Weekly Topics/Archive
October 2015 (1/3)
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I head to Narita Intl' Airport to board OS flight 52 (Boeing777) for Wien
with
my wife.
It's so inconvenient that it takes about 90 minutes from Yokohama Station
to Narita Station even by Narita Express.
Without the influence of the previous day's typhoon, it took off on time
at 11:30.
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| Austrian Airline fleight OS52 at Harita Airport (2015.09.11_11.14) |
This time, I fly in business class.
It's the first time for me to use it for personal trip.
Our seat number are 8-A and 8-B of the window seat.
As might be expected, their seats are spacious compared to them in economy
class.
Since there are Japanese fleight attendants on board, we don't have any
difficulties in doing something.
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| Business-class cabin of Austran Airline flight OS52 (2015.09.11_11:20) |
It is time for first meal service after two hours or so after takeoff.
First, hors d'oeuvres on wagon were served.
There are beer, champagne, Austrian white and red wine as the drink menu.
I selected one of 3 brands of red wine.
Two kinds of Western food and two kinds of Japanese food are available
as
the main dish.
I selected sukiyaki-style beef and my wife selected Vienna-style beef roll.
Last, some kinds of fruit and Sacher Torte (Vienna-style chocolate cake)
were
served on wagon.
I enjoyed them with a cup of coffee.
Since the service was amazing and left nothing to be desired, I got full
!
When I looed at the in-fleight map on the display in front of my seat,
it showed OS 52 is flying over Yakutsk in Russia.
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| Fleght data of OS 52 (2015.09.11_14:41) |
After a while, I turned my reclining seat horizontally to sleep.
It became a full-flat seat and so I could have a good sleep comfortably.
When I waked up, OS 52 was flying over around Sankt-Peterburg in Russia.
Looking down on the earth through the window, I could see many forests,
lakes and marshes.
[Note] Czeh Republic ； チェコ共和国，strolling in the city ； 街歩き
OS ；(略) Austrian Airline， window seat ； 窓側の席，takeoff ； 離陸,
hors d'oeuvre ；オ－ドブル
sukiyaki-style beef ；すき焼き風牛肉，Sacher Torte ；ザッハ－トルテ
leave nothing to be desired ；いたれりつくせりである (欲しいものは何もない)
Yakutsk ；(ロシアの地名)ヤク－ツク，fly over ～；～上空を飛ぶ
have a good sleep ； ぐっすり眠る，Sankt-Peterburg ； (ロシアの地名)サンクトペテルブルグ
look down on ～；～を見下ろす，marsh ； 沼地
It is time for second meal service before arriving at Wien Intl' Airport.
Refreshments, a variety of bread and coffee or tea are served after hors
d'oeuvres.
I selected traditional pasta with mushrooms from the menue of refreshments.
Reportedly, mushrooms are in season now in Austria.
At 15:23 Austria time, we arrived at Wien Int'l Airport about an hour
ahead of time.
The westerlies must have been weak.
I set my watch to Austria time here.
The immigration procedures are really simple in this country.
Without passport control, we are only asked simple questions about our
baggage by the inspector just before going to the arrival gate.
It seems that passengers of business-class above economy-class are given
priority for claiming their luggage at the baggage claim.
First we could claim our suitcases.
Since there was a young man who hold up a signboard of Hotel Kummer
at the arrival gate, we could immediately get a pick-up service from the
hotel.
We got to the hotel in Wien after about 30-minute ride by the use of the
expressway.
[Note] refreshments ；軽食，traditional pasta with mushrooms ;マッシュル－ムのグラタン
reportedly ；聞くところによると，伝えられるところによれば，in season ；(食物が)旬で
_hours ahead of time ； 定刻より_時間前に，westerlies ；偏西風
immigration procedures ；入国手続き
claim one's luggage ；(空港などで)自分の手荷物を受け取る
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| Our arrival at Hotel Kummer (2015.09.11_16:45) |
Hotel Kummer is an inviting hotel with both classic and modern atomosphere.
It's surprising that a chandelier was suspended from a ceiling in the room.
It's the same everywhere in Europe that the toilet has not been equiped
with
washlet functions, so we have a bit of trouble.
After we took a short break, we strolled along Mariahilfer Straße with
City
Map we got at the front disk.
It seems that Straße means “Street” in German.
[Note] inviting ；感じの良い，It's surprising that ～；(that以下～)は驚きだ
chandelier ；シャンデリア，suspend ；つるす，ぶらさがる
be equipped with ～；～を備えている
have a bit of trouble ；少し困る，Mariahilfer Straße ；マリアヒルファ通り(in Wien)
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 ホテル クメール(Hotel Kummer in Wien)  マリアヒルファ通り(Mariahilfer Straße) |
This place is located in new town a little distant from old town.
The street is lined on both sides with cafes, restaurants and other shops.
It looked like a busy shopping street.
As you see from the picure below, many people are enjoying each other's
company around the seats on the terrace in front of cafes or restaurants.
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| People enjoying each other's company arround the seats on the terrace (2015.09.11_17:31) |
My wife's mobile-phone rang.
From the contents of the conversations, it looks like a call from my daughter
in Bangkok.
It seems like my grandbaby Hannah-chan had a high fever.
According to my daughter, the doctor told her that Hannah-chan needs to
have a detailed examination, and prohibited Hannah-chan from flying within
3 days at least.
So, we were forced to change our original plan.
We decided to extend our stay in Wien for 3 days and join Wagner's family
on
Sept. 15.
We hastily asked her to book a hotel room.
We decided to change the original plan without changing the following
hotel
in the itinerary.
In conclusion, I am going to enjoy sightseeing in Wien alone with my wife
during Sept. 12 to Sept. 15.
Date of Mozart concert to which Gerry has invited us as a present was
rescheduled for tomorrow ahead of schdule.
In addition, his sister living in Wien will come to pick us up to the hotel
in the
evening to escort us to the concert hall, I heard.
Really now? We will meet her for the first time without Gerry.
I heard she is an English teacher
It comforted me to think that we can comunicate with her in English.
At any rate, our top priority right now is to pay attention to Hannah's
medical condition.
We went to a restaurant near the hotel to have a light dinner.
I shared spaghetti with my wife while drinking a glass of local beer.
After showering at the hotel room, I made a rough plan for tomorrow's
walking around town in Wien.
I might have been tired with lack of sleep.
I went to bed earlier than usual.
[Note] be lined with ～ ；～が並んでいる， seats on the terrace ；テラス席
enjoy each other's company ； 団欒する，和気あいあいと楽しむ
grandbaby ；（まだヘイビ－の)孫, have a high fever ；高熱を出す
prohibit someone from doing ～； 人に～するのを禁止する，in conclusion ； 結論として
alone with ～ ； ～(人)と二人だけで，
change A to B / reschedule A for B ； 日程をAからBに変更する，ahead of scedule ；前倒しで
Really now? ； へえ，まさか,
It comforts someone to think that ～； [that以下］だと思うと人の気分が慰められる(安心する)
communicate in English ；英語でコミュニケ－ションを取る，
at any rate ；いずれにしろ，とにかく
one's top priority right now is to ～ ； 今一番の優先事項は～することだ
medical condition ； 病状
Japanese Diary / No.703－2015.10.07 /
「オ－ストリア，ドイツ，チェコ旅行/第1 日目 (2015.09.11)」
On Sept. 29, I returned safely from my travels for 19 days to Austria and
some other countries.
This time, Wagner Family living in Bangkok just went back to their hometown
in Austria with a 11-month-old baby.
My and my wife's main purpose was to make a courtesy visit to his parents
taking advantage of the oppotunity.
[Note] -month-old ； 生後-ケ月の， make a courtesy visit to ～；～を表敬訪問する
take advantage of ～；～に便乗する，～を利用する
At any rate, my daughter Hiromi and Gerhard Wagner (who is nicknamed “Gerry”)got
acquainted and then got married in Bangkok of Thailand, where
is a foreign country for both of them.
But they haven't had such a wedding as we meet members of his family
face-to-face.
So, we decided to visit Wagner's Family in Austria.
And on the sidelines of this visit, we went to sightseeing in not only Austria
but also its neighboring Germany and Czech Republic.
[Note] get acquainted ；知り合いになる， meet someone face-to-face ；(人と)直接会う
on the sidelines of ～；～のついでに，～に合わせて, Czech Republic ；チェコ(共和国)
We got off to a rocky start from the 1-st day of the travels.
We are going to meet Gerry's Family coming from Bangkok at the hotel in
Wien and visit his hometown that his parents are living in with rental
car
after having an overnight stay.
My wife received a mobile-phone call from my daughter when our strolling
about the streets after arriving at the hotel.
She told my wife that she went to see her doctor because her daughter
Hannah-chan had a high fever the night before the departure and the docter
advised her that Hannah-chan should not travel by air for at least 3 days
and so she decided to put the departure off for three days.
We need to take extra precautions against baby's fever.
[Note] get off to a rocky start ；困難な(波乱の)スタ－トを切る
stroll about the streets ; ブラブラ街歩きする，put ～off for _ days ; ～を_日間延期する
take extra precautions against ～；～に対して大事を取る(いつも以上に用心する)
Because of such unexpected happening, we were forced to stay in Wien for
more two nights though we were going to stay here for only two nights.
We hastily got her to book a hotel online to tide over this crisis.
This happening forced us to reconsider the original plan not to influence
the
following trips.
We heard that Hannah's fever was a temporary one which has when she begin
to cut her teeth.
We were able to meet them safely because her fever went down.
[Note] be forced to ～；～せざるを得ない，～することを余儀なくされる
tide over this crisis ; 急場を凌ぐ, reconsider a plan ; 計画を見直す
cut one's teeth ；(主語に)歯が生える，fever goes down ；(病人の)熱が下がる
The second happening.
We were going to make a overnight trip to Munich in Germany after staying
four nights at Wagner's place.
The thing I feared before I depart from Japan has happened.
That's the Syrian refugee crisis.
These days Hungary, Austria and Germany were in the peak season for
refugee movement that several thousand refugees head down to Munich in
Germany and away from Syria every day.
It was more serious situation than I have heard in the news in Japan and
even the local media reported daily about it as “REFUGEE CRISIS” on TV.
[Note] fear ; 危惧する，Syrian refugee crisis ; シリア難民危機
peak season for ～；～の最盛期，refugee movement ；難民移動
head down to ～and away from _ ；_を離れて～へ向かう
According to TV news, it is said that ÖBB will halt train service for
Munich
on the very day that we travel from Austria to Munich in Germany.
We examined travelling by car.
However, Gerry got information that the Autobahn from Austria toward
Munich is congested due to severe inspection at the checkpoint near the
border between Austria and Germany.
And so, we were forced to stop travelling to Munich to avoid the risk to our
following trip schedule.
For this reason, not only couldn't we go sightseeing in Munich, but also
pre-paid hotel charges will be refunded.
We just suffered wrongs and contumelies.
[Note] on the very day that ～； (that以下)～のまさにその日に, ÖBB ； オ－ストリア国鉄
halt train service ；列車の運行を止める，Autobahn ；オ－ストリア・ドイツ間の高速道路
be congested ；混雑(渋滞)している，inspection ；検査，検問, checkpoint ；検問所
suffer wrongs and contumelies；踏んだり蹴ったりの目に逢う(contumely ；無礼,侮辱)
pre-paid ；前払いの, refund ；返金する
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St.Vitus Cathedral within
Prague Castle |
The third happening.
It has happened when we enjoyed town strolling in
Prague, Czech Republic.
First, we visited St.Vitus Cathedral within Prague
Castle which is registered as a World Heritage Site.
Anyway, there were crowds of tourists within both the
castle and the cathedral.
I walked through the cathedral while taking a lot of
photograph.
I got separated from my wife in the process.
She might have done that from me.
Though I went out of it, I couldn't see sight of her.
I wandered around looking for her, but coudn't catch sight of her.
So both she and I have to stroll around town alone.
[Note] town strolling ；街歩き，Czech Republic ；チェコ共和国, Prague Castle ；プラハ城
crowds of ～；～の群れ，たくさんの～，get separated from ～ ；～とはぐれる
in the process ；その過程で，いつのまにか，can't see sight of one ；人の姿が見当たらない
wander around looking for ～ ；～を探しまわる，catch sight of one ；人の姿を見つける
The trouble is about currency.
This country is a member of the Europpean Union, but don't introduce the
Euro.
The currency is Czech Koruna.
On the previous day, we exchanged Euro for Czech Koruna at foreign money
exchange as funds necessary for our immediate expenses.
But they are in my wife's wallet.
I have only some Euro.
No one can take the tramcar here without Czech Koruna.
And so I have to walk home in the worst case.
In addition, I can't take a lunch break and drink a glass of beer for the
break
and also use a pay toilet.
It's such a terrible thing that has happened.
I have to find the exchange counter, but I'm very worried about whether it's
open or not on Saturday.
When I was strolling around the old town, I luckily found it.
I felt relieved because it was open.
[Note] currency ；通貨，European Union ；欧州連合，Czech Koruna ；チェコ・コルナ
exchange A for B ；AをBに両替する, foreign money exchange ；外貨両替所
immediate expenses ；差し当たっての支出，fund ；資金, pay toilet ；有料トイレ
It's such a terrible thing that has happened. ；大変な(ひどい)ことになりました
exchange counter ；両替所, feel relieved ；ホッとする, ホッと胸をなでおろす
However, I had another problem.
My digital camera raises an alarm that the battery charge remaining decreases.
A spare battery is also in my wife's bag.
I have just got started on strolling about the streets in prague.
I decided to make an energy-saving effort without taking unnecessary pictures while worrying about the battery charge remaining.
I think happenings are avoidable in travel, especially in overseas one.
Is that correct?
It's the first time that we travel to a German-speaking country.
We enjoyed a incident-filled travel while overcoming the language barrier.
[Note] raise an alarm ；アラ－ム(警告，警報)を出す
battery charge remaining ；バッテリ－残量
get started on ～；～を始める，energy-saving effort ；省エネ努力
worry about～；～を心配(気に)する, be avoidable in～；～に避けられない，～につきものだ
German-speaking country ；ドイツ語圏，incident-filled travel ；珍道中
overcome the language barrier ；言葉の壁を越える
We met gerry's sister, Risa who now works as an English teacher in Wien
without him for the first time.
I was very surprized to be put her arm tightly around my shoulder immediately
after a greeting.
I'm glad to know this is the so called “hug”.
We had a dinner together and enjoyed it friendly.
It's because both we and she may have recognized each other that both
families have affinal ties.
After that, she conducted us to the “Great Hall” (Großer Saal) of Die Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien.
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| With Risa at dinner (2015.09.12_19:43) |
Motzart Concert at the Great Hall
(2015.09.12_21:46) |
We had a breakfast with Gerry's brother at the hotel restaurant during our
stay in Wien .
He now works as a psychiatrist.
He can speak English, and so I was able to make conversation with him even
in very poor English.
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At the hotel restaurant in Wien
(2015.09.16_08:12) |
Hannah-chan who began to walk
(2015.09.16_14:10)) |
[Note] put one's arm tightly around someone's shoulder ；片方の手で人の肩を抱きしめる
immediately ；すぐに.have affinal ties ；姻戚関係にある, Great Hall (Großer Saal) ；大ホ－ル
Die Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien ；ウィ－ン楽友会, psychiatrist ；精神科医
We visited Gerry's parents and stayed at their house during four days.
We were impressed by their hospitality during our stay.
We were taken on a day trip to Hallstatt, a World Heritage site and a hiking
on the bank of the beautiful blue Danube, and were treated to good things
every day.
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| The barbecue party on the terrace at Wagner's house (2015.09.16) |
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Commemorative photo in Hallstatt, a World
Heritage site (2015.09.07_10:30) |
A view of Danube in Passau,Germany
(2015.09.24_14:18) |
So, though there were some happening, we had a pleasant and fulfilling
trip.
I'm going to write my travel report bit by bit while I edit and organize a lot of
photos taken.
[Note] be impressed by ～；～に感激する，hospitality ；歓待, the Danube ；ドナウ川
take someone on a trip to ～；人を～への旅行に連れて行く
be treated to good things ；美味しいものをご馳走になる, fulfilling ；充実した
edit and organize photos ；写真の編集・整理を行う, bit by bit ；少しずつ，ぼちぼち
Japanese Diary / No.702－2015.10.05 /
「オ－ストリア・ドイツ・チェコ旅行から帰ってきました」
 TOPペ－ジへ戻る
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