Cardiff in Wales: Aug 30, 2026

 

 

I visited Cardiff, the capital of Wales, for the first time. Wales is one of the four nations that compose the United Kingdom, with a population of three million. Historically, it was annexed by England in the 16th century. While it once thrived on coal mining and heavy industry, it is now focusing on fostering new industries, such as the environment-related sectors.

 

Both English and Welsh are official languages ​​in Wales. Information at train stations and public facilities is displayed in both languages. Bilingual signage was also seen in shopping districts.　（See also the 3rd photo)

 

Cardiff Castle is a major landmark of the city. Originally built during the Roman era, it was further developed following the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

There stands the main tower, known as the “Keep,” at the center of the castle．It has a history of more than one thousand years.　（See also the top photo)

 

From the top of the tower, one can view the cityscape of Cardiff.

A statue of the Red Dragon — a symbol of Wales — is installed within the castle grounds.　（See the 2nd photo)

 

The castle walls are visible from the city's shopping districts.

 

The city center retains shopping areas that developed during the Victorian era. The arcades connecting these shopping streets are famous.

 

In recent years, a large-scale shopping center has been developed, drawing many crowds.

 

Cultural and leisure facilities are concentrated along the waterfront, located about two kilometers to the south.

 

The Welsh Parliament is also located in this district. While the Labour Party had long been strong in Wales, the right-wing populist party Reform UK achieved a landslide victory in the May 2026 local elections, sending shockwaves through the UK. Factors cited behind this shift include high inflation, social inequality, a sense of hopelessness among the youth, and the inaction of established political parties. The rise of right-wing populism is a recent trend in British politics, and attention is now focused on the future of Welsh politics as well.

While walking through Cardiff, I rarely saw the Union Jack. Almost all the flags on display were the Welsh flag.

Regional autonomy, bilingualism, populism, the development of commercial and cultural facilities, and economic trends -- I considered a wide range of topics in Cardiff.

London： Aug. 27-31, 2026

I visited London for the first time in a year. As with my previous visit, I noticed a large number of foreign tourists, urban redevelopment projects, and the growing use of bicycles. In my personal impression, however, the presence of beggars seemed more conspicuous than ever.

Urban redevelopment has been progressing across London for the past few years. I found many skyscrapers throughout the City. The famous "Gherkin" is now surrounded by many skyscrapers, making it difficult to see. The second photo from the top shows the scene of the City from near the Bank of England.

 

The area around Tottenham Court Road Underground station looked cleaner and smarter than before. I saw people enjoying the visuals in a public space featuring walls and ceilings covered in video screens. Renovation works were underway along Oxford Street.

 

Large-scale development was in progress in St. John's Wood, near Abbey Road. New restaurants were serving Chinese, Italian and other cuisines in Brick Lane, an eastern district with many Bangladeshi immigrants.

 

At the same time, beggars were a common sight in various busy areas. Reports indicate that the UK economy is experiencing high inflation (2.9% as of July 2026) and facing challenges such as widening inequality and lagging infrastructure development. The number of "NEETs" (young people not in education, employment, or training) aged 16–24 has surpassed one million, becoming a significant social issue. The street scenes seemed to reflect some of these challenges.

Use of bicycles has become even more widespread. People delivering food and other goods by bicycle were a common sight across the city.

 

Demonstrations and protests frequently take place in Parliament Square, Westminster. During visits in previous years, I had encountered rallies supporting Ukraine or Palestine. This year, however, I did not come across such activities. Instead, I saw a group protesting against the current Iranian regime in Trafalgar Square.

 

I visited several museums. The Imperial War Museum presented information on World War I and World War II in a well-organized manner. It offered valuable insights for considering contemporary warfare and security issues. However, the exhibition on post-World War II covered only events up to the Iraq War in the 2000s. It did not cover the war in Ukraine and a conflict involving Iran, or modern warfare involving AI and drones.

The Magna Carta was on display at the British Library. Sacred texts from religions around the world, such as the Bible and the Quran, were also exhibited.

 

At the British Museum, the displays of ancient Egyptian, including mummies, were even more understandable than the previous year. I enjoyed many master pieces of  painting at the National Gallery.

 

At the Natural History Museum, I enjoyed the standard dinosaur exhibits and other attractions.

 

 

Aachen： Aug. 24, 2026

 

I visited Aachen in western Germany. The city served as the base for Charlemagne (Karl der Große), a person who developed the foundations of Western Europe. Aachen Cathedral was the site where thirty German kings were crowned between the 10th and 16th centuries (many of whom became Holy Roman Emperors). The visit urged me to think about the history and present situation of Europe.

I visited Aachen on a day trip from Brussels. Located in the far west of Germany, the city borders both the Netherlands and Belgium. The national borders have changed repeatedly in the area throughout history.

Charlemagne was crowned King of the Franks in 768 and Roman Emperor in 800. He ruled over a vast area of ​​Western Europe — large parts of present-day France, Germany, and Italy — and is known as the "Father of Europe."

Construction of Aachen Cathedral began in 786 at Charlemagne's order. Over the subsequent millennium, the cathedral underwent numerous expansions and renovations. As a result, the building now has a unique fusion of architectural styles, including Carolingian (Pre-Romanesque), Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque. It is often referred to as a "patchwork cathedral."

The photo was taken from south. 

The photo was taken from western side of cathedral. (The top hopto was teken from north)

It is also renowned for its Byzantine-style mosaics (see the 3rd photo) and stained glass windows.

In 1978, the cathedral was registered as one of the first twelve World Heritage Sites.

There lies Charlemagne's golden shrine inside the cathedral. The shrine was made in 1215, 401 years after his death in Aachen in 814. However, the remains in the shrine is likely to be those of Charlemagne himself, according to scientific analysis. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

On the upper level stands the chair used for the coronation of German monarchs. Thirty kings and twelve queens were crowned there between 936 and 1531.

A treasury is located adjacent to the cathedral. Unfortunately, as I visited on Monday, I was closed.

 

The Town Hall stands facing the cathedral. Charlemagne's palace once stood here. A Christmas market is held in the square in front of the hall.

 

Monuments and sites associated with Charlemagne can be found throughout Europe. A statue of Charlemagne stands in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris (The photo was taken in May, 2024). The street in front of the European Commission in Brussels is named Boulevard Charlemagne. These landmarks serve as a reminder of the immense significance of Charlemagne in European history.

 

The city of Aachen retains a traditional atmosphere and has a compact, intimate feel.

Aachen has been known for its hot springs since Roman times, and Charlemagne himself was fond of them. Roman-era ruins can still be found in the city's parks.

 

There is a fountain (Elisa Fountain) in the corner of the park. Hot spring water flows ceaselessly.

 

Aachen is also famous as a venue for world-class equestrian competitions; the World Championships was held just before my visit, and some shops in the town displayed decorations welcoming the event.

Brussels： Aug. 23-27, 2026

Brussels is home to the headquarters of both the EU and NATO. I was stationed here over 30 years ago and have visited regularly since. My visit this time is the first one in a year.

A year ago, I sensed a heightened atmosphere of wartime tension and an increased focus on security due to the war in Ukraine. At Brussels Airport, I saw a sign saying "Welcome to Brussels, home of NATO." At an exhibition room of the European Commission, I saw message saying: "The last few years have been a sharp reminder of how fragile peace is." (Brussels: Aug. 23–25, 2025)

On this visit, the scope of concerns seemed to have been wider. A banner with a straightforward message "Democracy" hung at the European Commission headquarters. (See also the top photo)

Exhibits relating to Europe’s challenges, such as security, migration and refugees, global warming, and tariffs, were displayed in a section at the House of European History, which is run by the European Parliament. Metal lettering there displayed a message that may bring a important question on our historical perspective: "What we may be witnessing is the end of history as such."

There was a large European Parliament banner at the airport. It emphasized the need to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The details stressed the need to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. (See the 2nd photo)

While I had encountered a pro-Palestine demonstration last year, I saw no protests regarding support for Ukraine, the war in Gaza, or the war involving Iran during this visit. However, the Ukrainian flag was flying at the European Commission headquarters over the weekend, and a Palestinian flag was painted on a bridge along the canal in western Brussels.

 

Daily life appeared to be carrying on as usual. Grand Place and the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert were full of tourists. The Brussels Dance Festival was held in the square in front of the Bourse.

 

In the shopping district of the Merode area in eastern Brussels, I found the headquarters of Kpler, a company that provides global logistics data. It has become famous worldwide as it provide tracking data of tanker movements in the Persian Gulf. It was surprising for me that their headquarters was located in such an ordinary, local shopping street.

 

I visited some museum – Old Masters Museum, the Magritte Museum, and the Musical Instruments Museum.

The photo shows the room of the works by Bruegel at the Old Masters Museum. I felt the depth of the culture and the history -- from the Middle Ages to the present – in this land.

Bratislava, Aug. 21, 2026

I visited Bratislava in Slovakia from Vienna by boat. It was my first visit since the early 1990s. I found both significant changes and unchanged elements.

Slovakia has a population of approximately 5.5 million and about 500,000 people live in Bratislava.

 

When I visited more than three decades ago — shortly after the end of the Cold War — the city lacked vitality and the buildings were run-down. On this visit, the historic city center had been beautifully renovated. The streets were well-maintained, and there were neat restaurants and souvenir shops.

 

The Marktplatz lies at the center of the town, and the Old Town Hall stands there.

Comparing it to other cities I have visited, I found its town views have some similarity with those in Prague, Tallinn, and Luxembourg.

The 2nd photo shows the view from the Town Hall tower, featuring the red-roofed buildings of the Old Town.

I saw high buildings of the modern district beyond the old town.

 

At the same time, I also noticed facilities that had lagged behind in development. They retained the look of the former socialist era.

 

Bratislava Castle served as the base of the city's development. It was used as a residence of the Habsburg dynasty.

 

From the hill where the castle stands, there was a clear view of the Danube River.

 

After World War II, Slovakia was under the socialist regime of the Soviet bloc but democratized following a revolution in 1998. It had separated from the Czech Republic in 1993.

The 1990s were marked by severe turmoil accompanying the transition of the political system. Several sculptures were created in Bratislava during that period, as part of a project to revitalize the city. One such work is the "Man at Work" (known as Čumil). It has become a popular tourist attraction. (See also the top photo)

 

The country joined the EU and NATO in 2004, and partly as a result, its economy has grown relatively steadily. According to the IMF, GDP per capita reached approximately $28,000 in 2025.

As for the politics in the last two decades, Prime Minister Fico held the power for a large part of the period. He is a leftist figure characterized by nationalist and authoritarian leanings. Corruption scandals involving the administration have surfaced at times during this period. Nevertheless, a certain level of political and social stability has been maintained.

While the political landscape is complex, there is no doubt that the 1989 revolution, which ended the socialist regime, shapes the nation's fundamental principles.

A monument commemorating the 1989 revolution stood in the park in front of the Prime Minister's Office. The structure is featured with the footprints of many people. (See the 3rd photo)

Historically, Slovakia was under Hungarian rule for a long period — unlike the Czech lands, which were long dominated by Austria. Furthermore, while Slovakia has a large Catholic population, many people in the Czech Republic identify as non-religious. A walking tour guide cited history and religion as reasons for the 1993 breakup of Czechoslovakia.