Category Archives: Private Islands

RIYADH: Theinternational culinary exhibition, InFlavour Expo, will begin at theRiyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Riyadh on Sunday.

InFlavour is a prominent global event that blends science, technology, art, business, hospitality and cuisine. It attracts renowned Michelin-star chefs, industry leaders, global consumer brand representatives and international luminaries.

The event, in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, will take place from Oct. 29-31. Visitors will be greeted with traditional Saudi treats, including maqshush, Saudi coffee and dates.

Celebrity chefs Marco Pierre White and Manal Al-Alem are among 200 F&B pioneers on the lineup, joined by industry leaders from companies such as Big Idea Drinks, Ossiano and Kitopi, the worlds leading multibrand restaurant and tech unicorn.

Known as the godfather of modern cooking, Marco Pierre White passionately supports the F&B industrys growth and progression. He considers it an honor and privilege to headline the first InFlavour event.

To be involved in the launch of Saudi Arabias first F&B event is incredibly exciting, not only because InFlavour promises to greatly accelerate the Kingdoms burgeoning food sector but, with government-backing, it is also clearly serious about improving food security and inspiring industry innovation across local and international businesses, White said.

Middle Eastern cuisine is all about coming together, sharing, socializing and indulging and that is what I see InFlavour bringing to the table. When you combine international knowledge, local insights, technology and cuisine, amazing things can happen. Given the list of expert speakers that I have seen so far, expectations should be sky-high.

Saudi Arabias Culinary Arts Commission is also participating in the expo. During the event, the commission will unveil its innovative strategy for the culinary arts sector, which includes the introduction of a business incubator for Kawn, a program designed to provide support to businesses and startups by offering mentorship and workshops, enabling them to enter and compete in the market. The incubation period for participants will span four to six months.

Additionally, the commission will showcase the Abdea cultural license platform, aimed at promoting greater involvement of the private sector in cultural events and initiatives.

The commissions participation in the exhibition reflects its commitment to empowering Saudi chefs, facilitating interactions with world-renowned culinary experts and showcasing the rich, time-honored traditional recipes of Saudi cuisine.

This event signifies a major change in Saudi Arabias approach to addressing critical challenges in the F&B industry, given the global food systems current state. Saudi Arabia is taking measures to enhance the effectiveness of its food systems to achieve food security and sustainability, recognizing their significance in addressing these challenges.

The expo will host 40,000 visitors, feature more than 200 speakers, showcase more than 600 exhibitors and welcome more than 200 international investors and venture capitalists specializing in the food and hospitality sector.

Issues to be addressed at the InFlavour conference include food and water security, agritech, sustainability, logistics, food tech and investment, alternative proteins, plant-based food, concept restaurants, culinary excellence, food waste, retail and e-commerce.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Saleh Bindakhil, said that Saudi Arabia has the biggest food and beverage market in the area and is fast-tracking its ambitions to become the most important market for food trade and hospitality globally.

He also said that InFlavour will boost Saudi Arabias food imports and exports, and fast-track new standards in product-sourcing options to elevate the hospitality and consumer spheres.

According to Bindakhil, the food industry in Saudi Arabia is experiencing explosive growth due to significant investments in hotels and resorts, an influx of food and beverage entrepreneurs, and a willingness to develop and adopt the technology. All these factors will completely change the food service experience in Saudi Arabia. InFlavour is the epicenter and driving force behind this industry-wide convergence.

The Ministry of Investment has conservatively forecast that the Kingdoms food service sector will grow 6 percent annually over the next five years, while the independent market intelligence provider Fortune Business Insights anticipates the sector will expand by 11.5 percent annually, to be worth $30.47 billion by 2029.

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Insulators in Farasan Islands Reserve to protect birds - Arab News Pakistan

New photos and video have been released about a key moment in the construction of the upcoming Disney Treasure as the ships forward funnel has arrived at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany where the vessel is being built.

The funnels arrival adds one more piece to the ship and makes it even more recognizable as a Disney Cruise Line vessel.

The forward funnel for Disney Treasure has been successfully delivered to the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where the new cruise ship is currently under construction. Photos and video show the funnel en route from where it was built in Poland and its delivery to the shipyard, where it will soon be mounted in place on the ship.

The first funnel Disney cruise ships have two was delivered in early February, and now the second funnel has arrived.

While the details of the funnel are not yet finished and it still needs to be painted in the bright red color so immediately noticeable for Disney vessels, it is clearly a Disney cruise ship funnel by the size, shape, and the Disney Cruise Line detailing visible on the side.

The funnel also shows a circular cutout near the aft section on the starboard side, likely for a section of the beloved 760-foot AquaMouse water coaster or for the Slide-a-Saurus Rex waterslide.

The funnel will also be home to the EPCOT-themed Tomorrow Tower Suite an elite stateroom that will accommodate eight guests and has its own private elevator access. Dynamic artwork and futuristic accents will give the suite a chic vibe, with nearly 2,000 square feet of living space and separate eating, sleeping, and play areas for passengers to enjoy.

On the outside of the funnel, the ships Funnel Vision screen and sound system will be mounted for at-sea movies and big screen projections during deck parties such as the Pirates Rockin Parlay Party.

Mounting a funnel is always a momentous part of a cruise ships construction, as this is when the hull really begins to resemble the finished ship and can be distinctively identified.

Construction on Disney Treasure began in January 2023, and only recently has the cruise line released more details about the ships overall theme, color schemes, and special venues.

The Grand Reveal for the ship was initially postponed for several days due to Hurricane Idalia, but eventually announced that the ship would feature venues and entertainment from several Disney favorite films, including Aladdin, Coco, The Lion King, The Incredibles, Zootopia, Moana, and Mulan.

The overall theme of the ship is adventure with dcor and venues showcasing worldwide iconic Disney locations and even theme park connections.

As we chart a course for adventure, were so excited for families to discover the excitement and exploration that awaits onboard the sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line.

The 144,000-gross-ton Wish-class ship, sister to the amazingly popular Disney Wish, will be able to welcome 4,000 guests per sailing and is slated to debut on December 21, 2024. Also on board will be 1,555 international crew members to ensure every guest enjoys Disney Cruise Lines magical service and unparalleled experiences.

Disney Treasure will be homeported from Port Canaveral, offering Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries, all of which will call at one of Disney Cruise Lines private destinations in the Bahamas.

Read Also: Latest Update Shows Disney Treasure Construction Progress

The Treasures itineraries from Port Canaveral will include stops at one of Disneys two private islands in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, or the newly added Eleuthera at Lighthouse Point, starting from June 2024, said Thomas Mazloum, President of the New Experiences Portfolio and Disney Signature Experiences.

As the ships construction continues and more details are announced, even more excitement is sure to build for the upcoming ship that will provide a treasure trove of magical memories to every guest.

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Iconic Piece of New Disney Ship Arrives at Shipyard - Cruise Hive

This Quebec island is being marketed as the worlds tiniest island on sale for CAD 549,000.

Located on the Saint Laurence River, le Fraser clocks in at just 0.5 acres but offers truly secluded living, featuring a huge house built in 1898 that is largely original, with tongue and groove pine interiors. The building spans around 2,000 sq ft, with a wrap-around veranda on the lower level and seven bedrooms on the upper floor, accommodating up to 14 people.

The period property does need updating but offers an expansive renovation challenge for the right buyer. It doesnt have pumping or electricity; instead, using a propane tankless water heater and a solar-powered 12-volt pump for hot water in the bathroom housed in a converted ice shack with a clawfoot tub and shower, compost toilet and a farmers trough sink.

A boathouse and a shed are also included on the grassyisland, for sale via Private Islands Inc. which is dotted with a dozen or so mature trees. The isle is an hour from Montral and about a 45-minute drive from the Ontario border. The US border is 10 minutes to the south.

le Fraser is only accessible by boat, which is its main draw: its remote, but not too remote. Theres a marina access, restaurants and parks nearby. This stretch of the river is popular with outdoor enthusiasts, offering peace and nature as well as fishing, canoeing, kayaking, snowmobiling, hunting and swimming, offering an idyllic weekend spot.

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The worlds tiniest island is for sale - The Spaces

NASSAU, Bahamas, Oct. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This October, as autumn settles in and seasons change elsewhere, The Bahamas' 16 islands continue to bask in tropical sunshine. Travellers can indulge in world-class culinary experiences, lively entertainment and exciting cultural events discovering firsthand how much this destination has to offer.

NEWS

The Historic British Colonial Hotel Set to Reopen Its Doors in Downtown Nassau Following a multi-million-dollar transformation, the historic British Colonial Hotelis set to reopen this winter, with a renewed sense of island-inspired sophistication. Guests will discover a redesigned lobby, seven food and beverage outlets and 288 completely renovated guest rooms and suites.

Royal Caribbean Announces Adults-only Beach Clubon Perfect Day at CocoCay Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, will debut an adults-only beach club in January 2024. The exclusive experience, known as Hideaway Beach, will feature an acre of white sand beaches, seven bars and restaurants, poolside cabana rentals, live DJs and more.

Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival Returns with World-Class ExperiencesFollowing the success of the inaugural event in 2022, the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festivalreturns to Baha Mar 26 to 29 October 2023. The series of events will include live entertainment and exclusive dinners and cocktail tastings, featuring world-renowned chefs like Marcus Samuelsson and Dario Cecchini.

Indulgences Series at Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant Known for its wine cellar housing more than 250,000 bottles, Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant's new "Indulgences Series" offers a new way to enjoy the impressive selection. Throughout October, visitors can book a 90-minute guided sommelier tasting experience every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are priced at $75 per person.

South Eleuthera Welcomes Visitors to Wemyss Bight Homecoming Festival Throughout The Bahamas, homecoming festivals are held to celebrate community and tradition. Locals and visitors alike are invited to South Eleuthera for the Wemyss Bight, Back Ta Ya Root, Homecoming Festivalon 4 October 2023 to enjoy native food and drinks, live band performances, and local crafts.

Long Island Sailing Club Hosts Annual Mini Regatta and Bazaar On 7 October, the Long Island Sailing Club welcomes spectators to the annual Mini Regatta and Bazaarto experience the excitement of competitive sloop sailing, the national sport of The Bahamas. Festivities begin in Clarence Town at 2 p.m., including musical entertainment, local cuisine and family friendly games.

Elevate Date Night at Caf Boulud Rosewood Baha Mar On 25 October 2023, Chef Daniel Boulud of Caf Boulud Rosewood Baha Mar and Executive Chef Antoine Baillargeon are offering a meticulously crafted, one-night-only truffle dinner experience. The five-course signature soirestarts at $495 per person and features exquisite wine pairings, savour passed canaps, and live terrace entertainment. Reservations are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Bahamas Hosts Halloween Fly-In in The Abacos Avid pilots and aviation enthusiasts are invited to join The Bahamas in The Abacos for the annual Halloween-Fly Inheld 27 to 30 October 2023. Participants will be hosted at Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina on Green Turtle Cay.

JSXAnnounces Winter Service Direct to The Abacos Starting 14 December 2023, private jet charter JSXwill commence five-times weekly winter flights directly to Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island. Travellers can now book flights from major U.S. cities, including Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, Dallas Love Field Airport and New York's Westchester County Airport.

Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival Announces 2024 Dates International foodies can now mark their calendars for the second annual Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival, 13 to 17 March 2024. The five-day event will highlight world-renowned top chefs, expert sommeliers, mixologists and celebrated TV personalities. Tickets are on sale at http://www.npiwff.org.

PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS

For a complete list of deals and discounted packages in The Bahamas, visitwww.bahamas.com/deals-packages.

Sixth Night Free at Shannas Cove Resort Shannas Cove Resort on Cat Island is offering an extra night in paradise. Guests who book five consecutive nights will receive a complimentary sixth night. Travellers can call +1 (242) 359-9668 or complete the online reservation form. The booking window is now through 31 October 2023 for travel through October 2023.

Run Away to Caerula Mar Club Resort Caerula Mar Club, the luxurious Out Island escape destination located on South Andros, is now offering couples the "Run Away Together"package for reservations four nights or longer. This package includes a welcome champagne and a $200 credit for dinner at Lusca, the resort's signature restaurant. The booking window is open until 16 October 2023, and the travel period is from 25 October to 15 December 2023.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

The Bahamas has over 700 islands and cays, as well as 16 unique island destinations. Located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida, it offers a quick and easy way for travellers to escape their everyday. The island nation also boasts world-class fishing, diving, boating, and thousands of miles of the earth's most spectacular beaches for families, couples, and adventurers to explore. See why It's Better in The Bahamas atwww.bahamas.com or onFacebook,YouTube, orInstagram.

PRESS INQUIRIES Anita Johnson-Patty Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation [emailprotected]

Weber Shandwick Public Relations [emailprotected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation

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WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN OCTOBER 2023 - PR Newswire

The Wharekauhau Country Estate was named the best resort in the Pacific and Australia by Conde Nast's reader awards.

Conde Nast Traveler has named a luxury country resort in the South Wairarapa as one of the best in the world - a position supported by the fact its readers voted New Zealand as one of the worlds friendliest countries.

The US guide for up-scale travel plans has published its 36th annual Readers Choice Awards, and there have been some minor changes to the awards.

Asking for votes and open nominations on travel experiences around the world the editors created categories that best reflect what travellers were looking for, of which there were 526,518 individual nominations.

Assessing every aspect of travel from carry-on luggage to private islands, there was one Kiwi property that came out on top.

Wharekauhau Country Estate was thrilled to be voted the best resort in the Pacific and Australia.

The $3295-a-night resort overlooking Palliser Bay won over votes for its wild location, just an hour and a half out of Wellington.

It is heart-warming to see that sharing our unapologetically authentic approach to ultra-luxury travel, said the resorts management.

New Zealand cropped up several times in the award categories, as a long-haul option.

The publications Top Countries to Visit in 2023 was dominated by Europe - matching what we were hearing anecdotally, they said. There were some breakout trends that loomed out of the awards Mediterranean obsession.

Scored out of 100, Japan top spot with an average score of 92.43. New Zealand which ranked fifth, with a score of 90.43, was the only other non-European destination to feature in the top 10.

The UK sister publication CN Traveller - which runs its own simultaneous breakdown of reader results - also scored New Zealand highly in its awards.

2023 was the year we recalibrated what was really important, said the UK editorial staff. The two topics, top of mind for the UK Conde Nast were food and friendliness.

Some have branded the category ranking a countrys inhabitants by friendliness of as: a bit ick.

However, once again, New Zealand made it into the top ten friendliest countries.

From the ever-beaming people of Ireland to the famously open-armed population of New Zealand, our planet is home to some seriously friendly countries, ready to share their love for their country with you, said Conde Nast.

With a score of 95.16, Aotearoa landed as the seventh in the world for most welcoming locals, down four places from 2022.

However manaakitanga league table was topped by Dominica in the Caribbean, for the warm welcome granted by its dramatic coastline and colourful hamlets.

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New Zealand named one of the friendliest countries in Conde Nast ... - New Zealand Herald

The annual Cruise Hive Awards are now open for votes these are the awards chosen by cruisers to note the best ships, best features, and more for the year, and what they are most looking forward to for 2024. Voting will close on Friday, December 22, 2023, so be sure to get your votes in!

Voting opened on Monday, October 2, 2023. Each person can cast one vote in each of the eight categories, but each individual does not have to vote in every category for their choices to count.

Cruise Hive has run reader-driven annual awards since 2014 with the Great Cruise Vote 2014. In different years, new categories have come and gone as cruise lines have changed to meet cruisers changing preferences, but always the awards have been led by what readers real cruise travelers love most about cruising.

For 2023, the awards have been renamed from the Cruise Ship Awards to the Cruise Hive Awards to better represent all the voting categories, which include individual ship features, crew service, private islands, homeports, and more.

Two new voting categories are debuting for 2023: Best Cruise Line Booking Experience and Best Cruise Line for Service and Crew as both those experiences are very critical for cruise travelers. How will you cast your votes for each category?

This can be a brand new ship that debuted in 2023 or an old favorite from any cruise line. Which ship has all the features you love? Which vessel offers the best oceangoing vacation? This is a broad category and you can type in the name of any ship from any fleet.

Be sure to use the ships complete name if you just put Magic do you mean Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Magic or Disney Cruise Lines Disney Magic? Would Radiance mean Carnival Radiance or Royal Caribbean Internationals Radiance of the Seas? Wonder, Dream, Fantasy These are all names that might refer to different ships, so be careful with the names!

One restriction only ships currently sailing in 2023 are eligible for this vote; no upcoming new-for-2024-not-yet-sailing vessels or former cruise ships now retired or scrapped are eligible.

Did you book a cruise this year? Whether or not youve already sailed, how was the booking experience? Was the website easy to use, were terms and conditions clear, could you easily find the ship, itinerary, and sailing dates you wanted? Have you been able to plan add-ons, and has the cruise line kept you updated as your cruise approaches?

So many cruise lines have amazing and distinctive features on their individual ships, something that set the line apart from the competition. Whether high-flying thrills, a need for speed, transformative spaces, or incredible views, which feature do you find to be the very best? Carnival Cruise Lines BOLT Roller Coaster won in 2022, but will it be displaced by another great feature on another cruise line?

A ships crew is the heart and soul of any cruise vacation, not only providing excellent service but often going above and beyond with extra details and memorable touches. Did a particular crew do something extraordinary to really make your vacation? Was there a unique situation that was dealt with in an amazing way? Did you find overall service to be more than you expected?

Private islands are growing in popularity as they offer cruisers exclusive experiences and memorable moments. Which island or destination offers the features you enjoy the most, or has something every cruiser can enjoy? Which one would you happily visit over and over again on every cruise vacation? Perfect Cay at CocoCay won in 2022; will it dominate again this year?

Which US homeport is the tops to set sail from? Maybe its close to home and convenient, or a great experience no matter how far you have to travel to reach it. Where is the smoothest embarkation, the best features, the easiest parking, the best waiting area? Which homeport would you happily set sail from over and over? Port Canaveral has already won a three-peat; will it be the best homeport four years in a row?

Which upcoming ship are you most eager to see? It doesnt have to be a ship youre planning to set sail on or already booked for, just a vessel that gets you excited about cruising next year. Maybe you want to go big with Icon of the Seas, get the royal treatment on Sun Princess, feel classically nautical aboard Queen Anne, experience the richness of Disney Treasure, or vote for any of the other upcoming ships.

So many amazing ships have debuted this year, this is your chance to vote for your favorite. Whether youve sailed on the vessel, are currently booked for a cruise, or are just a fan, cast your vote for the best new vessel that first welcomed guests in 2023! In 2022, Carnival Celebration won the vote; will Carnival Jubilee keep the streak alive or will a different ship take the title?

Voting in all categories will close on Friday, December 22, 2023, and the results will be revealed before the end of the year.

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Annual Cruise Hive Awards Open for Best Ships, Cruise Lines and ... - Cruise Hive

Where to stay: Domes Miramare was once the summer mansion of shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, but is now a legendary adults-only hotel buried in ancient olive groves. Or see more of our favourite Corfu hotels.

Scarred by wildfires in the summer of 2023, Rhodes is a firm favourite among our readers. The beaches are beautiful, sure, but there are also ancient towns and tiny Byzantine mountain chapels dotted amongst the interior to be found here.

Where to stay: We love Casa Cook Rhodes, a bleached-out, boho-chic stay (splash out on a suite with a private pool, if you can).

Ischia is Italys island with the best beaches. This little volcanic island punches well above its weight, with smart hotels and slick spas dotted among rugged landscapes. This place is probably best seen by boat, where you might spot Castello Aragonese or Mount Epomeo from the water. This is also Italys natural spa island, so a dip in the thermal pools is a must-do, too.

Where to stay: We love Casa Cook Rhodes, a bleached-out, boho-chic stay (splash out on a suite with a private pool, if you can).

The Mediterranean sunshine island, so they say. Malta is so beautiful its been used as a film double in Game of Thrones, Gladiator and Murder on the Orient Express. There are 300 days of sunshine a year here, so a visit will likely be sun-soaked and glorious perfect for spending at beach clubs or swimming in the sea.

Where to stay: From the moment it re-opened under the uber-tasteful eye of Marie-Louise Sci, Mezzatorre became a magnet to the Italian glitterati.

This island, Turkey, in the northeastern Aegean Sea, is 250 miles from the capital. It can only be reached by boat, and is mentioned in the Iliad and other classical Greek literature, thanks to its crucial positioning in the Aegean sea.

Where to stay: Posthane Hotel, a sweet, affordable guesthouse.

One of Greeces Dodecanese islands, Kos is known for its gorgeous beaches some of the best in this corner of the Greek islands. Much of the ancient architecture here has been preserved, from 14th-century castles to the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, where the philosopher (supposedly born here) once taught.

Where to stay: We love Oku Kos, a laid-back minimalist property thats unmistakably Greek.

The smallest of the Sporades islands is also the most popular. Beaches such as Koukounaries are much-loved for the turquoise sea, while those on the west coast, such as Elia Beach, are quieter. The harbour is dotted with buzzing little restaurants, some of which spill onto the sand (we particularly like the taverna at Sklithri).

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The best islands in Europe: Readers' Choice Awards 2023 - Cond Nast Traveller

Maria Boyle goes Greek island hopping

Crete

This is the largest and southernmost island in Greece. We were based on the eastern part of the island, near Agios Nikolas, at the five star St Nicholas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas.

The 119-room hotel has two main pools, a private beach and sun decks, with views of Mirabello Bay, two bars and a spa.

Food is a superb. Breakfast is buffet style and also features a la carte options. Lunch can be served pool, beachside or at the hotels Blue Bay Restaurant with choices including sushi, Greek and super food salads, pastas and seafood.

For dinner, there are five restaurants to choose from. Particularly favourites were The Minotaure which offered a mix of Asian and international cuisine. We also loved The Greek Kafenion, which is one of the areas top restaurants, serving local Cretan dishes and fresh seafood sourced directly from the Bay.

To explore the coastline, we took a private boat tour to Spinalonga. The historic island was a stronghold of the Venetians. They built a massive fortress in 1579 to protect the bays of Elounda and Mirabello. Spinalonga then became a leper colony in 1903 with 1,000 Greeks being quarantined on the island over a 50-year time span.

Santorini

From the Cretan port of Heraklion we took the ferry to Santorini. The island is the most famous of the Cyclades, known for its plunging cliffs, its whitewashed houses, blue dome churches, winding paths and its incredible sunsets.

We stayed in Oia, the most northerly part of the island, in Andronis Arcadia on the fringes of the village. The five star hotel has a contemporary design, its 119 suites and villas each have earthy interiors (85 per cent of the furniture is hand made locally) and chic luxury touches, outdoor seating and your own private pool.

Activity wise, visitors to the island can do a spot of wine-tasting, or head to the historic site of Akrotiri, the Pompeii of the Aegean, now excavated from its ashen tomb, or explore the capital Fira.

We visited Museum Megaro Gyzi, built in 1700s in a house that belonged to a Venezian family. One of the few that survived the earthquake of 1956, it provides a fascinating insight in to the history of Santorini, a chance to see old documents charting life on the island and photos and newspaper cutting detailing the volcanic eruptions on the island.

Santorinis food offering is also excellent and the highlight of our stay on the island was dinner at Lycabettus Restaurant surely one of the best cliff top locations in the world.

Naxos

Naxos is the largest of the Cycladic islands, known for its stunning Venetian castle, captivating history, traditional mountain villages, immaculate sandy beaches and great food.

We headed for Villa Flo, 30 minutes from Naxos Town. Managed by the highly efficient Maria, she welcomed us to the island and helped us discover some of the gems of Naxos.

Chora, the capital, was our first stop. We headed to the Old Market, packed with restaurants and boutiques tucked under archways, in tunnels, and stacked over multiple levels. We dined al fresco at Kastro located just under the towns historic monastery traditional Greek fare and seafood with a contemporary twist.

One of the buzziest spots was a caf and wine bar called Avaton located in the old Ursuline Monastery dating back to 1739. It served an excellent selection of creative cocktails on its rooftop in the evenings and, in the day, the building houses the Archaeological Museum of Naxos.

Naxos is known for its beaches and one of the best, just 10 minutes from the villa, is called Plaka Beach. We had lunch at Tortuga beach bar and club serves an excellent lunch of fresh seafood, Naxian potatoes, guacamole with watermelon salad.

On our final evening, private chef Babis Tsamadias from No Reservations No Recipes came to cook for us and prepared a seasonal menu which included local salads, tuna tataki, squid carbonara (his original creation made with the freshest squid cut in to thin ribbons, replacing the pasta), a mushroom dish which was the best ever vegan dish Ive tasted according to my daughter, followed by desserts.

Mykonos

A short 45-minute ferry trip took us to Mykonos. Harmony Hotel, our base, is a 22-room boutique hotel by the old port and a two-minute walk in to Mykonos Town.

The island has a reputation as the Ibiza of the Aegean yet its also incredibly laid back.

Retaining its historic charm, the stone windmills of Mykonos Town are a must-see as is Little Venice, and its fun to get lost in the narrow alleyways lined with shops, pavement cafes and bars.

Food is a big deal on the island given its international jet set reputation. We had dinner at Kalita located in a pretty courtyard in the heart of the old town, and enjoyed modern Greek dishes that were Michelin standard. As soon as we left the restaurant we were recommending it to friends who were visiting in a few weeks time. Its a must.

To enjoy the island vibe, we booked lunch at Zuma Mykonos As well as two large restaurant spaces, Zuma has a cool bar and huge infinity pool. Guests can feast on excellent dishes such as freshly seared wagyu sirloin tataki with truffle ponzu or jumbo tiger prawn with yuzu kosho and lounge on the Louis Vuitton branded sunbeds, overlooking the Aegean Sea while the resident DJ played tunes that appealed to all family members - quite a mean feat!

Another day we caught a bus to Ornos beach and went on a taxi boat (20 return, stops at multiple beaches). The wooden motorised boat service is run by a co-op of local fishermans family. We stopped at a number of the islands beaches before getting off at Platis Gialos to spend the afternoon there and enjoy its crystal clear water, beach bars and cafes.

For our last evening, we visited Bill & Coo Beef Bar located on Agios Ioannis Beach under the mulberry trees. The spacious restaurant has an excellent menu (Beef Bar fans will be familiar) with added Greek inspired dishes including Tarana Tuna with yuzu, grilled fish and jumbo prawns, and the only Kobe beef gyros in the world. As we reminisced about our epic Greek odyssey over cocktails, fireworks lit up the sky. We had enjoyed four mini holidays in one and loved every island. We just need to return to explore the other 223 inhabited islands perhaps next years holiday is already sorted?

TOP TIPS:

There are many ferry booking platforms, but the best one is Ferryscanner https://www.ferryscanner.com/en/ferry as you can see all the different options of ferry companies, ferry routes, times, prices available versus booking with one single ferry company.

WHERE TO STAY:

Crete: St Nicholas Bay, rooms from 220 https://www.stnicholasbay.gr

Santorini: Andronis Arcadia, suites from 560 https://www.andronis.com/hotels/andronis-arcadia/

Mykonos: Harmony Hotel, rooms from 150 Euros https://www.harmonyhotel.gr

Naxos: Villa Flo by Anamnesia Collection (travelstaytion.com) from 385 per night

Smile Rent a Car: portside pick up [emailprotected]

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Islands in the sun - Irish Post

A country rich with ancient healing traditions and a growing number of luxury spa hotels, the Philippines is fast becoming one of the worlds premier wellness destinations. Whether youre looking for a holistic medical retreat, a bamboo stick massage or a private island to escape it all, the Philippines' will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated for the year ahead.

The Philippines are home to several wellness retreats where travellers can relax and join programs for weight loss, infertility, insomnia, diabetes, and even cancer. Treatments such as acupuncture, ozone therapy and colonics are led by medically trained doctors, while nutritionists and fitness coaches are on hand for personalised dietary plans and private tai chi lessons. For guests who just want to relax, deep-tissue massages, body scrubs and guided meditation sessions are some of the many activities available in the country. The Province of Batangas, in particular, is the ideal location to unwind while watching sunset views over its forested mountains. For dinner, vegan food grown in the area and vegetarian dishes are the perfect way to end a relaxing day.

Relaxation rating:5/5

Best for: holistic medical treatments that combine relaxation and nature

Nearest airport: Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila

The Palawan archipelago is the perfect location for a private trip. Its islands are home to some of the densest and most biodiverse forests of the Philippines, where many endemic bird and mammal species live, including the endangered Palawan Hornbill, thanks to the resorts conservation efforts. To protect the wildlife, you wont find jet skis or motorised water sports here. Instead, the local resorts encourage guests to unwind by connecting with nature through human-powered, environmentally-friendly exploration: think hiking to turquoise coves framed by forested limestone cliffs, birdwatching along forest trails, or kayaking the lagoons mangroves at sunset. Overwater bungalows and beachfront cottages built with recycled timber and fitted with solar panels and energy-efficient water heaters allow guests to fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves.

Relaxation rating: 4.5/5

Best for: wildlife spotting, conservation and low-impact activities

Nearest airport: El Nido Airport, Palawan

Arriving on a 14-seat, twin-engine turboprop via private airstrip, landing on Pamalican Island feels like youre starring in your very own James Bond film. The private island is in the north of Palawan, where sands are silky smooth and the sea thrives with vibrant coral reefs. Sitting on the highest point of the island is a spa, where ancient wellness rituals from the Philippines to the Amazon are fused with modern techniques for ultimate relaxation. The spas signature treatment is the Hilot massage, a centuries-old Filipino healing ritual that uses banana leaves and cold-pressed coconut oil to relieve stress and aching muscles. The Dag-Dagay Foot Treatment a tradition that started when Filipino children would massage their parents' feet using bamboo sticks after a day in the fields uses a green tea wrap and a bamboo massage to reduce swelling in the feet.

Relaxation rating: 5/5

Best for: luxurious amenities and wellness rituals inspired by local healing traditions

Nearest airport: Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila

Another cozy spot to relax is the island of Bohol, where multiple resorts and spas are located. Bohol is the Philippines' first UNESCO global geopark and is famous for its cone-shaped Chocolate Hills. The island's villas are spread across hectares of lush gardens and jungle, and you can even book ones with their own infinity pools and views of the Bohol sea. To treat yourself even more, you can receive luxurious treatments at a spa using ancient wellness traditions by the local Eskaya tribe. As well as facials and body scrubs that use local herbs and oils, some of the places offer indigenous-inspired rituals such as bathing in coconut milk and Ciquate, locally-made dark chocolate. European spa rituals such as thalassotherapy (Thalassa is Greek for sea), a treatment that uses seawater to rejuvenate the skin and boost your wellbeing through a combination of seawater bathing, salt scrubs and seaweed wraps, are also available.

Relaxation rating: 4.5/5

Best for: an intimate stay and indigenous spa rituals.

Nearest airport: Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila

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Relax and unwind: where travellers find well-being and peace in the ... - Euronews

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Editors note: This essay is anonymous in order to protect the writer from potential reprisals.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, co-founder of the notorious private military company Wagner, died in a fiery crash in August when his private jet exploded midair and went down near Tver, halfway between St. Petersburg and Moscow. Western media outlets were quick to point out that violent ends often come to those who defy Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reuters listed Prigozhin among Putins foes, and the New York Post went so far as to call him a dissident. Andfrom CNN to Forbes to the New York Times, Prigozhin was referred as Putins prominent critic. Understandably so, since all these terms make sense to us, liberal readers, intent on finding sapling traces of oppositional politics, political dissent, and Russian elites in rebellion.

But such framing misses the point of Prigozhin, of his popularity, success, and postmortem fame. These hinge not on opposition but on unity. Within Russias political ecosystem, Putin has few public critics. In many peoples minds, the president naturally aligns with the Motherland. To oppose him is to sow discord, to threaten the Motherlands interests.

Prigozhin never criticized Putin directly. He oncemade an inopportune comment about some happy granddad who might turn out to be a moronbut then quickly explainedhe was referring toValery Gerasimov, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine. And the multitudes who came to mourn Prigozhin at makeshift memorials all over Russia? No, they had not come to oppose Putin. They came to pay their respects to a true patriot who had given his all to the Motherland. They came because they are true patriots, too.

The day after Prigozhins plane crashed, I visited one such memorial in St. Petersburg, outside an office building informally known as the Wagner Center. Around four in the afternoon, I saw a small crowd gathered around a large mound of flowers. Wagners distinctive black flag fluttered on a temporary flagpole: two daggers crossed under a golden star with the inscription, Blood. Honor. Motherland. Valor. People walked up and stood silently, moved on, while other mourners replaced them. Some people brought flowers. An old woman brought home-grown roses. A 16-year-old boy crossed himself vigorously and bowed to the Wagner flag before leaving three red carnations, flowers that are traditional gifts to Soviet war veterans. A young woman, impeccably dressed in black, laid down three expensive stems and left quickly. The mood was somber. Nestled among the blossoms was a sledgehammerthe symbol of Wagner brutalityand a pencil drawing of a capybara wearing a helmet. Some notes were signed with Telegram handles. One of them read: We will always remember. Pa, should we have hope for the future?

Carnationstraditional gifts to Soviet war veteransat Prigozhins memorial.

Courtesy of author

A spontaneous memorial to Prigozhin, St. Petersburg, Russia. August 24, 2023.

Courtesy of author

Rumors swirled in Russia as to who could have been responsible for the assassination disguised as an inexplicable plane crash. Ukraine, of course, was a primary suspect. And, albeit less likely, so was France: Prigozhin had stepped on their toes during his mercenaries activities in Africa. But in the hushed tones used to speak of that which should not be publicly spoken, many people were certain that it was an inside job. Who could be behind it? As with any conspiracy, the answer was murky. Most fingers pointed to Prigozhins ill-wishers in the Ministry of Defense, the Top Brass whom Prigozhin so openly criticized. But of all the potential suspects, the people at Prigozhins memorial did notinclude Putin. Prigozhin and Putin, theyre old school, explained a man in his 20s. They earnestly serve the Fatherland and neither of them is a traitor. But, he continued, not everybody is like them. Thats the problem.

PMC Wagner is celebrated in Russia for its bloodthirsty efficiency, known for conscripting prisoners and carrying heavy battlefield losses. And Yevgeny Prigozhin is known as a man who got things done; who spoke truth to power, said things straight, while lambasting the rigmarole, bureaucracy, incompetence, and corruption of the military establishment. Incompetent scumbags, he called the army commanders, accusing them of throwing away soldiers lives. And who would disagree with that? Prigozhin went further. The war, he saidand he called it a war, which is illegal in Russiawas begun on false premises. Neither Ukraine nor NATO planned to attack Russia in February 2022.

But Prigozhin did not blame Putin for starting this warno more than those who had come to mourn him blamed Putin for his violent end. He blamed those much-hated traitors to Russias national interests: he blamed the oligarchs. The war was begun, Prigozhin had said in an interview posted to Telegram by the press service of PMC Wagner, because the oligarchs needed it: those oligarchs who de facto rule Russia dont think about the country, or about the people, or even about the warthey dont think about anything but themselves.

And Prigozhin himselfwith his global natural resources empire, with his familys horses, art collections, and private jetswasnt he an oligarch? No, certainly not. He was a patriot. In Russia, patriot and oligarch are mutually exclusive terms.

In English, the term oligarch has a distinctly post-Soviet ring. The Oxford English Dictionary gives this definition: Originally and chiefly in post-communist Russia; a very wealthy business leader with a great deal of political influence. So you might be surprised to learn that there are no oligarchs left in Russia. But its true. According to President Putin, in a 2019 interview with the Financial Times,his long war against the oligarchswas over. Oligarchs, he explained, are those who use their proximity to state power to receive super profits. We have large companies, private ones, or with government participation. But I do not know of any large companies that get preferential treatment from being close to the authorities, these are practically non-existent. Nor do Russian businessmen influence political decisions. They no longer even try to, Putin told the Russian News Agency TASS in 2020, They understood that this is impossible, so they stay out of it.

When Putin set out to liquidate the oligarchs as a class in the early 2000s, he made a deal with the business elite: They could keep their wealth, so long as they stayed out of politics. He extended a similar deal to the people as well. And, on the whole, all parties accepted it. Faced with a comfortably consumerist carrot and a harshly authoritarian stick, society generally agreed that politics was a dangerous, risky, and dirty endeavor: morally suspect, something from which innocent children must be protected. As State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin reminded us in 2021, criminal law forbids involving minors in life-threatening actionsand that includes politics.

But even now that Putin has effectivelycleansed the country of all things political, Russian society still finds itself haunted by oligarchs, meddling in national affairs from afar. Today Russian newspapers reserve the term oligarch for their descriptions of traitors and foes. The fugitive oligarch-foreign agent Mikhail Khodorkovsky, for example, an oil tycoon imprisoned on charges of tax evasion in 2004, released on Putins personal pardon a decade later; or Boris Berezovsky, now dead for a decade, whose villa on the French Riviera has recently gone up for sale. Ukrainian billionaire businessmen like Rinat Akhmetov and Ihor Kolomoyskyi are referred to as oligarchs. Meanwhile, Russian businessmen like Alexey Miller andAlisher Usmanov are not.

Oligarchs are traitors to the Motherlands geopolitical interests; and, in this version of history, those interests extend well beyond the Russian Federations actual borders. Ukraine and Russia are part of the same historical and spiritual space, Putin insisted in 2021, so the borders between them are nominal. But Ukraines chronic weakness of state institutions have transformed it intoa willing hostage to anothers geopolitical will. Not to Russia of coursethat would be impossible since, according to Putin, Ukraine and Russia already share one homeland and historybut to those nefarious foreign powersseeking to turn Ukraine into an anti-Russia. Ukraine could not stamp out the oligarchs. Having robbed the Ukrainian people, these oligarchs now keep their stolen property in Western banks and would do anything to retain their wealth.

Putins logic repeats recursively:In much the same way that oligarchs scheme to sell out our homeland to foreign powers, so too is the Fifth Column eager to sell out to the oligarchs, whom it emulates. Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and began burning down Ukrainian cities, Putin warned TV viewers about this Fifth Column. Those who comprise it, he said, live amongst us in Russia, but in their minds they are in Miami or on the French Rivera, enjoying their oysters, foie gras, and gender freedoms. They identify with the oligarchic upper caste and would sell their own mother to join it, even as this so-called upper caste needs them only as expendable material used to cause maximum damage to our people. But Putin assured the public that the people will never be fooled. The people know true patriots from treacherous scum. They will spit out these traitors like a fly that accidentally flew into their mouths: a process of self-purification.

These lines between The People and those who seek to betray them are not so clearly drawn on the ground. In Telegram channels less regulated digital space, accusations fly wildly. Names are named. Oligarchs like Deripaska, Vekselberg, Usmanov used to talk so much [about the Special Military Operation] that you couldnt stop them, raged Prigozhin in an interview posted to Telegram in June 2023. And now only Dmitri Medvedev is left making some ridiculous statements about how were going to defeat everybody right nowWhere have all the directors of the large state enterprises disappeared to? Theyve all just dissolved. I can tell you what I think: that they are also the Fifth Column.

The term Fifth Column originatedduring the Spanish Civil War. It referred to a traitorous military formation, waiting inside the city to join the other four enemy columns when they invaded. But when Prigozhin led the Wagner Group toward Moscow in battle formation, this was not treason. It was patriotism.

In a series of messages published on Telegram, Prigozhin explained that Wagner was not revolting against the Russian state, but marching against evil: against the Ministry of Defense, whose leaders disregard the lives of soldiers, and have forgotten the meaning of the word justice. Wagner, Prigozhin insisted, was not seeking a transfer of power. They sought only to set things straight; to reorient a country that had gone badly off course. Having completed this mission, Wagner would return to the front lines to protect our Motherland. The presidency, the government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard, and other state structures will continue to function as they had been. We will deal with those who destroy Russian soldiers and then we will return to the front. Justice will be restored in the armed forces, and after that, there will be justice for all of Russia.

With these words, the private military company rolled into Russian territory fully armed, riding in tanks and armored vehicles. In Rostov-on-the-Don, a city close to the Ukrainian border, people met them with flowers and took selfies with the heroes of Wagner. From there, the patriots proceeded toward Moscow and shot down several of the Russian military helicopters and planes that had been sent to stop them.

Wagners march ended the day after it had begun, one hundred and twenty kilometers from Moscow. They stopped and retreated, with all criminal charges against them dropped that same evening. A day later, President Putin thanked everyone. He thanked members of the Russian Armed Forces for their loyalty, selfless service, and patriotism. He thanked pilots killed in action for their bravery. He thanked Russian citizens for their unity and restraint. He thanked Wagner fighters and commanders as well, and underscored that they are also patriots of Russia, devoted to their people and state.

In a televised meeting with the Russian Armed Forces, Putin reminded viewers that the Wagner Group was entirely state-funded, and he expressed hope that no one stole anything (or at least that they did not steal very much). He laid out the numbers. Between May 2022 and May 2023, Wagner received 86.3 billion rubles from the state budget. (Calculated against the times exchange rates, that comes out to about 1 billion US dollars). Another 110 billion rubles were spent on monetary compensation to Wagner fighters themselves. While the state took full responsibility for maintaining Wagner, Putin said, a part of this groupthe Concord companyearned another 80 billion rubles, providing catering services to the Russian Armed Services.

But Concord is not part of Wagner. Concord is a private company, officially registered by Prigozhin 1995. And the Wagner Group officially does not exist. Mercenary organizations are illegal in Russia. Over the past several years, Prigozhin sued several news outlets for associating him with the private military company, and Russian state leaders have repeatedly denied having had any relation to it. A year ago I spoke to Putin and he assured me Russia had nothing to do with the Wagner Group, explained French President Emmanuel Macron in February 2023. I accepted that. In September 2022, Prigozhin published a short post on his social media profile VKontakte, claiming to have founded Wagner in 2014. Since then, Wagner operated in the openalthough it is still illegal.

You might think that Prigozhin was an oligarch with a private army. But his many supporters do not see it this way. Why not? I asked a friend of mine who followed Prigozhin on TelegramIll call him Valera. Valera was sure that Prigozhin was not an oligarch, but he struggled to explain why. Finally, he said, because he has no political weight.

But he has a private army! I replied.

Right, Valera allowed. But not a political partyhe cant push laws through, cant go against United RussiaBesides, his army, his fighters, theyre motivated, right?

Motivated by money, suretheyre mercenaries.

No, Valera speculated, hes got all that patriotism going. They motivated, fighting for the good.

Valera is 62. He works three days a week in a state detox center in the regional capital city and spends the rest of his time in a village two hours away, building a guesthouse that he hopes will help support him in his old age.

Valera is a patriot. He believes that Wagner would give Russia its best chance at winning this warif only the incompetent bureaucrats let them. He was happy to see them march on Moscow for justice: a shake-up that everyone needed. Other patriots, however, were furious. Prigozhins ill-wishers accused him of having created the potential conditions for chaos and civil war, either in collusion with the oligarchs or stupidly impervious to their aims. Even if Prigozhin is not personally connected with the West, explained the nationalist blogger Igor Girkin, that does not mean that his accomplices from among Putins friends (the oligarchs) are not. With the amount of property that they have abroad, it would be ridiculous to assume that they have no connections.

Better known by the nom de plume Igor Strelkov, Girkin has also often been described by Western media outlets as a prominent critic of Putinalthough his criticism of Russias Supreme Commander-in-Chief avoids naming names.

Girkin is a historical reenactment enthusiast. His hobby of dressing up like a participant in both World Wars landed him some bit film roles over the years, and in 2014 he put this military posturing to practical use. Crossing over the Ukrainian border with a small militia, Girkin led an uprising in the regions of Eastern Ukraine that he called Novorossiaalluding to the Russian Empire, during a period when the term was used to refer to the region directly to the north of Crimea. In July 2014, Girkin and his militant band shot down Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 with a BUK surface-to-air missile system they had borrowed from the Russian Armed Forces. Girkin was tried in absentia by a Dutch court and found guilty but Russia refuses to extradite him. So for the past several years, Girkin has lived comfortably in Moscow, blogging on Telegram to a community he has dubbed the Angry Patriots Club. Like Prigozhin, he harshly criticizes Russian military commanders and calls for a more decisive, aggressive, and violent war.

But perhaps he took it a step too far. In July, Girkin wrote of the nothingness that has headed the country for the past 23 years, throwing dust into the eyes of the people. It was easy to guess whom he meant. Could this unnamed leader be removed from his post by force? No, Girkin dismissed the idea, as it would only play into the hands of Russias enemies. He expressed hope that the unnamed nothing leader would himself have a change of heart and transfer power to somebody more capable.

Girkin was arrested on charges of extremism a few days later. Not for this post about nothing, but for an earlier one, in which he had stipulated that mobilized Russian men have not received the payments that they have been promised. The case against him is classified, so its details are murky, but the Angry Patriots remain loyal and hope for Girkins speedy release. They do not blame Putin, however. Accusing the system of overwhelming cynicism, they blame indefinite outside forces instead writing,People in uniform had a hand in thisthose who were called to defend the Law! Have you forgotten the oath you swore to serve your country and your people? Whom are you serving, WHAT forces are you serving NOW, when you release criminals and imprison patriots? Is there really not a single decent person left among you who is able to speak out against the lawlessness that is happening???

What, indeed, are these treacherous forces, who are behind them? Working in cahoots with the oligarchs and with the Fifth Column, they are said to serve the interests of global finance, Anglo-Saxons, Ukrainians, NATOand even Satan himself.

From the beginning of the Special Military Operation, high-level politicians have framed it in anti-capitalist and anti-colonial terms: as a struggle against the forces of liberalism, capitalism, gender ideology, and satanism, along with other encroaching international evils. These nefarious forces often find expression in the image of the Golden Billion, a popular New World Order conspiracy theory that endows the powers of international capitalism with a single clandestine will. This theory holds that the earth can only support a billion peopleand that, consequently, this Golden Billion of the richest people alive is actively seeking to destroy the other 6.8 billion of us. Emerging in the wake of the Soviet collapse, it has long been popular on Russias conspiratorial fringes. But recently, it has entered the mainstream. Putin references it in his speeches, other state leaders follow his lead, and its truth claims make obvious sense to many people in Russia. The explanatory power of this theory is exquisite because its logic is bottomless. It smoothly blends the Kremlins own accusations of indefinite outside meddling with criticism of the Kremlin itself.

But there is one name hardly mentioned in such accusatory narrativesexcept with a euphemism. It is the gravitational center anchoring this spinning vortex of oligarchic allegations and patriotic claims. In the eye of the storm, things are quiet and orderly. The man at the center also owns yachts, palaces, and private islands; clandestine train stations give exclusive access to his secret residences. No one really knows the extent of his wealth. But when accounts surface of his holdings, his people are seldom outraged.

Why arent they? Because Putin isnt an oligarch.

In 2021, around the time that Alexei Navalny published his expos video about Putins secret Black Sea palace complex, I spent some time in a mid-sized town a few hours outside Moscow, visiting a man Ill call Oleg. Oleg was a sort of local opposition leaderbut a distinctly illiberal one. He stayed abreast of local politics, riled angrily against corrupt bureaucrats, and came out in street protests against policies to raise the pension age. But he also distrusted the liberal opposition, and he had nothing good to say about homosexuals or darker-skinned ethnic minorities. If we were in the US, I suppose he might have been a Trump supporter. I asked him about Navalnys video: the clandestine estate built with diverted public monies, complete with oyster farms and private vineyards, ice-skating rings and secret escape tunnels, closed airspace, and coastal waters. Oleg had seen it, of course, but so what? He didnt think too much of it. Hes the president! Oleg told me. Of course, he has a palace. What would you expectthat he build himself a communal apartment?

The president is he whose name is not taken in vain. He is the Motherlands ultimate protector and steward; the guarantor of societys safety and stability, of the peoples sacrifice and their patriotism. He leads the people in their righteous outrage at the oligarchs wealth and their treachery.

Asked about the death of Prigozhin, Putin spoke briefly. He said: Prigozhin was a competent businessman who worked in Africa, dealing with minerals, precious metals, oil, and gas. He was a contradictory figure, Putin acknowledged, and made some mistakes. But he achieved the results he needed, both for himself, and, Putin added, when I asked him to do so, for our common cause also.

In June 2022, Prigozhin was awarded Russias highest state honor, the Hero of Russia. But no official announcement was made; no ceremony was televised. He simply began wearing the medal in public. Details of the award became public only after Prigozhins apartment was searched following Wagners March of Justice: journalists discovered the award documents of Russias highest state honor among photographs of severed human heads. These photos had most likely been taken in Syria or in one of the African countries in which Wagner had carried out military missions in the service of the Motherland and her geopolitical interests.

On August 29, 2023, Prigozhin was buried in a small cemetery on the outskirts of the city, next to his fathers grave. No official announcement was made. Newspapers reported on the funeral only after it was over. Twenty to thirty people attended, they reported, only relatives and close friends. Police stalked the perimeter against unexpected guests. Prigozhin did not receive the military salute he was due as the Hero of Russia. But severe traffic jams clogged this part of the city the following day, as Russian patriots streamed in pilgrimage to Prigozhins modest grave. A warning for the oligarchs and the fifth columnand perhaps for the rest of us too.

On October 1, 202340 days after his deathspontaneous memorials to Yevgeny Prigozhin were erected again in dozens of cities in Russia. In St. Petersburg, our local newspaper reported men, women, and children, Wagner soldiers and elderly women, high-ranking politicians and former convicts, many of them in tears. People remembered Prigozhin as a talented leader, a man who spoke the truth. Yevgeny Viktorovich [Prigozhin] was a man who gave us hope, said a teenage boy who had come with his dad. And those who killed him took away this hope. There is no one else to trust in this country. His father remained silent.

Images from left: Arkady Budnitsky/Anadolu Agency/Getty, Vladimir Alexandrov/Anadolu Agency/Getty; Wikimedia

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