End of August 2024 年8月末
Poor old violin. You've seen a lot haven't you? You were very likely knocking around in some orchestra when Beethoven was writing contemporary music. You originally had a baroque neck, but at some point you were "modernized". Maybe you had to wait until 1930 for this. You must sound good, otherwise you would not have survived so long. Anyway, you have now landed with me. But don't worry, I shall treat you with professional care and give you a new life.
私はベートーヴェンが生きていた時代に作られた
Most people know the sort of weather to expect around their birthday. For me it is cooler nights, a lower sun during the day, but still the high 20s.
8月の終わりには夜は涼しくなり、太陽は低い位置にあります
Random wildlife appear on the paths.....
Weather for hiking. So this weekend it was up the Rhein valley, then turn left up the Nahe valley. Into Rheinland Pfalz. To the magical little town of Bad Münster am Stein. Hiking colleague Yorgos had done the organisation, so I just sat in the train and chatted to my fellow travellers. In the town we took a brief inhalation at one of the Gradierwerke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduation_tower
ハイキングにはいい天気です
......then it was off walking.
Photo : Yorgos
On strenuous hikes like this I always take advantage of random benches, as do Anastasia and Phe it seems....☺️
Photo Bénédicte
Then the first stop....in the middle of the rolling German countryside....somehow different from the UK (Wiltshire maybe?)....and certainly different from Japan......
We ponder on some heroic statue.....
Photo Sonja
In Germany you can always rely on a walking hut. Here you get out your sandwiches and rest your weary limbs for 15 minutes......but what is this?....we are only 1/3 of the way......!
I seem to be pondering something here. But Anastasia looks quite happy, and Raj is obviously hungry......😋
Photo Bénédicte
At some point Ebernburg castle appears through the sculpture park......
Yorgos speeds up the hike here because in the castle there is food and drink.....🍕🍺
城には食べ物と飲み物があるので、ヨルゴスさんはここでハイキングをスピードアップします。
But wait..we've found another bench....休み
Photo Sonja
Around to the left the famous cliffs of Bad Münster am Stein......
バート・ミュンスター・アム・シュタイン
Our happy little band.....nearly 18km behind us and the sun on our backs.....
....with one last view of the cliffs as we cross the river Nahe.....very pastoral. Ludwig van B. would have approved.......
ナーエ川
The end of August is also the time for the traditional Japanese dance - the Bon Odori. A special group of dancers perform this in the middle of Frankfurt every year 👘(thank goodness the Japanese held on to their traditions of ancestor worship, despite the censorship of post - war American occupation - something that the famous film director Yasujiro Ozu had to contend with in his film "Late Spring" (1949)
フランクフルトの盆踊り
You can even go and practise with them if you like. The dances are slow and graceful, suitable for wearing a Yukata, that cool, light summer kimono........ http://de.bon-odori.de/search/label/uebung?max-results=5I
It was too hot 🥵 for me to take part this year, so I sat in the shade and watched......In the foreground a little girl gets some guidance........
The mood is happy and relaxed, and the participants all gather for a photo afterwards. Even at 30°c! A little piece of Japan in Germany......
Bon Odori - here is how you write it.....I discovered this rather rough calligraphy in the pile on my desk....
Obon (or just Bon), is the name of the festival -
a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits
and the Buddhist custom of honouring the spirits of your ancestors
Here are the Kanji (Chinese characters) used....
Odori - which means dance....
with the Japanese grammatical "ri" at the end
🕺 Thank you for reading "..Beethoven..."
"...ベートーヴェン.... " を読んでくれてありがとう
🕺 .... feel free to share the blog with friends.
よ ろしければ、リンクを友達と共有してください
🕺 And and I enjoy hearing from you...!
コメントすると楽しいです!
THE END
🏞️
終わり
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