Once upon a time my darling wife and I drove 'ell for leather across the southern French countryside towards the chateau once owned by the Marquis de Sade...
Some years earlier we had made a similar journey to the roman arena in Arles...
Some years later it was the turn of the Colosseum in Rome...
And then on a whim we drove north from here to take the Route de Vin through the golden vineyards of the Alsace, our goal on this occasion was the fantastic square in Nancy, dedicated to some old bugger by another old bugger - but we could never tell as, with the other destinations, the statue, the chateau, the monument, the zen garden - was covered in scaffolding. A pointless waste of our time apart perhaps from having the golden nectar of an Alsace wine slipping down the gullet...or the chance to ride the Shinkansen and eat from a bento box at the same time; but the tourist offices never advise that the intended glimpse of some far off splendour will be if not obliterated, then certainly spoilt, by scaffolding.
As it was to be at Ryoan-ji in Kyoto. A pilgrimmage to a place of study and contemplation awaited for so many years...
In we go and .... bollocks... completely covered by scaffolding and tarpaulins...
Yer gotta laugh though, haven't you?
1 comment:
Great to read and see your stuff again and good to hear that you are so busy. Gainful employment, i hope!
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