Random bits from Easter イースターの色々なこと

A few more shots from Easter in Kansai that didn’t really fit into contained stories of their own.  I guess the big highlight-that-wasn’t was the big Mitstuyama Taisai; directly translated to “three mountains big festival”.  This is a cultural festival in Himeji city that has been held every 20 years since 1533.  That’s pretty impressive all on its own.  Sadly though, on the first day of the festival, the day that I went, there was almost nothing happening.  Wouldn’t you think that if a festival only happens vicennially (I admit it, I had to look that one up.) would have a jam-packed schedule of events?  I walked around for several hours and except for the crowds of people surrounding the “mountains” and heading into the shrine, that was it.

このポストにイースター休み中撮ったさまざまな写真があります。今年、姫路市のミツ山大祭がとり行われていました。天文２年（１５３３）から２０年に一度とり行われていました。すごいでしょうね。でも、初日に行ったことがありましたとちょっとつまらないだと思いました。三つ山所で押すな押すなだったけどほかところで別にしなかった。３時間ごろにその所に歩きました後「もういい」と思いました。そして大阪に帰りました。翌日に面白いことがありましたでしょうね。

A bit more World Heritage もう少し世界遺産

Back in January, I posted about all the UNESCO World Heritage sites I’d been to in Japan.  One of my goals for my Easter trip was to get to some of the others that I either hadn’t been to yet, or hadn’t been to in many years.  The unfortunate issue about sites that involve ancient buildings is the fact that at some time or another, they’re going to undergo restoration.  That has often been the case over the last several years when I visit Japan.  Some of the sites I’ve been hoping to photograph are almost finished their work, but that probably means that others will be under massive scaffolds and tarps before too long.

いち月に行ったことがある世界遺産所をポストしました。イースター休み中の予定はほか世界遺産所に行きます。残念ことは数年ぶりからいろいろの所は修復されています。たとえば清水寺と姫路城はほとんどおわりましたけど下鴨神社や天竜寺や二条城の修復するをはじめました。しょうがないですね。とても古い建物なのでがまんします。

Just a quickie 早いの

Because sometimes a quickie can be just as satisfying.  As I’m getting the rest of my images from my Easter pilgrimage to Japan organized, here are some Pixlromatic shots I took over the course of my trip to whet your appetite.

ときどき早いのはけっこでしょうね。今頃、イースター休み中撮った写真を準備しています。そして、このｉＰｈｏｎｅで撮った写真を楽しみしてください。

Going to market 市場に行く

I always enjoy going to markets when I travel.  There’s always such an interesting vibe and energy.  In Rome, the main market that I wanted to go to, a food market that has been in the same spot for hundreds of years, was in Campo de Fiori.  The vendors set up in the mornings and then take everything down in the evening to open up the palazzo again.

旅行する時、市場に行った事が好きです。ローマで有名な市場行きたかったです。カンポーデフィオーリにあります。いい雰囲気がありました。

The other market I had heard about was of the “flea” variety, in the southern part of Trastavere, Porta Portese.  Lots of antiques and books, furniture and household goods, as well as clothes and things you know you don’t really need, but want all the same.  Too bad I had a weight limit to my luggage on the way home.

僕のホテルの近所に日曜日の蚤の市があります。ポルト　ポルテージのです。本とか時代物とか家具とかがあります。とても大きい蚤の市です。たくさん道の中に組み立てます。飛行機で荷物重量制限がありました。残念でした。

An artist’s city 美術家の都市

Art is everywhere in Rome.  Certainly, when talking about art, one cannot forget the amazing architecture but, for the purposes of this post, I’m speaking primarily of sculpture.  From the bold statements of the famous Trevi fountain or the  Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, to the less ostentatious drinking fountains (fontanella) seen all over the city, I’ve not been to a city that has more publicly displayed art as Rome.

ローマでどこにも美術物を見えます。特に彫刻なことがあります。たとえば、ベルニニのトレビの泉から飲み物の泉まで、計術的なであります。

Of course, you can certainly get your fair share of art in the various galleries and museums throughout the city.  The big three are most certainly the Capitoline museum, the Vatican museum and, not to be missed, the Borghese gallery.  As with most museums I’ve been to in Europe, these are places one needs to return to in order to fully appreciate what’s on offer, especially the really large museums.  It took me 4.5 hours to go through the Vatican museums and still, I didn’t see everything I wanted to.  But at some point, you just end up saying, “enough”.  The Borghese gallery is a private operation and you must book time in advance as they only allow a certain number of people in at a time, limited to a two-hour block.

もちろん、ローマにたくさん美術館があります。一番大切な美術館三つがあります。カピトリーンやバチカンやボールゲイージだと思います。一回だけを訪れたらまでもないでしょう。たとえば、バチカン美術館に行った時、４時間半が掛かりましたけどせんぶ見えなかったです。ボールゲイージのは私立ですので予約をしなければいけません。この美術館はおすすめしています。面白いですよ。

Ancient Rome 古期ローマ

Coming from the young country of Canada, at least as an officially established country, I really appreciate old cities.  Japan has old cities, but except for temples, shrines and the odd castle, there’s no indication of antiquity as in  European cities.  I love the fact that there are buildings still being used that are far older than any established city in North America.  I felt that sense of history in Prague and Budapest and London,  and especially in Istanbul.  Now, in Rome.  I find it absolutely fascinating to think about who, over the centuries, has walked the same roads and been in the same buildings.

僕はカナダ人です。カナダは若い国です。それで古い都市を諒としています。日本には古い都市があるですけどお寺や神社だけです。ヨーロッパには普通建物はどこにもがあります。歴史の感じが強いです。いつも、「この道にはだれも歩きましたか」や「この建物にはだれを住んでいましたか」を考えています。面白いでしょう。

The list of ancient structures of Rome is a long one.  The important Via Appia Antica has had people entering and exiting Rome over the same cobbles and flagstones as far back as 312 BC.  The earliest buildings in the Forum date back to the 7th century BC.  Nearby, the Colosseum dates back to 70-80 AD.  The baths of Caracalla (named after the Emperor of the same name) were completed sometime around 216-217 AD.  The Pantheon, the oldest church in Christendom, began life as a temple to all gods (the meaning of “pantheon”) in 126 AD.  The list could certainly go on but the point is that in very few places that I’ve been to, is the past so evident in the daily lives of those living in the present.

ローマに古期な建物や所の目録は長いです。たとえば、アッピアアンチカ通りで２５００年ぐらい人々はローマへ出入りしています。フォーラムの初期の頃の建物は７BC世紀に建てられた。コロシアムは１世紀に建てられた。パンテオンは２世紀に建てられた。今から分かってでしょうね。ローマに日常生活で過去が住んでいます。

Houses of the holy 神様の家

As one would expect, Rome is chock-a-block full of churches.  Honestly, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a church, not that I endorse swinging cats, dead or otherwise.  Now, I’m not at all religious but, like going into Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines when I’m in Japan, I still find these “houses of God” interesting.  For me, visiting was all about the art and the history, and there are plenty of fine examples of both to be seen.

本当にローマにたくさん教会があるはずですね。僕は信教がありません。でも、日本の神社やお寺に行く時同じ、神様の家は面白いと思います。美術物と歴史はとても面白いですね。

The buildings themselves can be mind-boggling at first.  St. Peter’s basilica is the most drastic example.  You know it’s big from the outside but it’s when you’re inside it that you get a much better sense of how massive and opulent the place is (I’m trying my best to keep comments regarding church extravagance to myself).  Even churches away from the Vatican have the bragging rights of being decorated by recognized master artists, like sculptures by Bernini and paintings by Caravaggio, just to name the couple that spring to mind.  Fantastic!

始めに建物はとてつもないです。たとえば、サンピエトロ大聖堂の内はとても広いです。ちょっと信じられなかったです。ほかの教会も長い歴史があるし素敵な美術ものがあります。素晴らしいですね。

I had a very interesting experience while in St. Peter’s basilica: I was there on the day that Pope Benedict announced his resignation.  I didn’t think all the TV crews were setting up outside just for me.  Given that he’s the first to do so in 600 years, that’s quite the piece of history I was connected to, if only in a small way.

サンピエトロ大聖堂に行った日に面白い経験がありました。その日、教皇は退位を表明しました。最後の６００年が経ちました。面白い事情に関係しています。