First visit to Belgian Embassy's villa in the deep Nikko

10月18日(日）

On the top of the hill, Hangetsu

今朝は奥日光のベルギー大使館別荘を地元新聞記者さんの訪問取材に同行してきました。10時のアポということで渋滞を想定して7時に出発したところ、1時間足らずで現地に到着。待ち時間を利用して、絶好のお天気日和の中、半月峠の山(1720m）にヒール靴のまま登って展望台からの眺めを満喫。想定外の収穫でした。

With Mme Emily Bassompierre

On the top of the hill 

取材は1時間をオーバー。この内容は下野さんが来年に企画されている奥日光特集に紹介されることでしょう。偶然ながらインタビューに応じて下さった次席の方（まだ40代前半）は夫と同じボストンの大学院に行かれたことがわかり、不思議な縁に驚きました。毎年この秋の紅葉の季節にご家族で一週末を過ごされていているということでした。
I had an opportunity today to go up to the deep Nikko to assist a pressman of the local newspaper for his interview to the minister-counselor of the Belgian Embassy who is now staying at their Embassy villa with his family for this weekend. As we arrived there much earlier, we decided to climb up the hill (Hangetsukyo) 1720m high before visiting him. The view from the top of the hill was just marvelous under such a beautiful weather. Mt.Fuji was visible but not in the photo unfortunately. So many visitors were up there. An article about this interview will be on the paper later. I was surprised to find that the minister-counselor studied at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston where my husband did. What a coincidence! That makes me feel more comfortable. We had a nice interview and talk with him and his wife.I hope the interview was successful. They kindly hoisted their national flag on the beach for us.