Susan May: 2018

Amsterdam

Triple level bike parking.

We spent three days in Amsterdam before our two week

trip in Switzerland. Here are a few things we learned:

Amsterdam has more canals than Venice, Italy.

The Dutch love french fries!

1,281: That’s the number of bridges in all of Amsterdam.

20,000,000: That’s approximately the number of tourists and day-trippers who

visit Amsterdam in a year. That’s about 20 times as many tourists as locals!

Where ever you go in the city, you can find cannabis coffee shops.

Each year between 12,000 and 15,000 bikes are fished up from city’s canals.

Apart from Dutch, people of Amsterdam can speak German, French.

Almost everyone speaks English.

The average height for a Dutch male is 6 feet, and the average height for a Dutch female

is 5 ft 6 inches. This height is attributed to their DNA and healthy eating habit.

SWITZERLAND

On our first night in Lusanne, Switzerland we met our fellow travelers and tour guide, Justin, for a delicious Welcome Dinner and briefing of the journey to come. The next day we drove through Lausanne to Maison Cailler in the village of Broc where we watched the manufacturing processes of chocolate, ending in the tastings room. Yum!

Next, we moved on to hilltop village of Gruyere, home of Switzerland’s most famous cheese. We had time to stroll through the small medieval village with its cobbled street and beautifully preserved buildings.We stopped for a lunch of bubbling cheese fondue before setting off for wine tasting at a local vineyard.

Chillion Castle

On the final stretch today’s journey, we traveled on a cogwheel train into the heart of the mountain resort of Zermatt, dominated by the famous pyramid-shaped Matterhorn. The below was the view from our hotel room.

The Matterhorn is one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe.

At 14,692 feet above sea level, the Matterhorn is the 12th highest summit in the Alps.

It is perhaps the most recognizable of the peaks that make up the Alps.

The Matterhorn is located on the border between Switzerland and Italy.

The pyramid shaped mountain, which is very difficult to climb, is said to be the
most-photographed mountain in the world.

We had lunch in the chic town of Stresa on Italy’s Lake Maggiore before continuing to

Lugano in southern Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Ticino region.

St. Moritz hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928, and 1948. Rolex watches,

jewelry and Swiss army knives adorn many shop windows. The town is also a spa

getaway for the rich and famous. Here we enjoyed a carriage ride into the Roseg Valley.

The Glacier Express is an eight hour journey by train into the heart of the Swiss Alps. Beautiful!

The pretty city of set on Lucerne is dotted with fine international restaurants and outdoor cafes.

The buildings are uniquely decorated, painted actually, and the old bridges and turrets from the ancient village are beautiful.

JAPAN

bamboo forests

enriching cultural history

food

friendly people

orange torii gates

Japanese gardens

rice fields everywhere

Mt. Fuji

very clean

kimono dressing

amazing bullet train

geisha dance performance

Japanese Principles: patience punctuality precision politeness

Rice paddies as seen from our plane.

We enjoyed the Imperial Gardens located within the hectic city center of Tokyo. This is the former site of Edo Castle where Samurai warriors lived from the 17th to 19th centuries and primary residence of Japan's Imperial Family.

Itchiku Kubota Art Museum

Itchiku Kubota (1917-2003) is considered the most important Japanese textile artist
of the 20th century. He rediscovered a traditional Japanese dyeing technique lost since
the 15th century which allowed him to create an exceptional body of artistic kimonos.
These kimono have since reached international acclaim through major exhibitions around
the world. Unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed. This museum displayed THE most
beautiful kimonos and fabric pieces ever!

The Asakusa Kannon Temple (Sensoji) enshrines a golden image of Kannon,

the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. It’s entrance is dominated by a massive paper lantern.

All shrines have water fonts where people express respect independent of religious beliefs.

Rinse your left hand.

Rinse your right hand.

Pour water into your left hand.

Rinse your mouth.

Rinse your left hand again.

Rinse the dipper.

The amazing Mount Fuji is located on Honshū. It is the highest mountain in Japan at 12,389 ft.

Tsukiji Fish Market is the largest wholesale fish market in the world. It employs 65,000 people and does over $6 billion in sales annually.

Our charming sushi chef taught us to make different varieties of sushi and sashimi, but the best part was enjoying our culinary creations afterwards. We were told that the certificate entitled us to open a sushi shop in our home town.

Hundreds of electronics shops ranging from tiny one-man stalls specializing in a
particular electronic component to large electronics retailers line the main Chuo Dori
Street and the crowded side streets around Akihabara. They offer everything from the
newest computers, cameras, televisions, mobile phones, electronics parts, and home
appliances to second-hand goods and electronic junk.

Ginza is Tokyo's most famous upscale shopping, dining and entertainment district.

On the right, all the mannequins in this store turn 45 degrees simultaneously every five minutes.

Yes, here you can purchase your very own Samurai sword for $3000 U. S.

We traveled from Tokyo to Ryokan (east to west coast of Japan) at 170 mph on the smooth bullet train. These trains are famous for reliability, safety, and punctuality. The average delay is usually around 10 seconds. The bullet trains travel on a 25,000 volt electric line on tracks welded smoothly together to eliminate the clackety noise caused by conventional railway joints. Maglev, short for “magnetic levitation," uses powerful magnets that allow the train to float just above the track, reducing friction. The train starts off on wheels, then gravitates upward after reaching high speeds.

From our patio, the Sea of Japan.

Upon arrival in Kaga we were given yukata (bathrobe) to wear to meals and the hot springs baths. After an amazing dinner of regional specialties we returned to our room to see that it had been transformed to a bedroom. Our authentic Japanese room now had two very firm futons placed on the tatami mat floor where we slept comfortably. Low door ways, watch your head!

The Japanese don’t have backyards -- they have rice paddies.

Wedding photos are frequently taken in Kenrokuen Garden, a beautiful Japanese park located in the central part of Kanazawa. The Maeda family, who ruled the Kaga Clan, maintained the garden from generation to generation. From its scale and beauty, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful feudal lords' gardens in Japan.

Gardeners in the park are picking up moss and fallen needles from a nearby pine tree.

Yakayana

The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This cultural property consists of three historic mountain villages over an area of 170 acres in the remote Shogawa River Valley. The Gasshō-style house (prayer-hands construction style) is characterized by a steeply slanting thatched roof resembling two hands joined in prayer. The design is exceptionally strong; and in combination with the thatching, allows the houses to withstand and shed the weight of the region's heavy snowfalls in winter.

Farmers Market

Morning market along the Miya River where farmers and craftsmen sell everything you need.

Kyoto

Largest torii gate in Japan.

After The Tea Ceremony, we were introduced to Zen meditation,

a calming practice deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

One of many amazing bamboo forests.

Gold leaf covers this UNESCO World Heritage site -- Golden Pavilion.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

Nijo Castle

Imperial Nara in Kyoto

Many high school kids were on field trips today.

The Inari Shrines are virtual tunnels composed of multiple, vermillion torii gates.
Each torii is inscribed with the name of the person or business that donated it.

Deer in Nara are friendly and roam the city freely. According to legend the mythological god Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital of Heijokyo. Ever since then the deer have been seen as heavenly animals protecting the city and the country. The deer roam everywhere but the highest concentration is located in Nara Park. These small spotted deer are also known as bowing deer because they often times bow their heads before being fed treats purchased by tourists.

The paths to Kasuga Shrine are lined with over three thousand stone lanterns.

Todaiji Temple is a complex of buildings that includes the world's largest wooden structure. The 157 foot-high Daibutsu-den was built in 743 and houses the 49-foot gilt bronze Great Buddha. It was cast in 749 and is the largest of its kind in the world. Temple: width 187 ft, depth 165.4 ft, height 159.4 ft.