[July 2012] The custom to put a lock on a railing along the river and through the key away into the river to declare your eternal love started from an Italian film. I found the…

[July 2012] Although the schedule was tight in this short trip to Madrid, I thought I ought to see Plaza Mayor and took a taxi there. Long time ago, I remember having a light lunch…

[July 2012] There was a shop I was planning to go in Madrid called Sybilla, a Spanish fashion designer. There are quite many shops in Japan and I like her design with very original feeling….

[July 2012] In Madrid, we looked for a restaurant called Casa Labra listed in my guidebook. The main space here was the tapas bar and full of local people, but a small restaurant behind, with only…

[July 2012] Puerta del Sol is a popular meeting place in Madrid. Since 16th century it always has been full of people apparently. One old man kept dancing to the music by this band in…

[July 2012] The metro in Madrid was modern compared with ones in London, Milan or Paris.The trains themselves looked relatively new and there are no graffiti like Milan trains and felt brighter than the ones…

[July 2012] The trip to Madrid this time was very short, but the hotel we stayed called Hotel Atlantico was very good. It is located in Gran Via, one of the main streets in the…

[July 2012] In Rocca Borromeo, a castle in Angera in Italy, there is a toy/doll museum.Apparently it is one of the most important museums in Europe to see the evolution of materials, techniques and connections…

[July 2012] In Angera, the town on the Lake Mggiore in Italy, there is a magnificent castle called Rocca Borromeo.It was founded in 13th century  and it is a rare example of a medieval fortified building…