susanne-reist

Slowly but surely, the crowds are now streaming into Venice. The alleys and main squares are full of groups of students and Asian tourists jostling for space in the gondolas and...

The best time to visit the market next to the Rialto Bridge is early in the morning, or if you just want to look around and not buy anything, then around noon when they are...

The Wednesday was the first truly gray day, it even drizzled a little in the morning, and the electricity was set to be turned off at 7:30 a.m. for 7 hours. So the alarm was set...

Above a door

Murano, the island of glassblowers, where most people only come for a short time, buy a glass animal, and perhaps attend a demonstration in one of the many workshops, before...

of Venice in full action. What is charming is that everyone brings their elegant coats into the hall and stuff them under the chairs; one even leaves their trolley suitcase at the...

and head to my next accommodation, the women's convent

(like most places I visit) usually mostly devoid of people. I love to search for and find the back streets, alleys, and deserted areas where I can share facades, windows, bridges,...

Strolling through the evening Venice on the first night. The city is magical and fascinating in almost any light. In the dark, you don't see the construction sites as clearly, St....

After once again escaping death (how many times is this now😳?), I felt I needed a few days in Venice for my peace of mind. The days between Carnival in mid/late February and...

The last two days were reserved for my favorite spots in Kyoto. I actually wanted to go to the rapids in Arashiyama, but it was just too cold. So I strolled over the...

several times as I pass by again. After I have really struggled all the way up Sannenzaka, I stand at the entrance to one of the most popular temples in Kyoto, the Kiyomizu-dera,...

Mount Hiei, 840m

Maizuru is quite a large port city, full of merchant ships, warships, fishing boats, and excursion steamers. It is located around a wild and rugged coastline, which I actually...

On the last day in Kinosaki Onsen, I meet a very nice young woman from Osaka during breakfast, who has a lot of interesting things to share, including that she lived in Hamburg...

Yesterday I went to the desert. I had read that there is an amazing sand dune near Tottori that is 16 km long and has three ridges right by the Sea of Japan, and since I had a...

Fortunately, I set my alarm for 7: I have never seen such a breakfast buffet in my life. I believe nearly everything the Japanese cuisine has to offer was here, hot and cold,...

Morning Rush

At Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

Pond and Garden at the Tenryo Temple

Today I behaved and just walked straight, not up and down. I sat comfortably by the river, one of the most peaceful and joyful places I know. It is Sunday and a Japanese holiday,...

bears bell

One of the great pleasures in Kyoto is the regular flea markets held at temples, and on the 21st of each month, one of the largest takes place at the wonderful Toji Temple next to...

This afternoon, I will return to Kyoto. I find it hard to part from Nara because I don't know if I will ever come back again. I am a notorious

I must say, the Japan information from yesterday didn't really sit well with me. Behind every friendly smile and every polite gesture, I sensed some insincerity today. But then I...

has 1.75 million followers in Japan, with 2 million worldwide through missionary efforts. It traces back to a single woman who had a vision or

Today is Sunday, which means even more people will flock here than usual, so I escape to the outskirts for another Buddhist temple, Yakushi-ji, after a starbuckian latte Vento...