Journal #26... Off To Tokyo

We got up a little early to finish packing, get ready for breakfast...like the first day only with melon (Michael's request), eat, and say goodbye and thanks to our host Suzuki-son.

We caught the green line on the JR Train line which is that comfortable one we get free with our rail pass.  We were the only ones in the eight-seat car.  We rode that all the way to the Ueno Station and got a cab to the hotel.  It is a typical Japanese ryokan with futons on the floor.  I am lying in one now and I must say it is much softer and puffy on the top than the bottom. I haven't had to get up out of it yet, but I think it will not be pretty.  I took a picture S we have an entrance room....where you change shoes, a toilet room, a sink area, and a shower with a wooden tub next to it.  We then have one large room with a short table and two chairs and a short divider with two futons on the floor,  We have a big closet for our suitcases and although the lady at the desk assured me there is Wi Fi everywhere in the ryokan, it is slow to non-existent in the room.  Still I am after the experience and am getting that in spades!

 

 

 

When we got here. Carol's room was not made up heat so we put all the suit cases in our room  and took off walking to the nearest station.  Hooray the cherry blossoms are blooming in Tokyo!  It is much warmer and the place is FULL of people. 

 

 

We took some pictures of the Tokyo Tower and preceded to find another train or subway to take us to the area where the sumo wrestlers have one of their rings during there are places to eat thee.  It has been brought upscale since carol's last visit and instead of one restaurant around the ring, there are many little restaurants.  We chose a wonderful little cafe with all kinds of tempura.  It tasted so good and we were so hungry that we ate without taking a picture. Sorry because the presentation was great.  I took pictures of pictures outside the restaurant. 

These are to sweep the leaves.  No garbage or trash containers around.  YOU MAKE TRASH. You take trash!

I had shrimp and veggie tempura that I loved and miso soup that I didn't.  Michael had that but added egg and eel tempura.  I tasted  the eel and it was good.  Carol had much the same but with a smelt (smelt fishy!) 

Full as a tick we started to the big Shrine, SENSO-JI TEMPLE.  It is quite impressive but to get to it you must walk the gauntlet of trinket shops and souvenirs .    That was fun as I was able to pick up a few things for family.  Our suitcases were already bulging from too many clothes ( I am wearing the same thing two days in a row which I never used to do, and of course my new kimono. Anything I bring home to family will be little and hopefully inexpensive... there isn't much of that in Japan.

The shrine and grounds were beautiful and since it is Cherry Blossom time there were any young girls and some not so young in kimono. I took many pictures and  Michael took mega.  It was quite a sight.  I even got pictures of two little girls in Kimonos.  The weeping cherry blossom trees were my favorite and I got my picture taken under one.

From there we walked to the subway.  The closest one was a very old one,  NO ESCALATORS OR ELEVATORS AND STAIRS UP AND DOWN,!   I think my old fat body is wearing down!  It took us to Ueno station again  and we went to the Hard Rock Cafe for a  chicken burger for $20 for Michael and C and I shared a $16 club sandwich.  I wasn't that hungry until the food came but  I sure scarfed down my share.  Then Carol took us across the street and down a long alley where after the war they had the black market. Fun!  It has been a long but great day!

Ready to plug this dude in.  My iPad is at 10 % and so am I.

Grove and Gang

 

 

Journal #27... Second Morning In Tokyo

Well you saw how cute the room is and how traditionally Japanese and this morning I'll simply say THAT was an experience!!!  Michael and I soon discovered we neither have the frame or the agility for a place like this.  Getting up out of bed is akin to a pregnant cow climbing out of a mud hole!  

At 4 a.m. I got up to go to the bathroom only to find that I was not the only one with about ten minutes of sleep.  With my spent back and shoulder and Michael's ghastly black bum from his fall, the hard inch high pad was no  relief.  Thinking we would have no sleep until we got on the plane four days from now we pooled our sleeping apparatuses.  We put his pad and blanket, which was puffy and warm on top of my flat pad, covered both of us  and spooned the rest of the night.  Who said we don't have American ingenuity?!  Michael's last word was "doable!". I wonder how Carol fared with no extra pads and blankets to use.  This was hers and Betty's room last visit so she knew the drill.  When she asked me about getting a ryokan it sounded fabulous!  

We went to breakfast...  Very different from the ones in BBHouse!  They had fish I didn't recognize and lots of pickled stuff I didn't choose

( I will send this now and write about the rest of the day with another email.  It looks like this will be another very busy day) ???

 

 

 

Journal #28... Afternoon In Ginza District: Kabuki

In order to try something different we got on the subway and off at the Ginza District. This  is the New York City of Toyko.  There were many big department stores and high end shops.  Before we knew it we were in line to see Kabuki.  We got tickets for one act for 1600 yen and before we knew it it began.  There were rules of course like all theaters, no eating, no photo, no talking, etc.  and we heard them many times.  We could have purchased a doohickey that would translate what we were seeing into English.  We didn't get it for the first act, but they didn't kick anyone out and we ended up seeing the whole enchilada.  The first act  we were trying to figure out what they were doing but  with no translation it was difficult.  The Indian lady told me about the first act then handed me the translation box as her husband also had one.  The guy next to Michael shared his with the three of us could understand the play. It was like those Shakespeare plays when everyone dies, but it was so much more interesting with the translation.  The sets and costumes were wonderful...... Chinese and Japanese clothing showing the two places in the play.

 

 

Journal #29... Sad Story

When we were walking home last night we came across a pet store.  These must be from exotic puppy and cat mills but they are put in those cages...at least they are clean and cared for but they are priced at ridiculous prices.  I don't know how anyone could buy a cat or dog for that money.  People look at them and sometimes tease them.  I think it would make them crazy. One was so bored he played with his tail the whole time.  I know they want to take good care of them or they would lose big money.  Still it made me sad! The animals seem very healthy but look at the prices!

 

 

Grove

 

 

Grove: Where do these images belong?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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