continue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 4August2006: Amsterdam/Samos: The Spectacle of a Thorough Search!”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 2August2006: Amsterdam After 30 Years: Pig Slop on Air Transat

Finished packing in the midst of terrible heat and humidity that has been blanketing Toronto. Basically, all you had to do was move and you’d be soaked. Off to Toronto Pearson Airport rewarded with being crammed in an Air Transat plane where my body type and seat configuration clashed. My old trick of ordering aContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 2August2006: Amsterdam After 30 Years: Pig Slop on Air Transat”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 12August2004: Around Charlevoix in Quebec: Isle au Coudres

Started my birthday with, can you believe it, a trip to McDonalds to pick up some Egg McMuffins and orange juice with free lobby coffee on the way back to the room. The lobby coffee was mediocre but easier than making in room coffee. Actually I have always enjoyed picking up breakfast as you getContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 12August2004: Around Charlevoix in Quebec: Isle au Coudres”

“Travels to a Different Time”: 11August2004: Around Charlevoix Along Marine Shore Park Road

Instead of heading East on Shore Road it was heading west on Marine Park Road. A 95-kilometre drive to Tadoussac. Many small towns were passed through. No art galleries to speak of. Of note was Port au Persil a small outpost off Route 138. A steep road leads down to the town with a spectacularContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time”: 11August2004: Around Charlevoix Along Marine Shore Park Road”

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The High-Class Nature of Art Theft!

“That was the real problem with art crime. It was considered high class. At the top level of the caste system, art crime was socially acceptable, even thought of as prestigious and intriguing. It was the only serious crime for which the public tended to root for the criminals. But then, the public was notContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The High-Class Nature of Art Theft!”

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The Selling Price of Art

“The selling price has nothing whatsoever to do with the work of art being good or not. It has to do with what people are willing to pay for it at any given time. The auction house sets much of the value when they put an estimate on the price. They set the estimates basedContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The Selling Price of Art”