Someone said, "If you don't leave, and if you don't go there, you can't know of there forever." By the reason of this, I started on backpacking to know about Europe during this summer vacation with three of my friends.
WELCOME TO GAUDI'S WORLD!! <June 24, 2006 - twelfth day>
I took a train for Kuset in Madrid and ran for 10 hours. In the early morning, I arrived at Barcelona. Since Kuset is called the country of passion, the sun was scorching from the morning. They don't communicate in English in this country. It was quite tough for us to find a place to stay, as we had worried over it. Fortunately, we could find a Youth Hostel, which was very clean and had convenient facilities. There were many foreigners in the morning who came out to have a breakfast, but we were only Asians there. They looked at us out of curiosity. Thus, gazing in curiosity at them, I had a marvelous feeling toward them. Today's schedule was to go to Parque Guel, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, and Temple de la Sagrada Familia. We first arrived at Parque Guel with an exclamation of joy. Parque Guel with the curved terraces was skilfully decorated with mosaics of broken stone, ceramic pots and old tiles. It matched well with a architect, Goudi's fame. Next, we visited Temple de la Sagrada Familia, passing through Casa Mila that seemed to wave in the middle of city and a world heritage, Casa Batllo that has the shape of a skeleton. Temple de la Sagrada Familia is a Barcelona's representative tourist attraction and structure. After Gaudi designed this building, which is still in the construction for over a hundred years. It will take about a hundred years more with the present technology to complete this building. After I heard this explanation, I thought Gaudi was such a genius. Today I was deeply moved to see the world of Genius Goudi. I looked around it in admiration.
HI~ MICHELANGELO <June 29, 2006 - seventeenth day>
Vatican always has made me curious. We were supposed to visit Vatican with other people and a guide, so we got up early in the morning and went to Termini station and joined them. Many people were standing in line early in the morning in front of the gate to enter Vatican. After I waited an hour, I could come into Vatican. I appreciated the pictures, the Creation and the Last Judgment in San Pietro Basilia. I had looked forward to this moment everyday. There were Michelangelo and the churchman who afflicts Michelangelo in the Last Judgment. To my surprise, however, the guide said that Japan has the copyright of the Creation and the Last Judgment. The copyright had been passed to Japan because it payed in full when the painting was retouched. I felt somewhat bitter. I could not move because I had goose flesh all over in front of the great masterpiece. I was just staring at the masterpiece for a good while. It was a wonderful work. Michelangelo was the greatest master among masters.
Next, we went to San Pietro Basilica that is the biggest church in world. The most important work of San Pietro Basilica was Michelangelo's Pieta. Pieta means to give mercy in Italian. Pieta is a picture or statue that expresses image of the Virgin Mary holding dead Christ. Michelangelo's marble statue is representative one among a lot of Pietas. A profound emotion was crossing in my heart. Mother's love holding the dead son and seeing him was a difficult emotion that I felt yet, but I missed my mother.
A musician of the streets <August 1, 2006 - twentieth day>
It was the last day in Italy. Now, this hot country is good bye~ . I left for Firenze to meet Junsei and Aoi of the movie "Between Calm And Passion.?Firenze very nicely introduced in travel books was not nice in fact like the movie. I was greatly impressed by the movie, but it called forth no response in my heart. However, Firenze is a city where many tourists gather. I could see many Japanese due to the movie probably. I went to Galleria degli Uffizi, the pride of Firenze. After I waited for 3 hours, I went into the art museum. The museum, just then, was holding the Leonardo da Vinci's exhibition. It was very luckly for us to see the cool exhibition during the travel. Besides, by visiting Galleria degli Uffizi, I accomplished a big achievement visiting the famous three museums of Europe. Although I could not find my Junsei in Firenze, I met many street musicians. On the way to the museum, music that went well with Firenze's romantic atmosphere were playing. They were the musicians of the street who captured attentions from many tourists only by a keyboard instrument and a violin. I stood on the spot and heard seven songs. Though I was a poor backpacker, I gave them some coins because they gave me an unforgettable memory.
I Love Prague <August 10, 2006 - twenty ninth day>
I has dreamed of visiting Prague by watching a drama, "A lover of Prague." However, Prague was dirty and inconvenient unexpectedly. On earth, I could not understand why passengers chose it as the best city. Prague was not what I imagined. Prague that I looked down from the top of the castle seemed like a playhouse with white chimney on the red roof. Then, we saw the night view of Prague, crossing "Karluv Most (Charles Bridge)." Tourists who came to Prague seemed to gather there all. The night view of Prague Castle from Karluv Bridge was the best that all passengers agreed. It was so beautiful. I could not find a great expression except a word, beautiful. There are always lovers in the place where it has beautiful scenery. Prague is a city of romance and love for lovers. I hope I could have a day to visit Prague again with my lover someday.
