The Tram in Riga

It’s what I didn’t ride on this trip and wish I had.

I love trams!

In Budapest

In Vienna

http://www.rigassatiksme.lv/en/

The retro tram!  I didn’t see this one.

Art Nouveau in Riga, Latvia

Our guide told us that 40% of architecture in the city of Riga is art nouveau from the early 20th century.  I thought the style was beautiful from seeing it in Vienna a couple of years ago:

Art Nouveau in Vienna

And in Budapest last year:

Art Nouveau in Budapest

As a style of architecture, it’s always fascinating and beautiful to look at but in Riga, the sculptures attached to the buildings seemed slightly more scary than from other cities.  And while there are very well-kept buildings there are others that are totally run down which is a pity.

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Art Nouveau in Riga

Pictograms

My cousin gave me this book for Christmas.

A book of pictogram warning signs.

It has organized different warning signs that use pictograms into various categories by giving actual examples.  It’s written humorously and the pictogram photos are fun.  You can see similar stuff here:  http://www.pictosan.com/ (Enter site and scroll down.)

So I looked for my “Pictosan” – the name used by the author of the book to personify the guy in the warning sign – from trips I’ve taken.  I thought I had more but found just a couple of the “warning sign” kind.

At Angkor Wat, Angkor, Cambodia. This can be categorized as "region specific"（ご当地） Pictosan.

I should've gotten the text but didn't. I'm not actually sure if this is meant to prevent you from using the hand drier from blowing into your face or if it's telling you that it's the correct way to use it. Found in a hotel powder room in Cannes, France.

More pictograms below but these are non-warning types.  I just find them really cute.

Restroom signs @ “Tesco” in Prague, the Czech Republic.

Subway stations in Prague.

In a shop window in Helsinki, Finland. Don't think it's for real but anyway...

In Vienna, Austria.

In Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan.

Wrapping Up 2011

January – Cannes, France for the 20th time in 20 consecutive years…

followed by London.  Some things do change I realized!

February – I seem to have gotten back into the CD buying mode then which has continued throughout the year.

March – March 11th earthquake

and cousin visits from Kobe on the very next day.  It took a while for everybody to realize what had happened and how serious things were.

April – cherry blossoms

May – off to Vienna, Austria

and Cesky Krumlov, the Czech Republic

June – managed to do two “eating the world” get-togethers in one month, Poland and Bulgaria.

July – office move and Fuji Rock Festival 2011 and many more musical events

August – way too hot!! & Summer Sonic 2011

September – Tokyo Jazz Festival 2011 and a trip to Budapest, Hungary

October – more Budapest and own birthday which doubled as another “eating the world” get-together at a Cambodian restaurant.

November – new iPhone (no photo) and the annual Beaujolais Nouveau get-together

December – Christmas and Chrsitmas

Happy New Year’s Eve.  Wishing everyone and the world much joy and peace in 2012.

Pistachio Chocolate Bar

I bought this when I was in Vienna last month in a fancy Viennese coffee-tea-sweets shop.

Green inside!

It’s so not what I expected but tastes oh so good.  It feels more like chocolate-coated pistachio-flavored butter.  Too big to finish in one go so saving half for later…

http://www.haas-haas.at/