Memories from Japan. Inari 稲荷

Memories from Japan. Ueno park 上野

The afternoon Elsa and I spent at Ueno park is a precious memory of peace and beauty. We discovered the small peony garden with its open air tea room where we enjoyed warm green tea. 

We were accompagnied by this black bird, flying from hut to hut and pecking the top straws. After a while,the gardener in charge came to the bird, bowed low and started speaking to the bird. From his movements, we could understand he was asking the bird to leave the straw huts and flowers alone and fly away. Then, the gardener politely noded and bowed again before withdrawing. As we witnessed the scene, I thought that it surely couldn't take place anywhere but in Japan. 

Memories from Japan. 東京

Our first day in Tokyo. Elsa spent most of the morning running around this fountain, nearby the imperial palace gardens. It kept changing shapes and the sun was playing rainbows in its sparkling waters. At first, I felt a bit impatient, longing for discovering, well, other wealths of the city... But her joy was so communicative that I sat there and enjoyed with her this idle and happy moment.

Memories from Japan. 冬の日本

Japan was for many years a country of dreams and inspiration, until, two years ago in January ... Elsa's papa was sent to work in japan for some weeks. Elsa and I followed. 

She was about to turn 5 at the time, curious and enthousiastic, she immensely enjoyed it... the hot springs and many temples specially, and to our surprise - she who had never been much interested in food - raw fish and dry squid!

1. Elsa's watercolour inspired by camelia, then  in bloom in Tokyo. 2-4. Nikko. 5. Tokyo bay. 6. one of my old painting, now in Elsa's room.

龙年 Year of the Dragon

龙和冰。 

日光, 日本, 2010年1月23日。

   

新春快乐! 

One year

It's been a year since I open "bateaux de papier". One year. I don't know what I was expecting at the time - I was merely led by my interest and admiration for a few blogs I had started following - but I wasn't expecting how much joy, meaning and frienship it it will bring in my life. I have made new friends here, now very dear to me. Thank you, all of you, for being there, for sharing so much, this is precious.

 Paper boats by Elsa

Where in winter ...