NOVEMBER 2015

Submitted by Marty Weinberg

CAROL RANDMAN and MARTY WEINBERG had a wonderful trip this Fall, sponsored by Philadelphia's National Liberty Museum, to Japan and South Korea with a group of studio glass and ceramic collectors. The highlights included riding the Bullet trains (Shinkansen), watching the Sumo wrestlers at the September Sumo 2015 Grand Sumo Tournament, visits to the Korean Furniture Museum (which is said to be the most beautiful museum in Seoul) and the residence of the United States Ambassador (he is from Carol's hometown of Cincinnati) to Korea, a delightful Geisha performance and resting at a foot-bath fed by a natural hot spring at Hakone Open-Air Museum. We visited with many studio glass and ceramic artists and Marty "tutored" Hiroshi Yamano, one of Japan's most well-known glass artists. We enjoyed the studio of Shin Sang-Ho, a world renown ceramicist. We stayed one night at a traditional Japanese Inn - Matsusaki Ryokan, a place where we experienced the true and traditional Japan, sleeping on futon beds on a tatami (woven-straw) floor and eating, in our kimonos, a traditional Japanese 14 course meal (no blowfish liver). We stayed two nights at Benesse House on Naoshima Island and enjoyed its art museum. We celebrated Carol's birthday with a delicious French meal (topped by a beautiful birthday cake) at La Chance in Kojimachi. Last, but not least, while Carol enjoyed relaxing inthe Spa in our hotel on Jeju Island, Marty took a taxi to Nine Bridges, the 45th ranked golf course in the world and, when we got to Seoul, he hit balls into a net at the Troon Golf Academy at our hotel.

A message from IRENE DIXON

I want to thank you for your thoughtfulness and support during this difficult time. Your kindness is greatly appreciated and will always be remembered.

With Love, Irene

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