As the name of the trip suggests, it allowed us to explore Spain's local delicacies and natural scenery. Since my daughter and I ended up being the only ones who booked the trip for that day, we seemingly had a privately-guided tour with Paul and Ian. Our two tour guides are originally from England but have lived in Spain for the past 20 years. Paul is originally from Scotland and Ian is from Manchester.
Figure 1. A local winery in the Castille La Mancha region
On the way to the final destination―a Moorish 10th Century Castle, we have stopped by a local bar to taste its churros and drinks. Then we have visited a local bakery and a local winery (see Figure 1).
Figure 2. A 10th Century Moorish Castle overlooking river Tagus
The Moorish Castle was built along the Tagus river. Before reaching the Castle, we stopped at a trailhead and walked towards it instead of driving. From a short distance away, the meandering river Tagus led us to the Castle. In this rural region, there is very little traffic. During the walk, we only witness one car that zoomed across the landscape, breaking the silence.
Between the Castle and the river, there is a small town. We visited on Sunday and saw several groups of people having fun in the river or on the river bank.
Figure 3. River Tagus with Castle in the background
Figure 4. Kids swimming in the river
Figure 5. The small town in between Castle and River
Figure 6. Another view of the Town
Figure 7. Paul-and-Ian's property sitting in front of the Castle
Figure 8. The scenery from the property
Figure 9. A church in the Town with Castle in the background
A Quiet Day in a Berlin Park, 1933 In the early 1930s, Takehisa Yumeji's studio became a hub for artists, inspiring ventures like the Mt. Haruna Art Research Institute. In 1931, Yumeji began a journey to the United States and Europe, supported by exhibitions of his work. While in the U.S. for 16 months, he continued to paint, creating pieces like Nude on the West Coast. Afterward, Yumeji taught in Berlin until the school was closed by the Nazis. He returned to Japan in 1933, his overseas experiences shaping his final works. His last exhibition was held in Taipei that year. Yumeji passed away from tuberculosis in 1934, leaving behind a legacy of beauty and cultural exchange. Read more: Prints in Collection—Takehisa Yumeji (1884-1934) Kuronosuke 黒の助: a Legacy Little Black Cat (YouTube link ) Photo Gallery The Yumeji Art Museum in Okayama exhibits many black cat paintings because the artist, Yumeji Takehisa , frequently featured them in his work, particularly in his bij...
Koyasan (高野山), a popular pilgrimage destination for centuries, has been connected to the outside world by a network of pilgrimage trails. While most visitors enter the mountain by cable car nowadays, many of the pilgrimage trails still remain in use. Koyasan Travel—Temple Lodging (Shukubo; YouTube link ) Part of the pilgrimage trails, the Fudozaka Trail (不動坂; click the map to enlarge), leads to Koyasan from Gokurakubashi Station, the lower station of the Koyasan Cablecar. The steep, paved trail is 2.5 kilometers long and takes about an hour to ascend and less time to descend. The trail ends at the Nyonindo temple (女人堂). [1] On 11/27/2016, I have decided to descend from Fudozaka Trail instead of riding the cable car. I was the only person on the trail at beginning. However, in the middle of the trail, another young blonde girl passed me by swiftly with a big smile on her face. I was really surprised to see another soul on that rainy day. Althoug...
This is a passageway leading to Nankai-Namba Station. Be aware that underground passages in Japan can be quite complex for visitors. When you arrive at Kansai International Airport (symbol: KIX) and try to reach your destinations via trains, sometimes you need to make connections at Namba Station (see Fig. 2). Namba Station is one of the main connection points (the other two are Umeda and Tennoji Stations). But, Namba Station actually means 4 different stations on Google map (see Fig. 3&4) : Namba Station (Subway): This station provides access to the Osaka Metro lines: Midosuji (see Fig. 4), Sennichimae , and Yotsubashi . These lines can take you to popular destinations like Osaka Station, Koreatown, Honmachi, and Nippombashi. JR-Namba Station: This smaller station has only four tracks and two platforms. It's located within the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) building, and the entrance can be easy to miss. Thankfully, it's connected to the ...
