Part 7 巡礼 （コンスタブル賛歌）Pilgrimage (Homage to Constable)

Dedham Church (Dedhamの教会)





Constableの絵画に遠景のシンボルとして登場するDedhamの村に行きました。
メインストリートには、パブが２件とスーパーマーケットが１件あと、小さなお店が数件という本当にちいさな村です。
そして、メインストリートにそって、この村の規模に対して不釣り合いなほど大きく高い教会が建っています。
人通りが少ないメインストリート、やわらかい夏の午後の日差しが静寂な空間を作っていました。

I visited to Dedham village that Contable often had drawn its church in his work.
This village is very small, there are only two pub and one supermarket and a couple of small shop on the main street.
And along to the main street, the big and tall church is located. This church seems to me very unbalance with this small village.
Quiet main street and softy afternoon summer sunshine make silent space.

He visitado al pueblo de Dedham, donde Contable había pintado sus iglesia en sus obras.
Es muy pequeño. Hay solamente dos bars, un supermercado, y unas tiendas pequeñas en la calle central.

Part 6 巡礼 （コンスタブル賛歌）Pilgrimage (Homage to Constable)

View on the Stour near Dedham

Flatford millのあるStour側から隣町のDedhamを眺めた風景です。当時イギリスは造船ブームでほとんどの木は造船のために伐採されました。そのためものすごく遠いところまで眺めることができました。造船の材料として木材を使わなくなった現在ではそこにあらたに木々が育ってきたためconstableの絵のようにDedhamの教会は視界に遮られてみることはできなくなってきています。もちろんDedhamの方向へ少し歩くとこんもりとした木々の間から教会をみることはできますが。

This works shows the landscape from Stour river to Dedham valley.
At that time, Most of the trees on the land were cut for battleship building. Therefore, the perspectives were very clear because there were few obstacles.
However, now you cannot see Dedham church from the standpoint where Constable works. You have to walk towards Dedham a little bit to see the church.

Esta obra muestra la vista de Dedham desde el rió Stour.
En aquella era, casi todos árboles en Inglaterra se habían cortado para construir los acorazados. Por eso, se veía las cosas estaban tan lejos. Pero ahora tienes que andar un poco hasta Dedham pueblo para ver la iglesia de Dedham.

这工作展示风景从Stour河到Dedham谷。
那时，大多树在土地为战舰大厦被切开了。 所以，因为有少量障碍，透视是非常清楚的。
然而，您不能现在看Dedham教会从立场。 您必须走往Dedham 一点看教会。

Part 5 巡礼 （コンスタブル賛歌）Pilgrimage (Homage to Constable)

Haywain　（乾草の車）




Constableの代表作品のひとつです。周到に練り上げた作品で、多くのスケッチ、習作が残されています。ロイヤルアカデミーで発表したときは、まったく話題にならず３年後にパリで展示したときに絶賛をあび、サロン・ド・パリで金賞を受賞しています。
Stour川に乗り入れている乾草を運ぶ車の様子を描いた作品です。
絵の左側にある家はWilly lotの家という農家で今でも保存されています。現在では家の周りを木が取り囲んでいます。
この家に当時住んでいたおじさんは80数年の生涯の中でたった４日しかこの村を離れなかったという話が残っています。

This is the one of masterpiece of John Constable. He made a lot of sketch for this work.
This work had exhibited in Royal Academy in 1821 with small success, but three years after when this picture had exhibited in Paris Salon, it was accepted with great admiration from French people.
The house in this picture is preserved with carefully manner. The owner of this house at the era had been outside of village only four days among his 80 years life.

Es una gran obra maestra de John Constable. El hacía muchos dibujos para esta obra.
Esta obra no ganó buena reputación en 1821, pero después tres años, obtuvo la medalla de oro en el Salón de París.
La casa en la obra se llama “La casa de Willy Lot”. Está preservado hoy con mucho cuidado. El dueño de la casa había salido del pueblo solamente cuatro días en su casi 80 años de la vida.

这是Constable一个巨大杰作。他做了很多剪影为这工作。
1821年这工作在皇家学院陈列了以小成功，但以后三年，得到金牌在巴黎沙龙。这接受了以巨大倾慕从法国人民。
房子在工作称家的Willy Lots。显然是被保存的今天很好被采取的关心。 这个房子所有者在时代只是在村庄外面四天在他的80年之中生活。

Part 4 巡礼 （コンスタブル賛歌）Pilgrimage (Homage to Constable)

Boys fishing

Stour川に設けられた閘門（Lock）からの眺めです。現在では木々に隠れてみえにくいのですが、絵の背景にある橋もその右の家も保存されています。もちろん閘門は今ではその役目をはたすことなく保存状態にあります。

この近辺で写生している女性がいました。絵を愛する人なら一度はスケッチブックを広げたい場所です。

This is a view from a lock on Stour river. The bridge and the house in right hand side is preserved even it is hard to see from the lock.

Of course, the lock does not work now.
I found a lady sketching the landscape. Here is the greatest view point for one who loves painting.


Esto es una vista desde una esclusa en el rió Stour. El puente y la casa en el obra está preservado.
Por supuesto, la esclusa no funciona ahora.
Había una mujer dibujando esta vista. Aquí es el lugar el más atractivo para los aficionados de pinturas.

这是一个看法从一把锁在Stour河。 桥梁和房子在右边被保存甚而它是坚硬从锁看。
当然，锁现在不运转。

我找到一个夫人速写风景。 这里最巨大的看地方为一个谁喜爱绘。

Part 2 巡礼 （コンスタブル賛歌）Pilgrimage (Homage to Constable)

East Bergholt

彼の生まれたEast Bergholtはイギリスのサフォーク州の南はずれにある小さな町というか村です。ロンドンの循環道路であるM25から北東へのびるA12号にのり、Ipswichの手前でA12号を降りてせまい道路を１０分も走ると到着します。
本当に小さな村で、John Constableが生まれたという事実がなければ、だれもが通り過ぎてしまうであろう数百の他のイギリスの村と変わりがありません。
村の中心には、John Constableが洗礼を受けた聖メアリ教会があります。この日は、イギリスでは珍しい雲ひとつない青い空の下、八月の光をあびて、ひっそりとたたずんでいました。

East Bergholt is a small village located in south side of Suffolk. If you drive from London, you take M25 motor way and go into A12 route and you get off before Ipswich. And another 10 minutes drives leads you to the village.
This village is very small. It has not big different than any other hundreds of small village in England if you do not know here is the village John Constable was born.
St. Mary church is located in the centre of the village, where is the place he had baptized.
That day is very uncommon in England. Under clear blue sky and shinny August sun, the church stands still.




East Bergholt es un pueblo pequeño en sur de Suffolk. Si vaya en coche ahí desde Londres, tome M25 autopista y entonces tome A12 pista. Y Sale la pista antes llegue Ipswich. Entonces tarda otra 10 minutes para llegar al pueblo.
Es muy muy pequeño. Si no conoces este es un pueblo donde John Constable nació, no puedes contar la diferencia con otro cientos pueblos en Inglaterra.
St. Maria iglesia está en entro del pueblo. Era el lugar donde John Constable había dado bautizado.
Aquel día es el tiempo muy raro en Inglaterra. Debajo de despejado cielo azul, la iglesia está en silencio.

East Bergholt是位于Suffolk的南侧的一个小村庄。 如果您从伦敦驾驶，您驶汽车M25马达方式并且进入 A12路， 然后您在Ipswich之前得到。 然后您驾驶汽车另外10分钟,您对村庄。
这个村庄是非常小的。 它比所有其他数百小村庄在英国，如果您这里不知道有没有大不同村庄Constable出生的。
St. mary教会位于村庄的中心，地方他施洗了。
那天是非常不凡的在英国。 在之下清楚的蓝天和攀爬威严的太阳，教会直站。

巡礼 （コンスタブル賛歌）Pilgrimage (Homage to Constable)

序　Introduction　Introducción

ジョン・コンスタブルという画家をご存じでしょうか。ターナーと並んでイギリスを代表する風景画家です。彼は1770年代にロンドンの北東サフォーク州のEast Bergholtに生まれ、生涯ほとんどその地方の風景を描き続けた画家です。イギリスのロイヤルアカデミーの正会員になったのが53歳、ターナーが20代で正会員になったのとくらべても遅咲きといえると思います。当時イギリス国内ではほとんど彼の作品は評価されず、フランスでまず評価されました。そして彼のキャンバスにいきなり生の絵の具をおいて、キャンバス上で絵を混ぜていくという手法は、当時のドラクロア、そして後の印象画家へ影響を与えました。

Do you know a painter called John Constable? He is the one of the greatest landscape painter in England like Turner. He was born in 1770’s in a village called East Bergholt, Suffolk, northeast of London.
He had kept painting the landscape where he had born through his life. He was elected the member of royal academy when he was 53 years old. Comparing that Turner had became the member at the age of twenties, his works were praised in his later life.
His paintings are sold in France more than native country. His way of paintings, that loading the colour directly to canvas and mixed the color on the canvas, give great impact to French painter Delacroix, and later many painters of impressionism.

¿Sabéis un pintor se llama John Constable?
Fue un gran pintor de paisajes. Nació en East Bergholt, un pueblo pequeño en suffolk, noreste de Londres, Inglaterra.
El prefería pintar paisajes de este pueblo y vecinos. Ahora esta región se llama “El país de Constable”. Fue elegido miembro de la Academia Real cuando tenía 53 años. Sus obras fue aceptado en Francia más que en su propio país.
Su técnico de pintor se dan la influencia de los pintores francesa como Delacroix, y otros muchos pintores de impresionismo.


您是否知道画家告诉Constable？他是那个最了不起的风景画家在英国象特纳。
他出生在1770年代在East　Bergholt，Suffolk，北东部在伦敦边。
他继续绘风景，他通过他的生活负担了。 当他是53年，他被选举了皇家学院的成员。
他的绘画在法国更多比祖国被卖。 绘画他的方式，那装货颜色直接地对帆布和被混合颜色在帆布，给巨大冲击法国画家 Delacroix和以后印象主义的许多画家。


私自身、彼の絵との出会いがなければ、私は絵を描いていなかったと思います。それだけ思い入れのある画家です。
今回私は、コンスタブルの聖地ともいえる場所を巡礼しました。

Telling about myself, I would never paint the picture if I could meet his paintings.
This time, I visited many constable related place in England, like pilgrimage.

Contando mi caso, jamáis haga a cuadros si no me contratasen sus obras. Ahora, fui a visitar muchos lugares de Sr. Constable, como peregrinaje.

如果我可能遇见他的绘画，告诉关于我自己，我不会绘画。
这时，我在英国参观了Contable相关的地方。

Driving west coast of France - Part 7

Carcassonne


After enjoying Bordeaux wine, I visited one of famous castle city called “Carcassonne”.
The city is located closed to Pyrenees. Historically this place was front against Arabs in mediaeval era.

I park the outside of the city and walked into the city. When I came the stone bridge crossing the river, I stunned to magnificent view of castle. It was really beautiful.

From the stone bridge, it took another 15 minutes walk to enter into inside of castle wall. Outside the castle, the street is very quiet; a dog laid down and yawned in front of café.

However, once you go inside the castle, you can find many souvenir shops and restaurants. And a lot of tourists with sun glasses are walking to and fro.
It makes me feel all people in the town get together inside of the wall.

Some hotels are also located inside of castle wall. They have to park the car outside and have to carry their heavy baggage to the hotel.

Inside the castle, shutting out from passionate atmosphere of outside, the space is very cool. You can smell musty stone. It leads me to feel I were in medieval era.
Stone can remember everything…

The view from castle is marvellous. A cluster of pinkish rooftops fade away to the greenish horizon.

After breathing the medieval air deeply, I returned to my home in Barcelona.

Fin

Driving west coast of France - Part 6

Saint-Emilion, Von-Figeac chateau

Next day, I went to a chateau in Saint-Emilion. Saint-Emilion is one of village where produce Bordeaux wine. There are over 80 chateaus only around Saint-Emilion.
It took 40 minutes by car from Bordeaux. As closer to the village, you can see only green vineyards. I went to one of new chateau called “Von-Figeac”.

It was 10:20 in the morning. I parked my car in empty car space of cheateu and went to reception room. A gentlemen of thirties came to see me.
He told me “There is another appointment 40 minutes later, it is ok for you by that time?”
Since I had to go back Barcelona within this day, I did not have a plan to spend here long time. So I Accepted it.

Then he started winery tour for me. This chateau was opened in 2001. Starting from 8000 bottles per year, now they produce 150,000 per year.
He is taking charge for production, sales, marketing, and administration. He had got MBA.

He asked me a question pointing out rose planting beside wine trees.
“Do you know why we plant roses beside wine trees?”
And he explained me the reason with clear English accent
“Rose is very sensitive plant against disease germ. So if you find something wrong in rose, you can check wine trees around it, so that you can make countermeasure against disease in early stage. There are much more scientific ways to find disease in the modern days, of course.”

They installed modern technology to make wine. They use stainless made mixer for wine production.

“There is a lot of conditions to determinate the quality of wine, weather of the year, clopping timing, temperature and humidity of brewing process. It is impossible to control all factors. So somehow quality of wine is unpredictable. However, we work hard to make good quality of wine as much as possible under these conditions.”
“This chateau has two vineyards. One is on this side of the river and the other is over. As characteristics of soil are different, the characteristics of grape are also different. The wine made from the grape grows on this side has mellow taste and the other one has rich taste. So we call women’s wine on this side and men’s wine to the other. We will never mix both grapes for making a wine.”

Then he took me to warehouse.

“This is aging process. We put the wine into barrels and age at least three years. So the wine made in 2005 goes to the market in 2008. As aroma is the most critical part of red wine, we apply smaller barrel for aging process. We produce small portion of white wine here, but these are not so important on aroma, we use a little bit bigger barrel which is the same size of whisky aging.”

Oh, I see, white wine should serve chilled so aroma is less important.

“The performance of barrel is getting less if you use several times. So we sell the barrels which we use twice to wine brewers in Spain or Portugal, or to whisky brewers.”

That is why Spanish wine taste hard and less aroma…

After the plant tour, I bought 5 bottles of red wine here and went back to return course.

Driving west coast of France - Part 5

Bordeaux

Walking towards the city centre, first you can come across the grand monuments of Esplance de quinconces. The plaza is very huge, they say the biggest plaza in Europe. As there are nothing in the plaza, it makes me feel temporary car parking of some big events. However, this statue and fountain are really beautiful and glorious.

Along with Garonne river, you can see plaza of the city council. The buildings of city council have whitish wall and dark greenish blue roof. It is very similar colour nuance of the Parliament house in Paris, very French.
This tri-colour flags suit that building very much.

“Gross Cloche” leads you mediaeval era. As if a knight and a lady come from this tower.

Cathedral Saint-Andre, which is located very centre of the city, is gothic style buildings.
It is enormous.

In the street, a lot of café bar put the table. I went in one of them and had a beer and took a rest. Bordeuax wine is the one should drink after sun goes down, n’est-ce pas?

Driving west coast of France - Part 4

Road to Bordeaux

Friday, after having a meeting with a customer in Nantes, my weekend started!
However, I have to drive back home to Barcelona where 900km far away from here.
It is a little bit tough for the person who does not like driving like me. Therefore, I decided to stay at Bordeaux this night.
The weather was very unstable, once you enjoy agricultural field under the shinning sun, next seconds you cannot see even 30m ahead because of stormy rain like you drop a bucket full of the water.

Anyway, horizontal line is very low and no object to interrupt your eyesight. Fresh green vineyards and golden wheat field continues forever….

The city of Bordeaux, I am confusing a little bit. Is this city touristic or not? Needless to say, this place is world famous for wine production, and if you walk around the city, you can hear many non-French conversations. So everybody tell that Bordeaux is touristic spot.
But on the contrary, I could not find any souvenir shop (Selling junky staff like key-holder, post card and so on) around the city. It is strange…

You know, this trip is not holiday trip, just on the way back to business trip. Therefore, I did not check out where to see, what to eat and so on. In addition, I have poor information about wine.

Then, after checking in the hotel, I was crawling the city with a map hotel gave me in my hand…

Driving west coast of France - Part 3

Abbeye de Villeneuve


In Europe, it is difficult to book the hotel in weekday than weekend. Hotel fee is also more expensive in weekday than in weekend.
Normally, I book a hotel in centre of Nantes city. But this time I could not get it. All Hotels I know were fully booked!


Then I serched through web site and booked a hotel called “Abbeye de Villeneuve” that was located in the small village called Villeneuve.



After completing my work of the day, I drove to that hotel from centre of Nantes. The landscape was changing from that of city centre to that of residence area, then…that of country side, that means I drove through the vast vineyard.
I had a feeling that I was lost.

However, finally I found very small sign of the hotel on a narrow road through vineyard. The car turned into narrower private road from there.
Arriving at the site, I found that the hotel had been converted from monastery as they named.


Only 10km away from the city centre, it looks like the most suitable site to spend the weekend. However, I worried that it was suitable for staying a business person….Do they have internet facility?

Anyway, I checked in the hotel and hotel clerk gave me a very big old-styled key. Oh I felt I slipped to 100 years ago…








Fortunately, the hotel provides wireless LAN system for the guest, thanks god.

This hotel is opened up not only accommodation but also meeting venue for business persons. Many business persons who wear business suites were gathering this place. It surprised me.

There was no choice to have a dinner outside of hotel. I took the dinner in hotel. The hotel offered very nice fish meal with dry white wine (Muscadet).







In addition, they offered real fois-grois! I had tasted canned fois grois several times but this was the first time for me to have real one. The real one is rich in taste and not oily.







That was very good!!

Driving west coast of France - Part 2

Vigneux-de-Bretagne

It has been a long absence since I wrote the part 1…



Vigneux-de-Bretagne is small village in Bretagne.

And it is my favorite place.

The village is located along side of E60 road which runs from Nantes to Saint-Nazaire. It is really small village.

In the centre of the village, there is English style church (It looks like Chapel). And you can find only a café restraint around the church.
This place makes me feel I am in England.
It is not touristic place here, so I guess Asian guy like me is very outstanding if the villagers see me.

But there is nobody in the street.

It is so quiet…

Driving west coast of France - Part 1

Nantes　Part１

Nantes is a French city located in embouchure of Loire river, having around 300,000 population. It is also capital city of Loire-Atlantique Prefecture. In ancient days, when the duchy of Brittany was annexed by the kingdom of France in 1532, Nantes kept the parliament of Brittany for a few years, before it was moved to Rennes. In 1598, King Henry IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes here, which granted Protestants rights to their religion.


However, on the contrary, on the way from Nantes airport to city centre, there is very modern bridge built across the Loire river. A lot of modern chemical plant and small steamship for merchandise transportation can be seen from that point. Under the rainy clouds, every architecture gives you a monochrome and dull feeling.




Actually, there are lot of modern buildings are in the city and few buildings reminds you that once this city was capital of medieval era. Nantes castle was not big castle. You can enter without paying the fee. On the other hands, few things were exhibited for visitors.





As the typical characteristics of the castle located in embouchure of river, the defense is replied on water. Therefore castle does not have high altitude buildings. Actually their altitude is not so difference than that of resident buildings surrounded there.
So you cannot expect marvelous view from the castle.

Country of Insularism II

When you visit to Japan, you must bring some cash, otherwise you will have a trouble.

First, unlike any other developed country, not so many shop can accept the credit card specially restaurant.
So definitely you need cash to travel in that country.

Second, that is important. You must remember that YOU CANNOT WITHDRAW MONEY FROM ATM MACHINE WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD.

Yes, if you travel US or Western Europe, you do not need to bring cash because you can easily withdraw the money from ATM machine located in front of bank with the currency you need. When I travel in UK, France, USA, etc, everywhere I was able to get it.
Of course, they charge you a commission but anyway you can get money on your hand.

If the credit card was made in Japanese bank, you can withdraw the money in the above country without any troubles.
But it is not other way round.
If your card is made in overseas, Japanese ATM machine will not accept cash withdrawal.

I do not know why such unfair thing happens.
But I have seen several times in Narita airport, overseas travelers found the trouble in front of ATM machine located in airport lobby.

I would like to say again, Japan is quite comfortable place for people who live there with Japanese nationality, but it is very tough for others, because of their Insularism.

Country of Insularism

I live in Spain, and I use cellular phone daily both private and working. Cellular phone is now indispensible item for modern day human life. No argue.

I travel to Japan quite a often and each time I arrived at Narita airport, I have get rental of mobile phone because the one I use in Spain cannot work here.

(You may note this point, your cellular phone can work anywhere but JAPAN)

Using rental mobile means you have to tell your mobile to your colleague each time, because you cannot get the same number. That makes me annoying.

So this time, (Now I am writing from Japan) I decided to buy one cellular phone only for use in Japan.

And what I found in mobile phone shop was somehow shocking.

YOU CANNOT BUY CELLULAR PHONE UNLESS YOU HAVE JAPANESE RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE…

You will ask ID for buying some sort of stuff, open accounts and so on. That is normal.
However, the problem is there is no official ID card in Japan. Most of them use drivers license instead of ID card here. (So if you do not have drivers license, your activity is very limited.)

What I was told when I went to the shop were,

- You cannot use foreign drivers license or ID card because it cannot be certified you live in Japan.
- Japanese medical insurance statement cannot be used because there is no photo in there.

So finally, I could not get cellular phone.

How do you feel? Is it absolutely crazy story??
You cannot buy the mobile phone where your cellular cannot work!!

I am getting some feeling that, Japan is quite comfortable place for people who live there with Japanese nationality, but for others, it is very tough, because of their Insularism.

Cellular phone is not the only case, I want to introduce such kind of example in next time.

Saint Tropez

Saint Tropez es una ciudad en la costa de azul.
Tiene gran puerto para yate llenando yates lucrativos.

Hay un castilo en la corina cerca de la ciudad.
Desde ahí, se ve gran paisaje de la ciudad y el mar. Es Maravillosa!

En el castilo, viven pavos reales.
El pavo tiene plumas bellisimos, pero su voz es horrable...
Díos nunca le da dos talentos a uno.

Bajando la corina, encontramos muchos cafes atractivos. Sea muy buena tomar refrescos en verano ahí.

En final de la calle, hay un mercado donde se venden mariscos.

Junto a mercado, hay una tienda de vino. Compramos tres vinos rosas locales.

Monaco

Monaco is a small country located in South France.
Visiting the place, you note it is very different place than other European countries.

First, you do not find any historical footprints
Second, you can see many expensive cars which rarely seen in other countries.
Third, it is very tidy and gorgeous, well controlled by human.

The feeling you are given is quite similar than that of Las Vegas USA.
You can make this country from Las Vegas, by getting rid of childish fantasy and squeezing the street and buildings!

If you like gamble, this is the greatest place in Europe, otherwise…