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 significantly increased the seats 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.

I found 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.

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.