Back to work…

"my pool"
“my pool”

After a swim in “my pool”, we spent Sunday roaming neighborhoods again and even revisited the Imperial Gardens. I think what we missed on our first visit is the appeal of “what is not there”, and that is noise, and people, and movement. While no Longwood Gardens, this open space is surely a respite for the city’s citizens.  Dinner was with 2 of Joe’s co-workers which signaled a change in movement for us as well – time to pack up as we would move hotels in the AM

Monday – Reluctantly we left behind a luxury hotel and headed to a more realistic “work” hotel.  Realism…highly overrated.  We are now staying in a man made peninsula area called Tokyo Bay.  If you know Tokyo at alI, I am looking out the window at the Rainbow Bridge, and the very modern Fuji Building can be seen from another window.  Very touristy area, think Hello Kitty on steroids – all shopping and glitz, no temple or shrine in sight.  Joe has met up with his co-workers and his training has begun.  Little miss feel sorry for herself needs to reset the compass and come up with a game plan.  Unfortunately plans for a day trip to Mt Fuji will not happen as the weather plays a part in the trip and the next few days are scheduled to be fairly stormy.  No worries, there is NO shortage of amazing things to see, just have to add a few logistics to get back across the bridge.

Shibuyu Crossing

So mesmerizing to watch that it is tourist attraction and the prime time seats are in a Starbucks on the 2nd floor of a department store.  The Japanese take their street signs very seriously, no jaywalking here!  But when it’s time to move, they move, and make it look elegant. We sat and marveled through 2 light changes.

Light changes green
Light changes green
Start of controlled chaos
Start of controlled chaos
More
More
and more...
and more…
and more still...
and more still…
exchange complete
exchange complete
cross successful
cross successful
last of the stragglers
last of the stragglers
on to the next..
on to the next..

Day One – continued

 

We spent the rest of the afternoon in various shopping districts which sounds kind of lame but it is a visual treat.  The people, the clothes, the advertising, we were absorbed for the day.  We did make a pilgrimage to the Lost in Translation Park Hyatt only to be told that the bar did not open until 5:30. We’ll catch up with Scarlett Johannson and Bill Murray next time we’re in town.  Dinner was sushi…the kind of place where you eat what you are served.  Joe loved it and I considered myself very brave for indeed eating everything I was served. We ended the night watching the US Open live at midnight.  Okay now lots of pictures to upload, enough with the chatter.  Apologies in advance – have not quite mastered how to upload the pictures.

No talk, just pics

Subway advertising - Cannot figure out for the life of me what the gist is here...
Subway advertising – Cannot figure out for the life of me what the gist is here…
yes they take their Karoke seriously.  Each floor is a "stuido of sorts, singing drunk at a bar is for amateurs!
yes they take their Karoke seriously. Each floor is a “stuido of sorts, singing drunk at a bar is for amateurs!
Street scenes
Street scenes
Shortcut through the masses
Shortcut through the masses
Meiji Shrine with our Pals
Meiji Shrine with our Pals
Purify before entering the Shrine
Purify before entering the Shrine
Casks of wine from the French in friendship to the Emperor
Casks of wine from the French in friendship to the Emperor
Joe acting discreet and checking things out
Joe acting discreet and checking things out
Joe making a new friend.. Clearly he's been hanging around me too long...
Joe making a new friend.. Clearly he’s been hanging around me too long…
Father's Day Prep
Father’s Day Prep
More subway advertising - one is stinky, one is refreshed?
More subway advertising – one is stinky, one is refreshed?

Welcome to Tokyo Mr and Mrs Ryan

Our pals from the Meiji Shrine
Our pals from the Meiji Shrine

Saturday AM – We started with a run for no other reason than it was 6AM and we were wide awake.  I also contend its a great way to see a city but that’s a debate for another day.  Our hotel is just outside the Imperial Palace so we ran the perimeter of the gardens.  The current climate is “swamp” at best and the Americans were in a full sweat within 110 yds; the locals were running in tights and long sleeved shirts.  A nod to modesty or lunacy I’m not sure.  We owe the gardens another visit as neither one of us was wowed.  Shower, shave, Aqua Velva, and I will admit to a Western b-fast, we set out on our travels for the day.  First stop the subway to get us to the Meiji Shrine.

Not sure what I expected but in some ways Tokyo is like any other city, lots of people, lots of motion, even a very organized homeless population, and yet everything is novel.  Is it the language barrier?  Maybe.  Well we conquered the language barrier at our first destination with our 5 new friends, Kumimi, Chiharu, Yuki, Miki, and Natsumi.  They approached Joe at the entrance to the Meiji Shrine and asked to be our tour guides.  Their mission, to practice their English and put their class instruction to practical use.  We so hope they read the blog as they completely set the tone for the day, the trip.  They walked us through the history, ceremony, and protocol  needed while visiting the Shrine.  Needless to say Mr. Ryan passed with flying colors, his wife not so much.  As part of our “tour”, they presented us with a bread sweet that was one of the innovations of the Meiji emperor – wrapping a plum paste with Western style bread.  Mrs Ryan was very successful in gobbling this treat.  We participated in a ceremonial cleansing, bowing at the gates, tossing coins in a wishing well complete with a series of bows and 2 claps.  Additionally we happened upon 2 formal wedding ceremonies; I was so fascinated I forgot to take pictures.  Reluctantly we said goodbye to our friends but not before they gave us another gift, 2  fans.  Joe Ryan fanning himself during the day is truly a Kodak moment.  Have to take a time out and figure out how to upload pics on the fly.

We’re Here…

12 in-flight hours, 5 local commute hours on either end, and a 12 hour time difference we arrived at our hotel around 11:30 PM Friday night. For sanity’s sake, I switched my mindset to JPN time. For your reference, you were just thinking about your lunch on Friday.  As advised we closed the curtain and tried to sleep which worked for about 5 hours.  The hotel is gorgeous and the staff as gracious as expected.  Joe Ryan does not travel badly!

 

The scramble has begun

imageCrazy few days of work and now I am turning my sighs on the big adventure this week…Japan…still trying to figure out the blog world so i’ll keep this brief until my skill set increases.  If I’ve done this correctly you will see a picture of the infancy packing stage…shoes, a writing book, swim suit and goggles…say what?  Clearly it’s  going to be a long night.