Sanae's Photo Blog

Autumn promenade

Sanaestockholm — 2009-11-15T13:18:16+09:00

The weather in Geneva in Autumn and in Winter is not agreeable.
The sky is gray, it rains much and it is dark...

The beautiful autumn colored leaves are crying in the rain.
They have already started falling.

One day in last week, when the sun broke through the clouds,
I went out to my favourite park beside the Lac Leman, Mon Repos, with my camera.

In Europe the yellow is dominating the autum color.
There are very few red colored leaves.

I continued into the Botanical Garden, but didn't stay there long,
because it was near the closing time.

I walked back home alongside the lake.

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Menton

Sanaestockholm — 2009-10-17T14:29:45+09:00

Menton is situated on the border of Italy.
The city has an air of Italy or Greece, rather than France.

Promenade du Soleil.

The "Bastion" (fort) standing on the shore is the Jean Cocteau Museum.

Town Hall.

In the town hall, there is a "Wedding room" decorated by Jean Cocteau.

We strolled in the old town.

Amazing views from the "Vieux Château" cemetry at the top of the hill.

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Nyon

Sanaestockholm — 2009-10-09T06:57:14+09:00

After watching the "Désalpe" in St-Cergue, we returned to Nyon,
where we spent whole afternoon.

In Nyon it was the day of "Fête d'automne" (the Autumn festival).
There were Autumn markets, music and many stands for food.

Look, these colorful cauliflowers!
Green, violet, yellow...

...and many kinds of mashrooms.

Passing through this lively Autumn market, we arrived at the Nyon Castle.

We had lunch in the cave of the catsle.

After lunch, we visited the Roman Museum,
(Nyon was actually founded by Romans during Julius Cesar's lifetime, about 45 BC.)
then we strolled through the park and alongshore the Lac Leman.

Through the lakeside quarter, we came back to the castle.

Nyon was a tranquil and pleasant beautiful town, which we will surely visit again.

　

Désalpe in St-Cergue

Sanaestockholm — 2009-10-04T13:56:33+09:00

We went to Saint-Cergue, a small village in the Jura, to see "Désalpe".

After spending the summer in the mountain pastures, the cows come down to the plains.
They parade through the village with men and boys in traditional costumes.

At nine in the morning, the village is already filled with visitors.

There were many stands selling local products like wine, cheese and handicrafts.
Alphorn and folklore music raised the atmosphere of the festival.

Sevral kinds of cows were exhibited.
The calves were so cute.

Beautiful cowbells.

"Désalpe" is starting!

Here you can also feel the atmosphere of the "Désalpe".

Saint Bernards were also parading.

Here you can see and listen to the Alphorn.

Just before leaving, I found a stand selling roasted chestnuts.
They are my first roasted chestnuts of the season!

　

Roquebrune Cap Martin

Sanaestockholm — 2009-09-25T15:27:09+09:00

We continued to drive to Roquebrune Cap Martin.

On the top of the hill there is an old château.

To the château, you go up through the narrow slopes and steps in the medieval village.
Here were few tourists and it was very tranquil.

This château is very small and there is not much to see,
but the view from here is splendid and amazing!

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La Turbie

Sanaestockholm — 2009-09-18T13:27:18+09:00

Last week my husband and I went to Côte d'Azur.

In Côte d'Azur there are many small villages called "Nid d'aigle (Eagle's nest)".
La Turbie is one of them, and situated at about 500m altitude.

You can see the beautiful view over Monaco.

We strolled in the tranquil old town.

There is a Roman monument "Trophée des Alpes".
Unfortunately it was closed, so we couldn't enter.

　

Annecy

Sanaestockholm — 2009-08-31T13:42:58+09:00

Annecy is a capital city of Haute-Savoie in France and
it is situated about 50km south of Geneva.

より大きな地図で Annecy を表示

First, we strolled in the old town, alongside of the canal.

We had late lunch at a restaurant beside the canal.
My husband ate "les moules marinières" and I tried "tartiflette".

"Tartiflette" is a regional dish from Savoie
with potatoes, bacon, onion and Reblochon cheese.

After lunch, we walked up to Château d'Annecy, which is now a museum.

We didn't go inside of the castle, but continued to the lake Annecy.

The Lake of Annecy was born 18,000 years ago from glacial melting.
It is very clear and beautiful lake.

　

Glacier3000

Sanaestockholm — 2009-08-25T14:48:18+09:00

It was the record heat in Geneva last week.
We wanted to go to somewhere cool, and we chose...

Glacier3000

It sounds cool, right?

より大きな地図で Glacier3000 を表示

It takes about 1 hour 40 minutes by car from Geneva to Col du Pillon.
From there two cable cars takes you the top of Scex Rouge (2971m).
A return ticket of the cable cars costs CHF58.

From the observatory you have a 360°panoramic view!!

After lunch, we tried the Alpine coaster (CHF6),
which is on the world's highest bobsleigh track.

It was fun, but not so exciting as I expected...

After that, we hiked on the glacier.

There are some crevasses, so you should keep in the ski run.

We walked around some two hours.

But if you don't want to walk on ice or if you don't have proper shoes,
you can take a snow bus.

There were only ice and rock and there was absolutely no green over there,
but still I found some lovely small flowers.
Amazing!

We got tired but it was agreeable hiking up there.

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Aiguille du Midi

Sanaestockholm — 2009-08-18T14:34:39+09:00

It has been very hot in Geneva last several days.
Last Saturday we went up to a height of 3800m to cool down.

It takes about one hour by car from Geneva to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, a famous ski resort.
From Chamonix a cable car takes you to the top of the Aiguille du Midi via Plan de l'Aiguillein just 20 minutes (40 euros).

When you arrive the top, you can see the summit of the Mont Blanc just in front of you!!
Amazing!

We took the lift to the summit terrace at 3842m (3 euros)

From the terrace, you can see a spledid view over Mont Blanc, Aiguilles de Cyhamonix, Grandes Jorasses, and even the Matterhorn.

...and many alpinists!!

On the way down, we took a short hiking around the Plan de l'Aiguille (2317m).

and looked up the top of the Aiguille du Midi.

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Grottes de Vallorbe

Sanaestockholm — 2009-08-12T15:13:47+09:00

After Romainmotier, we continued our drive to Vallorbe.
There we visited the "Grottes de Vallorbe", the caves with stalactites and stalagmites.

The water in the caves is so clear!

The stalactites and the stalagmites.
The power of nature is amazing.

In the caves, the temperature was around 10℃.
After 45 minites walk, we were freezing.

Outside the caves are the source of the River Orbe.
The sight or this stream reminded me of Japan.

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Drive to Jura

Sanaestockholm — 2009-08-07T12:42:05+09:00

We went for a drive to Jura.

より大きな地図で Vallee de Joux を表示

From a pass on the way to the Vallée de Joux, we could see Lac Leman and Mont Blanc.

The end of the lake, you can even see Geneva.
Do you see Jet d'Eau, a symbol of Geneva??

Lake Joux, a very beautiful blue lake.

We went to Romainmôtier, a small medieval village.

Many tourists visit this small village to see the "Eglise Abbatiale de Romainmotier".
It is said that this is one of the most beautiful Romanesque buildings in Switzerland.

We took a rest with tea and cakes at the next tearoom to the church.

Our drive to be continued...

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Yvoire

Sanaestockholm — 2009-07-31T14:49:34+09:00

We went to Yvoire, a little medieval village in France.
It is situated on the shore of the lake Leman, about 20km from Geneva,
and it is one of the most beautiful village in France.

First of all, we had a very nice lunch at the restaurant "Le pré de la Cure".

After lunch, we went inside the medievl walls and strolled in this beautiful village full of flowers.

Then we visited "The Garden of the Five Senses",
taste, smell, touch, sight(color) and hearing(birds).

There were flowers smell like pineapple, lemon or apple,
or even like chocolate or curry!!

In the garden of "touch", you can touch the plant and feel it.

It was very tranquil, pleasant and interesting garden.

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To Italy 2

Sanaestockholm — 2009-07-22T13:42:11+09:00

From Courmayeur we continued driving to Aosta,
which is situated about 40km east of Courmayeur.

As Aosta is called "Rome of the Alps",
there are many ancient Roman remains in the town.

The Roman theatre.

The medieval cathedral.

Foro Romano (The Roman Forum) beside the cathedral.

As a souvenir, I bought a bottle of limoncello and a packet of dried porcini.

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To Italy

Sanaestockholm — 2009-07-18T12:33:07+09:00

Last Sunday, we went to Italy by car.

There were some glaciers near the Mont-Blanc tunnel.

It was the first time for us to drive through the Mont-Blanc tunnel.
The toll was quite expensive (41.40 euros)!!

The tunnel was surprisingly narrow.
The speed limit in the tunnel is 70 km/h.
You should keep at the minimum 150m of distance from the car ahead,
and you can control it with the blue lights attached the walls.

After the tunnel, it is Italy.

At first we went to Courmayeur, which is situated at the foot of the Mont-Blanc.

We ate lunch at the restaurant "Cadran Solaire".

After lunch, we found that the street was very calm.
All shops were closed.

Yes, siesta!!

Of course, it's Italy!

The stores would be open again at 3 o'clock,
but we decided to continue to next town.

To be continued...

　

Flowers

Sanaestockholm — 2009-06-30T13:56:31+09:00

Just some photos of flowers in Japan.

　

Mimurotoji

Sanaestockholm — 2009-06-22T13:48:01+09:00

One month ago, we visited Mimurotoji-temple, which is famous for flowers like azaleas and hydrangeas.

But azaleas had already been over...

and hydrangeas buds were still hard...

Fresh green of maple was beautiful

In summer lotus flowers bloom (maybe in bloom now.)

Some rhododendrons are in bloom.

There was also a rock garden there.

I ate a green tea icecream parfait! So delicious

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Fukiya Furusato Mura

Sanaestockholm — 2009-06-18T13:50:28+09:00

After Tomonoura, we drove back to Okayama and visited Fukiya village,
there Bengara-colored houses from Edo-era are preserved.

You can go inside and look the fine architecture and the old furniture in some houses.

Hirokane-tei, which was a village headman's house, is an enormous mansion with long stone wall like castle.

Before leaving for home, we visited Bengara-kan museum, there you can see how to make Bengara.

　

Tomonoura

Sanaestockholm — 2009-06-13T15:14:30+09:00

The second night of our short trip to Okayama, we stayed in Tomonoura, a small fishermen's village situated on Setonaikai (Inland Sea of Japan).

The dinner we ate at the hotell restaurant was very beautiful and delicious.

The next morning, we walked around an old town area.

　

Kurashiki

Sanaestockholm — 2009-06-03T09:32:24+09:00

On the second day, we walked around Kurashiki's historic district.

There are many sotrehouses from Edo period alongside of the canal.

Monochrome and sepia suit this historic town.

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A trip to Bizen and Okayama

Sanaestockholm — 2009-05-30T05:52:47+09:00

I went to Okayama, Kurashiki and Tomonoura with my husband and my parents.

First we went to Shizutani gakko in Bizen.

More Photos (Shizutani gakko)

After that we visited Okayama Korakuen Garden.

More Photos (Korakuen garden)

We ate dinner at the restaurant "Hachikengura".

We ate French "Kaiseki" (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner) for a reasonable price.
Everything was very delicious!!

　