For improving my English skills, I made this web log consisting of the following categories.
Diary(2005,2006) Diary2(2007,2008) Diary3(2009)
Blog visitor's profile News from blog visitors
Please read many articles and feel free to write down your comment in English.
If you have some interests, please e-mail me.
The recent ten articles are as follows:
My wife and I took a package tour to Spain.
Our rough itinerary was Narita--->London(Transfer)--->Barcelona--->Tarragona--->Valencia--->Granada--->Mijas --->Cordoba--->Madrid(+Toledo) --->Amsterdam(Transfer+Crusing) ---> Narita
We visited 7 World Heritage Sites in Spain as follows.
Works of Antoni Gaudi. San Pau Hospital.
Roman aqueduct of Tarragona.
La Lonja de la Seda of Valencia.
Alhambra, Generalife and Albaycin in Granada.
Historic Center of Cordoba. Historic City of Toredo
See the photos of each day ; SPAIN スペイン 1/7～7/7
1st day; September 19
We left Narita Airport at 12:00 and then reached London Heathrow Airport at 16:35. The time difference between Japan and London is 8 hours, so our flight time was 12 hours and 35 minutes. After killing two and a half hours, we flew from Heathrow to Barcelona Airport. The flight time was about 2 hours. Our hotel was near the Airport. About ten minutes by bus.
2nd day; September 20
We looked around Barcelona’s sightseeing spots like Montaner’s structures, Gaudi’s structures and so on.
Montaner’s structures which we visited were Sant Pau Hospital, Casa Lleo and Casa Amatller. Gaudi’s structures were Sagrada Familia, Casa Battlo, Casa Mila and Guell Park. I was fascinated by all of them.
By the way, Casa in Spanish means house.
We ate lunch about at 2:30 p.m. I heard that the lunch and dinner time of Spain starts rather late compared with these times of Japan.
On the way to our hotel of that day, we visited Roman aqueduct of Tarragona. I bought a little Sagrada Familia’s figure as a souvenir for my home.
3rd day; September 21
First, we visited La Lonja de la Seda of Valencia. Lonja means exchange and Seda means silk. And then, we went to the central market near La Lonja to use the toilet. The market was during preparation for opening it.
In the afternoon, we travelled to Granada and walked around Alhambra palace and Generalife, a detached palace.
After dinner, we enjoyed a strange flamenco show which is played in a cave.
4th day; September 22
We moved to Mijas from Granada and then took a relaxing walk and shopping there. Mijas is called “A white village.” All the wall of the every shop are really white. I felt exhilarated while walk through the village.
In the late afternoon, we arrived at Cordoba. Our hotel, HOTEL CORDOBA CENTER, was a four-star one.
5th day; September 23
In the morning, we did sightseeing Historic Center of Cordoba and then visited Mezquita which is used to house the Cathedral of the diocese of Cordoba. I was impressed with the beauty of Muslim architecture of the Mezquita.
In the afternoon, we called at La Mancha famed for Don Quixote and the white mill which he charged at.
6th day; September 24
We visited Prado Museum in Madrid and appreciated the paintings of Velazquez, Goya, El Greco and so on.
After the museum, we walked to Plaza de Espagna (Spain square). I had my memorable photos taken there in front of the statue of Don Quixote.
After having a Chinese lunch, we went shopping to a Japanese Department store, Mitsukoshi.
In the afternoon, we visited Toledo, two-hour drive by bus from Madrid. It is an old capital full of historical architectures.
At the last night in Spain, we enjoyed a flamenco dinner show. It was the second experience for me to see flamenco.
7th day; September 25
We traveled by plane from Madrid Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. And then, we were supposed to wait for our aircraft to Japan in the airport. However there was an announcement that the departure of our flight would be significantly delayed, due to the late arrival of the aircraft. Our tour conductor showed a great deal of wit in chartering a bus, so we could take an unscheduled city sightseeing in Amsterdam. We enjoyed a canal cruise. The scenery of Amsterdam made me happy.
The End
Monday, September 14, 2009
I'm going to take a sightseeing trip to Spain with my wife. It’s an eight-day package tour from September 19th to 26th. It’s just around the corner. My mind has already been in Spain.
We will visit several cities and villages like Barcelona, La Lonja, Alhambra, Mijas, Cordoba, La Mancha, Madrid. There are eight World Heritage Sites in these in these areas.
I also look forward to eating real Spanish food like Paella and Tapas, and seeing a passionate flamenco show. Of course, Drinking Spanish wine everywhere I will visit is one of the pleasures of this trip.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Japanese have a custom to send a summer greeting card before about August 8th. The card is called “Shotyuu Mimai”. Syotyuu means summertime and Mimai means greeting.
Also we send a late-summer greeting card after August 8th. In this case, we refer to the card as “Zansho Mimai” Zansho means the late summer heat.
August 8th is the beggining of autumn according to the Japanese calendar.
By the way, the heat of late sumer is still severe in recent days here in Yokohama.
I wonder there are many countries which have the similar custom.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
I saw a movie ‘The Reader’. I’ve read the original novel about ten years ago.
SPOILER WARNING !
The performance of Kate Winslet is great. It really impressed me. I noticed her feeling like impatient, nervous, and so on with her gestures. I didn’t realize those feeling when I read the novel book.
She looks a little older compared to her acting in the movie 'Titanic'. However, her nude is as beautiful as her in 'Titanic'.
I have some questions about the behavior of her and the man who loved her. Hanna (Kate Winslet) seems not to like to hurt her pride even if her life is affected badly by it. I wonder why she concealed the fact that she was illiterate and why he didn’t testify the fact. I don't know whether their choice is wrong or right. It's an unbelievably difficult decision, isn't it ?
I think the most serious scene of this movie is the one when she asked the chief judge what he would have done. How do you think?
From this movie, I like Kate Winslet more. I've never seen many of her film.
I would like to rent her films every week for a while.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Japan is on high alert after a sudden surge in cases of the swine flu. The number of infected person in Japan reached about 300. It’s a matter of time before it reaches 500.
To protect myself, I wash my hands every opportunity I get. I gargle my throat and I wear mask during travel to or from work.
However there are no masks in all stores. Masks have been sold out. I have little masks left in my house.
By the way, I have heard that they don’t gargle for prevention against flu in many foreign countries.
Is it true? How about your country?
Saturday, May 16, 2009
My wife and I had the 27th wedding anniversary today. To celebrate the anniversary, we went to a movie theater, and then ate at a cozy restaurant.
The movie’s story goes like this. A couple that the husband reached retirement age divorced after 30 years of marriage. It was because of husband’s love affair, selfishness, and thoughtlessness. However, the couple ended in remarriage after all. What triggered their come back to each other was his love letter to her. The letter was cordial, thoughtful, and hearty. The movie title is “The 60-year-old man’s love letter.”
I was really moved by the film and had watery eyes at the last part of it.
And the film inspired me to think about my behavior against my wife, though I’m having no affair.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Golden Week holidays are just around the corner. It’s the week when four of the national holidays happen during the end of April and the beginning of May. I will get holiday on April 29th and from May 1st to 6th, but I don’t have any travel plans for Golden Week. I may stay home most of days, though quite a few people travel overseas in this period. What a pity!
I have many things to do. I want to clear off as many of them as I can on this occasion. However, I always can’t finish even half of my scheme. What about this time?
Saturday, March 7, 2009
I joined a writer group of a book titled “Foreign students from Asia.” We are interviewing some people who came to Japan to study Japanese, entered university and graduated, and then are staying Japan and working actively.
The other day, I did a 4 hour interview with a man from Inner Mongolia who runs a“Mongolian Village” which is a hotel and restaurant consisting of Yurts. The Mongolian Village is in the Hyogo Prefecture. His wife is Japanese. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/kazeno/kai/mongol/mongol.top.htm
I heard some touching stories and got useful information for my article. I will write the details later.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
My wife and I are going to take a short trip to Thailand from March 20 to 23. It’s a package tour as usual my sightseeing tour. We will stay at the same hotel for three nights in Bangkok. It is called the Biyoke Sweet Hotel.
http://www.baiyoke.co.th/index.php?site=baiyokesuite
We will have a sightseeing tour of Bangkok on March 21, and then go to Ayutthaya to appreciate the night viewing of illuminated remains there.
Our tour will visit Kanchanaburi which is well-known for a movie titled “The Bridge on the River Kwai” on March 22.
There will be a dinner on that night at a 43th-floor restaurant of the Biyoke Sweet Hotel while we will enjoy the beautiful night scenery of the city.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
March is just around the corner and spring is near. However the weather here is still cold. My room is especially cold because the air conditioner doesn’t work. I always shiver with cold when I enter my room.
So I always wear several layers of clothing, wear fingertip-less gloves, and sit on my chair with my feet on a foot warmer in my room.
I hope spring will come quickly and the weather here will become warm.
By the way, I like spring best of all the seasons in a year. You can see why by reading the earlier article in Essay.
I wonder if they use the similar warmers, foot warmer and fingertip-less gloves in other countries.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
I caught an influenza type A about 3 days ago though I had taken care not to catch it by doing things like wearing a mask, gargle, and hand-wash. However I haven’t been vaccinated against it and I have been damaged from lack of sleep.
I left my office early last Friday and will take off work until this Wednesday not to infect others with the flu. I got better soon after I took the anti-flu medicine. I’ve returned to the normal condition, but I have to go on taking the medicine until this Wednesday.
All visitors, prevent flu as far as possible!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
We Japanese refer to New Year’s Eve as Oo misoka. Oo means normally big, but last in this case. Misoka means the last day of the month.
Many Japanese eat (slurp) soba, or buckwheat noodles, to wish for a long life on this night. Of course, I do so every year.
Considering the past year, there are many things in me that I must regret. At the same time, there are a few things that I can give myself a pat on the back. I want to try to look at the brighter side of things and to focus on it. To do so, I have to put in an effort to manage my time next year.
All visitors to my blog, have an enjoyable New Year !
Wednesday, December 23, 2008
Today is a national holiday in Japan. A holiday to celebrate the birthday of the current Emperor. The Emperor turned 75.
By the way, Christmas is just a day away.
Our family members are going to eat tiny cake at night on 24th. I think many people in Japan celebrate Christmas more on 24th than on 25th. I don't know why.
I wonder which day they prefer, on 24th or on 25th, in other countries.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
I made (wrote and printed) 220 New Year’s Cards with my PC, of which 160 were for me, 50 were for my daughter, and 10 were for my wife. I’ve spent most of two days doing this though this is my annual job.
The address of the receiver is written on the surface of the card. There are lottery numbers at the foot of the surface. The reverse is blank and printer-friendly.
New Year’s cards will be delivered on January 1st anywhere in Japan if cards are posted by December 25. It’s my pleasure to see cards on New Year’s Day, checking who sent me them.
I’m not sure exactly how many cards a person sends on average. Incidentally, my son doesn’t send card to anybody.
For your information; Japan Post has issued 41.4 hundred million New Year’s cards with lottery numbers this year. The entire population of Japan is 1.3 hundred million.
Recent Comments