The seeds of Feverfew

Yesterday, I cooked the fermented seafoods "Shiokara" at home. I added Japanese sake and salt.



My friend sent me seeds of vegetables and flowers.



For example,Rhubarb , Feverfew,Chives etc.

I really thank her! I will plant seeds on the weekend. I found sprouts of carrots and rocket. - Carrot - rocket

Japanese fermented seafoods "Shiokara"

It was so cold on Sat because it snowed in Tokyo. The price of spring's vegetables are more expensive...
For example, cabbage.

The price is double price in now.

Maybe, it is difficult to buy vegetables for a really reasonable price this year.

My vegetables in the balcony are fine.

I am so happy while watering to plants. These are lettuce.



- Turnip



- basil



I bought fresh squid in the supermarket.
Then I cut it and I ate sashimi of squid at home.
It was so delicious!



The green vegetables were parsely and garland chrysanthemum.
I had harvested them before cooking.

After dinner, I scooped out squid guts in order to make salted fish guts ”shiokara”.
I will eat salted fish guts of squid tonight!!!

My trip of Spain #10 La Mancha

I went to La Mancha in the bus from Madrid. At first, I arrived at the famous place of Man of La Mancha "Consuegra". There are beautiful Windmills in the top of hill. The landscape was so wonderful!!! I could see around this town of Consuegra. This is a cheese of La Mancha "queso manchego".

I ate this cheese!!! I would like to buy it in Japan!!!!

My trip of Spain #9 The museum of ham in Madrid

I went to the restaurant "museo de jamon" where is close to the center place "Puerta del Sol".


This restaurant is so famous as ham's shop and bar.So it is called "the museum of ham" in Spain.
When I entered this bar, many people enjoyed having a lunch! I ate ham or cheese in the bar. Of course, I drank some wine too!

Especially, hams and Spanish omelet ”tortilla española" were so delicious!!!

My trip of Spain #8 Puerta del Sol

I went to the center of Madrid "Puerta del Sol".



There are many shops or restaurants around this place.
Of course, many people wait for other or took a rest in this place.

By the way, I bought some Spanish foods during traveling in Spain.
For example, Olive oil, oil sardine, herbs.





Their prices are lower than Japanese one.
I would like to go to Spain in order to buy many Spainish foods.
hahaha

My trip of Spain #7 Church

After watching pictures in the museum, I went to the church "San Jeronimo el Real".



I wanted to take photos. However, I gave up to take photos because I felt a serious atmosphere.There are rare exhibitions in the church. If I didn't know this church before going to Madrid, I couldn't find it. I was so satisfied!!! Then I went to the museum "Museo_del_Prado".This museum is close to the church. The museum has many famous Spanish pictures.

For example, La maja desnuda by Francisco de Goya,Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez.



I couldn't take photo in the museum. I was so enjoyed!!!

I like to watch classic buildings. When I walked around Madrid, I found a cute clock of dolls.



Many people enjoyed listening to music and watching it!

Spring

A few days ago, I found some sprouts of vegetables in my balcony!

These are sprout!
- turnip



- basil



- carrot



- rocket



This is a flower of Asupara na.

My trip of Spain #6 Large upright elephant

I found an interesting statue on the way to the museum "Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia".

This is an elephant statue!!!



By the way, I went to the museum "Museo del Prado".

This is a museum "Museo del Prado". It is close to the museum "Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia".



I watched famous pictures in there.

For example,

- Las Meninas

- The Surrender of Breda

Unfortunately, I couldn't take photos in the museum.

We are photography is prohibited in the museum.

So please look at links if you want to watch them.

Then I went to other place. On the way to the museum, I found the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid. I couldn't go to there at this time. If I go to Madrid again, I will go to there.

My trip of Spain #5 Guernica.

I like to go to museums. Of course, I went to a museum of Madrid.

At first, I went to the museumMuseo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.



There are many famous modern arts in this museum. For example,Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí,Joan Miró.

This is a picture "Woman in blue"of Picasso.

This is one of my favorite pictures.



This is Salvador Dali's picture.



It was a first time to see his picture "The Persistence of Memory" when I was a junior high school.

The main purpose was to see most famous picture "Guernica"of this museum for me.


When I saw his picture, I felt Picasso's angry and sorrow. I had read the book about Spanish Civil War. It was so terrible. I can't express my feeling when I watched it in Spain. However, I was so happy to watch wonderful pictures in the museum.

My trip of Spain #4 The Plaza de Mayor

After listening to a music in the Puerta del Sol, I went to The Plaza de Mayor by foot.



A few years ago, I watched a TV program about this place.

In the past, Spanish kings or queens had watched festivals etc in this place. Even now, people are living in classic buildings around this place. There are many restaurants around this place. I drank a cup of coffee in this place because I felt tired.

After taking a rest, I went to Spanish department "El Corte Ingles".

I watched Spanish foods(vegetables, meats, fishes) in the grocery department! There are so fresh and big vegetables and fruits, many fishes. Of course, there are many famous ham of Spanish food! I often go to supermarkets while traveling in foreign countries. Because I can understand their usual days more!!! I could watch rare Spanish foods in there.When I watch them, I thought I wanted to live in Spain!!! Because there is a variety of foods in Spain and they created rich dietary culture for a long time.

My trip of Spain #3 Royal Palace of Madrid

I went to Royal Palace of Madrid.



It was so huge and gorgeous!!! There are 2700 rooms in there!!! I was so suprised!!!!

It was built by King Philip V in the 17th century.
It was so gorgeous!!!

There are huge beautiful gardens and a museum in there.

I was so suprised!!!

There are many street performers around it.

I really enjoyed their performers!!! Then I went to The Puerta del Sol.



I met other musician and listened to their songs!!! Many people enjoyed their songs and they gave them hands.

My trip of Spain #2 Don Quixote

Now, I am in Tokyo. But I really miss Spain. So I decided to go to Spain again. By the way, I will write about my trip of Spain. After having a breakfast, I went to Spain Square"Plaza de España".



This is a stone sculpture of Miguel de Cervantes.He wrote the book "Don Quixote".



This is a bronze sculptures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.



I don't read his book ""Don Quixote"". So I will read it soon.

Coming back to Japan

Yesterday, I came back to Spain. Now, I am so tried. But I could enjoy my trip. I will write about my trip later.

My trip is starting!

Today, I will go to travel to Spain. This morning, I waked up at 7 am. Then I eat a breakfast. I will leave my apartment at 9 am to get on the express Train to Narita. I will write about my trip of Spain after coming back.

Departure to Spain

Finally, I'll go to Spain tomorrow.

Yes, I am so excited!!!

I will try to enjoy Spanish culture. I will write about my trip of Spain after coming back to Japan.

My suitcase

Yesterday, I harvested many vegetables.

Then I planted seeds of Turnip.



Turnip is popular in Japan.
For example, we eat pickled Turnip or salad etc.

In Japan, there are many pickles "Tsukemono". "Tsukemono" is traditional Japanese food. Last year, I wanted to grow it.
But I couldn't grow Turnip in my balcony because my balcony was full by other vegetables.
So I want to plant seeds of Turnip this year.
Of course, I will plant seeds of Turnip in this fall.

If I come back to Japan from Spain, I might watch sprout of Turnip in my balcony.

By the way, I didn't prepare to pack my suitcase yet.

I will do that tonight.

If it is possible, I want to buy seeds of Spanish vegetables or flowers.
By the way, camomile of my balcony is good! After blooming flowers of camomile, I will try to get seeds in order to increase plants!

World Cup

Yesterday,I had read about the news about the World cup soccer's ceremony of South Africa.

I am looking forward to starting games since the last ”the World cup soccer”. Of course, I will try to watch all of games if it is possible.
I can't wait to watch games since June!!!

Unfortunately, Japanese team isn't good.

However, I like to nice games. So I hope that I'll watch wonderful games.

Japanese Girl's Day Party

Today is Japanese Girl's Day Party "Hinamatsuri".



March 3rd is Hina Matsuri, or the Doll Festival in Japan.

In the Heian Period over 1,000 years ago, people used to float dolls down the river. They believed the dolls would carry their impurities away. This custom started in the Imperial court and spread to commoners around the Edo Period. It eventually became a festival celebrated nationwide.

Though the festival was originally for both boys and girls, it is now just for girls. In celebration of the festival, families display elaborate dolls of the emperor and empress, and attendants. It is believed that the dolls help ward off bad luck.

Many dolls were added to the original emperor and empress dolls and became more elaborate. People also make offerings of white sake and hina arare.

Many people celebrate the festival. They eat vinegared rice with thin strips of egg, pieces of raw fish, vegetables and crab meat arranged on top. It is called "Chirashizushi" in Japan.



Of course, I will eat "Chirashizushi"!!!

Kyoto Vegetables

A few days ago, I started to harvest winter's vegetables in my balcony.

This is a radish.


In addition, I harvested all of Japanese vegetable "Mizuna" and I ate a salad of Mizuna and Nattou.



Yesterday, I went to the garden center and I bought seeds of carrot. I will plant seeds of carrots after the trip of Spain. Although I want to plant seeds at once. But I have to wait to plant seeds... According to this, we eat often western carrots in Japan. In the past, oriental carrots were popular in Japan. Now, it isn't popular. Do you know about Kyoto Vegetables? I don't see Kyoto's carrot yet. you can see on this.