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.

Vienna: music and fine arts: August 18-23, 2026

 

Vienna is known as the "City of Music" and is also famous as a city of fine art. During my stay in Vienna, I enjoy music, fine art and other cultures.

Statues of famous musicians stand throughout the city. In the Stadtpark (City Park) on the eastern side of the Old Town, I found statues of Johann Strauss II, Schubert, and Bruckner. 

A statue of Mozart stands in the Burggarten near the Hofburg Palace (2nd photo), while a statue of Beethoven stands in a small park near the Stadtpark.

 

The Vienna State Opera (Staatsoper) is one of Europe's three great opera houses (others are in Paris and Milan). It opened in 1869 and is a massive venue with a seating capacity of over 1700. The seating includes central stalls, box seats, and balconies.

 

I visited the opera house and had the chance to hear a performance by the Vienna Mozart Orchestra. The venue had excellent acoustics.

 

Concerts are frequently held at the church. I listened to a string quartet performance at St. Peter's Church.

 

The Musikverein (Society of Friends of Music) is famous as the venue for the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert.

The Konzerthaus is the home base of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (Wiener Symphoniker).

 

Near the western section of the Ring — the boulevard that encircles the Old Town on the site of the former city walls — stands the Pasqualati House, where Beethoven lived from 1804 to 1815. He composed works such as his Symphony No. 5 there.

 

Vienna is home to several world-class art museums. The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) is located near the Hofburg Palace and displays masterpieces collected from regions including the Netherlands, Flanders, Germany, Italy, and Spain. These countries were associated with the history of Habsburg rule.

 

The photo shows Bruegel's “The Tower of Babel”, painted around 1563.

 

Masterpieces were gathered in the Bruegel room.

 

Vermeer's “The Art of Painting” was drawn around 1665.

The series of paintings by Velázquez drawing Princess Margarita were also displayed. (Se the 3rd photo)

 

The Belvedere Palace is famous for its collection of works by Gustav Klimt. It features masterpieces such as “The Kiss” and “Judith I”. (See also the top photo)

 

The University of Vienna has produced many figures who contributed to the advancement of natural and social sciences. They include Freud, Mendel, and Hayek.

Some point out that cities like New York, Paris, and London now possess greater influence in culture today. Yet, I was strongly impressed by its cultural power in Vienna.

 

Vienna: history and society: August 17-23, 2026

 

 

I visited Vienna, Austria. The city once flourished as a capital of the Habsburg Empire. Now, it prospers as a global cultural city which attracts many tourists and as a city which plays a vital role in international politics and economics.

Within the city, there are many attractions, including the Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace (both former Habsburg royal residences), and St. Stephen's Church. Horse-drawn carriages were carrying tourists in the old towns, which hold the atmosphere of the Habsburg era.

 

The Danube River flows about 2 kilometers from the city center. The IAEA and other UN institutes have their headquarters in that area. During my stay, I had many thrilling and interesting experiences.

 

◆The Origins of Vienna

Vienna's origins date back approximately 2000 years to a Roman encampment. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, famous as one of the Five Good Emperors, died in what is now Vienna.

Several Roman-era ruins exist within Vienna. In Michaelerplatz, in front of the Hofburg Palace, remans of the Roman era and later are displayed.

◆The Habsburg Dynasty

The Habsburg family ruled this region for 600 years, from the 13th to the 20th centuries. During this time, they produced Holy Roman Emperors and built a vast, multi-ethnic empire in Central Europe. Among the Habsburg emperors and empresses, Maria Theresa (1717-1780) and Franz Joseph (1830-1916) are particularly famous.

The Hofburg Palace, located in the center of Vienna, was the residence of the Habsburg family for over 600 years. It underwent repeated renovations and expansions, resulting in a complex network of 18 buildings. The top photograph in this post shows the palace viewed from Kohlmarkt street across Michaelplatz.

Some rooms are open to the public as a museum. They include where Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth lived and conducted state affairs.

 A statue of Maria Theresa stands in the square adjacent to the palace.

 

Schönbrunn Palace is large building with 1441 rooms. The construction was fully undertaken by Maria Theresa in the 18th century. It was used as the summer palace of the Habsburg family. It is also famous as the venue for the Congress of Vienna in 1815, after the Napoleonic Wars. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

In 1961, a summit meeting between US President Kennedy and Soviet Communist Party First Secretary Khrushchev took place in the Grand Gallery.

 

◆St. Stephen's Church, The Ringstrasse 

St. Stephen's Church was originally built as a Romanesque church in the 12th century and later remodeled in the Gothic style. The south tower was completed in 1359 and stands 137 meters tall. (See the 4th photo)

 

Vienna was originally surrounded by city walls, but these were removed by the order of Emperor Franz Joseph by 1860. The sites of former walls have converted into a “Ring” roads. It is now used by trams and cars. In recent years, bicycle paths have also been developed, and many cyclists use them.

 

◆History

One of the notable events in Vienna's history is the siege by the Ottoman Empire. Vienna endured two sieges, in 1529 and 1683. A cannonball fired during the 1683 siege, painted gold, hangs from a building in Am Hofplatz.

 

The plague epidemic is also a significant event in Vienna's history. Vienna experienced several plague outbreaks after 1348, including one in 1679. A monument commemorating the end of the 1679 epidemic stands on Grabenstrasse in the city center. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

Vienna is also the birthplace of Zionism. Zionism was a movement to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, and it developed in the end of the 19th century when anti-Semitism rose in Europe and Russia. The movement was popularized by Theodor Herzl, a Hungarian journalist who was active in Vienna. A small place called Theodor Herzl-Platz exists in the district east of the Ringstrasse.

 

The Habsburg Empire collapsed in World War I, and the country was fragmented into many nations. Amidst this turmoil, Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi launched the Pan-European Movement from the 1920s onward. A plaque commemorating him is displayed in the Heiligenkreuzerhof in the city.

 

◆UN Agencies and Business Activities

The Danube River flows northeast of central Vienna, and UN agencies such as the IAEA and UNIDO are concentrated on the opposite bank. 

The surrounding area has become a new business district, with numerous skyscrapers.

In a corner near the western side of the Ringstrasse in the old town, OPEC has its headquarters. Currently, many important OPEC meetings are held here.

 

◆The Danube River

I traveled the Danube River round trip from Vienna to Bratislava in Slovakia. The river flowed majestically, but the water level had dropped due to the heatwave that hit Europe. The riverbanks, normally submerged, were exposed. According to the research institutions, water levels near Vienna are several tens of centimeters to one meter lower than normal.

The Danube Canal flows through Vienna's old town. At night, the surrounding scenery is reflected in the canal.