Atomium and Mini-Europe September 30, 2008

When talking about Brussels everyone says “See the Grand Place!” and of course I will because it just doesn’t make sense not to, and plus, how could you miss it?  It’s just… right there!  But if you take the metro north, there are sights I didn’t discover in the guide books.  Sights so fantastic that I feel they cannot be missed, and I am surprised that I have not heard more about them:  the Atomium and Mini-Europe.  Brilliant!

The Atomium is this atom-looking structure made of shiny see-through silver.  You can not only take pretty pictures of it as it lights up at night, but you can go in it!  It’s the Eiffel Tower of Brussels! (in fact, they were going to build an upside down Eiffel Tower, initially)  The Atomium was built in 1958 for the World’s Fair (aren’t all massive, decorative structures built for the World’s Fair?), and it was restored in 2004, so it is nice and shiny once again.  To top that off, THIS is the 50th anniversary!  I am expecting wild celebration around the Giant Atom as well as to have it lit up better than ever.  This is the year to see it.  And while I’m there, how could I miss Mini Europe?  It’s right next door.

Mini Europe is a “park”, and I picture a theme-park without rides, really, more than a city park-like setup.  It is a collection of miniatures of 350 of the most attractive and “representative” buildings in all of Europe, at a scale of 1:25.  How on earth, I ask, could someone miss this?  Not only is this a completely marvelous idea, and if you look at the pictures, the buildings are really detailed and neat looking, but it also would be massive savings on seeing all of Europe!  Not that this would happen, but just think: if you saw the buildings of Vienna, and they didn’t really strike your fancy, and you never reeeeally thought you wanted to see Vienna, anyway, then you can check it off your list.  Brilliant!  Certainly this is a device that would help with ranking cities you wanted to see.  Or take closeup photos of things as if you were there.  Fool your friends!  So many, clever uses!!

It may be snowing, or worse, raining while I am there, but rain or shine, I have big plans to witness these two, unsung world marvels.

Experience Tokyo! February 10, 2008

Sumo.  These guys eat a lot of rice.  They have public tournaments around the country multiple times each year.  Unfortunately there will be no tournaments while we are in the country (boooo!).

Kabuki.  This has become kind of a tourist thing, given that the locals don’t go out to Kabuki every weekend.  But it’s a type of traditional Japanese theater, a theater of the masses, rather than of the kings.  The plays are about history, morality, and love.  Men play women because women were outlawed long ago from performing in the theater.  There are performances in the Ginza district of Toky and they come with English-speaking headsets, to explain what is going on.

Harajuku.  Also the name of Gwen Stefani’s backup dancer group,  this is a place in Tokyo where people dress up like anime characters and the cutesy, all-too-modern, breaking-with-the-norm look that Japanese school-aged kids sometimes take on.  Much like the dog statue (waiting for its dead owner to return home for 15 years) elsewhere in town this seems like a popular meeting place for people to see and be seen.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government office building. On the 45th floor of this buildling (Tochomae subway stop) is a free observation deck with a better view than those you have to pay for, and on the 1st floor is a tourist information booth.

Pachinko.  This gambling game was “invented” by a ball baring company that had over-manufactured barings one year and didn’t know what to do with them.  Brilliant!

Tsukiji Fish Market.  This open air fish market is open every morning starting at something like 3am.  If you get there by 5 or 6, though, you’ll be fine.  It’s closed on Sundays and every other Wednesday (or so).  They have all kinds of fresh fish in their original form, including octopus.  I think this will be REALLY, REALLY fun.  And there are no doubt the most-fresh sushi places around right there at your fingertips.  According to National Geographic: “Tsukiji is a fish market in the sense that the Grand Canyon is a ditch…”  Niiiiiice.

And I haven’t even gotten to the temples, gardens, and shrines yet!

Sharp Diamond Mitties January 26, 2008

Here’s another mittie pattern for those long plane rides! It’s colorwork, so it’ll keep your mind and hands occupied. Be sure to travel with someone else so that they can hold your yarn. These mitties can be completed quickly so that when you arrive in Reykavik, you will be prepared!

Sharp Diamond Mitties Pattern – warm, winter colorwork!