Cherry blossoms (Japanese country symbol blossom) already in full bloom. 桜は綺麗に咲いたけれど
Today I wanted to send a letter to Japan from a post office in Vienna. Surprisingly the clerk told me they could not accept it. She did not know the specific reason but assumed it may be due to Covid or the crisis in Ukraine. I also heard that the resumption of this service was unknown as of now. I feel again that my home country Japan is so very distant now. I have a feeling that good weather and beautiful blossoms console me…
Fresh green is so beautiful. 新緑が美しいAlways the golden colour of Forsythia draws my attention. いつもレンギョウの黄色に目が奪われますCherry blossoms blending into everyday life in Vienna. ウイーンの日常に溶け込む桜
Entrance to IKEA direct from Westbahnhof concourse. ウイーン西駅コンコースのIKEAの入口
“This table I bought from IKEA”. That is what a Japanese resident, in the same building I was living at, said when she showed my a beautiful round table. It was my first apartment in Vienna and it was over 30 years ago. Back then I was totally new here without any knowledge and I thought that there was a Japanese furniture shop in Vienna called “Ike-ya”. And I thought how wonderful Japanese people are also selling furniture in Vienna. Soon however I discovered that it was in fact called “IKEA” and that it was a Swedish chain of stores. This name could really be Japanese and so I misunderstood.
Back then about once a year, a thick catalogue of IKEA was sent free to all households in Vienna. One day that catalogue appeared at the door just like a present. What joy it was to browse through that catalogue in full colour! I moved four times within Vienna but always to fully furnitured places. Therefore buying furniture was not necessary but nevertheless with pleasure I always looked at the catalogue and fantasized. Also “IKEA” was somewhat far away from the city and without my own car, I had to use the shuttle bus for about 30 minutes. So when I finally arrived I could see beautiful interiors and imagine living there and as souvenirs I took home small things such as candles, napkins, artificial plants, etc.
Time passes, online commerce has become so widespread, that nowadays most catalogues and sortiments can be viewed on the internet. Therefore that present from IKEA to me ceased to exist. But recently IKEA gave me a big present of a different kind. In a central location of Vienna a branch of IKEA opened its doors! It is next to Westbahnhof station and there is even one direct access from the station concourse. The size and capacity of this store is smaller but one can stroll around inside and see many different types of merchandise. Above all, there are many small affordable items such as candles, napkins, etc. IKEA is now close to me.
Now in Vienna the air of Spring hovers overy the city. They sky is blue and the sun is shining in splendor. Some plants cannot help but grow already. In some flower beds the remains from the past growth cycle were cut down in order to prepare them for the approaching blossoming. Let’s grow!
At a supermarket in Vienna I found a beer refrigerator with giant beer cans inside displaying Falco’s face! Falco is a world-famous Austrian pop musician. I think his most famous song is “Rock me Amadeus”. Sadly he suddenly passed away in 1998. Back then in Austria there was deep mourning and I understood how much he was loved by the people here and how proud Austrians were of him. A Vienna native, his face decorates the cans of the well-known Viennese beer brand Ottakringer.
When Spring comes, I would like to pick many flowers and fill up this basket… From the series “Girls with baskets”. 春になったら、お花をたくさん摘んで、この籠いっぱいにしたいな… シリーズ「籠を持った少女達」より
Today the weather in Vienna was quite nice. Even though the temperature was not very high, the sunlight has a little more power now. Under the sun’s light young green radiates beautifully.
Today is “Faschingsdienstag” (Tuesday marking the end of carnival season). In front of a primary school I saw some children dressed up in costumes running around and joking around with one another. They looked so innocent and especially now I feel it is very precious and important.
My husband and I bought a “Vanillekrapfen” from a bakery (kind of like a doughnut filled with Vanilla cream), which is a specialty for Fasching (carnival season). At home we both ate this ありました。nKrapfen together with hot tea. It should be normal to enjoy it in tranquility but sadly I have seen that such normality can not always exist. When I think about that, this sweet delicacy tasted a little bitter but I thought that I should be grateful for that moment.
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