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Tourlos

 

Arriving at the Mykonos Cruise Port at Tourlos, we initially took a bus tour of the island. Among the points of interest was the island of Delos, offshore, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis (who's temple was one of the seven wonders previously referred to here). 

 

On Mykonos many houses have these characteristic 'pigeon houses' - a  source of protein
In the distance is the island of Delos - it's the preserve of anthropologists and is tourist free. 

 

Not to be overawed by the proximity of Apollo, we also visited a church/monastery (built by those Johnny-cum-lately Christians with their single three-in-one God).

In fact, there are hundreds of churches on Mykonos. All very picturesque. Apparently, every family had or has their own church, in order to ensure the safe return of fishermen.  Apparently, Apollo is little use in that regard - He's not Poseidon.

We also visited Kalafati beach which, we were told, is much visited by jet-setters. Gaze in wonder - what celebrities may have waded here?

 

 Ano Mera is home to the restored 16th-century monastery Panagia Tourliani,
which houses holy icons and features - as Wikipedia tells us: a 'striking' bell tower and a marble fountain.
We did a tour of the holy objects in the museum - but there is none so holy as the icon, seen in the picture above,
set in a golden frame with silver accoutrements and a face blackened by time and circumstance. 
The faithful queued to offer a silent prayer.
The beach, on the other hand, recalled much more secular pursuits - boys the girls met when backpacking.

Mykonos town is reached by ferry or bus from the cruise port that's a 30 minute hot walk to town. We caught the ferry.

Once away from the very touristy seafront it's quite a steep walk to the top but the view is worth it. Again, picturesque.

  

There are more photos of Mykonos in the album - click on the image above to see them 

 

 Our next stop was the last on the cruise - back in Athens - from where, after a flight delay, we flew to Crete where we had rented a car for the following week.

 

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Travel

Europe 2022 - Part 1

 

 

In July and August 2022 Wendy and I travelled to Europe and to the United Kingdom (no longer in Europe - at least politically).

This, our first European trip since the Covid-19 pandemic, began in Berlin to visit my daughter Emily, her Partner Guido, and their children, Leander and Tilda, our grandchildren there.

Part 1 of this report touches on places in Germany then on a Baltic Cruise, landing in: Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden and the Netherlands. Part 2 takes place in northern France; and Part 3, to come later, in England and Scotland.

Read more: Europe 2022 - Part 1

Fiction, Recollections & News

The U-2 Incident

 

 

 

In 1960 the Russians shot down an American U-2 spy plane that was overflying and photographing their military bases.  The U-2 Incident was big news when I was in High School and I remember it quite clearly. 

The Incident forms the background to Bridge of Spies a 2015 movie, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance from a screenplay written by Matt Charman together with Ethan and Joel Coen that centres on these true events. 

Spielberg and the Cohen Brothers.  Who could miss it?

 

 

Read more: The U-2 Incident

Opinions and Philosophy

Electricity Pricing

 

 August 2012 (chapters added since)

 

 

 

Introduction

 

The present government interventions in electricity markets, intended to move the industry from coal to renewable energy sources, are responsible for most of the rapidly rising cost of electricity in Australia.  These interventions have introduced unanticipated distortions and inefficiencies in the way that electricity is delivered.

Industry experts point to looming problems in supply and even higher price increases.

A 'root and branch' review of these mechanisms is urgently required to prevent ever increasing prices and to prevent further potentially crippling distortions.

Read more: Electricity Pricing

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