Toronto Maple Leafs ....

.... of long, long ago!

There is curly headed, unhelmeted Daryl Sittler.

The Captain, number 27

jumping over the boards on a flying change.

Oh, did we love them!

Isn't this "Wendel Clark" 

throwing himself into the fray?

Here they are: The goalies:

Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuck.

I remember them all !

In flesh and blood. 

Those were the days of 

one Stanley Cup after the other

Today we have to be satisfied

with their figures made of Bronze.

Bertstravels

remembers the "good old days"

Europe! Where goest thou?

Exactly 30 years ago, today, the "Iron Curtain" between Austria and Hungary came down. 
It signaled, unmistakably the End of the East-Block. 
All the countries, enslaved by Russian Imperialism of the Communist Variety, threw off their shackles and embraced various  forms of Democracy.
The actual and official date of this demise is pegged as the 19th August 1989.
Slowly but surely country after country, even the staunchest Communist enclave, East Germany, decided to accept a free way of life. 
It was not always easy, but the struggle continued as countries fought their way out of Russian dictatorship, sometimes violently and with much loss of blood.
The American author, James Michener, described the fate of many Hungarians fleeing from Hungary into Austria in his book: 
"The Bridge of Andau."
A small, rickety wooden bridge, but it offered freedom for thousands who were welcomed by the population of a more fortunate Austria.

What has become of Hungary, and several other countries of the then "East Block?"
Besides Hungary, there is Poland, The Czech Republic, Estonia who are moving further and further to the Right of the political spectrum.
There are several other European countries, where right wing parties have gained more and more influence: Italy, France, Denmark and Austria, to name but a few. 
Fortunately, those are still nominally "democratic" since they have free elections and to varying degrees they preserve the right of assembly and a free press.
But "the Far Right" is working hard to change this fundamentally.

Only the Future will tell.

Bertstravels
for now, will keep it a secret.

Roses and Roses and Roses

This is where I live.

At Arowhon Pines

This is not just a sign at the entrance to the Arowhon Pines.

This is the feeling you get as soon as you arrive.

The Dining Room, from the outside and from within.

An area where the finest foods are served.

Impeccably prepared,

  Impeccably presented.

Even a red umbrella reflected in green waters

is an adventure to behold.

10 strokes with your paddle

and this is what you experience.

The "Painted Turtle" (above)

This is "the magician" ...(below)

the Chef, who performs culinary miracles

which makes your mouth water, 

just at the thought about the next meal.

a staff, more lovely, more efficient 

and friendlier is hard to imagine.

                                    Three happy campers.

... and this is the lady, who holds it all together
and makes it all happen, from day, to glorious day.

Big Flower and a Bug

There isn't much to say!

it's just a "Big Flower and a Bug"

Toronto City Hall

Below: 

 Canada Sign near CN Tower

Toronto - World of Highrise

I come to Toronto once a year

and each year I feel like a country bumpkin

for the first time in "the Big City!"

New high rises reach for the sky 

and force you to crane your neck.

These, shown here, are just a few of them

Imaginative shapes 

and adventurous styles

make you look at them time and again. 

A great arrangement of balconies.

The Old Royal York Hotel, once one of the tallest buildings, 

is now dwarfed  by surrounding high rises

I don't know, Sir! It wasn't here yesterday....

The Delta Hotel !

How many rooms does it contain ?

Recently in TO

I spent a couple of weeks in good old Canada.

Specifically in and around Toronto 

and a few days in my favourite haunt, Algonquin Park,

at the Arowhon Pines Lodge

I will, over the next days, post a few pictures I took there !

The C.N. Tower

( all 518 meters of it)

C.N. Tower 

looking at himself in the mirror!

C.N. Tower

playing Tower of Pisa

We lost a Great One.

Karlheinz Miklin (3rd Nov.1946 to 15th June 2019)

The day before yesterday one of the all time Greats of Austrian Jazz passed away at the age of 72.
I consider myself lucky to have known him well, almost being able to call him a friend.
Karlheinz played reed instruments. He played an exuberant clarinet, a mysterious Bass Clarinet, a fast-paced Alto Sax and the most lyrical Tenor Sax imaginable.
Of course he played the Tenor in the style of some of the old masters, such as Ben Webster or Coleman Hawkins, but he also played "modern Jazz".
During intermission of one of his "modern" concerts, I spoke to him. Always being a bit on the bold side, I told him that I admired his dexterity with which he knotted note on note, but that it was impossible for me to recognize any cohesive melody, and, on my way home I could not whistle nor hum any part of the music he had played. 
I longed, I said, for a slow, gentle ballad, which I might remember. His indulgent smile seemed to suggest that at age 85 I wallowed in musical times gone by.
The second part of the concert continued much in the vein of the first.
A frantic Bass and skillful Drum work kept up with his Alto Sax in weaving unrecognizable, and yet fascinating pieces of music. 
Then his announcement came: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I shall, as our last number, play a piece of music for my friend,  Bert, so that he may, on his way home, hum the melody."
He then played, to absolutely thundering applause, 
"In a sentimental Mood"...
How did he know that this was one of my favorite slow numbers?
I shall always remember Karlheinz as a great musician and as a great friend.
It would be nice, if there was a "Hereafter", so that Karlheinz could jam with Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, or, in fact with anybody he selected.

I will now go and play one of his fascinating CDs: 
"Karlheinz Miklin, Looking Back" 
which happens to contain "In a Sentimental Mood"
The music world is a great deal poorer for having lost this fabulous reed player.

Bertstravels
feels like crying.

The "Editors in Chief "speak out.

Twenty "Editors in Chief" of some of the most important Newspapers of Austria signed a Position Paper regarding the "Ibiza Video". (which I have discussed below.)
I believe that it is well worth-while to post herewith a translation of this well considered "Clarification."

"Four weeks ago, two renowned German Newspapers/Magazines published the so-called Ibiza Video.
Since then, happenings took place, resulting in an interim Government. The reason for this upheaval  has almost been forgotten. The search for the person or persons who produced this Video, as important as it may be, overshadows the threat to our Democracy well documented by this Video.

It is easy to forget that the Chief of the FPÖ (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs), one of the governing coalition parties unequivocally expounds on the manner in which foreign financial contributions may be made to bypass all controls, ending up in the coffers of his party. 
It is easy to forget that his Party would direct all government work to the company to be formed in Austria by this Russian spender.
Forgotten is the plan to  gain control over one of Austria's leading Newspapers with the aid of Russian investments, also for the reason to get rid of  unwanted, critical Journalists.

That Politicians dream of direct control over the Media is not exclusively an Austrian phenomenon.
He, who has power, or wishes to obtain it, seeks ways to control the controllers.
Where this ends up can be seen clearly in Hungary, a country specifically mentioned by this FPÖ leader as a shining example to be copied.

Independent Media, in a liberal Democracy, are no instrument of gaining and maintaining power of one Party  or of a powerful group of interests, they are not an instrument to manipulate its readers.
With all the shortcomings they (the Media) may be accused of, they are an important Correcting Agent of Politics. Who, if not this "fourth power" could bring mismanagement and misuse of governmental power to the light of day?

He, who disregards the borders between Journalism and Politics, endangers the fundamentals of Democracy. Since this self evident issue is apparently being questioned, is it important to us to remind all in complete clarity."

(end of quote)

There are indeed, many stubborn "Right Wingers" who, to this day, have no understanding of a Democracy, or simply prefer right wing dictatorships, hoping to be on the ruling end.

Bertstravels
fears for the many countries who  lean to the far right, or the far left.