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.

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.