Rites of passage

Eskişehir, Türkiye Thursday 4 April 2024 “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. From the table drawer he took out a penholder, a bottle of ink, and a thick, quarto-sized blank book with a red back and a marbled cover. It was a peculiarly beautiful book. Its smooth… Continue reading Rites of passage

Canada Slim and the Zürich Zealots

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Thursday 19 November 2020 A promise made is a debt unpaid. Since I began blogging (18 May 2015) I have begun a number of consecutive writing projects within these Chronicles of Canada Slim and its companion blog Building Everest. The select seven subjects that this blog has evolved into following are, accomplished in… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Zürich Zealots

Canada Slim and the Author’s Apartment 3: The Diplomat

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Tuesday 8 September 2020 It must be difficult for followers of this first of two blogs to remain faithful and patient with the Chronicles of Canada Slim as they are not as often written as those of Building Everest.       To those who are new to the Chronicles, these posts are… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Author’s Apartment 3: The Diplomat

Canada Slim and the Invention of the Clear Day

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Monday 6 July 2020 Let there be no doubt: My souvenir book loves Porto.   Above from the top left corner clockwise: Clérigos Church and Tower; Avenida dos Aliados; Casa da Música concert hall; Ribeira district; Avenida da Boavista business hub; Luiz I bridge and Porto from Vila Nova de Gaia   “The… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Invention of the Clear Day

Canada Slim and the Humanitarian Adventure

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Tuesday 10 December 2019 There are things in Switzerland (and in our existence) that we simply take for granted: And the thing about Swiss stereotypes is that some of them are true. Diplomatic? Yes. Efficient? Absolutely. Boring? Only at first glance. Despite being one of the most visited countries in Europe, Switzerland remains… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Humanitarian Adventure

Canada Slim and the Author’s Apartment 2: Suffering

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Sunday 17 November 2019 I have often believed that you can tell a lot about a person by the manner in which they live. For example, if you, my gentle readers, wanted to comprehend the conundrum that is Canada Slim, yours truly, you would need to visit the apartment I share with the… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Author’s Apartment 2: Suffering

Canada Slim and the Harry Potter Fado

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Friday 11 October 2019 As you read what follows…. Download a fado piece. Portugal’s most famous musical form, fado (Portuguese for “fate“) is urban music, of night and bars, of a yearning that is beautiful and melancholic, accompanied by guitarra and viola.   Above: Fado, José Malhoa (1910)   To the south, fado… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Harry Potter Fado

Canada Slim and the Elastic Novice

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Tuesday 17 September 2019 Damn that man! One man’s writings has had and continue to have a major effect on my life and this has been reflected in my travels and I have already spoken of the man previously in this blog.   Above: Charles Dickens, New York, 1867   (Please see Canada… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Elastic Novice

Canada Slim and the Road to Utopia

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Tuesday 27 August 2019 Sometimes a place defines a person. Sometimes a person defines a place.     Take the eminent Canarian author Alberto Vásquez-Figueroa as an example of the first.     Alberto’s grandfather was an architect. Alberto’s father was born in Guadalajara while Alberto’s grandmother was there. Alberto’s mother, the daughter… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Road to Utopia

Canada Slim and the Italian Twilight

Landschlacht, Switzerland, Tuesday 23 July 2019 There are advantages and disadvantages to everything.   In less than a fortnight I shall board a train to Romanshorn, followed by a ferry across the Lake of Constance (Bodensee) to Friedrichshafen then a train to Lindau, another to Kaufbeuren, another to Füssen and finally a bus to Schwangau… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Italian Twilight