The train to Nara was horribly overcrowded: this is a commuter line, since Nara falls within the Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe metropolitan area, with its 20 million inhabitants. We survived, though, and found to our relief that our hotel was connected to the JR Nara rail station. We were perhaps a bit less delightedContinue reading “From the Old Capital to the Older Capital: On to Nara!”
Author Archives: jennings@princeton.edu
Horyu-Ji and on to Osaka
We boarded a local train for what in some ways was the highlight of the entire trip for me, a visit to Horyu-Ji, probably the most important Buddhist temple in Japan. Horyu-Ji contains the oldest wooden structures in the world. Founded in 607 as a seminary, some scholars believe it was rebuilt after a fireContinue reading “Horyu-Ji and on to Osaka”
Osaka: Model City
We started the day with a ride on the subway to the “southern” downtown area of Namba. The central boulevard, Midosuji, is a spiffed up version of Fifth Avenue, with every designer boutique known to man. The side streets are, on the other hand, riotous piles of bars, restaurants, and little shops, many of themContinue reading “Osaka: Model City”
Closing the Circle
Although this magical trip was coming to a close, none of us smelled the barn, eager to return home. We made one last stop in Osaka, walking to the Umeda Sky Building, a remarkable architectural achievement at the edge of the Umeda built-up area. Although the building is “only” 40 stories tall, making it theContinue reading “Closing the Circle”
Return into Irony
Narita seemed comparatively empty when we arrived in the early afternoon; although 40 million people are served by only two airports, much of the traffic borne by the airports around New York is taken care of by the rail network in Japan. We parted ways with the Bans after a wonderful, enormously companionable trip together,Continue reading “Return into Irony”
Mexico City…Again
Back to Mesoamerica! We’re very much looking forward to our return to Mexico. Four days on our own in Mexico City and four in in Oaxaca with our good friends Patti and David B!
Mexico City…after a brutally early flight
We were at the airport by 5:30 AM for our 6:45 flight. I had imagined that Terminal C would be empty, but far from it: it was a madhouse from door to gate. Imagining, dummies that we are, that United would give us some semblance of a breakfast, we made do with a lousy cupContinue reading “Mexico City…after a brutally early flight”
Roma and Condesa
The staff at Casa Goliana made my day: tamales for breakfast! We shared one green corn and one red mole tamale, and I was transported to the days of my youth, when our neighbors would bring us green corn tamales and menudo for Christmas. My mother used to send care packages of the tamales, theContinue reading “Roma and Condesa”
National Museum of Anthropology…and a great culinary experience!
We started our day at one of our favorite places: the great Anthropology Museum with its astonishing collection of mesoamerican artifacts. The organization of the museum was much clearer to us this time: it is highly political, with the Mexica (Aztecs) as the telos of all development in Latin America. The display of Mexica artContinue reading “National Museum of Anthropology…and a great culinary experience!”
Puebla
March 20, 2019 We had our first experience of the Mexican bus system. A pretty long cab ride took us to the enormous, labyrinthine bus station northeast of the center, where we managed to find our way to the buses for Puebla. The bus itself was incredibly comfortable: the buses are divided into a numberContinue reading “Puebla”