TravelswithCharie

Essaouira Fishing Port The drive to Essaouira stretched for miles along a well paved highway. I struggled to stay awake after an early morning start. And  I was determined not to miss the tree climbing goats along the highway. Alas I didn’t see a single one and I found out later why. The government had stopped this practice of propping these goats up on trees for photo opportunities. So onward we went until we arrived at the argan oil shop which frankly was a huge relief for me. Watching the women demonstrate how argan oil is extracted from seeds was fascinating and I got to taste it with delicious local bread. Fresh catch at the port When we arrived at Essaouira Beach, I met my guide who took me around the peaceful harbor and medina. We walked for an hour as the guide narrated the history of Essaouira. We started at the harbor and checked out the famous blue boats that deliver seafood in the morning. We got there in time to see the catch of the day. The white boats are for comm...

Torii gates with names Anamori Inari Shrine is dedicated to Inari, the deity who protects the three essentials of life: clothing, shelter and food. It is a Shinto shrine. The  red gates and banners symbolize protection against evil spirits. These torii are donated by devotees as an offering for blessings. The names of the donors are indicated in black paint on the posts. Votive offerings of mini torii gates Oyashiro (miniature shrine) Large and medium torii gates Oyashiro (shrine) Oyashiro with sacred Kitsune (foxes) guarding it The foxes are the messengers of the deity, Inari. They are said to have magical abilities. People visit this shrine to pray for blessings for business properity, good fortune, educational success, air traffic safety, healing from illnesses and a host of others. I think that we can all pray for our dearest wish and believe it will happen.  Votive offerings of torii and kitsune miniatures Votive offerings Main Torii gate  This marks the entrance to ...

Dinner haul from Family Mart Have you seen all the hype about konbini (convenience store) food hauls by travelers to Japan? It’s hard to miss these reels that are all over social media. It intrigued me so much that I decided to check it out on my way back to the US.  As soon as I arrived in Tokyo and after checking into my hotel in Haneda, I set out to buy the food items on my list. As if the universe knew my plans, there just happened to be a Family Mart in front of my hotel. My first shopping haul included mackerel , salmon, rice ball, rice ball with roe, edamame, matcha cookie, pancakes, french toast, rice crackers, 2 coca cola and 3 water bottles. The total came to 2,548 yen or $16.11. The viral items that these travelers to Japan grab at the konbini stores are the onigiri, egg sandwich, strawberry custard creamy sandwich and smoothies. Notice I didn’t buy any of these as I’m allergic to some of the ingredients in these food items. But I was tempted to try the creamy goodness ...

Corridor leading to the cabins in the Ladies section of the hotel I recently stayed at First Cabin Haneda Hotel in Tokyo. After missing my flight (I was flying on standby), I was glad to have found First Cabin. The hotel is conveniently located at Terminal 1 and as it happened, they had a room available for me. The hotel is divided into two areas, one for male and another for female guests. To enter the respective areas, you are given a security card key upon check in. Check out time is 10 a.m. Rooms are also available for a minimum two hour use and may be extended for a corresponding fee. First Class Cabin There are two types of rooms, a first class cabin with semi double bed and a business class cabin with single bed and no room for baggage. I arrived close to midnight and I had to be quiet because my neighbors could easily hear me through the thin walls and gaps between the door and ceiling. The front desk has ear buds if you’re a light sleeper. Accordion door does not lock Ameni...

The wayside shrines in Moldova have fascinated me since my first visit in 2023. I wanted to take photos then of the simple crosses I saw along the way to Chișinău but woefully didn’t  take any.  I was lucky to have been given a second chance this year to take a few images of these unique sanctuaries that dot the bucolic landscape. These shrines often consist of a simple  Troiță  (cross) found at intersections or entrances to a village and along country roads. Often it is just a simple wooden crucifix. These shrines can be seen not only in Moldova but also in neighboring countries. They mark a sacred place or a memorial. The cross is also a manifestation of gratitude and devotion. ( The troiță above is actually inside the Ciuflea Monastery in Chișinău. I show it here for reference purposes.) These shrines I’m posting here are more elaborate miniature chapel shrines with gilded domes and frescoes. The domes are reminiscent of the architecture of Christian Orthodox chur...