The rain is falling in these days is washing away the petals of flowers from the trees covering the roads of many pink and white confetti swirling in the wind. And like cherry petals are flying away, too last few days in Japan ...
What will Japan? In order strictly casual
stores open 24 hours on 24.
ramen.
the vending machines.
clean and punctual trains.
the films of Hayao Mihazaki atmosphere that reigns at the weekend.
for the "hiking in Japan," today we have devoted our attention, but especially our legs and our lungs, in addition to the five senses and to our surprise, the Takao san.
This mountain, 599 meters high and 30 cm (oh, 'sti Japanese are accurate, there is little to do ...) and whose peak offers a magnificent view despite the clouds, is located at outskirts of Tokyo, and is the ideal place for a quick trip away from the concrete metropolis.
At the base of a series of hiking trails that come on top of it snaking through the forest that surrounds its slopes. We have chosen to climb the number 6, which shows you see in the picture below.
Apart from the initial stretch of paved road, everything else was in the valley of a stream, sometimes right in his bed, between tall trees and steep walls covered with moss. Visiting these places is now captures the essence of Japanese religion, it is hard to believe that such large trees are not of gods but only living beings.
At the top and ate a quick meal in the company of a surly Japanese trekkers, we walked to the back, but choosing a different path. Along this the divine that was in the air was manifested in the form of visions, not the usual Japanese mini-skirts and heels from 6 cm even on the dirt road (that was on top ...), but even clerical workers in a black overcoat, jacket, tie, leather shoes, umbrella and 24 hours seemed to just come down from the underground ...
Just these strange visions ... It must have been tired? soon!
now know what the hanami, and I think we have said ad nauseam as the Japanese are related to work. That said, we thought that since yesterday a day, go around the parks to do some hanami healthy would be a good way to avoid the crowds, limited to that of Japanese tourists.
So we went to Ueno Koen, one of the best places to practice this activity. As you can see from the photos, however, work for many Japanese went to hell, the crowd that massed soto the sakura was made not only by old men and boys, but also by reputable employees in suits, in spite of the workaholic.
We also discovered the research group of architecture at the University of Tokyo, who had booked his place under the trees with a teddy bear of a kangaroo dressed as Sailor Moon ....
We hired a rowing boat and we started rowing in the lake of the park, enjoying the spectacle of the trees whitened, and then, once back on the ground, we headed to lunch with the best pizza in Tokyo, right next to the pizzeria Savoy at the zoo. From there we then went to Hamriuku Garden, the former emperor's garden and now beautiful garden.
particular aspect of the latter are laghettti that decorate, which are salt water, being connected to the Bay of Tokyo, following as such the level of fluctuations related to the tide. Valuable also tercentenary black pine and fields of rape in full bloom, like the cherry trees.
The day before yesterday, however, we took advantage of the sun to eat lunch in small park near the university, which I think was a house then donated to the city. Although there were a lot of people aiming to eat a picnic under the cherry trees in bloom.
Not bad, right? And to think that they are hardly known outside ...
course, if one is allergic to pollen will be a torture, but otherwise is a show not to be missed.
Following the discovery of dioxin-contaminated mozzarella di bufala, Japan has blocked incoming loads for further analysis. And the minister says he does not overdo the fears (see here Article ) And that the controls work.
bad that by October (see here ) something had come out unclear.
Italy, the country where life is good and the food is better ...
Today we (re) visited Kamakura, even if it is as if we had seen for the first time. This time, in fact, having chosen the train and got correct, we had the whole day at our disposal, and we have devoted almost entirely to the hiking trails on the other completely different time.
From Kita-Kamakura station device, it is possible, following the path of Daibutsu reach the Big Buddha statue, walking for an hour surrounded by peaceful forests and up and down steep hills, slippery slopes and muddy steps.
Nothing better for those who want a little 'detoxify from the concrete metropolis, and thus, visited two temples near the station, we walked along the path. Quiet, in the countryside and challenging, but above all without the crowds of tourists that found elsewhere in the city.
So get to the Buddha at the end of the journey was almost a disappointment, because it also meant back down again in the tourist crowds.
A brief mention of the statue of Buddha cast in 1252 AD, and 13.5 meters high with a modest weight of 121 tonnes, up to 1498 was housed in a temple, not until a tsunami washed away the temple, leaving only the statue and the foundation stones of the temple. Since then it has been exposed to fresh air.
that we are lucky we will, but again we have caught two Italians who have come to recognize. No fans, this time, only that instead of cooing lovebirds Emilia shade of cherry blossom, arguing loudly in front of a temple, because he was tired and she still wanted to trek (all data learned during the passage in front of the temple).
Fortunately, this meeting happened before taking the path, so we were able to dispose of the shouting, enjoying the nimble Japanese grannies granny and we exceeded that on the road. One question has plagued us throughout the journey, but because the Japanese girl also bring heels to go for trekking?
Even here in the East come the echoes of the Italian election campaign, and the deluge of amazing promises made with tripe that the various candidates make to voters. While we wonder how they plan to grow Italy avoiding to talk about investments in research (perhaps with silicone injections at strategic points?) and what will Alitalia (mindful of the outbound flight phantasmagoric wonder if there will be a return at least) we can not help but compare meetings with Italian and Japanese.
Here in Tokyo to a meeting or an event seems to be very easy: obtain a microphone, some sort of flag, and begin to speak. During the first months of our stay because we realize that it was Friday, in front of the station Futakotamagawa, we placed a man who politely talked and talked and talked and talked, with the diligent wife who was holding a sign with written something and brought the crowd who shunned not giving him a minimum of line.
We never understood what vertesse his speech, but when it is gone we have missed by now had become a ritual, a bit like eating for free on Tuesday in Shibuya!
Then there are those with some more resources, they do things big, and equip a van with flags and altroparlanti, mounted on the roof and harangued the "crowds" cheering ... We happened a few times to see a guy, probably representative of a group of right, as he argued with flags waving from the Japanese army truck, and pissed off the talk impettitto hours .... we found the leg at the mall, and then return after a few hours of shopping.
Final result not very different from that of the lord of the station, however: we were the only ones to lend a minimum of attention, ignoring the rest of the crowd went quiet as much speaker.
vanishes echo of the bell of the temple still the delicate fragrance of flowers; by night.
A haiku of Basho, to include the description of our Easter Japanese, passed in Agreement with Christmas, for a walk in parks. It must be said that while Christmas is not that the parks are then all this splendor, this season offers the best of themselves.
And so, while 90% of Italian pasta and roast lamb nibbles, we were at Shinjuku Gyoen, a former emperor's garden and now beautiful public park in the heart of Tokyo station Shinjuku, the largest in Japan, it is just a stone's throw from here, and I believe that the land could easily be paid in mercedes per square meter.
And instead of building on these 58 acres of land, these Japanese prefer to keep the park! And how he's wrong? Watching them stand under the trees in bloom in practicing the 'hanami , that the contemplation of the flowers, you would not think they are the same that sformicheggiano at any time of day on the subway and the streets of Tokyo.
Nor are we done caught unprepared, and we hanami as I could. The only thing out of place in the park, strictly Japanese, was the part with the French garden, which goes like medlar with gorgonzola, but so is not a huge flaw.
Basically it was a early Easter Monday, with the only praiseworthy exception of the lack of stereo required to play music HUNZA HUNZA ball in the air. Not if they have felt the lack.
Like all good stories, this one is over ... We sold our biciclotte, faithful steeds rides in Japanese. Luckily there were no separate, having sold both to the same person.
To give them a worthy farewell, thanks to (finally) sunny day, today we carry around nearby, up and down the gentle slopes that characterize a beach city like Tokyo (see the photo and grab the first joke ...): all'Okamoto Koen, then along the Tamagawa, and finally to Kinuta Park.
As mentioned elsewhere, the cherry trees are now in turmoil: the buds now reveal the petals, the cherry blossom is now a matter of days, the weather made the center. In more of the meadows are covered with a soft green, very soft to walk on.
The Japanese take the opportunity to engage in sports as diverse as baseball, golf, rugby, running, cycling, badminton, fishing, sport X (played by passing the ball with a sort of screen for butterflies and you have to score goals as will be called?), Frisbee .... In short, this sport is not there merely to see him on TV, but you practice in the field.
After the ride, we face our wheels to Shibuya, where we delivered our bikes to the new owners. If you want a crazy cycle, we strongly advise you to try to ride a bike at 18 in Shibuya on a Saturday afternoon crowd that there is so much to compare the bypass at rush hour is an amusement! How not to agree with those who deal with traffic management? If chewed a bit 'English (as well as doves and lamb), give a reading here.
Sold the bike, now that the return in Italy is approaching ...
Until next time, and in the meantime, Happy Easter!
How is a construction site? It is a typically Italian: the open yard, four battered and rusty fences thrown here and there, a bit 'of loose soil and nobody near them, all for months and months. roads full of potholes and patched, one for each plant built: electricity, gas, telephone, lighting, sewer, and all these excavations are the simplest way to look like a 45 on which the crepes that are made to a road. But then, after 5-6 years of accumulation, and finally the forward-looking local authority shall repave the whole, but then wrecked again for a new plant after 3-4 months.
Here in Tokyo if you want to see a site you have to turn the night: the road is closed, you dig in the light of the curtains, the system you have to place the next morning and the only trace of the yard is an area with the track a bit 'darker. All accompanied by courteous workers indicate that the deviation, control traffic and pedestrians along the accompanying site For one thing, have you ever heard a construction worker or a worker in Italy come to you telling you that you pass close to the site in Italian and in the third person "hello, excuse the inconvenience, steps on this side, please, thank you"? Yet I am not aware should be a graduate in Social Sciences with a master's degree in Interpersonal Communication to make those trades.
course, working at night, compressors and other similar gadgets are not remnants of the first Punic war, that with their TOTOTOTOTOTOTOTO to 100 dB even wake the dead cremated in his cineraria, but they are super quiet past models, to the delight of housewives Japanese do not even raise dust. Yet the land is also land here in Japan ... mah!
Finally, the trucks out of the shipyards that do not emit carbon black spurgabronchi those beautiful nuvolozze accelerate when fully laden to depart, I noticed yesterday when I was the only to stop and cover his face with those who were next to a truck stopped at traffic lights.
Weekend sunny, and is not only people but also the nature Tokyo is preparing for the upcoming spring festival, which falls on March 20. We spent both days for a walk in the park outside the official guides for tourists, but by no means unworthy of attention, indeed!
Yesterday we went to Kichijoji, while today we visited the valley Todoroki. The first is a beautiful park with a pond (full of boats and pedal boats), and zoo, with the notable presence of a cage in which is placed a mirror, and that, under the label affixed therein, presents examples of homo sapiens .
The second one, as you can see from the following photos, is a river valley which, incredibly enough, is less than 2 km from our house in the middle of Tokyo, to follow it even if it seems to have stepped back in time, and not We would be surprised if you encounter any henri along.
A complete silence, broken only by the gurgling water and the direction of a bird of passage, and sometimes the distant chime of some temple. No cars, trumpeted the horn and screeching brakes. It seems to be in some remote mountain village, but it was only 10 feet below street level.
But even at of the road there was nothing to complain about. The temperature is definitely rising, and the first cherry trees begin to bloom, while the almond flowers already whitening the streets and lawns.
The Japanese obviously pouring through the branches to contemplate the flowers bloom, and we are infecting the facts, lying on the grass and basking in the warm March sun.
Enjoy the pictures of the flowers, that unfortunately the smell permeates the air can not be understood by them, it is almost like swimming in a jar of honey.
The Japan is often stereotyped with technology, from when he invaded the world with the transistor radio as is then called . From that time away the technology has made steps by giant, and the Japan the has been behind , indeed, the has done road .
Turning to Tokyo is impossible not bump into someone , from with the baby backpack to old bent and limping , that not has between the hands a contraption technology: mp3 player, videogame portable, mobile ( other that grandfather media!).
These last are chock full of all possible found : huge screen , optical filters privacy (only the owner can see the display), connected to internet , allow of watch the tv streaming (for example while it is in meters you can watch the their boy / girl band wag favorite the buttocks here and there), read mail and listen to audio files continuous cycle .
The all to rates (I think) that more reasonable, given that you just calls information to someone what , tlac !, to swap a bit on phone, goes on site right and there is the street from do complete of map and satellite route ( that stuff in Italy for you do the same operation from a unknown or are a tissue and the grant the your body to a night or nisba ).
Well, in the midst of so much solace through water and technology, is a feeling beautiful be the only not have a phone between the hands, to be able wander with the eyes in wagons the metro, to avoid the phonopedoni concentrated on display, without the obsession of " mushi mushi " prevailing . It's like be returned back of 15 years , when the world lived very well without phones and megane was the only name of a model car.
From then it is passed water under the bridges (radio), and now us touches come here for detox from technology !
Before of greetings a little inspiration of reflection: in Italy we say that the rates of phones are very high because There are few operators (3, as here in Japan ). But then there say that the price of gasoline are high because there are too many distributors. About us to take cuckoo?
the next !
PS " Mushi mushi " is what that says you when you respond to phone , the equivalent of our "ready."
Both the Republic ( here) that the Corriere della Sera ( here ) publish the results of a survey done on the Erasmus students coming to Italy, which shows that our country
is "very expensive "," unable to guarantee accommodation at reasonable prices "and a place" where English is a language that you do not. "
so that at the end of the stay only 60% would return there with my eyes closed .
say that there were also noticed being here in Tokyo, famous for its low cost, and perhaps excessive?
For example, if you know a place in our country where for 5-6 euro (expenditure equivalent to what we say here) eat a full dinner (drinks included) let us know. Given that a sandwich will spend about 3 €, we begin to organize for our return. Ah, if you are passing by Tokyo and want to know where are these places, take a whistle.
You will say "but here with us is a place for tourism, it is normal that prices are higher."
Apart from that Tokyo is not such a remote and unknown to tourists as Cocumola or Sciacquarape, here taking a drink cans from a vending machine costs the exact same number is next to Meiji Jingu or airport in the remote village on the hill. Here in Italy instead of entering a station or an airport is like being thirsty and going to the bank and ask for a loan ...
And do not forget that those who are students today, tomorrow will be tourists who will think twice before getting taken for a ride again on the beautiful stories from Italy.
That must be why tourism in Italy is steadily declining? Responsible travel reports of the "first generation" of tourists?
That is, Odaiba, for continue the architectural theme of the post yesterday. Post mostly photography, today we walked across the Rainbow Bridge, 1500-odd meters to 40 meters above the sea, a wind that does not tell you, and seeing that I'll show you.
also visit Joypolis of Sega, with many fine simulators. I've tried the simulator nonnumarra and hang-gliding and we killed a few hundred zombies, while we abstained from trying the simulator Athletics (100 meters, 110 hurdles, long and relay).
