フィレンツェを離れ、水の都ヴェネツィア(ヴェニス)へ向かいました。6世紀頃から蛮族から逃れるためここに移った人々は、潟の泥に杭をたくさん打ち込みその上に家を建てました。その海に浮かぶ町はやがてオリエントとの貿易で巨万の富を得て海洋国家へと発展したそうです。
After Florence, we left for Venice, the city on water. From the 6th century, people moved to the lagoon to escape from savage tribes. They knocked many stakes into the mud of the lagoon and built houses on them. The town eventually grew into a marine nation, building up a vast fortune by the trade with the Orient.
市内には車は入れず、移動手段は船か徒歩。街の入り口には駐車場があって、本土からそこまでは車道が通っているのですが、私たちは対岸にある町に車を置いて、そこから電車で町に向かうことにしました。海上を走っているように感じる電車は不思議な感じでわくわくしました。
There are no roads for cars in the city so people use boats or walk. Nowadays there is a causeway which links the mainland to the entrance of the city, where there is a car park. We decided not to drive along the causeway but to get a train. It was as if the train were running on the sea, which was very exciting.
駅から宿まで歩いて向かいましたが、まるで迷路のよう。地図とにらめっこしながら、小さな路地を進み、小さな運河を越える橋を何度か渡ってやっと到着。運河がある町は数々あれど、車道がなくて全部運河という町は初めてでした。
We walked to a hotel from the train station. The way was like a maze. We studied the town map, as we moved through small alleys and crossed several bridges over small canals. There are many towns which have canals in the world but it was the first time that I saw a town which had only canals instead of roads for cars.
ゴンドラと呼ばれる1本のかいで操るヴェネツィア独特のボートは今では観光客に人気のアトラクション。観光案内タクシーのようなものでしょうか。私たちはフェリーで移動しましたが、ゴンドラが運河を進む姿もまた情緒がありました。
ツーリストシーズンから外れていましたが、それでも街はたくさんの観光客でにぎわっていました。話によると、寒くて雨が降ったり曇っていたりすると、建物は汚く見えるし、がっかりするらしいです。こんな海の上に建つ珍しい街を見た事がなかったので、私は滞在中感動し通しでしたが、晴天でラッキーだったみたい。
The gondolas, are unique traditional boats propelled with a pole and are popular with tourists. They are like tourist taxis. We got on a ferry and saw Gondolas moving on canals, giving us the rich atmosphere of Venice.
It was out of the tourist season but there were still throngs of visitors. I heard that if the weather is cold and wet one can feel let down because the buildings look shabby and unattractive. However, I had never seen such an unique city so I was impressed all the time during my stay. I wasn't expecting to have wonderful, fine, weather as well.
しかし常に水に浸っている建物はどうやって保持しているのか不思議です。土台の杭もそんなにもたないでしょうし・・・。真水はどこから得ているのか、使った汚水はどこにいくのか・・・。想像を越えた不思議な町でした。
環境の変化で水位が上がると、街が沈むと危惧されていると聞きました。どうかこの素敵な街が浸水してしまいませんように!
I wonder how they maintain those buildings in water. The foundation stakes don't seem to have a long life. Also I wonder where the fresh water comes from and where the sewage goes. Venice was a mysterious city beyond my imagination.
It is said that the town would sink if the water level rises by the influence of the environment changes. I hope it will be preserved by some good watertight plans.
2011/05/23
フィレンツェの誘惑 Tempting Florence
イタリア旅行の楽しみの一つといえば、もちろんイタリア料理。朝のフィレンツェを歩くと、多くの観光客を迎える手つかずの料理がショーケースに並んでいて、カラフルで魅力的。積み上げられたアイスのコーンに誘われて、こんもり盛られたジェラートを一番乗りでいただきました。美味しかったデス。
One of the pleasures of a trip to Italy is the Italian cuisine. As we were walking around in Florence in the morning, we found colourful and attractive food in showcases here and there, which was untouched and waiting to be eaten by tourists. I fell for the temptation of heaped assorted gelati and cornets stacked artistically. I was the first customer who broke those beautiful heaps. It was delicious.
今回のイタリア旅行、正直食べすぎました。ショーケースもレストランのメニューも、「たくさん食べて~」と誘いかけているのです。ここで驚きのレストランメニューをご紹介します。
1、前菜(アンティパストAntipasto)
2、一皿目の料理(プリモ・ピアットPrimo piatto)パスタやリゾット、スープなど。
3、二皿目の料理(セコンド・ピアットSecondo piatto)肉、魚を中心としたメインデッシュ
4、付け合わせ(コントルノContorno)野菜の付け合わせ。(通常メインディッシュには付け合わせがつかないので別途頼む。)
5、デザート(ドルチェDolce)
えー? メインの前にパスタを食べるの??パスタの後に肉や魚??食べられるかー!という感じ。私は1品とデザートでもう満腹でした。(フルコースは一度も頼んでいません。)ちなみに頼まなくてもパン とグリッシーニ(細長いクラッカー)が勝手についてきます。パンとパスタは両方いらない!というのが日本人ではないでしょうか。メニューにはピザ もありますが、そのピザがまた大きい!!日本で頼むデリバリーピザの2~3人前の大きさを一人で食べるのです。小さな子供も。どうやってみんな体重をキー プしているんでしょう。イタリア人って太っているイメージありませんが・・・。
炭水化物とりすぎ。いや、正直太りましたよ、この旅行で。美味しいんだもん・・・。
Actually, I ate too much on this Italian trip. Food showcases and menus at restaurants tempted me to eat a lot. Let me show you a typical but surprising Italian menu.
1. Antipasto, appetizer
2. Primo piatto, first dish ; pasta, risotto, soup etc.
3. Secondo piatto, second dish ; main dish such as meat or fish
4. Contorno ; vegetable as a side dish
5, Dolce, dessert
What! After pasta, eat a main dish? How could I manage to eat it all up? For we Japanese, pasta is a sort of main meal. I had had enough with only one dish and a dessert. At restaurants they always served bread and Grissini,- long crackers - before the dishes. Normally Japanese people don't eat bread and pasta together. Furthermore, I was surprised by the size of the pizza. It was huge; the same size as a Japanese delivery pizza for 2-3 people. They eat it for one, as do small children. I wonder how they keep their weight down? I don't understand why Italian people aren't fat.
Too much carbohydrate. Honestly, I got fat during this trip. It was difficult to avoid because Italian food is so tasty.
One of the pleasures of a trip to Italy is the Italian cuisine. As we were walking around in Florence in the morning, we found colourful and attractive food in showcases here and there, which was untouched and waiting to be eaten by tourists. I fell for the temptation of heaped assorted gelati and cornets stacked artistically. I was the first customer who broke those beautiful heaps. It was delicious.
今回のイタリア旅行、正直食べすぎました。ショーケースもレストランのメニューも、「たくさん食べて~」と誘いかけているのです。ここで驚きのレストランメニューをご紹介します。
1、前菜(アンティパストAntipasto)
2、一皿目の料理(プリモ・ピアットPrimo piatto)パスタやリゾット、スープなど。
3、二皿目の料理(セコンド・ピアットSecondo piatto)肉、魚を中心としたメインデッシュ
4、付け合わせ(コントルノContorno)野菜の付け合わせ。(通常メインディッシュには付け合わせがつかないので別途頼む。)
5、デザート(ドルチェDolce)
えー? メインの前にパスタを食べるの??パスタの後に肉や魚??食べられるかー!という感じ。私は1品とデザートでもう満腹でした。(フルコースは一度も頼んでいません。)ちなみに頼まなくてもパン とグリッシーニ(細長いクラッカー)が勝手についてきます。パンとパスタは両方いらない!というのが日本人ではないでしょうか。メニューにはピザ もありますが、そのピザがまた大きい!!日本で頼むデリバリーピザの2~3人前の大きさを一人で食べるのです。小さな子供も。どうやってみんな体重をキー プしているんでしょう。イタリア人って太っているイメージありませんが・・・。
炭水化物とりすぎ。いや、正直太りましたよ、この旅行で。美味しいんだもん・・・。
Actually, I ate too much on this Italian trip. Food showcases and menus at restaurants tempted me to eat a lot. Let me show you a typical but surprising Italian menu.
1. Antipasto, appetizer
2. Primo piatto, first dish ; pasta, risotto, soup etc.
3. Secondo piatto, second dish ; main dish such as meat or fish
4. Contorno ; vegetable as a side dish
5, Dolce, dessert
What! After pasta, eat a main dish? How could I manage to eat it all up? For we Japanese, pasta is a sort of main meal. I had had enough with only one dish and a dessert. At restaurants they always served bread and Grissini,- long crackers - before the dishes. Normally Japanese people don't eat bread and pasta together. Furthermore, I was surprised by the size of the pizza. It was huge; the same size as a Japanese delivery pizza for 2-3 people. They eat it for one, as do small children. I wonder how they keep their weight down? I don't understand why Italian people aren't fat.
Too much carbohydrate. Honestly, I got fat during this trip. It was difficult to avoid because Italian food is so tasty.
2011/05/19
フィレンツェの輝き Glorious Florence
ピサをたって夕方フィレンツェに到着しました。フィレンツェは中世ルネッサンス(文芸復興)文化が花開いた町です。銀行業で成功を収め、事実上フィレンツェを支配するようになったメディチ家の元、この地はヨーロッパ文化の中心となりました。ボッティチェリ、ミケランジェロ、レオナルド・ダ・ビンチなど多くの芸術家のパトロンとなってルネッサンス文化の発展に貢献したメディチ家。一体どれほどの財力を持っていたのでしょう。この家系、後にはこの地方トスカーナ大公国の正式な君主にまでなったというから驚きです。
We arrived in Florence in the evening after leaving Pisa. Florence is the city where the Renaissance, the artistic and cultural reawakening blossomed in the middle ages.
At that time, Florence became the cultural heart of Europe under the influence of the Medici, a fabulously wealthy family. They succeeded in banking and became the real political power in Florence. They also added much to the development of the Renaissance as patrons of many artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, or Leonardo da Vinci. I wonder how much wealth they had? It is surprising that later the family became the dukes of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the state containing Florence.
かつて芸術の都であったフィレンツェの歴史地区は世界遺産に認定されていて、見所が山ほどあります。近くに宿をとって歩いて観光に出かけました。
まずは「ポンテ・ヴェッキオ」(イタリア語で「古い橋」)へ。フィレンツェに現存する最古の橋で(1345年建築)、橋の上にはお店が立ち並んでいます。当初は鍛冶職人、皮なめし職人、肉屋(肉解体業)さんが軒を連ねていたのですが、その騒音と臭いから撤去させられ、近くの宮殿にふさわしいように、代わりに宝石、金細工職人のお店が置かれました。いまでもお店が建つその橋は宝石と金、そして観光客のカメラのフラッシュが常に輝いています。
The historic centre in Florence, the old artistic capital, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has plenty to see. We stayed near the centre and went sightseeing on foot.
First, we went across the Ponte Vecchio, which means the "old bridge" in Italian. It is the oldest surviving bridge in Florence, built in 1345 and has many shops lining the street on it. It was originally the domain of blacksmiths, butchers and tanners. After a time, they were evicted because of their noise and the stench they made. Then, jewellers and goldsmiths replaced them to suit the desires of the palace occupants near there. Now, jewellery and gold still sparkle on the bridge, as do the flashlights of visitors' cameras.
町で一番高い建物でもあるサンタ・マリア・デル・フィオーレ大聖堂を訪れました。巨大な赤い煉瓦のドームも特徴的ですが、白、緑、ピンクの大理石を使い、豪華に装飾されたその姿はまさに圧巻。まるで宮殿のようでした。
そばに建つサン・ジョバンニ洗礼堂は古くかなり小さいですが、天井のモザイク画に感動。正直、大聖堂のドームは高すぎてその素晴らしい天井画がよく見えなかったのですが、金色に輝く宗教画が眺められる小さな洗礼堂は、素晴らしいと同時に落ち着く気がします。
ちなみにこの洗礼堂は「天国の門」とミケランジェロにたたえられた東の扉も有名。7人の一流アーティストの中からコンテストで選ばれたロレンツォが作った傑作だそうです(本物は美術館に収納)。
We visited the Duomo -Santa Maria del Foire Cathedral, which is the tallest building in the city. It had a distinctive huge red brick dome and the walls were richy decorated with white, green and pink marble and exquisite reliefs, which looked gorgeous, just like a palace.
The adjoining San Giovanni Baptistry is older and much smaller than the cathedral. However, the 13th century mosaics on the ceiling made a strong impression. The wonderful religious pictures was sparking gold and telling some stories. I felt comfortable in the small place and enjoyed looking up to the masterpiece, whereas, for me, the cathedral dome was too high to see the wonderful ceiling paintings.
The Baptistry is also famous for its east doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. He was chosen to make a set of new doors after a competition that involved seven leading artists. It is said that Michelangelo dubbed them the "Gate of Paradise." The original doors are exhibited in a museum.
フィレンツェは「天井のない美術館」と賞されますが、本当に街中すばらしい芸術品であふれています。ヴェッキオ宮殿前のシノリーニョ広場にはまさにそれ。宮殿前にたつミケランジェロのダビデの像はレプリカですが、実際そこに建っていたのかと思うと感慨もひとしお。オリジナルは博物館で見ました。5.17m、大きいですね~。宮殿の前に建っているよりも大きく見えました。
フィレンツェはその華麗な時代の栄光を失わず、輝きを保ち続けている素敵な町でした。
Florence is called a museum city without roof. Undoubtedly, there are priceless artworks everywhere. The square, Piazza della Signoria confirms the expression perfectly. It has many statues in the open air, including the outstanding "David" by Michelangelo in front of the palace, Palazzo Vecchio. It is a copy but still provides a grand sight. I saw the original in a museum. The height was 5.17m. It looked rather large without the palace background.
Florence has kept the splendour and hasn't lost the glory. It was a stunning glorious city.
We arrived in Florence in the evening after leaving Pisa. Florence is the city where the Renaissance, the artistic and cultural reawakening blossomed in the middle ages.
At that time, Florence became the cultural heart of Europe under the influence of the Medici, a fabulously wealthy family. They succeeded in banking and became the real political power in Florence. They also added much to the development of the Renaissance as patrons of many artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, or Leonardo da Vinci. I wonder how much wealth they had? It is surprising that later the family became the dukes of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the state containing Florence.
かつて芸術の都であったフィレンツェの歴史地区は世界遺産に認定されていて、見所が山ほどあります。近くに宿をとって歩いて観光に出かけました。
まずは「ポンテ・ヴェッキオ」(イタリア語で「古い橋」)へ。フィレンツェに現存する最古の橋で(1345年建築)、橋の上にはお店が立ち並んでいます。当初は鍛冶職人、皮なめし職人、肉屋(肉解体業)さんが軒を連ねていたのですが、その騒音と臭いから撤去させられ、近くの宮殿にふさわしいように、代わりに宝石、金細工職人のお店が置かれました。いまでもお店が建つその橋は宝石と金、そして観光客のカメラのフラッシュが常に輝いています。
The historic centre in Florence, the old artistic capital, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has plenty to see. We stayed near the centre and went sightseeing on foot.
First, we went across the Ponte Vecchio, which means the "old bridge" in Italian. It is the oldest surviving bridge in Florence, built in 1345 and has many shops lining the street on it. It was originally the domain of blacksmiths, butchers and tanners. After a time, they were evicted because of their noise and the stench they made. Then, jewellers and goldsmiths replaced them to suit the desires of the palace occupants near there. Now, jewellery and gold still sparkle on the bridge, as do the flashlights of visitors' cameras.
町で一番高い建物でもあるサンタ・マリア・デル・フィオーレ大聖堂を訪れました。巨大な赤い煉瓦のドームも特徴的ですが、白、緑、ピンクの大理石を使い、豪華に装飾されたその姿はまさに圧巻。まるで宮殿のようでした。
そばに建つサン・ジョバンニ洗礼堂は古くかなり小さいですが、天井のモザイク画に感動。正直、大聖堂のドームは高すぎてその素晴らしい天井画がよく見えなかったのですが、金色に輝く宗教画が眺められる小さな洗礼堂は、素晴らしいと同時に落ち着く気がします。
ちなみにこの洗礼堂は「天国の門」とミケランジェロにたたえられた東の扉も有名。7人の一流アーティストの中からコンテストで選ばれたロレンツォが作った傑作だそうです(本物は美術館に収納)。
We visited the Duomo -Santa Maria del Foire Cathedral, which is the tallest building in the city. It had a distinctive huge red brick dome and the walls were richy decorated with white, green and pink marble and exquisite reliefs, which looked gorgeous, just like a palace.
The adjoining San Giovanni Baptistry is older and much smaller than the cathedral. However, the 13th century mosaics on the ceiling made a strong impression. The wonderful religious pictures was sparking gold and telling some stories. I felt comfortable in the small place and enjoyed looking up to the masterpiece, whereas, for me, the cathedral dome was too high to see the wonderful ceiling paintings.
The Baptistry is also famous for its east doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. He was chosen to make a set of new doors after a competition that involved seven leading artists. It is said that Michelangelo dubbed them the "Gate of Paradise." The original doors are exhibited in a museum.
フィレンツェは「天井のない美術館」と賞されますが、本当に街中すばらしい芸術品であふれています。ヴェッキオ宮殿前のシノリーニョ広場にはまさにそれ。宮殿前にたつミケランジェロのダビデの像はレプリカですが、実際そこに建っていたのかと思うと感慨もひとしお。オリジナルは博物館で見ました。5.17m、大きいですね~。宮殿の前に建っているよりも大きく見えました。
フィレンツェはその華麗な時代の栄光を失わず、輝きを保ち続けている素敵な町でした。
Florence is called a museum city without roof. Undoubtedly, there are priceless artworks everywhere. The square, Piazza della Signoria confirms the expression perfectly. It has many statues in the open air, including the outstanding "David" by Michelangelo in front of the palace, Palazzo Vecchio. It is a copy but still provides a grand sight. I saw the original in a museum. The height was 5.17m. It looked rather large without the palace background.
Florence has kept the splendour and hasn't lost the glory. It was a stunning glorious city.
2011/05/14
ピサの斜塔にのぼる Climbing the Leaning Tower in Pisa
あの有名なピサの斜塔、ついにこの目で見ることができました!!門をくぐるとその塔がドドーンと目の前に・・・。あれ、意外と小さい?実は私、恥ずかしながらその塔が単独で建っていると思っていたのです。その広場には斜塔の前に大きなドームの洗礼堂、大聖堂が建っていたので思わず「想像より小さい?」と感じたわけです。近くに行くとドームよりはるかに高いし、明らかに傾いていました。
I finally achieved a long held dream! I saw the world-famous leaning tower in Pisa! As I passed through the entrance gate, I imagined the tower would soar to the sky in full view in front of us.... Well, actually it looked smaller than I had thought. That was because there were the big domed Baptistry and the Duomo in front of it. To tell the truth, I had imagined that the tower would stand alone in the square. As we came closer, I realised it was much higher than the Baptistry and obviously leaning.
ラッキーなことに20年にも及ぶ安定・修復作業がつい数日前に完了したらしく、足場のない真っ白な斜塔を見ることができました。
チケットは3時間後に入れるものしかなかったけれど、せっかくなのでもちろん塔に上ることに。たくさんの人が一気に上ることはできないから仕方がないですよね。階段(約300段)はとても狭くすれ違うのがやっと。一番上まで上がると、街が一望でき、大きな大聖堂、洗礼堂も眼下に見えました。傾きも感じられる感動の体験。ちなみに本来鐘楼として建てられたので、ちゃんと鐘もついていました。
The restoration work to stop the tower leaning more and more had continued for 20 years and had just finished several days before we visited. We were very lucky to see the polished white tower without any scaffolding.
We made the most of this special opportunity even though our ticket to climb up the tower necessitated a three hour wait. The delay was understandable because they can't allow too many people to climb it at once. The stairway, which has about 300 steps, was so narrow that two people could barely pass each other. The top gave a sweeping view of the area. The big Duomo and Baptistry were under our eyes. There were several bells in the tower as it was built as a campanile. It was a valuable experience - I could feel the tilt and enjoy the view.
あと300年は土台がもつそうです。傾きは5.5度から4度に修復されたようです(もっと傾いているように感じますが)。傾きを完全に修復しなかったのは意図的??ともあれ、きれいに磨かれた白い斜塔はこれからも人々をひきつけ、傾き続けることでしょう。
It is said that the new foundations will have to last for 300 years. The works reduced the inclination from 5.5 to 4 degrees, although it still feels a lot more. It might have been intentional that it wasn't fully straightened up. Perhaps it was thought better that the new-brushed white tower would keep leaning and attracting people.
I finally achieved a long held dream! I saw the world-famous leaning tower in Pisa! As I passed through the entrance gate, I imagined the tower would soar to the sky in full view in front of us.... Well, actually it looked smaller than I had thought. That was because there were the big domed Baptistry and the Duomo in front of it. To tell the truth, I had imagined that the tower would stand alone in the square. As we came closer, I realised it was much higher than the Baptistry and obviously leaning.
ラッキーなことに20年にも及ぶ安定・修復作業がつい数日前に完了したらしく、足場のない真っ白な斜塔を見ることができました。
チケットは3時間後に入れるものしかなかったけれど、せっかくなのでもちろん塔に上ることに。たくさんの人が一気に上ることはできないから仕方がないですよね。階段(約300段)はとても狭くすれ違うのがやっと。一番上まで上がると、街が一望でき、大きな大聖堂、洗礼堂も眼下に見えました。傾きも感じられる感動の体験。ちなみに本来鐘楼として建てられたので、ちゃんと鐘もついていました。
The restoration work to stop the tower leaning more and more had continued for 20 years and had just finished several days before we visited. We were very lucky to see the polished white tower without any scaffolding.
We made the most of this special opportunity even though our ticket to climb up the tower necessitated a three hour wait. The delay was understandable because they can't allow too many people to climb it at once. The stairway, which has about 300 steps, was so narrow that two people could barely pass each other. The top gave a sweeping view of the area. The big Duomo and Baptistry were under our eyes. There were several bells in the tower as it was built as a campanile. It was a valuable experience - I could feel the tilt and enjoy the view.
あと300年は土台がもつそうです。傾きは5.5度から4度に修復されたようです(もっと傾いているように感じますが)。傾きを完全に修復しなかったのは意図的??ともあれ、きれいに磨かれた白い斜塔はこれからも人々をひきつけ、傾き続けることでしょう。
It is said that the new foundations will have to last for 300 years. The works reduced the inclination from 5.5 to 4 degrees, although it still feels a lot more. It might have been intentional that it wasn't fully straightened up. Perhaps it was thought better that the new-brushed white tower would keep leaning and attracting people.
2011/05/13
チンクエ・テッレの道 The path of Cinque Terre
ジェノヴァを出発し、チンクエ・テッレに到着。「チンクエ・テッレ」はイタリア語で「5つの土地」という意味で5つの村が海岸沿いに点在しています。それぞれの村への行来は、船、電車、または歩き、というのが主要方法(車道はすごく遠回り)です。
最西端の村、モンテロッソ・アル・マーレに滞在し、その世界遺産にも登録されている素晴らしい景色の歩道を歩くことにしました。
We left Genoa and arrived in Cinque Terre, which in Italian means five lands. There are five separate villages on the coast. The main means of travel between them is by train, boat or cliff footpath.
We stayed in Monterosso al Mare, the westernmost town and walked on the path through wonderful scenery. The area is one of the UN World Heritage sites.
その道は上り下りが激しい険しい坂。ダイナミックな海岸線が時々顔を出す狭い山道(崖道?)を進みます。色とりどりの家々が建つ孤立した村が見えた時は感動しました。
人々は村の近くの険しい斜面に段々畑を作り、岩だらけの痩せた土地でブドウなどを栽培してきました。多くの実をつけないため凝縮された味ということで、ここのワインは貴族に珍重されていたようです。
The path was quite steep. We went up and down along the narrow cliff path, which showed us the dramatic coastline. I was amazed when we saw the isolated villages with their colourful houses.
The inhabitants have made terraced fields out of the infertile land on the steep, rocky, cliffs and have grown vines. The vines have fewer grapes than normal but with a more concentrated flavour and sugar content. It is said that in the olden days the resulting wine had been highly valued by the nobility.
時間と体力に相談して、3つ目の村から電車で戻りました。村から電車の駅までの長いジグザグ階段も相当長かったです。村に滞在するのに重い旅行鞄を持ってその階段を上るなんて考えたくありません・・・。3時間以上歩きましたが、帰りは電車でトンネルを抜けて10分でした。
After considering the time and our stamina, we decided to return by train from the third village. To get the train station, we had to walk down terribly long stairs which zigzaged down the cliff from the village. I don't want to even think about going up from the station to the village with a heavy travelling bag for a stay in the village. We walked more than three hours to get there but the train needed only 10min to take us back, by passing through tunnels.
歩くと通行料金1日6ユーロ(週末は割増)、電車料金は1.8ユーロ。端の村まで歩くと約5時間(本当か?)、電車で約30分。でもぜひ歩くことをお勧めします。
It costs 6 euros (extra for the weekend) to walk the path. The train ticket costs 1.8 euros.
It takes about 5 hours (possibly more) to walk the whole path from the first to the fifth village. The train takes just 30 minutes. Nevertheless I recommend that you walk to see the views.
最西端の村、モンテロッソ・アル・マーレに滞在し、その世界遺産にも登録されている素晴らしい景色の歩道を歩くことにしました。
We left Genoa and arrived in Cinque Terre, which in Italian means five lands. There are five separate villages on the coast. The main means of travel between them is by train, boat or cliff footpath.
We stayed in Monterosso al Mare, the westernmost town and walked on the path through wonderful scenery. The area is one of the UN World Heritage sites.
その道は上り下りが激しい険しい坂。ダイナミックな海岸線が時々顔を出す狭い山道(崖道?)を進みます。色とりどりの家々が建つ孤立した村が見えた時は感動しました。
人々は村の近くの険しい斜面に段々畑を作り、岩だらけの痩せた土地でブドウなどを栽培してきました。多くの実をつけないため凝縮された味ということで、ここのワインは貴族に珍重されていたようです。
The path was quite steep. We went up and down along the narrow cliff path, which showed us the dramatic coastline. I was amazed when we saw the isolated villages with their colourful houses.
The inhabitants have made terraced fields out of the infertile land on the steep, rocky, cliffs and have grown vines. The vines have fewer grapes than normal but with a more concentrated flavour and sugar content. It is said that in the olden days the resulting wine had been highly valued by the nobility.
時間と体力に相談して、3つ目の村から電車で戻りました。村から電車の駅までの長いジグザグ階段も相当長かったです。村に滞在するのに重い旅行鞄を持ってその階段を上るなんて考えたくありません・・・。3時間以上歩きましたが、帰りは電車でトンネルを抜けて10分でした。
After considering the time and our stamina, we decided to return by train from the third village. To get the train station, we had to walk down terribly long stairs which zigzaged down the cliff from the village. I don't want to even think about going up from the station to the village with a heavy travelling bag for a stay in the village. We walked more than three hours to get there but the train needed only 10min to take us back, by passing through tunnels.
歩くと通行料金1日6ユーロ(週末は割増)、電車料金は1.8ユーロ。端の村まで歩くと約5時間(本当か?)、電車で約30分。でもぜひ歩くことをお勧めします。
It costs 6 euros (extra for the weekend) to walk the path. The train ticket costs 1.8 euros.
It takes about 5 hours (possibly more) to walk the whole path from the first to the fifth village. The train takes just 30 minutes. Nevertheless I recommend that you walk to see the views.
2011/05/12
ちょこっとジェノヴァを味わう A short visit to Genoa
トリノから南下し海岸沿いにある町ジェノヴァに立ち寄りました。現在イタリア最大の港であり、古くからピサ、ヴェネツィア(ベニス)などならび、海洋国家として栄えてきた町です。
We left Turin, turning south to go to Genoa on the coast. Now, Genoa is the biggest port in Italy. It used to flourish as the capital of a marine state, and rivalled Pisa and Venice in the old days.
古い街並みが残る狭い街路を進むと黒白縞模様の建物が。(サン・ロレンツォ大聖堂、13世紀初頭のゴシック様式。)正面を守るライオンが困った顔をして迎えてくれました。
We enjoyed walking down old narrow streets where we found the black and white striped Duomo, the cathedral of San Lorenzo. The Gothic facade dates from the early 13th century. Two guardian lions in the front of the facade greeted us with embarrassed faces.
コロンブスの家も見かけました。ここで幼年時代を過ごして、航海に大きな憧れを抱くようになったとか。ここの空港の名前も彼にちなんでコロンブス空港と名付けられています。
We came across on the house where Christopher Columbus may have lived. It is said that his childhood in Genoa let him discover his passion for the sea. Even the airport is named after him.
そういえば「ジェノヴァ」って聞き覚えのあるなーと思っていたら、ジェノヴァソース、有名なバジルを使ったソース発祥の地なんですね。後になって気がつきました。本場のジェノヴェーゼパスタは見逃しましたが、短時間でもここの旧市街を歩き回ることができてよかったです。
I had heard the name Genoa before, but at first couldn't remember why. Later I realised it came from the eponymous sauce, which is a famous Italian sauce made from Basil. Although we missed a chance to taste Genoese cuisine in its homeland, I was very pleased that we got a chance to walk around the lovely old town, even for a short time.
We left Turin, turning south to go to Genoa on the coast. Now, Genoa is the biggest port in Italy. It used to flourish as the capital of a marine state, and rivalled Pisa and Venice in the old days.
古い街並みが残る狭い街路を進むと黒白縞模様の建物が。(サン・ロレンツォ大聖堂、13世紀初頭のゴシック様式。)正面を守るライオンが困った顔をして迎えてくれました。
We enjoyed walking down old narrow streets where we found the black and white striped Duomo, the cathedral of San Lorenzo. The Gothic facade dates from the early 13th century. Two guardian lions in the front of the facade greeted us with embarrassed faces.
コロンブスの家も見かけました。ここで幼年時代を過ごして、航海に大きな憧れを抱くようになったとか。ここの空港の名前も彼にちなんでコロンブス空港と名付けられています。
We came across on the house where Christopher Columbus may have lived. It is said that his childhood in Genoa let him discover his passion for the sea. Even the airport is named after him.
そういえば「ジェノヴァ」って聞き覚えのあるなーと思っていたら、ジェノヴァソース、有名なバジルを使ったソース発祥の地なんですね。後になって気がつきました。本場のジェノヴェーゼパスタは見逃しましたが、短時間でもここの旧市街を歩き回ることができてよかったです。
I had heard the name Genoa before, but at first couldn't remember why. Later I realised it came from the eponymous sauce, which is a famous Italian sauce made from Basil. Although we missed a chance to taste Genoese cuisine in its homeland, I was very pleased that we got a chance to walk around the lovely old town, even for a short time.
2011/05/11
トリノへの道 The road to Turin
ヴァルディゼールを後にし、帰りしな国境を越えてイタリアに寄り道することにしました。近くの峠の国境は6月くらいまで雪に閉ざされている(スキーでなら越境可)ので、回り道をし、びっくりするほど高い通行料金のトンネルをぬけて国境を通過しました。約13kmのフレジュストンネル。料金36.5ユーロ。ディズニーランドチケットが買えそうな感じ・・・。
We decided to do a detour to Italy on the way home when we left Val d'Isere. Usually the nearest mountain pass is closed to cars (not skiers) until June because of snow. So we took a different route and passed through the incredibly expensive toll tunnel to cross the border. It is called the Frejus Road Tunnel. It is 13km long and costs 36.5 euros one way, as much as a Disneyland ticket.
トリノといえば、オリンピック(2006年冬季、荒川静香がフィギアで金メダル獲得)のイメージしかなかったのですが、実際行ってみるとオリンピックの面影は全く見られず、中心部に着くまでは、コンクリート造りの建物が立ち並び、言ってしまうとあまり魅力ない、ものすごく長~い直線道路をひたすら進みました。
トリノはFiat(フェイアット)(※フェラーリを傘下に置くイタリア最大の自動車メーカー)のとして本拠地として発展した工業都市らしく(日本の名古屋市と姉妹都市なのはトヨタ関係?)、あまり観光地としては有名ではない模様。でもさすがイタリア王国の最初の首都だけあって、旧市街中心部には多くの見どころがあるようです。2011年3月にはイタリア王国150周年を祝うセレモニーも開かれました。
What I knew about Turin was only that it had hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics. Actually I couldn't find any traces of the Olympics there. Before we found the centre, we drove down an extremely long straight street, which had concrete buildings lining both sides and was frankly unattractive.
Turin is an industrial city where Fiat, the top car company in Italy is based. Nagoya, Japan, is a sister city to Turin, which might be connected to Toyota, the giant car company in Japan. Anyway, Turin seems not to be a popular tourist destination. However, Turin was the first capital city of Italy, so there are many attractions in the old town centre. I hear that the 150th anniversary of the founding of Italy was held there in March, 2011.
中心部まで車を走らせると、巨大なタワーが見えてきました。夜にはイタリア国旗色の電飾が光る異色のタワー、モーレ・アントネリアーナ。現在は国立映画博物館として利用されています。
As we were driving into the centre, we caught sight of an unique tall tower, the Mole Antonelliana. It was lit with the Italian flag colours at night. It is used as the Cinema Museum.
夫曰く、大聖堂に納められた布(シュラウド)が有名だそう。それはなんとキリストがはりつけにされた後に体を包むのに使ったとされる布がなのです。負った傷や顔らしきものが浮き出ている不思議な布。
何世紀にも渡って信じられてきたわけですが、1988年の科学調査によって、12世紀以降に造られたものと判明しました。それでもなお、いまだ信仰の対象として崇められているそうです。中世には相当の多くの人が訪れたことでしょう。
My husband told me that the Turin shroud in the Duomo was famous. For centuries the shroud was said to have wrapped the body of the Christ after his crucifixion. It was a mysterious cloth on which his wounds and face had been vaguely imprinted.
After all that time the myth was exploded in 1988. The carbon-dating test showed that it dates back to no more than 12th century. Nevertheless the shroud remains an object of religious veneration. In Medieval times, many Christians visited Turin to pay homage to the shroud.
下の写真は市内で見かけた「この先行き止まり」のサイン。通常の行き止まりのT字のサインにキリスト様の姿が!その上の矢印はこう問いかけているかのよう。「あなたは天国行き?それとも地獄?」
We found a dead-end sign in the city. It had the figure of the Christ crucified on the normal T sign for a dead end. The arrows above it appeared to be asking - Are you going to heaven or hell?
We decided to do a detour to Italy on the way home when we left Val d'Isere. Usually the nearest mountain pass is closed to cars (not skiers) until June because of snow. So we took a different route and passed through the incredibly expensive toll tunnel to cross the border. It is called the Frejus Road Tunnel. It is 13km long and costs 36.5 euros one way, as much as a Disneyland ticket.
トリノといえば、オリンピック(2006年冬季、荒川静香がフィギアで金メダル獲得)のイメージしかなかったのですが、実際行ってみるとオリンピックの面影は全く見られず、中心部に着くまでは、コンクリート造りの建物が立ち並び、言ってしまうとあまり魅力ない、ものすごく長~い直線道路をひたすら進みました。
トリノはFiat(フェイアット)(※フェラーリを傘下に置くイタリア最大の自動車メーカー)のとして本拠地として発展した工業都市らしく(日本の名古屋市と姉妹都市なのはトヨタ関係?)、あまり観光地としては有名ではない模様。でもさすがイタリア王国の最初の首都だけあって、旧市街中心部には多くの見どころがあるようです。2011年3月にはイタリア王国150周年を祝うセレモニーも開かれました。
What I knew about Turin was only that it had hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics. Actually I couldn't find any traces of the Olympics there. Before we found the centre, we drove down an extremely long straight street, which had concrete buildings lining both sides and was frankly unattractive.
Turin is an industrial city where Fiat, the top car company in Italy is based. Nagoya, Japan, is a sister city to Turin, which might be connected to Toyota, the giant car company in Japan. Anyway, Turin seems not to be a popular tourist destination. However, Turin was the first capital city of Italy, so there are many attractions in the old town centre. I hear that the 150th anniversary of the founding of Italy was held there in March, 2011.
中心部まで車を走らせると、巨大なタワーが見えてきました。夜にはイタリア国旗色の電飾が光る異色のタワー、モーレ・アントネリアーナ。現在は国立映画博物館として利用されています。
As we were driving into the centre, we caught sight of an unique tall tower, the Mole Antonelliana. It was lit with the Italian flag colours at night. It is used as the Cinema Museum.
夫曰く、大聖堂に納められた布(シュラウド)が有名だそう。それはなんとキリストがはりつけにされた後に体を包むのに使ったとされる布がなのです。負った傷や顔らしきものが浮き出ている不思議な布。
何世紀にも渡って信じられてきたわけですが、1988年の科学調査によって、12世紀以降に造られたものと判明しました。それでもなお、いまだ信仰の対象として崇められているそうです。中世には相当の多くの人が訪れたことでしょう。
My husband told me that the Turin shroud in the Duomo was famous. For centuries the shroud was said to have wrapped the body of the Christ after his crucifixion. It was a mysterious cloth on which his wounds and face had been vaguely imprinted.
After all that time the myth was exploded in 1988. The carbon-dating test showed that it dates back to no more than 12th century. Nevertheless the shroud remains an object of religious veneration. In Medieval times, many Christians visited Turin to pay homage to the shroud.
下の写真は市内で見かけた「この先行き止まり」のサイン。通常の行き止まりのT字のサインにキリスト様の姿が!その上の矢印はこう問いかけているかのよう。「あなたは天国行き?それとも地獄?」
We found a dead-end sign in the city. It had the figure of the Christ crucified on the normal T sign for a dead end. The arrows above it appeared to be asking - Are you going to heaven or hell?
2011/05/10
アルプスで春スキー Skiing in the Alps in spring
車をひたすら走らせ、ついに目的地、ヴァルディゼールにたどり着きました。ここはフランスアルプスの巨大なスキーリゾート(エスパス キリー)がある町で、標高1850m。私は北海道出身なので雪には慣れているんですが、このアルプスの山々のスケールと美しさには圧倒されました。
After long driving, we finally arrived Val d'Isere, 1850m above sea level, where is a part of the huge ski resort Espace Killy in the French Alps. I was amazed at the scale and the beautiful mountain ranges even though I'm used to snow in my hometown, Hokkaido, Japan.
4月の終わりだったのですが、山麓の町に着いた時、気温26度。雪、もうないのでは?と心配しましたが、そこはやはり高い山。標高3000mまで上ると十分スキーを楽しめました。真冬には-40度にもなるらしいですが、滞在中、ほぼ連日太陽が照りつけ、暖かい毎日。高度が低いスロープは雪不足で閉まっていましたが、(下の写真は山の上まで一気に1000mほど駆けあがってくれるスキートレイン。その日の気温14度!)、それでも1日で全コース回るのは不可能なスケールの大きさでした。この壮大なアスプスの山で寒さに凍えることなく、スキー三昧。夢ですね。これは。
It was the end of April. When we got to the bottom of the mountain, the temperature was 26 degrees Celsius. I wondered whether there were enough snow to ski, but just like high mountains, we could still enjoy skiing at high places, like 3000m. It was sunny and warm day after day during our stay, while in mid winter the temperature drops down to -40 degrees. Some low slopes were closed because of shortage of snow, but there were still so many places impossible to ski all in a day. Skiing in the grand Alps without being frozen. It was like a dream for me. (The photo on the right was the train which takes skiers up to the mountain about 1000m higher. The thermometer read 14 degrees on that day!!)
例年にない暖かさだったようで、スキーの他にもウォーキングも楽しめました。あちこちに花が咲き始め、緑の息吹が見え始めた山々は本当に素晴らしい、の一言に尽きます。
It seemed that it had been unusually warm so that we could also enjoy walking in the mountain. New leaves and wild flowers were just beginning to come out there, which was just breathtaking.
After long driving, we finally arrived Val d'Isere, 1850m above sea level, where is a part of the huge ski resort Espace Killy in the French Alps. I was amazed at the scale and the beautiful mountain ranges even though I'm used to snow in my hometown, Hokkaido, Japan.
4月の終わりだったのですが、山麓の町に着いた時、気温26度。雪、もうないのでは?と心配しましたが、そこはやはり高い山。標高3000mまで上ると十分スキーを楽しめました。真冬には-40度にもなるらしいですが、滞在中、ほぼ連日太陽が照りつけ、暖かい毎日。高度が低いスロープは雪不足で閉まっていましたが、(下の写真は山の上まで一気に1000mほど駆けあがってくれるスキートレイン。その日の気温14度!)、それでも1日で全コース回るのは不可能なスケールの大きさでした。この壮大なアスプスの山で寒さに凍えることなく、スキー三昧。夢ですね。これは。
It was the end of April. When we got to the bottom of the mountain, the temperature was 26 degrees Celsius. I wondered whether there were enough snow to ski, but just like high mountains, we could still enjoy skiing at high places, like 3000m. It was sunny and warm day after day during our stay, while in mid winter the temperature drops down to -40 degrees. Some low slopes were closed because of shortage of snow, but there were still so many places impossible to ski all in a day. Skiing in the grand Alps without being frozen. It was like a dream for me. (The photo on the right was the train which takes skiers up to the mountain about 1000m higher. The thermometer read 14 degrees on that day!!)
例年にない暖かさだったようで、スキーの他にもウォーキングも楽しめました。あちこちに花が咲き始め、緑の息吹が見え始めた山々は本当に素晴らしい、の一言に尽きます。
It seemed that it had been unusually warm so that we could also enjoy walking in the mountain. New leaves and wild flowers were just beginning to come out there, which was just breathtaking.
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