tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303727508477020472024-03-20T05:15:29.309-04:00with a grain of salt and a bit of cuttlefishFun travel tips, good food and funny happenings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-78474151167598973102014-11-30T21:42:00.001-05:002015-02-17T18:50:48.299-05:00Kyoto Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myoho-in Temple</td></tr>
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We wasted no time in heading out on our full day in Kyoto. Since we never slept passed 4am, we got up early to start our hike around town. Our first stop, Kiyomizu-dera.<br />
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On the way, we saw other temples, shrines and cemeteries.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8172F6Eu_DvynUv5R2-0bpwHpYvPBjc7mWQ40kZ1vL1xtAbKYFRn5PgY5H__MvmvqwFMNXPh3CYVfmcAufBfMkGWBmYrsrWAMudQb7jilmzZcniiGPQaUsne2zturisc288hkOTkH6q0/s1600/Japan+2013+435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8172F6Eu_DvynUv5R2-0bpwHpYvPBjc7mWQ40kZ1vL1xtAbKYFRn5PgY5H__MvmvqwFMNXPh3CYVfmcAufBfMkGWBmYrsrWAMudQb7jilmzZcniiGPQaUsne2zturisc288hkOTkH6q0/s1600/Japan+2013+435.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nishi Otani<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5Hj_pT-j-QwUBKzruOlgzUWS4lEwXFO680oYaLTPwJ3sPEyn-oeZDlPuqUvrigFQrQ3e8opkrQUUD1XVWdKB7Y2RcHpJZm-HS_3JXz3lsSym5KoI0x4eQwYg0K2dhDPrmSviDmRbmxE/s1600/Japan+2013+445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5Hj_pT-j-QwUBKzruOlgzUWS4lEwXFO680oYaLTPwJ3sPEyn-oeZDlPuqUvrigFQrQ3e8opkrQUUD1XVWdKB7Y2RcHpJZm-HS_3JXz3lsSym5KoI0x4eQwYg0K2dhDPrmSviDmRbmxE/s1600/Japan+2013+445.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcaQoCzxkn28Wt3_D620HK3OzrosoWPjPLr4FD6TkRBqRLcLALlyaIjsU0q2Hf9NdMyGQMCP3kyk1uVp6_FaZfjRsEgd2w32QVG76lEkfQPyj0nlRWKbMAkImaP6cSYqFsqQWg8R9nF4/s1600/Japan+2013+437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcaQoCzxkn28Wt3_D620HK3OzrosoWPjPLr4FD6TkRBqRLcLALlyaIjsU0q2Hf9NdMyGQMCP3kyk1uVp6_FaZfjRsEgd2w32QVG76lEkfQPyj0nlRWKbMAkImaP6cSYqFsqQWg8R9nF4/s1600/Japan+2013+437.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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The walk to Kiyomizu-dera took about 30 minutes through the cemetery and up the very long steep hill. This has got to be the largest cemetery I have ever seen. Walking through the cemetery was well worth the trip. The family shrines are beautiful and was nice to see tribute gifts still being offered. There was even a little store to purchase offerings.<br />
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I am so happy we got to Kiyomizu-dera early, because had we waited any later I would not have gotten these amazing shots with hardly any visitors.<br />
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*Tip: GO EARLY! Walk through the cemetery on the way up and walk down the shopping street on the way out. Most of the stores were not open early in the morning.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deva Gate and Three Storied Pagoda</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKB9mzxXXYmG3ucdNOLszwPl0B1dpEqb6BfDthtIXwgdF-dEMNvR4SlmnUzy0jbPfAsgjp_37w3rK_KScx1vGX58AYafhyPatRGuY5eW20pWGUZQamvCDdJD9_Ba0eKm1yR5sR6ZY8aE/s1600/Japan+2013+472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKB9mzxXXYmG3ucdNOLszwPl0B1dpEqb6BfDthtIXwgdF-dEMNvR4SlmnUzy0jbPfAsgjp_37w3rK_KScx1vGX58AYafhyPatRGuY5eW20pWGUZQamvCDdJD9_Ba0eKm1yR5sR6ZY8aE/s1600/Japan+2013+472.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jishu Shrine</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDo7nxiUtvnwuA6IyVuhyphenhyphenjAOPOXRuRo4TZLaITGeU5MBlNfJ-Bcv4qasNBE7fzfrjH_1PDA_SOLfSfJ8hkUmmByC4meGsMWtjY9hGbiL3iYPSEsSrVrm-clpVkc43o_AdNDqE_8qm0uw/s1600/Japan+2013+471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDo7nxiUtvnwuA6IyVuhyphenhyphenjAOPOXRuRo4TZLaITGeU5MBlNfJ-Bcv4qasNBE7fzfrjH_1PDA_SOLfSfJ8hkUmmByC4meGsMWtjY9hGbiL3iYPSEsSrVrm-clpVkc43o_AdNDqE_8qm0uw/s1600/Japan+2013+471.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otowa Waterfall</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCi_aJ0iq6iLg3vlZDH4Pb9Jw4AbCWVXRk6D8hlGrVcOpH9PbCeIsuiSyrcIO7-8OGbGP9QCtTOnnr0NepTE-w2IsTdiYxd8oxfm73YJZ_5QCsoQO_8JHItYEH7rfqTZhBKa1rjszuSjE/s1600/Japan+2013+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCi_aJ0iq6iLg3vlZDH4Pb9Jw4AbCWVXRk6D8hlGrVcOpH9PbCeIsuiSyrcIO7-8OGbGP9QCtTOnnr0NepTE-w2IsTdiYxd8oxfm73YJZ_5QCsoQO_8JHItYEH7rfqTZhBKa1rjszuSjE/s1600/Japan+2013+500.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyoto</td></tr>
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Once the crowds began to roll in we decided to depart for our next excursion. On the way to the main avenue we walked down the shopping street (Matsubara Dori), where most stores were still closed but we managed to find a nice cozy coffee house.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This gal was up early.</td></tr>
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So glad we left when we did, the tour buses started to arrive!</div>
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Next stop Arashiyama. </div>
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Getting to Arashiyama required taking the subway. While we tried to learn as much as we could about Japanese transportation, we missed the part about there being no English translation on the Hankyu Railways ticket machine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VcmtI-HHRk1WCq0fgex-ryGZnkwGKOXJTH5iO5qRqYmIcDdxjrORc0cVDO3W1KNfcji0-lOozvpddKemR5pgJQ4ImxFUd_6fgkcC7HM_iO4k1VzQruta0YmGTdFC9aiukQ_lfxJ0mZI/s1600/Japan+2013+528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VcmtI-HHRk1WCq0fgex-ryGZnkwGKOXJTH5iO5qRqYmIcDdxjrORc0cVDO3W1KNfcji0-lOozvpddKemR5pgJQ4ImxFUd_6fgkcC7HM_iO4k1VzQruta0YmGTdFC9aiukQ_lfxJ0mZI/s1600/Japan+2013+528.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjrJ0ksQLO0i0GH6Cdxaefxl9P3VD3Mu5SZU88Lgpt55IToRzAYxUdQUzt1wGy6aRPS99UXPfWGOlR0Z0OL6M1jESIEAsl4WMF9zzfBGIPe7kfrwhFShP7ss42EMUmkUDiljtNBCk6bQ/s1600/Japan+2013+527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjrJ0ksQLO0i0GH6Cdxaefxl9P3VD3Mu5SZU88Lgpt55IToRzAYxUdQUzt1wGy6aRPS99UXPfWGOlR0Z0OL6M1jESIEAsl4WMF9zzfBGIPe7kfrwhFShP7ss42EMUmkUDiljtNBCk6bQ/s1600/Japan+2013+527.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>We didn't want to bother the station manager so we tried to understand the symbols on our own. Luckily a local lady recognized the concerned looks on our faces and offered to help since she spoke a little English. Man, was she our savior that day! Not only did she show us how to use the machine, she bought our tickets. We offered her money but she wouldn't take it, instead said she was a little rich at the moment and wanted to buy our tickets so we could enjoy the day on her. And she walked us to the correct train and waited for us to board. </div>
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I have no words, but THANK YOU!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnxXD8peBB3SCVz4p4pW6QfI1vuBBQjdm8zYxPiVkPi673ANW8jtN79FzPWP7cojGKujif-3R0v4aBSxmnCZfFE52YDKQm2JXIAJXwLeHhHvVneei-HpWAuLk8z6GRjpfAIWJmr2FOJU/s1600/Japan+2013+533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnxXD8peBB3SCVz4p4pW6QfI1vuBBQjdm8zYxPiVkPi673ANW8jtN79FzPWP7cojGKujif-3R0v4aBSxmnCZfFE52YDKQm2JXIAJXwLeHhHvVneei-HpWAuLk8z6GRjpfAIWJmr2FOJU/s1600/Japan+2013+533.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnJTHNjwVY8lcGMb79I-5dxodob7sXUY7-RNeA1Rdjr0oOxDFRuwPZTa96tj-mYyPFiBo7B2ylQlHRoxH1jSYWCyljXTlTvx-ZdfFFhZj6rHykuBiJ-1S_d-9BqsU4LCAaiA10X-b1D0/s1600/Japan+2013+532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnJTHNjwVY8lcGMb79I-5dxodob7sXUY7-RNeA1Rdjr0oOxDFRuwPZTa96tj-mYyPFiBo7B2ylQlHRoxH1jSYWCyljXTlTvx-ZdfFFhZj6rHykuBiJ-1S_d-9BqsU4LCAaiA10X-b1D0/s1600/Japan+2013+532.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Once in Arashiyama, we headed straight for the Monkey Park (Iwatayama Monkey Park). This was going to prove to be the most challenging hike yet. From the station to the park entrance is a walk of about 10 minutes, this was the easy part. Once at the entrance of the park the climb to the top takes about 30 minutes uphill. So glad my cold was gone by this point, I would have never made it all the way. But the view from the top was well worth the hike and so was seeing the monkeys!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB6z4VX1ytxu2DIBiClvRvH1WTz0off1ZPO1Xhf0Pxc0dZ3iCRi-0TVLkntrjg6A0z7wci0n7GxfiBRkpRhL81QOFarClqcImnAJexhhKchBeqozShodQ-lrdKciKT9lNi-wJoRNN7MQ/s1600/Japan+2013+567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSDYLU6WMmaMYpKBFOVFARa45N5Wdf4wnpw37_CbDk9QLVBCdsc4dn-UWdqIwCvKfWRSy9IA-xyChdXe9SUKRfxkzOKxc7FWz8qShnYeZltUuhUaOxR6_A65CkI4D47e-n7pY2XN-7uA/s1600/Monkey+park+monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSDYLU6WMmaMYpKBFOVFARa45N5Wdf4wnpw37_CbDk9QLVBCdsc4dn-UWdqIwCvKfWRSy9IA-xyChdXe9SUKRfxkzOKxc7FWz8qShnYeZltUuhUaOxR6_A65CkI4D47e-n7pY2XN-7uA/s1600/Monkey+park+monkey.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB6z4VX1ytxu2DIBiClvRvH1WTz0off1ZPO1Xhf0Pxc0dZ3iCRi-0TVLkntrjg6A0z7wci0n7GxfiBRkpRhL81QOFarClqcImnAJexhhKchBeqozShodQ-lrdKciKT9lNi-wJoRNN7MQ/s1600/Japan+2013+567.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
The Monkeys have freedom to roam the entire park, the gate is to keep people out! They are not to be approached or face injury at your own risk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFA3G88Cf9EhPrcGUGjhMFPyhZy97u0imr3REUd8hh3eH-7mJIDSe1Odsg-ow2oiW8sAmgvaVkBZw1BWJMKA8-EIKO2RWJk23jV5MMGMIibOOo_2its3ylSewAeVQ_dbli6i5odIN5JE/s1600/Japan+2013+571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFA3G88Cf9EhPrcGUGjhMFPyhZy97u0imr3REUd8hh3eH-7mJIDSe1Odsg-ow2oiW8sAmgvaVkBZw1BWJMKA8-EIKO2RWJk23jV5MMGMIibOOo_2its3ylSewAeVQ_dbli6i5odIN5JE/s1600/Japan+2013+571.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family brawl</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVEQiP-teutTp9dNo8dlecko3xgd7Bju6F7EvnM9vOw8fjZVgBkyAkYvVAm7wQ3XcqRNm6nHIn9RYIM0sT3-OTP7E7z37LEi9V-VKrwGuf3zU5OzHSmEiPHrpWkN_2MmduFHT1RVPFB8/s1600/Japan+2013+583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVEQiP-teutTp9dNo8dlecko3xgd7Bju6F7EvnM9vOw8fjZVgBkyAkYvVAm7wQ3XcqRNm6nHIn9RYIM0sT3-OTP7E7z37LEi9V-VKrwGuf3zU5OzHSmEiPHrpWkN_2MmduFHT1RVPFB8/s1600/Japan+2013+583.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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There is a visitor center at the top with restrooms and snacks. There is also food to purchase to feed the monkeys from the enclosure.<br />
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*Tip - give yourself a few hours here, the views are spectacular.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JqRHfwyvcId-N4AWISjYb0HMIEwPE4HKv8E7Xkdoh1t5jdabkSH9PxE8Izt2ZXPgqbzpvzXnIAA4jmwzTAb37q1N8OOEefFvShyphenhyphenGHYxscTpUjgLECN_bFFHgU_k4QoMZkg0L7wF3PAo/s1600/Japan+2013+573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JqRHfwyvcId-N4AWISjYb0HMIEwPE4HKv8E7Xkdoh1t5jdabkSH9PxE8Izt2ZXPgqbzpvzXnIAA4jmwzTAb37q1N8OOEefFvShyphenhyphenGHYxscTpUjgLECN_bFFHgU_k4QoMZkg0L7wF3PAo/s1600/Japan+2013+573.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmSIoc32iKQgfFIkHD5-J7vigaZWO24s59n1VMbd0vbItZu1QP9tXXZmguQp0lxwH_jcAkeKTdUyrnBNPbsY5ObNz71NQOqlmK0wj6t_3nsmomJ5k8yhhPt6vrGUge5-DE0rdCldeIrY/s1600/DSCF0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmSIoc32iKQgfFIkHD5-J7vigaZWO24s59n1VMbd0vbItZu1QP9tXXZmguQp0lxwH_jcAkeKTdUyrnBNPbsY5ObNz71NQOqlmK0wj6t_3nsmomJ5k8yhhPt6vrGUge5-DE0rdCldeIrY/s1600/DSCF0405.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBhT783j4R8jL4_OtAmRkwVCGyQnjr4-_WS8z8MoiYIE-Y3Rf1KgibJgOllIU7WMVcKnsNa7uA3O4hJtdj7jUlF4LUrZUV-NCeSu8uaJSlBFmSu0hgtorUULvDBCXdld4GEZI9Q3pwwo/s1600/Japan+2013+572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBhT783j4R8jL4_OtAmRkwVCGyQnjr4-_WS8z8MoiYIE-Y3Rf1KgibJgOllIU7WMVcKnsNa7uA3O4hJtdj7jUlF4LUrZUV-NCeSu8uaJSlBFmSu0hgtorUULvDBCXdld4GEZI9Q3pwwo/s1600/Japan+2013+572.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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View of Kyoto<br />
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Making the descent back down is so much easier and takes much less time. </div>
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Once off the mountain, we headed into town. </div>
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*Tip- This place gets packed, it is a big tourist area, so go early. Also beware that many of the handicrafts are from China! I found that much of the "Made in Japan" items were actually at the airport or small family stores not in the tourist center.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae3-nLvpvLcZQalvMiXkEm58PzaVGBI6mbXdNJrxxF-CxGTibXIYHrYaIytCiObAIf9GCM1JDeXzhsaKFMoIhAETO0SBXrAHvhEWByOKtTHsiMkGa0h3CD0kW0TafFyrumQmlRfUi5H8/s1600/DSCF0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae3-nLvpvLcZQalvMiXkEm58PzaVGBI6mbXdNJrxxF-CxGTibXIYHrYaIytCiObAIf9GCM1JDeXzhsaKFMoIhAETO0SBXrAHvhEWByOKtTHsiMkGa0h3CD0kW0TafFyrumQmlRfUi5H8/s1600/DSCF0421.JPG" height="300" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Togetsukyo Bridge</td></tr>
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Across the river is the town. Didn't get any pictures because it was packed with tourist, but worth the visit and the food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmylMmuzH990DG7kkSreZqoKhvoyBIYhCvVv4PsB_NL7aqPjhZoVVZcJ3zrvUK7Ax5Cdbg70qKUCvyf_qcAtBlj5qz3S4Bo5VWsYBkV9BTKbUZRYgWL5lFG0dEDyMeyJCMgCdF4nvrhcY/s1600/Japan+2013+618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmylMmuzH990DG7kkSreZqoKhvoyBIYhCvVv4PsB_NL7aqPjhZoVVZcJ3zrvUK7Ax5Cdbg70qKUCvyf_qcAtBlj5qz3S4Bo5VWsYBkV9BTKbUZRYgWL5lFG0dEDyMeyJCMgCdF4nvrhcY/s1600/Japan+2013+618.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Where we were on the mountain, as seen from the river.</div>
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One thing for sure made in Japan is the food!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkvBXROgKGXJ9mzCO4k0nncB1NpklFn6ULvP3I6gpwP6X0KZPZF6MWBcZ4a3648UXiSK8PjdoRVbrH60Z-AdT1M9HvG0hzq7Xtf_ZMqM4UQvsS9_5CWbT2Jh9MhHPlk5NU28J9bRtkzw/s1600/Japan+2013+622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQb-H5JhbuWPQBPdR2et0BlBQ3MVcnizRFUA_5EM59n_-5YJVrCHVPvOnTW9OLogBG0NHmoleagkasaDe2yLfKiHFNcICMHeyeQZTbSAnmsXDp3eArthW6-WDsW2fwv4iGXBbMJJs9iY/s1600/Arashiyama+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQb-H5JhbuWPQBPdR2et0BlBQ3MVcnizRFUA_5EM59n_-5YJVrCHVPvOnTW9OLogBG0NHmoleagkasaDe2yLfKiHFNcICMHeyeQZTbSAnmsXDp3eArthW6-WDsW2fwv4iGXBbMJJs9iY/s1600/Arashiyama+food.jpg" height="154" width="320" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkvBXROgKGXJ9mzCO4k0nncB1NpklFn6ULvP3I6gpwP6X0KZPZF6MWBcZ4a3648UXiSK8PjdoRVbrH60Z-AdT1M9HvG0hzq7Xtf_ZMqM4UQvsS9_5CWbT2Jh9MhHPlk5NU28J9bRtkzw/s1600/Japan+2013+622.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></div>
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After lunch, was just a matter of wandering for a few hours on our way back to the train station.</div>
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First we found the Tenryu-ji Zen Temple.</div>
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The pathway from the temple leads to the Bamboo Groves</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKjPhUbmTLH4k0IqJmj2sjzRB8VLgRS8t8-HZTCiH9NEUgQXhJY78DprRrlScn1sFMIzDB6hpGxAJ5YTs82VlkgEenjx7BhMAK_9i3GSAplU0oTe1VPc-wrj4GiaENdjHeTzPsNsNBLc/s1600/DSCF0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKjPhUbmTLH4k0IqJmj2sjzRB8VLgRS8t8-HZTCiH9NEUgQXhJY78DprRrlScn1sFMIzDB6hpGxAJ5YTs82VlkgEenjx7BhMAK_9i3GSAplU0oTe1VPc-wrj4GiaENdjHeTzPsNsNBLc/s1600/DSCF0446.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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This pathway leads through a neighborhood, where we met a very nice older gentleman who wanted to tell us about his time spent in America. He also greeted all the tourist as they passed his home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkLHUjlDm4MNyelucznh-C5ARY8g076WVmTOHL-tI3D9VgUP9IaTg4BRAc0ZeRu7vW6a0IFhsCLtIfF0qQPTPLzVHkPPOFAvtCtzQJXrN9ht3thP-T4epVtMkuj1Fcx9pGtLsXarivTk/s1600/Japan+2013+658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkLHUjlDm4MNyelucznh-C5ARY8g076WVmTOHL-tI3D9VgUP9IaTg4BRAc0ZeRu7vW6a0IFhsCLtIfF0qQPTPLzVHkPPOFAvtCtzQJXrN9ht3thP-T4epVtMkuj1Fcx9pGtLsXarivTk/s1600/Japan+2013+658.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Before arriving at the train station we found one more frozen dessert place. This time, frozen tofu. This was fun, the clerk handed the cone upside down to show how thick the tofu was, and it's not only thick, very tasty too. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed many frozen desserts, </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">you should too!</span><br />
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The walk back to the next train station is about 20-30 minutes; in the winter the Sago Scenic Railway is closed. The closest station is on the JR Sagano Line.</div>
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*Tip - we purchased a Suica card as soon as we arrived in Japan. This card can be used on most of the JR lines and some other's they have listed on their site. The Pasmo card is the same concept. So no having to buy extra tickets, just add money to the card as needed.</div>
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By this time we were done. But not before trying to find the world famous Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu store. That's right I went to Kyoto for a bag!</div>
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I had to borrow this picture (hope they don't mind). After about an hour of walking around Kyoto, we accidentally found the store. I almost cried. I have a thing for bags, not sure why. Not the fancy kind either - no Gucci or Prada or Vuitton. I like the ones that make sense are durable and can be used for out on the town or for hiking.</div>
<img alt="SHOP" src="http://www.ichizawa.co.jp/images/en/contents/index/shop.jpg" height="110" width="320" /> http://www.ichizawa.co.jp/en/<br />
This is that bag.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ichizawa.co.jp/images/uploads/items/large/4b9e5c24d51b7614c29f3ef8e2442406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ichizawa.co.jp/images/uploads/items/large/4b9e5c24d51b7614c29f3ef8e2442406.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
My husband bought an amazing winter jacket for his souvenir and I a Hanpu original. I can't explain the weirdness, just go with it. 14 hour flight, fighting off jetlag and hours upon hours of walking, so worth the effort. This is <i>my </i>Made in Japan!<br />
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Of course by now the stores were closing and we were very tired and weren't exactly sure of where we were, so we started walking in the direction we thought we should go... Success, familiar scenery.<br />
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Problem was a this time of night, most of the shops and restaurants were closing.<br />
Let's just say, it was a very long way back to the hotel.<br />
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Because we choose the Hyatt and because they have excellent customer service, their restaurant was still open, and since they were so kind they asked what we were looking to eat and unfortunately a burger was not on the menu. But not wanting to turn their patrons away the chefs agreed to cook us up some burgers. Let me set the scene...Sunday night, fancy restaurant. Guests dressed in kimono and suits (picture formal wedding party). We, dressed in day old clothes and no suit, looking worn out. Maybe a little out of place here, but no matter they served us with pride.<br />
They took our order and not too much later two of the most amazing burgers on this planet were placed on our table. I tried to be polite about the situation and the given environment - really I did. But hunger took over and I demolished that burger in seconds. My husband was able to snap this picture before the destruction:<br />
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Just a side note, this was no ordinary beef burger, oh no, this was the famous wagyu beef, stuff dreams are made of!<br />
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I think there comes a time in a chef's career when he realizes his pride is on the line, and this doesn't come in the form of a Chef Ramsay review or the number of Michelin Stars awarded, no no, this happens when they know they have made their customers happy.<br />
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All I have to say is I didn't let that burger touch the plate once I had it in my hands. These poor people had to witness the fury of a hungry American (slightly on the other side of proper weight) decimate this amazing gigantic burger. Now, when I was finished and so demurely touched the sides of my face with napkin, I looked over at the Chef's, and realized they had watched the entire show without blinking. As I got up to go and turn to say "thanks" they all bowed and thanked me.<br />
Maybe it was out of amusement, could be, but maybe, just maybe this was that defining moment like when Jiro says 'hey, you did a good job"! Thank you my friends for that amazing burger. I know my husband enjoyed his too but not with quite the enthusiasm that I did.<br />
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We slept well that night!<br />
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Next stop Home :(<br />
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We enjoyed a hardy kaiseki breakfast and walked to Gora station, much easier going downhill!<br />
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Bye Gora Ichinoyu, we enjoyed our stay!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQP11RIdSrZ976ux6qb1BvSuVV5KrJ2uUZX3oIH1cHblWkJo5ZXQzmBSxcrB1X4PqOKmDnAL3VfgRWm0zmTcv2qSmTCrA7YKL3E4uSDGKfKpg_LvBrk7jR3Pi1ubagdyjlw9NVWYRegiQ/s1600/Gora+Ichinoyu+Room+2-7-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQP11RIdSrZ976ux6qb1BvSuVV5KrJ2uUZX3oIH1cHblWkJo5ZXQzmBSxcrB1X4PqOKmDnAL3VfgRWm0zmTcv2qSmTCrA7YKL3E4uSDGKfKpg_LvBrk7jR3Pi1ubagdyjlw9NVWYRegiQ/s1600/Gora+Ichinoyu+Room+2-7-13.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjTO5bcL3KP2sXwtsQLrM8j1FKTk1mcV6GBB-_23K67_5iJqy_6EhWesd2IrVTtjYhIgUikVimou_Bqvcyc1gO4_wPz78MN1R47-Pi6gPvGoCx75eZ0bjpeNVLUvq0vuhh_OHXSh_guM/s1600/Japan+2013+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjTO5bcL3KP2sXwtsQLrM8j1FKTk1mcV6GBB-_23K67_5iJqy_6EhWesd2IrVTtjYhIgUikVimou_Bqvcyc1gO4_wPz78MN1R47-Pi6gPvGoCx75eZ0bjpeNVLUvq0vuhh_OHXSh_guM/s1600/Japan+2013+091.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hoY_V8fyz8Pdq0Oq2M9EUdo-xuzhhoTg8IOP7zRl5u_QB4erlNYO41RFGeLeLAAN81E4kPsOz6GfvnaAMfEC0Z2KiwYhlzEtc0Hw25QgM_WSRT5-NonldBbyjXpv3e8v6v-Vbfazl2o/s1600/Gora+Ichinoyu+Futons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hoY_V8fyz8Pdq0Oq2M9EUdo-xuzhhoTg8IOP7zRl5u_QB4erlNYO41RFGeLeLAAN81E4kPsOz6GfvnaAMfEC0Z2KiwYhlzEtc0Hw25QgM_WSRT5-NonldBbyjXpv3e8v6v-Vbfazl2o/s1600/Gora+Ichinoyu+Futons.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJCYJEGqdm9imBwBdF_a5CPfqA5KPF0Ub0QsTCJmMjNwoUy6Xmq8LOUsdOIplHLGAaC3ztDy0Y00C3DnV4cRPS08Rj70eUULLCvQfDuLlpjuPj1ocdDbjuiPkmOmUK96vDaSnlB3pxXk/s1600/Japan+2013+326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJCYJEGqdm9imBwBdF_a5CPfqA5KPF0Ub0QsTCJmMjNwoUy6Xmq8LOUsdOIplHLGAaC3ztDy0Y00C3DnV4cRPS08Rj70eUULLCvQfDuLlpjuPj1ocdDbjuiPkmOmUK96vDaSnlB3pxXk/s1600/Japan+2013+326.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gora Station</td></tr>
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Last rest area before boarding the train to Hakone-Yumoto.</div>
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*Big Tip: if Hakone is a place you would like to visit, please go during the week (we left on Saturday). When we arrived at Hakone-Yumoto station it was standing room only (and this was in February). I can only imagine how crowded the sites around Hakone were about to become!</div>
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From Hakone-Yumoto we took the train to Odawara Station<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_6wH-e9hNxsyJtfzCEjTQeGMQrXWBAaGYTpyoTDECKhVDhmcX7NFfw3B0kMBD9HJ_i4Fp3WOHGvwzhHqslAak1F4k0WwZ7vdY7bj16Z3jTXtpUuedkKUFtiHUw_W6_DMPWqMCOiR6Ao/s1600/Ham+samich+in+green+car+to+Kyoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_6wH-e9hNxsyJtfzCEjTQeGMQrXWBAaGYTpyoTDECKhVDhmcX7NFfw3B0kMBD9HJ_i4Fp3WOHGvwzhHqslAak1F4k0WwZ7vdY7bj16Z3jTXtpUuedkKUFtiHUw_W6_DMPWqMCOiR6Ao/s1600/Ham+samich+in+green+car+to+Kyoto.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: right;">Best ham sandwiches in the world!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYlA0Bp2h0GIwXte0fTXJs5R-ZDbtp4b4QXHH_uIV2Ry-vqD6AJlxWxsPRHDia6qt19nJJbkkekhymTVkNNlC4FY4mGiUamLo2OTi8ZMr3N_kEz-rHCQpML91vtg6ZHN8JHEbGRwq3t4/s1600/Japan+2013+343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYlA0Bp2h0GIwXte0fTXJs5R-ZDbtp4b4QXHH_uIV2Ry-vqD6AJlxWxsPRHDia6qt19nJJbkkekhymTVkNNlC4FY4mGiUamLo2OTi8ZMr3N_kEz-rHCQpML91vtg6ZHN8JHEbGRwq3t4/s1600/Japan+2013+343.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Although we arrived early, the only train tickets left were in the smoking section - nope, not sitting there and first class. So we opted for the Green Car (first class). This was not in our budget, but hey, why not. How often does a trip like this come around...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w6Hhx1BFP22Gpchtaf1JDfotoRahCHf3ZJsLTDIWWTzkhjXH8rajyvFKojrTZYXCmF7yfAuX8dLIj64gSaIANBt_qdE_btN5p17fbaIDnbAQLYMJHCcTzp7pvpsDSRknE5CH5A1AJno/s1600/Japan+2013+329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w6Hhx1BFP22Gpchtaf1JDfotoRahCHf3ZJsLTDIWWTzkhjXH8rajyvFKojrTZYXCmF7yfAuX8dLIj64gSaIANBt_qdE_btN5p17fbaIDnbAQLYMJHCcTzp7pvpsDSRknE5CH5A1AJno/s1600/Japan+2013+329.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeX3e0gAS7B4cUHQvRkWjy4cIx37XgeH5ZAnuCbrhGEYMHgEn4pfjgqn7829zK3lm3Ro0Klfaf-bumxw-STFPm90o5iAPBxEjPEOUcvNky24UcUWhch8sslMghT7Iz0MTsKBnpkhrYOE/s1600/Japan+2013+337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeX3e0gAS7B4cUHQvRkWjy4cIx37XgeH5ZAnuCbrhGEYMHgEn4pfjgqn7829zK3lm3Ro0Klfaf-bumxw-STFPm90o5iAPBxEjPEOUcvNky24UcUWhch8sslMghT7Iz0MTsKBnpkhrYOE/s1600/Japan+2013+337.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>From Odawara we traveled to Mishima Station to switch trains. </div>
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Here we found another delight - hot corn soup from a vending machine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVlx12sg1IypicnKmyDr-78FeAFkpZt8KqfOJtQvZUi-SbIEKV1wisaS12CoFtP5OE0uSF_oxfOwLHt7Ns7uMY36rUcROPuSMb3PiHykyNuqS0g3gJC_LMimRCTEoyowBFDppLzCb4bs/s1600/Japan+2013+331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVlx12sg1IypicnKmyDr-78FeAFkpZt8KqfOJtQvZUi-SbIEKV1wisaS12CoFtP5OE0uSF_oxfOwLHt7Ns7uMY36rUcROPuSMb3PiHykyNuqS0g3gJC_LMimRCTEoyowBFDppLzCb4bs/s1600/Japan+2013+331.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIYvCCGGi3L5fARk7s9UHUcnVR6geXE06x6ZIolJWX_FPYWw3tq0eHozctqKbudv4RX2MKX9tUhs4so_GszxycVPbO5-s3oAPCGHJ2FxeBsGLzAIEGxjaNyPJUs2WdqRNVnvdb9Qxyfw/s1600/Japan+2013+330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIYvCCGGi3L5fARk7s9UHUcnVR6geXE06x6ZIolJWX_FPYWw3tq0eHozctqKbudv4RX2MKX9tUhs4so_GszxycVPbO5-s3oAPCGHJ2FxeBsGLzAIEGxjaNyPJUs2WdqRNVnvdb9Qxyfw/s1600/Japan+2013+330.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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On our way to Kyoto we passed through so many mini-climate areas of rain, snow and sun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREbjV5AY6li1ZRaMnXVbL94O1tj92TfNh1lguP6ONUU6kfo0kTyayhykz8uHPoUVBS44kjarJykJbmWExDiBDjkUEe5g1ny9zyeH5Y9TIMwawzPXlbbOwcc-q17-dPZ-U_e08o1wktuI/s1600/Japan+2013+354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREbjV5AY6li1ZRaMnXVbL94O1tj92TfNh1lguP6ONUU6kfo0kTyayhykz8uHPoUVBS44kjarJykJbmWExDiBDjkUEe5g1ny9zyeH5Y9TIMwawzPXlbbOwcc-q17-dPZ-U_e08o1wktuI/s1600/Japan+2013+354.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisinxDQHBO1MLzgh1oF0MvQurgiYg7ASHl0aByaayme5bcjMrTANqeyw3ZbTj3a8SPCtJi9wUTurneezjoVSz_PqdD1p_SgiMmWGaDfBvzojAQX9KNzygrydL0AufytCSM9kehxnPrJKY/s1600/Japan+2013+372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisinxDQHBO1MLzgh1oF0MvQurgiYg7ASHl0aByaayme5bcjMrTANqeyw3ZbTj3a8SPCtJi9wUTurneezjoVSz_PqdD1p_SgiMmWGaDfBvzojAQX9KNzygrydL0AufytCSM9kehxnPrJKY/s1600/Japan+2013+372.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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By the way, the train has really nice clean toilets!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflMx5eI4NKm5NzT_XKSTKCLnq2AdrLT_a43YffEVrE6-ebrfk4rzXLZYGjVBuId6y9mFwz-xvf5sinhoinoE0Q5ajp_MVcErRMEuEsdJua3t1rYjw0y5X4UZC8vrAxtg4YCUyg0D6t9Q/s1600/Japan+2013+381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflMx5eI4NKm5NzT_XKSTKCLnq2AdrLT_a43YffEVrE6-ebrfk4rzXLZYGjVBuId6y9mFwz-xvf5sinhoinoE0Q5ajp_MVcErRMEuEsdJua3t1rYjw0y5X4UZC8vrAxtg4YCUyg0D6t9Q/s1600/Japan+2013+381.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy35aSyH9OK47xOdoK-JZZB6pDiQuPXCXgyv_tz1P7B4FNLJtwLfPNIN2dmsgrVrrygcdze-4ccSfuPvpcBhBymJr7gwkalumL_4KjcQTd_nrmu6S_t5HtJS1mtaoQKfATCbk6x61Y-aI/s1600/Japan+2013+380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy35aSyH9OK47xOdoK-JZZB6pDiQuPXCXgyv_tz1P7B4FNLJtwLfPNIN2dmsgrVrrygcdze-4ccSfuPvpcBhBymJr7gwkalumL_4KjcQTd_nrmu6S_t5HtJS1mtaoQKfATCbk6x61Y-aI/s1600/Japan+2013+380.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Arrival in Kyoto, what a site to behold. This is no train station, it is a mall, theater, food court, department store, hotel, bus and taxi depot and offices that just happens to have a gigantic train station attached. Whoa!</div>
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I couldn't get a picture because of the crowds and quite frankly this is something that needs to be experienced, kind of like the Grand Canyon. </div>
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First things first - FOOD. Not hard to find, but so many choices. </div>
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Even the plastic models look good enough to eat!</div>
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After walking around the endless corridors we decided on an Unagi restaurant. </div>
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After lunch we had to figure our way to the hotel, which happened to be on the other side of town, this trip was made for a taxi. Did you know, in Japan, the taxi doors open and close automatically. The driver does not have to get out of their car. Good thing for the taxi ride, the Hyatt was about a 15 minute ride. After getting lost in Tokyo, thought it best not to try to navigate a walk our first time in Kyoto.</div>
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Arrival, finally at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto. This place is designed by a company called Superpotato.<br />
When I first read this on a blog I thought it was a translation error, but sure enough there is a real design firm that creates these interesting places. It had weird long hallways and multiple elevators to get to certain locations, but was clean and modern.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dFJFaka2WsAB2q5CaW_BW9Ja169nYj3v0P8EWrIKx_ng8IoDAzBtM3QlGe7z-IUacsmCvjb8Dpb0D-taTGSHtoxD5PxI52BA79d-OCOkx_7isM9Vj5Z2SPfvh89P1fTGks17mUCuyCM/s1600/Japan+2013+405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dFJFaka2WsAB2q5CaW_BW9Ja169nYj3v0P8EWrIKx_ng8IoDAzBtM3QlGe7z-IUacsmCvjb8Dpb0D-taTGSHtoxD5PxI52BA79d-OCOkx_7isM9Vj5Z2SPfvh89P1fTGks17mUCuyCM/s1600/Japan+2013+405.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As we were checking in, the staff realized our room wasn't ready, so what did they do, gave us an upgrade. Ok, no complaints here. I already knew the room we chose was going to be nice, so what could an upgrade look like...here ya go<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJAYsqtaLfE8bxe8b7Y-_4Q6bg0fUFqztGF1t6kWBzvp773CLeJiqsFdQOnIvNCB2oqH0T5sS_DSQLzhsShDNpRzcaAW4gQ_NHVcZvJvvmZS5jmtlgPziEPR18XyCCpF9VUUSp-6-9Dw/s1600/Japan+2013+398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJAYsqtaLfE8bxe8b7Y-_4Q6bg0fUFqztGF1t6kWBzvp773CLeJiqsFdQOnIvNCB2oqH0T5sS_DSQLzhsShDNpRzcaAW4gQ_NHVcZvJvvmZS5jmtlgPziEPR18XyCCpF9VUUSp-6-9Dw/s1600/Japan+2013+398.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZDDnuBAV3dUIpMhfYz0O2A-nDd9bzZnJHE3AcoX8DJKv_gRVmtKAGqYl30iExDeJ20w4GnX4_aUjcwB-x9mI-u5atC13n8PaPnlaLKRc19__QN_jzjctMd64b7Pv10uWFpVgqovffYE/s1600/Japan+2013+391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZDDnuBAV3dUIpMhfYz0O2A-nDd9bzZnJHE3AcoX8DJKv_gRVmtKAGqYl30iExDeJ20w4GnX4_aUjcwB-x9mI-u5atC13n8PaPnlaLKRc19__QN_jzjctMd64b7Pv10uWFpVgqovffYE/s1600/Japan+2013+391.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g2bbtBV0P0pYHXQQNd4H6EHmhJyUd7Icg_-sk0K21u8LKjqB0HVYLFzbby00wHG8VDIPGBeaohA7P2BEOMS42ZEP9-y7ZNQMMQfFpgbxoBk-R-4zgcHyMes3Z83ViQaKm0KmymdMl1A/s1600/Japan+2013+399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g2bbtBV0P0pYHXQQNd4H6EHmhJyUd7Icg_-sk0K21u8LKjqB0HVYLFzbby00wHG8VDIPGBeaohA7P2BEOMS42ZEP9-y7ZNQMMQfFpgbxoBk-R-4zgcHyMes3Z83ViQaKm0KmymdMl1A/s1600/Japan+2013+399.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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I couldn't believe the size of this room, I think in most places this would have been two rooms!</div>
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but wait there's more...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_leV2uiT5-tUFgFTNmy6N2YL_lw59fzapcBk-0uixMb3_ROlBNLS5rOyZkTkX0fG5d3EMnp6vo0soJCWKaD67zStdNb675TZSWRAf2tYIEcdYfy-4Dkns0EHn7s6IH8FOlBCsCHc0n8E/s1600/Japan+2013+401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_leV2uiT5-tUFgFTNmy6N2YL_lw59fzapcBk-0uixMb3_ROlBNLS5rOyZkTkX0fG5d3EMnp6vo0soJCWKaD67zStdNb675TZSWRAf2tYIEcdYfy-4Dkns0EHn7s6IH8FOlBCsCHc0n8E/s1600/Japan+2013+401.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDtSi8SG-xOTGU28ynmSVBXxkdaWaVi-H4qWst8MrSLq6e1QcDTPVwhDb3EVhIWtLQ64dGTK90ym8-BzRXsjgoU_IVwjwumEZvgEz5MWxcoYcHdcEEQJQawjNxTaaMx1I7tsZjc7lnDo/s1600/Japan+2013+402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDtSi8SG-xOTGU28ynmSVBXxkdaWaVi-H4qWst8MrSLq6e1QcDTPVwhDb3EVhIWtLQ64dGTK90ym8-BzRXsjgoU_IVwjwumEZvgEz5MWxcoYcHdcEEQJQawjNxTaaMx1I7tsZjc7lnDo/s1600/Japan+2013+402.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>we did not touch any of the food or drink products, can't imagine how much that would have added to the bill, but they sure were nice to look at. </div>
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We opted to bring our own adult beverages and snacks!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEWAIdYsdfNXGySHIVRtOuGG_h9uzEadWW3veVtV2km4dWv88rxLVBpCx1tcqGebjUSReKiPleV7tAPOQJt_TOPzrs3hCzgzw3PWvPMzjSFBt1dQuVP8Fy9x3IKyZjIF5fLcWpeJ4t9k/s1600/Japan+2013+403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEWAIdYsdfNXGySHIVRtOuGG_h9uzEadWW3veVtV2km4dWv88rxLVBpCx1tcqGebjUSReKiPleV7tAPOQJt_TOPzrs3hCzgzw3PWvPMzjSFBt1dQuVP8Fy9x3IKyZjIF5fLcWpeJ4t9k/s1600/Japan+2013+403.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SLO3d8FRYu5G27PDW-WLqtXHsL4FjKMMWCKglr8zlfMSwqH02yCUUW_u-XEjHM_oXwTw2FN-50DIU6UkYTO83c_7jnOaq92LgWfChaiAvW3oUj7lIfFjbajFOaCqZz8eEDTJx3qKKSU/s1600/Japan+2013+404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SLO3d8FRYu5G27PDW-WLqtXHsL4FjKMMWCKglr8zlfMSwqH02yCUUW_u-XEjHM_oXwTw2FN-50DIU6UkYTO83c_7jnOaq92LgWfChaiAvW3oUj7lIfFjbajFOaCqZz8eEDTJx3qKKSU/s1600/Japan+2013+404.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAk6xSDbPZ091xIUiFkx5l10PBg2WERMp3WyYwQhb07H4UFgIAqEwLEX8ur3QoE0pZWbynnSP6BIaHfjossz0viQf4nK01qSrFT0SkLFEDL6MF0o993iWkQJ2-2ezeKVhTQTUcp_5YRQ/s1600/Japan+2013+409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAk6xSDbPZ091xIUiFkx5l10PBg2WERMp3WyYwQhb07H4UFgIAqEwLEX8ur3QoE0pZWbynnSP6BIaHfjossz0viQf4nK01qSrFT0SkLFEDL6MF0o993iWkQJ2-2ezeKVhTQTUcp_5YRQ/s1600/Japan+2013+409.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1wM-ttThgFnxWPmq3u1FjvM3-Ej6-eHyvyEV8P3E1Z78Lf8P71jsXhVvXNruUrJKiKG3b0t49DnhznhJUORWUO5Nyozvq7159wFVwm2SHL1d-w52vHovf1fv8HehUn2mpPw5B_wKf9A/s1600/Japan+2013+410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1wM-ttThgFnxWPmq3u1FjvM3-Ej6-eHyvyEV8P3E1Z78Lf8P71jsXhVvXNruUrJKiKG3b0t49DnhznhJUORWUO5Nyozvq7159wFVwm2SHL1d-w52vHovf1fv8HehUn2mpPw5B_wKf9A/s1600/Japan+2013+410.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shijo Dori<br /></td></tr>
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After settling in we wasted no time hopping on a bus and heading to the shopping streets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyMBfbNdqx1fEIsR-MvTjLFvcdj9Z0_hEMnVKW2BAJtZBnTGS06CDEPzrcSq2-sfV3vYsR7M0a4fOmlwbiRFrjmRtCzeoBR_17Bwq5HnlfIB4irHGxTZDPiC2NfO_eez3DuSv6TpPvds/s1600/DSCF0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyMBfbNdqx1fEIsR-MvTjLFvcdj9Z0_hEMnVKW2BAJtZBnTGS06CDEPzrcSq2-sfV3vYsR7M0a4fOmlwbiRFrjmRtCzeoBR_17Bwq5HnlfIB4irHGxTZDPiC2NfO_eez3DuSv6TpPvds/s1600/DSCF0319.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4ZSGQx-1oTJVl3o_i86vv4WEqKdlUBj0SNHe8nba_8j0Fj5FIz3vJCIhBkAdG6IO4c2Sr4VhNR7M2Ob5g4ho3KiLuG6NY2o9AJ0hrzafaE-QsB9FgFuwYbyN4yH0GWEy346rTRmN15w/s1600/Japan+2013+411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4ZSGQx-1oTJVl3o_i86vv4WEqKdlUBj0SNHe8nba_8j0Fj5FIz3vJCIhBkAdG6IO4c2Sr4VhNR7M2Ob5g4ho3KiLuG6NY2o9AJ0hrzafaE-QsB9FgFuwYbyN4yH0GWEy346rTRmN15w/s1600/Japan+2013+411.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>We began our exploration with Nishiki Market. This shopping street intersects with the larger shopping street, Teramachi, did not know this at the time. Imagine, if you will, a football field long sidewalk filled on either side with vendors of all type, mostly food stuffs but lots of other things too. We managed to find some much needed warm socks. </div>
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*Tip: American shoes sizes can be somewhat larger than Japanese shoe sizes! Always opt for the XL.</div>
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We thought we had seen it all when low and behold another shopping street, Teramachi. Now take that football field length street triple it and intersect it with 3 or 4 crossovers. Who, what, where?</div>
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So I thought the department stores and train stations were incredible, but the shopping streets are another amazing site to behold. The vendors here had more clothing type stuff and the cool crab house below. Oh, and being the weekend this place was packed!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeqW_C7qxtQweBotdWC_jcWYzf8QT9sIdi-aSO_A1al44x8bkvbRNf65rtogsjnGB4Iw_MWRqrpc9DeP3qtN4gWcrLCa2cObG2j-904_7BG4UgsaziqUfl_pssyGJRHhWrlwoDczfWE0/s1600/DSCF0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeqW_C7qxtQweBotdWC_jcWYzf8QT9sIdi-aSO_A1al44x8bkvbRNf65rtogsjnGB4Iw_MWRqrpc9DeP3qtN4gWcrLCa2cObG2j-904_7BG4UgsaziqUfl_pssyGJRHhWrlwoDczfWE0/s1600/DSCF0321.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shijo Dori</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmi51vnwaYbjmghei1xrvrYCMiO2IhKUYxSi5uDfLipBwrnOcWUj226S-6kgyeJT7YB0RBodFCjrs85Wf5UozcLs2LlPirS-3aJxRg3XVdlHtR8PFklj4rZAiCk8SlTQCH1bcKtKjY8/s1600/DSCF0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmi51vnwaYbjmghei1xrvrYCMiO2IhKUYxSi5uDfLipBwrnOcWUj226S-6kgyeJT7YB0RBodFCjrs85Wf5UozcLs2LlPirS-3aJxRg3XVdlHtR8PFklj4rZAiCk8SlTQCH1bcKtKjY8/s1600/DSCF0320.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgcTl6W5CgFe759ecobKtBDJ7PZb8jeDwzTW2ie-2moDUe10dKgTIjo8vL9TcsWPPppWtdQOJu-djuXvz2BQSnqiAO0HJf0Fdqp0e7pAF_xIDyTi-8Q39dZtzp3l0egoX3RjhcHyVmPE/s1600/Japan+2013+414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgcTl6W5CgFe759ecobKtBDJ7PZb8jeDwzTW2ie-2moDUe10dKgTIjo8vL9TcsWPPppWtdQOJu-djuXvz2BQSnqiAO0HJf0Fdqp0e7pAF_xIDyTi-8Q39dZtzp3l0egoX3RjhcHyVmPE/s1600/Japan+2013+414.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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After a few hours of walking and being overwhelmed by the crowds and sites, we began to trek back to the Hyatt on the other side of town. Now why we thought walking to the other side of town was a great idea, I will never know. The distance on the map didn't seem as far as it really was. YIKES!<br />
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After about 20 minutes and the fun of it all wearing off for the night, we realized we were starving. So to our amazement we found an Okonomiyaki dive. A site for sore eyes...and feet!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_JK9LvUFGw-atod3yR_HWV1J2o0x_JtJ0JUxelsv3Q3zIBsc_S8VJlXfQTZsSNqRmN0U677EjTl-qDNhNwGNQK7WTCt5WG3LTNuazYemmDPjr0YRfPQbvoQvqcYmjrIDlMtbaAVvpl8/s1600/Japan+2013+421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_JK9LvUFGw-atod3yR_HWV1J2o0x_JtJ0JUxelsv3Q3zIBsc_S8VJlXfQTZsSNqRmN0U677EjTl-qDNhNwGNQK7WTCt5WG3LTNuazYemmDPjr0YRfPQbvoQvqcYmjrIDlMtbaAVvpl8/s1600/Japan+2013+421.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnlnp_v4fS4-xih4st-wK7EBVhKxTS9KlU1j0QN8tJkJUC0EdNqodm83n3cHWkurvOLTM8Sf4sm9p8bBneT8n5DUMSabmPusAC9UfbfXBtylZJI8oJ65a8UewVTrOUeJ9V31SFHPLHfw/s1600/Japan+2013+420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnlnp_v4fS4-xih4st-wK7EBVhKxTS9KlU1j0QN8tJkJUC0EdNqodm83n3cHWkurvOLTM8Sf4sm9p8bBneT8n5DUMSabmPusAC9UfbfXBtylZJI8oJ65a8UewVTrOUeJ9V31SFHPLHfw/s1600/Japan+2013+420.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake/omelet type thing with eggs and all the fixin's, like meat, potatoes and onions. This and a hot cup(s) of sake made us whole again so we could continue on our trek. <i>Another time a cab would have been useful.</i><br />
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Next Day 2 in Kyoto<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-39058390959067228012014-11-29T21:42:00.001-05:002014-11-29T21:42:18.370-05:00Day 4 Hakone Round CourseA quick visit of our day in Hakone traveling the Round Course.<br />
*Be sure to purchase a Hakone FreePass. This ticket allows travelers to use all modes of transportation without buying separate tickets for each.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC7PBqb89-oc2HSYIkVIy8YwuuKujAR59VB1d01HzVwtQr312CTAyQX6DHozqXozJYkbEJifuaHDIFNUffgtMcuF_DkipS2bHuyCW4UtRkgSBb0N-es4c5KbuSxhz60iXGHGQ4i0D8Do/s1600/Hakone+Cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC7PBqb89-oc2HSYIkVIy8YwuuKujAR59VB1d01HzVwtQr312CTAyQX6DHozqXozJYkbEJifuaHDIFNUffgtMcuF_DkipS2bHuyCW4UtRkgSBb0N-es4c5KbuSxhz60iXGHGQ4i0D8Do/s1600/Hakone+Cable+car.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_FzA0uG8Wr5-qO9L7Zo-fE-LTn-zs65hLLkUweWVexs9fmchFT-S8pY9J2ZvyrbdNPiGJ1eFg-p9tW0oEr3wtJQQDjR1YgtTSYdpCgq-V6eG_-khOQVLBo91UGdee1t_e42oIc3D4fM/s1600/DSCF0237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_FzA0uG8Wr5-qO9L7Zo-fE-LTn-zs65hLLkUweWVexs9fmchFT-S8pY9J2ZvyrbdNPiGJ1eFg-p9tW0oEr3wtJQQDjR1YgtTSYdpCgq-V6eG_-khOQVLBo91UGdee1t_e42oIc3D4fM/s1600/DSCF0237.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>First Stop Hakone Tozan Cablecar.<br />
This train like vehicle travels up the mountain on a steep incline. There are a few stops on the way to the top each with their own attractions, but with only one day to complete the circuit we had to choose our stops wisely.<br />
We headed straight to the top -Sounzan Station.<br />
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Here we picked up the Hakone Ropeway.<br />
Come to find out, the day before when we experienced the fierce winds, the ropeway had to close down for safety. *Tip - always have a backup plan!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KYAmn1KT3GgBk55TUvrWhHRmeWH0hvR_1YMN99T4dnjno_ENOqXae_UevPbW9tCCyvKkQSH_GKmFbJzX4EmVO4njPQ1T9HilvUaYnFHGrVZBRNs1mUYRg_3r07ng0fLu2Mgx02PaQVM/s1600/Japan+2013+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KYAmn1KT3GgBk55TUvrWhHRmeWH0hvR_1YMN99T4dnjno_ENOqXae_UevPbW9tCCyvKkQSH_GKmFbJzX4EmVO4njPQ1T9HilvUaYnFHGrVZBRNs1mUYRg_3r07ng0fLu2Mgx02PaQVM/s1600/Japan+2013+122.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HjyprgjkNkXjN1qbiR3s9ASchnoU4tDEAW2PnMFNLzYNF5T7XXeyP5AuxwPle2Vx6rB-Pxp0QZoyQXy5319fcs5YdgWLsyYkUz3jrbP7s2D2g31BrUobMUKJQF62WeUryU9BcJQJAXI/s1600/Japan+2013+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HjyprgjkNkXjN1qbiR3s9ASchnoU4tDEAW2PnMFNLzYNF5T7XXeyP5AuxwPle2Vx6rB-Pxp0QZoyQXy5319fcs5YdgWLsyYkUz3jrbP7s2D2g31BrUobMUKJQF62WeUryU9BcJQJAXI/s1600/Japan+2013+113.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBzGCUZwnr-_N3FemCRhIKT8mJffmTV7n85ilBS1LSSxcfjhExS-h8ncjhgYWqRFjNPvgVBYarv_blPCggp94J-RChES-Z3xJwahyphenhyphenV3Z6A_pwOC56OZKQCZyKCvkk5EjaoqU0yyJK_M4/s1600/Hakone+Ropeway+1+2-8-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBzGCUZwnr-_N3FemCRhIKT8mJffmTV7n85ilBS1LSSxcfjhExS-h8ncjhgYWqRFjNPvgVBYarv_blPCggp94J-RChES-Z3xJwahyphenhyphenV3Z6A_pwOC56OZKQCZyKCvkk5EjaoqU0yyJK_M4/s1600/Hakone+Ropeway+1+2-8-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYOBO1s9CHNY7Aa70Oqc3Mlzd3N6MTtHlmbz7PmNNTSwaZFmsH3qVyIvOzNLHd2gYR-XH4O-DIwGD1ypeOuOklzQQvmGQjkmhJNShNA0cw7KYIBMdmPwC56wjlJKoSnsr4juRIScbsB4/s1600/Japan+2013+130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYOBO1s9CHNY7Aa70Oqc3Mlzd3N6MTtHlmbz7PmNNTSwaZFmsH3qVyIvOzNLHd2gYR-XH4O-DIwGD1ypeOuOklzQQvmGQjkmhJNShNA0cw7KYIBMdmPwC56wjlJKoSnsr4juRIScbsB4/s1600/Japan+2013+130.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYEH_f6C19JAgW3rL38jGRHkgihnm7h8VH3oOb0iy8YzOGTPj2z16Hso6OKI2k8drX94_IAExg-njl3MNzX5ehat1Dg1NlDFMEWmfb_yX8al3MWzMxS9ZGNYt7XtelD1wQjwu947aCbY/s1600/Japan+2013+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYEH_f6C19JAgW3rL38jGRHkgihnm7h8VH3oOb0iy8YzOGTPj2z16Hso6OKI2k8drX94_IAExg-njl3MNzX5ehat1Dg1NlDFMEWmfb_yX8al3MWzMxS9ZGNYt7XtelD1wQjwu947aCbY/s1600/Japan+2013+132.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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The ropeway terminates at Lake Ashi (Togendai-Ko Station). </div>
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Once at the dock we boarded a Pirate Ship.</div>
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The ships cruise the entire length of the lake and make stops along the way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQPxGxdF8aO4A5-LD3pW4vFRGVNj95dPiu2KByDaIyp4e2g3SlhIdFGxCiZ9M0pmYCKkZe5qp1MNXIu8AdvE5wReEXI7a2-weHArriSJV4jbS1yx1L0zmmxMwBljZsh5wwcUDCoSYyZA/s1600/Hakone+Sightseeing+Pirate+Ship+2-8-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQPxGxdF8aO4A5-LD3pW4vFRGVNj95dPiu2KByDaIyp4e2g3SlhIdFGxCiZ9M0pmYCKkZe5qp1MNXIu8AdvE5wReEXI7a2-weHArriSJV4jbS1yx1L0zmmxMwBljZsh5wwcUDCoSYyZA/s1600/Hakone+Sightseeing+Pirate+Ship+2-8-13.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZh1X_GkJp8UeLvKRhkMm6-Ui3mRBhxSA9IqqgoyHE7uXHtwE4_3Ih2cQLD1Wp1Pc2Zho7uQ75XSsc7Xcdwkx1XcY556h3LHyUAquDTg_05whF7rdhSRuVL1QsfrmCpD0V2Sn4O8ElHF0/s1600/Japan+2013+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZh1X_GkJp8UeLvKRhkMm6-Ui3mRBhxSA9IqqgoyHE7uXHtwE4_3Ih2cQLD1Wp1Pc2Zho7uQ75XSsc7Xcdwkx1XcY556h3LHyUAquDTg_05whF7rdhSRuVL1QsfrmCpD0V2Sn4O8ElHF0/s1600/Japan+2013+139.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigII4RN05pZL-upNFnxVO7KaineLk-kNBgNSSLBD__Cs4vaOxuGB0yJCczhozVy0jPlADjXK9lDUJWdkg1G_I6Er5kRe9mMTQzLO1GZGRq7b0_Zuwxgy2ZezeLW6DoFZjBOkYy_AmbQc/s1600/Hakoneen+Aquarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigII4RN05pZL-upNFnxVO7KaineLk-kNBgNSSLBD__Cs4vaOxuGB0yJCczhozVy0jPlADjXK9lDUJWdkg1G_I6Er5kRe9mMTQzLO1GZGRq7b0_Zuwxgy2ZezeLW6DoFZjBOkYy_AmbQc/s1600/Hakoneen+Aquarium.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Our destination was Hakone Machi-Ko, on the other side of the lake.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNhAUl_pIhD59OhiYp_KmptgQ0OaCjapgNOc0uJuDxzCXrzkqLGWeZYfS_CLegl4a-y3RvfCzf8SpzL14vBGrxAzfX_PgdSB6WN214kqGXrF1a7QxIocSDoRqWnqY-BxDB4z6QubSaXI/s1600/Japan+2013+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNhAUl_pIhD59OhiYp_KmptgQ0OaCjapgNOc0uJuDxzCXrzkqLGWeZYfS_CLegl4a-y3RvfCzf8SpzL14vBGrxAzfX_PgdSB6WN214kqGXrF1a7QxIocSDoRqWnqY-BxDB4z6QubSaXI/s1600/Japan+2013+158.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXZvSG5Gh5u-WJzUVY76nQTYalQ39SKt9KedunBNqj2yiWVSI-7OSQHBx-d7dzj5bDX6WhxJoIiTdSSUASEw7Hg9nhaXRc6iLCA2_aOAB8gu4GioNqs3K4uMurIAjEr8iilAwTsHgvVY/s1600/hakone+machi+dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXZvSG5Gh5u-WJzUVY76nQTYalQ39SKt9KedunBNqj2yiWVSI-7OSQHBx-d7dzj5bDX6WhxJoIiTdSSUASEw7Hg9nhaXRc6iLCA2_aOAB8gu4GioNqs3K4uMurIAjEr8iilAwTsHgvVY/s1600/hakone+machi+dock.jpg" height="150" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
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Here we found delicious food!<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_mfIDji6EKzGtp8QxQSt50lRWML-0fmGAfW7zE-Jj053HDdP_cm7Gaz5pPGD4Ku5mc7Y0TfES0diktEUyA2w4qf8DLLNyhwzLUF17RgfNGLNJrsZYuLkc0gkzwjXUwTa3hRmPRPx18s/s1600/Hakone+Machi-ko+restaurent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_mfIDji6EKzGtp8QxQSt50lRWML-0fmGAfW7zE-Jj053HDdP_cm7Gaz5pPGD4Ku5mc7Y0TfES0diktEUyA2w4qf8DLLNyhwzLUF17RgfNGLNJrsZYuLkc0gkzwjXUwTa3hRmPRPx18s/s1600/Hakone+Machi-ko+restaurent.jpg" height="200" width="177" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvtKZpQ5R_OHAonaDzaT7ob8KaPFIeTqXOl-3F-TwDtFpufAgLTlYQ0IAwJIDMADBidHhvLDDOCMzZOrs1Lp2MSC08TVJOrIJk9912OizoRX-Nns6Rtg7cUjjFxLyCbdIvwAiGj0Qgz4/s1600/Hakonemachi-ko+Restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvtKZpQ5R_OHAonaDzaT7ob8KaPFIeTqXOl-3F-TwDtFpufAgLTlYQ0IAwJIDMADBidHhvLDDOCMzZOrs1Lp2MSC08TVJOrIJk9912OizoRX-Nns6Rtg7cUjjFxLyCbdIvwAiGj0Qgz4/s1600/Hakonemachi-ko+Restaurant.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>tonkatsu...so good!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-DyO97edBU2eDoB7v_4akj307S3sw1OMP49SmJvmgjsUhGpzm15P8Je39A5XL6SDMkQKenf3Dy66yZFEUHKP__rOVE6Nm1BMXcyfOuFJb7l68pO8Sy_JID2NHKix87g2-fzlGzAascc/s1600/Japan+2013+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-DyO97edBU2eDoB7v_4akj307S3sw1OMP49SmJvmgjsUhGpzm15P8Je39A5XL6SDMkQKenf3Dy66yZFEUHKP__rOVE6Nm1BMXcyfOuFJb7l68pO8Sy_JID2NHKix87g2-fzlGzAascc/s1600/Japan+2013+165.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey there Inu!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT1jFNKrbvKncRnV8aXnmgpLsyab4N3WDfgO8OUvzAsJSk-M-Xxw_h7Grw5691YI8PqlHxn6Lg7ulakzDZ7T6iG4K8J8gAPcflyrpbJd8qEcl-O0GVC0HUWBsGwh5wbMHcGsdtT1HndU/s1600/DSCF0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT1jFNKrbvKncRnV8aXnmgpLsyab4N3WDfgO8OUvzAsJSk-M-Xxw_h7Grw5691YI8PqlHxn6Lg7ulakzDZ7T6iG4K8J8gAPcflyrpbJd8qEcl-O0GVC0HUWBsGwh5wbMHcGsdtT1HndU/s1600/DSCF0265.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">After our meal we headed out on our walking trek.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmAm9IrapeIwYaGnJT6GJnFeyRlT8hx1uMaJjQnzbnnTLujde152Ym1yUIAmpQ3NMIGjqIS71NMVY_K0kS5PoM5a-VIlhhcfjEONto95W8PYOKAvJJBPgH8KxfM-rRIaeUQESOLbZFCY/s1600/Japan+2013+169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmAm9IrapeIwYaGnJT6GJnFeyRlT8hx1uMaJjQnzbnnTLujde152Ym1yUIAmpQ3NMIGjqIS71NMVY_K0kS5PoM5a-VIlhhcfjEONto95W8PYOKAvJJBPgH8KxfM-rRIaeUQESOLbZFCY/s1600/Japan+2013+169.jpg" height="150" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo1lDYJf0_bg85byw5s0LOTA4woBc8V7ZHfiy5ajOvtDzZWtCod-5t3F0HEZNJjNTF_xf4r97mZAvq87nFS__0M3Q9367WUcL3Sdi0sNeOf4eeAXBEn483OkZFAoJ-FhePxbax1GYySE/s1600/Hakone+Sekisho+Toilet+2-8-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo1lDYJf0_bg85byw5s0LOTA4woBc8V7ZHfiy5ajOvtDzZWtCod-5t3F0HEZNJjNTF_xf4r97mZAvq87nFS__0M3Q9367WUcL3Sdi0sNeOf4eeAXBEn483OkZFAoJ-FhePxbax1GYySE/s1600/Hakone+Sekisho+Toilet+2-8-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">Although we</span><span style="text-align: left;"> were not able to visit all the sites in this part of Hakone, we did manage to find the rest area at the Hakone-Sekisho museum. One thing I love about Japan, there is a clean bathroom on almost every corner!</span></div>
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The next destination was the Detached Palace Garden. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuXpb5CO_QkU_QiafRQbKakVqZ0LkFQsq-iF5dR0yp28q0cMuF4FvuuA2J9UZxDSzP6TrmmAI34GHvZ8p3REaEb-6aoiZDz4PmBTqhwNmgoL7Q5p_F0nC-txZATOM4kfdkC2Jco4Ri54/s1600/Japan+2013+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuXpb5CO_QkU_QiafRQbKakVqZ0LkFQsq-iF5dR0yp28q0cMuF4FvuuA2J9UZxDSzP6TrmmAI34GHvZ8p3REaEb-6aoiZDz4PmBTqhwNmgoL7Q5p_F0nC-txZATOM4kfdkC2Jco4Ri54/s1600/Japan+2013+180.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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We accidentally got a glimpse of Mt. Fuji in the background.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuHWaeg4oYNUK4Hbuk03zngqLISKhRyDcBfdI3q2OYTcUkJ61_qii8IulqVFfyc02FhvFOMMivvdJ2bdwMsszyVp6fTxKFg_ci8Nt7yQp444MEfdUaUwUL21zBxGxVuNe4x_RQPNm6lI/s1600/Japan+2013+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuHWaeg4oYNUK4Hbuk03zngqLISKhRyDcBfdI3q2OYTcUkJ61_qii8IulqVFfyc02FhvFOMMivvdJ2bdwMsszyVp6fTxKFg_ci8Nt7yQp444MEfdUaUwUL21zBxGxVuNe4x_RQPNm6lI/s1600/Japan+2013+215.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71mIkhyvdik5JKSKUlmlZRHYIHn0lqiH_XlCYsCnvRgVjAsOg7kJ69TmOgCDnx_JPCqdMlw_YhP6S2OGg2jCXeqTnCbrdhJOekNZ5rzHghyphenhyphenXRNI4XshOUmi4UVV0jvRktLY3HZipRbUc/s1600/Japan+2013+213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71mIkhyvdik5JKSKUlmlZRHYIHn0lqiH_XlCYsCnvRgVjAsOg7kJ69TmOgCDnx_JPCqdMlw_YhP6S2OGg2jCXeqTnCbrdhJOekNZ5rzHghyphenhyphenXRNI4XshOUmi4UVV0jvRktLY3HZipRbUc/s1600/Japan+2013+213.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Since we were between travel centers, we decided to head to the next stop </div>
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(Motohakone-ko). </div>
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*Motohakone-ko has a 7-11!</div>
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So much walking, but so worth it for the scenery, until...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DWEcrVH6G5uQtHu2tls3fEh1dcWoDHUO2cKuiLmS3Qz6vrnHX4O_bOAlBpUEm5VpHNqIk7-DiTPkPACT_UziaDH7nw81pusoZJGROlxPtqWucO0iiwfap9odvSompq_UGTijAAvv2HA/s1600/Japan+2013+229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DWEcrVH6G5uQtHu2tls3fEh1dcWoDHUO2cKuiLmS3Qz6vrnHX4O_bOAlBpUEm5VpHNqIk7-DiTPkPACT_UziaDH7nw81pusoZJGROlxPtqWucO0iiwfap9odvSompq_UGTijAAvv2HA/s1600/Japan+2013+229.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu-fmmU0CjBHm2K6Rj1cpcB5SkiAsj24PQh5sJDwZInvJxQQtt4b1_CZ2fRFnoen7EYaiLANFy3ifLV8UtIeLg-Mnpi_nAGzZqtEOqeJFPjUPFSf_HFxEMZnH7jQy3-t38yQY5H9r6w4/s1600/Japan+2013+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu-fmmU0CjBHm2K6Rj1cpcB5SkiAsj24PQh5sJDwZInvJxQQtt4b1_CZ2fRFnoen7EYaiLANFy3ifLV8UtIeLg-Mnpi_nAGzZqtEOqeJFPjUPFSf_HFxEMZnH7jQy3-t38yQY5H9r6w4/s1600/Japan+2013+218.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">the snow started to fall again</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywAnNaSVu2bVDLYpMmKHCXCi9j4dvAXGA9wTJrfzsjCOToaja5bB7D6q7836dqUDMtXP-lY3ZsOoq7pg16ueVJlRry3X9l-LlIDEn23TIt0WUje-hFkDml_dgOBV3UrmR3VyQvtv4uYo/s1600/Japan+2013+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywAnNaSVu2bVDLYpMmKHCXCi9j4dvAXGA9wTJrfzsjCOToaja5bB7D6q7836dqUDMtXP-lY3ZsOoq7pg16ueVJlRry3X9l-LlIDEn23TIt0WUje-hFkDml_dgOBV3UrmR3VyQvtv4uYo/s1600/Japan+2013+237.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nAaT-aQnT27E9spfpSAN9uOjuqWmKhB2Q_FjXMCOj2GU34I68r5pJNEHHdkoDJfqxDLyU6Pq3x1d7cUuK1FZfG8xYN9r4Kbc88PRP652rPO-uPBNFYXoDlugbsLnCKhbAx6xwmiKlO0/s1600/Japan+2013+236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nAaT-aQnT27E9spfpSAN9uOjuqWmKhB2Q_FjXMCOj2GU34I68r5pJNEHHdkoDJfqxDLyU6Pq3x1d7cUuK1FZfG8xYN9r4Kbc88PRP652rPO-uPBNFYXoDlugbsLnCKhbAx6xwmiKlO0/s1600/Japan+2013+236.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibppJgmZsn526KZqy-Yv2ofFbhdJdyJNbc_H6CEEQUQDTl0u6GbHZqWnF2MLaxcuPPoxx8pZvFmlR4LbNOQNW3VF9XD-IJLLUXJnLB5b-t1_dejInrPhs8QaEZGIfpsElsyvLvLoNRcwc/s1600/Japan+2013+238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibppJgmZsn526KZqy-Yv2ofFbhdJdyJNbc_H6CEEQUQDTl0u6GbHZqWnF2MLaxcuPPoxx8pZvFmlR4LbNOQNW3VF9XD-IJLLUXJnLB5b-t1_dejInrPhs8QaEZGIfpsElsyvLvLoNRcwc/s1600/Japan+2013+238.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8lo34ESuN6VAGTzJLVj4LDV1PkFmkqR4j3aV8v9MSEjWLwCRRKC6weDj4P-9k5C0fbprRuKbovIjKXRlivk0DHWGpNlauYZSOeJ3R_NGCqPPj_Uk3g9BhwHXZpMVkEANbU3aTFEWkgw/s1600/Japan+2013+240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8lo34ESuN6VAGTzJLVj4LDV1PkFmkqR4j3aV8v9MSEjWLwCRRKC6weDj4P-9k5C0fbprRuKbovIjKXRlivk0DHWGpNlauYZSOeJ3R_NGCqPPj_Uk3g9BhwHXZpMVkEANbU3aTFEWkgw/s1600/Japan+2013+240.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCwoNSPmTi4r6X8OdoBrIervL78mVDuCHVphxdWNeDfIVSryt_Ms5CK3UKC4FZuaXGnLyPEfwCe6K1c-7flJoby0yAh7zzxm4o_MZB_SzpzanX6iVR1NqHqQeuidxHuOIzUVX4a8ubVo/s1600/Japan+2013+242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCwoNSPmTi4r6X8OdoBrIervL78mVDuCHVphxdWNeDfIVSryt_Ms5CK3UKC4FZuaXGnLyPEfwCe6K1c-7flJoby0yAh7zzxm4o_MZB_SzpzanX6iVR1NqHqQeuidxHuOIzUVX4a8ubVo/s1600/Japan+2013+242.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ-epb6BfWkDT1aPuKe8_WeGOZH1yPEHah5cvjuhHCSY7uaEViS6TsG8DhZn6hdxrMGAyTsW9NhHUUHGPiEEoS3RA7Xyv5knLBhonC-zlyojUQg0o4BjCC-9nXNk0MTq8B-8S4Ljn1MY/s1600/Japan+2013+241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ-epb6BfWkDT1aPuKe8_WeGOZH1yPEHah5cvjuhHCSY7uaEViS6TsG8DhZn6hdxrMGAyTsW9NhHUUHGPiEEoS3RA7Xyv5knLBhonC-zlyojUQg0o4BjCC-9nXNk0MTq8B-8S4Ljn1MY/s1600/Japan+2013+241.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>and this time it was a mini-blizzard. We were going to take the bus back to Gora Station but couldn't figure which one to board and decided that being on mountain roads in a snow storm, wasn't the best idea. So we took the last pirate ship back to the ropeway, hoping the ropeway was still in service.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34TdEkD-FfeDkyo4No9oI0w88T6WaCJFGUcIPSGr404iWUE1dqySc4BXmZV58ZzxGkuUt2XoN99ov_TZgU9vS_eU0BvUuamtVOy-wZY1xHlEuK9Em8OZsgpVqEmQN6MZTmUcnvKeGx6k/s1600/DSCF0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34TdEkD-FfeDkyo4No9oI0w88T6WaCJFGUcIPSGr404iWUE1dqySc4BXmZV58ZzxGkuUt2XoN99ov_TZgU9vS_eU0BvUuamtVOy-wZY1xHlEuK9Em8OZsgpVqEmQN6MZTmUcnvKeGx6k/s1600/DSCF0297.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">By the time we got to the ropeway the sky was clear. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TjfvR284whp1WNmbWKRtZ3dHyKhXph7kZTBFpPrWLAlvNMGiC53hTqEfn3wQH7U0fFt1_62G38Ig31lNRACpOpEOBsZD6ShLz6fxAEXnmeoFZ2KTSVuiSpLverNGfXbCj2m8sOrOQrY/s1600/DSCF0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TjfvR284whp1WNmbWKRtZ3dHyKhXph7kZTBFpPrWLAlvNMGiC53hTqEfn3wQH7U0fFt1_62G38Ig31lNRACpOpEOBsZD6ShLz6fxAEXnmeoFZ2KTSVuiSpLverNGfXbCj2m8sOrOQrY/s1600/DSCF0302.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwhRftHhbRCsa09nmcORjhIUMnHvUNpzeFEBaEH8UtI5I3p2a_kvqzbhVrFv2YAW68bKHJqEztY9DHk3ivJnju5we73DTO-rYzpnfui4RoHmc9LwhFnTqKJrU8BpoM80hiXfJey3Wwuo/s1600/Japan+2013+256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwhRftHhbRCsa09nmcORjhIUMnHvUNpzeFEBaEH8UtI5I3p2a_kvqzbhVrFv2YAW68bKHJqEztY9DHk3ivJnju5we73DTO-rYzpnfui4RoHmc9LwhFnTqKJrU8BpoM80hiXfJey3Wwuo/s1600/Japan+2013+256.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOxehRktDjZLfYvHGl8o6ul_e88TVG4C1eG4p4dZDvrCvI1ySLCm3VeVspA0FMp5jeLTD3_oUouyqH_xUwnxMyTJLddGnEdNfdJRtJ_YsvhqFPUk8vRJDqvQrcrL4YjGKaw-gzdZ2tOw/s1600/DSCF0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOxehRktDjZLfYvHGl8o6ul_e88TVG4C1eG4p4dZDvrCvI1ySLCm3VeVspA0FMp5jeLTD3_oUouyqH_xUwnxMyTJLddGnEdNfdJRtJ_YsvhqFPUk8vRJDqvQrcrL4YjGKaw-gzdZ2tOw/s1600/DSCF0247.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQdxkMA3vLQZnO0YI08HXBf32c_F2jVcRE5rGChECURr_EBqPmuoF011yGXPGxm7rNHf9vzHhr1eyC8FkTkEOpbRHNHdGiHzGxmUR6URK-iMEXPHL048z9fcYgHOQz5_l-SnJVFGLt1w/s1600/DSCF0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQdxkMA3vLQZnO0YI08HXBf32c_F2jVcRE5rGChECURr_EBqPmuoF011yGXPGxm7rNHf9vzHhr1eyC8FkTkEOpbRHNHdGiHzGxmUR6URK-iMEXPHL048z9fcYgHOQz5_l-SnJVFGLt1w/s1600/DSCF0304.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>On the way back to Gora, we got off at Owakudani Station.</div>
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This station is in an active volcanic zone. Here is where the legendary black eggs are found.</div>
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Although the sulfur turns the shell black the inside is just like a regular hard boiled egg. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAHPqW0zoioqZvAiU7OsdLQHwwnaib5XSvu-LGwVZFtb9UDzN3qL1BosGcOYNK9TtbBcIclTcsI9pXd9dmoKhhxg8VMKMmXh4Nc4i-HFwfn5iWzjG-Lyyh_ebEbS8MNuZnzIkTR869fY/s1600/Japan+2013+290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAHPqW0zoioqZvAiU7OsdLQHwwnaib5XSvu-LGwVZFtb9UDzN3qL1BosGcOYNK9TtbBcIclTcsI9pXd9dmoKhhxg8VMKMmXh4Nc4i-HFwfn5iWzjG-Lyyh_ebEbS8MNuZnzIkTR869fY/s1600/Japan+2013+290.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Hellooo Kitty</div>
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Is she giving me the finger?</div>
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*Please be wary if you have asthma, this may not be the place for you to visit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabvgfa9emRWQXjTLHYTkaSORoVu8H6cqhBB71vhqhqMDXmW_7bSk4Cig4zsjFQE9LnH_WwLXDopZPzwBY-eo6P8a8LCMfgkRPteHqV_HABsyjqe3PAQxuHhj3W-W9nAaP8TYEfTxV8E0/s1600/Japan+2013+295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabvgfa9emRWQXjTLHYTkaSORoVu8H6cqhBB71vhqhqMDXmW_7bSk4Cig4zsjFQE9LnH_WwLXDopZPzwBY-eo6P8a8LCMfgkRPteHqV_HABsyjqe3PAQxuHhj3W-W9nAaP8TYEfTxV8E0/s1600/Japan+2013+295.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKRTzWQLaFVzEYm22XT8LHBAktUi1CXUvGDSpkwLDUgaON-v_FC1lK-f_V0p1vKIuQevGaIcVrJfWSive-IpQA4z_q99dAQpWpRaC61LAw-7gjoS4Ig548OuL-NblxWcS_u1UdMFcCm0/s1600/Japan+2013+293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKRTzWQLaFVzEYm22XT8LHBAktUi1CXUvGDSpkwLDUgaON-v_FC1lK-f_V0p1vKIuQevGaIcVrJfWSive-IpQA4z_q99dAQpWpRaC61LAw-7gjoS4Ig548OuL-NblxWcS_u1UdMFcCm0/s1600/Japan+2013+293.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Oh but wait there's more, just before we left we got a cool site...</div>
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Fuji-san made an appearance</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvsQQCrq_w4LcoBM1RdaCtY7wZG41eAsX-PK3gjjB0QoBBimfHd1EkvTlc-xHAi_L68S8VScZvzaZanPNB2cyvCjnkt6PdGxbqktdkq9eAnv9dW65HLbfH4hBrfNBXt7zfZ1XZ6wBo3s/s1600/Japan+2013+280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvsQQCrq_w4LcoBM1RdaCtY7wZG41eAsX-PK3gjjB0QoBBimfHd1EkvTlc-xHAi_L68S8VScZvzaZanPNB2cyvCjnkt6PdGxbqktdkq9eAnv9dW65HLbfH4hBrfNBXt7zfZ1XZ6wBo3s/s1600/Japan+2013+280.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDEMRapL7GqvAHQpKWh02VTVpSp2jwDpDYqciX3YmPeMCr4_kV6n6GPlbDfKdb2WCw1evo7WbxdIdQSyga5-xTvuJOnp8ebrW-fvaYdIkOnZpZhoHhUDiH_Q3MMfCzdd-n_ebdPj_7k0/s1600/Japan+2013+291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDEMRapL7GqvAHQpKWh02VTVpSp2jwDpDYqciX3YmPeMCr4_kV6n6GPlbDfKdb2WCw1evo7WbxdIdQSyga5-xTvuJOnp8ebrW-fvaYdIkOnZpZhoHhUDiH_Q3MMfCzdd-n_ebdPj_7k0/s1600/Japan+2013+291.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well, that was a nice ending to a fun day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKFfwxGmHpAPxN5kDFETqgJftS8RBlUXe0kmrZ_w3g8CENsl2QN5FHLcKyQAQvDJFrLG88A06TuM47xd6Z7EBWzTs_04qAtx34QMN1OHrMGmuYLwkhmQ9ImtE1jYjMe6LJJ_N0oyV5rc/s1600/Japan+2013+090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKFfwxGmHpAPxN5kDFETqgJftS8RBlUXe0kmrZ_w3g8CENsl2QN5FHLcKyQAQvDJFrLG88A06TuM47xd6Z7EBWzTs_04qAtx34QMN1OHrMGmuYLwkhmQ9ImtE1jYjMe6LJJ_N0oyV5rc/s1600/Japan+2013+090.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>thought I would show this one more time...</div>
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Next stop, Kyoto.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-13427059139516968382014-11-29T16:22:00.001-05:002014-11-29T16:22:13.816-05:00Day 3 HakoneWhile researching "out of the way" and "off the beaten path" places to visit around Tokyo I found Hakone. Hakone is just a few hours south of Tokyo by train, and although I mention off the beaten path, I mean only among foreign visitors, however Hakone is a well known getaway for locals.<br />
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Hakone is situated around Lake Ashinoko with views of Mount Fuji. The town has created a touring circuit called the Hakone Round Course. The round course makes it's way from the train station through the mountains, on the lake and back again by bus, boat, train and ropeway. This is such a cool concept, the modes of transportation make traveling the area interesting and provides a way for folks to see everything (well almost) and get back to the start of their journey.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabg7uQlSTmbG9cplm3URh71Cgs_WlkfrMMMc6c8-Gn9bntqhX-NHaeRbJOpTLbmJrZ6aOFgqbZ-wZIcPfcN14Dx_lRuANAIIawGjR-VA-vQvTazcYhX2lJuHiOIjxOMTg97i3AmK2yrw/s1600/Tokyo+Train+St+2-6-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabg7uQlSTmbG9cplm3URh71Cgs_WlkfrMMMc6c8-Gn9bntqhX-NHaeRbJOpTLbmJrZ6aOFgqbZ-wZIcPfcN14Dx_lRuANAIIawGjR-VA-vQvTazcYhX2lJuHiOIjxOMTg97i3AmK2yrw/s1600/Tokyo+Train+St+2-6-13.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
Our journey started in Tokyo with a ride on the Shinkansan. This was my first time on the fast train, that was cool!<br />
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We arrived at Odawara Station and purchased our tickets for the Odakyu Line to get to Hakone-Yumoto Station for a trip on the Hakone Tozan Railway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeEnmanEmApPtHA1BMAAFwm0AWOsnT87pgdTJJEqtwpxq91s3NMmbQwzQfSh4JgJ7j_YGXBSjqNKTctJ0qxr-vJPLao3BFWju9Gd5zvLzFOXr1imfGy5Qge1cKsYDtu0iOfLXqv-qDCU/s1600/DSCF0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeEnmanEmApPtHA1BMAAFwm0AWOsnT87pgdTJJEqtwpxq91s3NMmbQwzQfSh4JgJ7j_YGXBSjqNKTctJ0qxr-vJPLao3BFWju9Gd5zvLzFOXr1imfGy5Qge1cKsYDtu0iOfLXqv-qDCU/s1600/DSCF0125.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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The ride on this train takes visitors up a mountain by way of switchbacks. The train climbs the side of the mountain by going up then across and up and across three times. Again, I have no pictures during the ride because the train was packed. But it was steep and the views were pretty cool.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRI19OsO_vHE9FgnSsAlP1dkh2qZmveUCZOaCTMH-Zs2Sb7ALeu5D13Q3598vz1_2xrqsgxCHkhfWfpkmj94tgpejioA8Q-Dlz4_onQqiMKRXev4JxwonEDtnWm_YVH3KdgIMzXdCGS94/s1600/DSCF0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRI19OsO_vHE9FgnSsAlP1dkh2qZmveUCZOaCTMH-Zs2Sb7ALeu5D13Q3598vz1_2xrqsgxCHkhfWfpkmj94tgpejioA8Q-Dlz4_onQqiMKRXev4JxwonEDtnWm_YVH3KdgIMzXdCGS94/s1600/DSCF0127.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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One site I would have liked to seen was the wild boar!<br />
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Since we got to Hakone so early we could not check into our room, so we toured the Hakone Open Air Museum, an outdoor sculpture museum. This is near the Chokokounomori stop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvijDMHVL3vJm4EFfjC_k58sOfJeaDlVv1j_E8sn3F58aMbJE7PjjzcmgwFTlKsoWNxE-M6hE7h835o6zwO01Qgn776A9AxtafFfFwT5W73pDEFqd4KFIiW_B6g8HrfSdC9kFw5ANc_4/s1600/2-6-13+Hakone+Open+Air+Museum+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvijDMHVL3vJm4EFfjC_k58sOfJeaDlVv1j_E8sn3F58aMbJE7PjjzcmgwFTlKsoWNxE-M6hE7h835o6zwO01Qgn776A9AxtafFfFwT5W73pDEFqd4KFIiW_B6g8HrfSdC9kFw5ANc_4/s1600/2-6-13+Hakone+Open+Air+Museum+sign.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AZ7I91pxBZPBvLQfXgc0Oy-Yyn3erLL3CMuM7BNNFEQfx8PsJNOhktm-vMe15cDcfQlJVedbjFinzwSazLKLjWhU8z3LLBnz0YsbssgtR8wp5Pqi0hhRdBVgCrj1leMae8Rn-KfSfg8/s1600/Hakone+Chokoku-no-Mori+Station+2-7-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AZ7I91pxBZPBvLQfXgc0Oy-Yyn3erLL3CMuM7BNNFEQfx8PsJNOhktm-vMe15cDcfQlJVedbjFinzwSazLKLjWhU8z3LLBnz0YsbssgtR8wp5Pqi0hhRdBVgCrj1leMae8Rn-KfSfg8/s1600/Hakone+Chokoku-no-Mori+Station+2-7-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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One little issue with our travels - the cold and snow followed use everywhere!</div>
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So, while we did not get snow on this day, the freezing wind was like hurricane force coming down the mountain. I could here sirens, which I believe were probably wind warnings for the area.</div>
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But we pressed on despite the weather and enjoyed the sites. Unfortunately we did not enjoy the foot onsen since the temperature was just too cold for us to take our shoes off.</div>
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We stayed a few hours, which is about the time needed to walk around and enjoy all the sites, and had lunch at the Hakone Yamucharow dim sum restaurant on the grounds of the museum. The food was good and not too expensive. There are only a few food choices and I saw only one restaurant open on the walk from the station to the museum, so we chose to eat in the museum for fear of not eating until dinner.</div>
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One thing I read on many blogs about Hakone, is up around the Gora area many business, including restaurants close early; I found this to be very true! Even the vendors by the train station close early. </div>
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We managed to score a bag of mikans and red bean paste cakes before closing.</div>
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Luckily we ordered dinner when making room reservations at the Gora Ichinoyu ryokan.</div>
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*Tip be sure to find out how far your hotel is from the station so you know if you need a cab. Again I found some info about this place and that the walk was possible but not with too much luggage, the journey is all uphill. Good thing we only travel with backpacks!</div>
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**We saw a few cabs at the station, but I am not sure how late they stay.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg00KamlnSdMciTCxOb5spm-vE2c3A5uiXQhnv8v-2fKArj9MjmVQJQh6JMoUZYWrKX4e4voSSIopdhYnrOnbk3Or0qwDuT53G13AyVvuZothHxyZYoXd_lfe7GiL-bRD0BYHgsqlxVm0/s1600/DSCF0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg00KamlnSdMciTCxOb5spm-vE2c3A5uiXQhnv8v-2fKArj9MjmVQJQh6JMoUZYWrKX4e4voSSIopdhYnrOnbk3Or0qwDuT53G13AyVvuZothHxyZYoXd_lfe7GiL-bRD0BYHgsqlxVm0/s1600/DSCF0234.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZ36ne_XVx-3xV9S3h_bRjzmkqfIRumBuiJ0NMiqCtZY2r7iK52GpVCcai7rTz0qDgdfnvgEqxO5P3rpoGmbuNi5_6rwxiinXhnqmwAWpgQi2D0FjAPoES0_9p6BdxFafxWd8MgPpSrQ/s1600/DSCF0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZ36ne_XVx-3xV9S3h_bRjzmkqfIRumBuiJ0NMiqCtZY2r7iK52GpVCcai7rTz0qDgdfnvgEqxO5P3rpoGmbuNi5_6rwxiinXhnqmwAWpgQi2D0FjAPoES0_9p6BdxFafxWd8MgPpSrQ/s1600/DSCF0233.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5UL-tApi4WcmujCyixLUQOBqknS2NsnNlNDFe0I3X0_mPk8LgYs7D06Q5CjBlAGXv9kipS0sHD8jcO-E3UFcpbZxkmjCmNpaGmjwagOzQ-JUfdXJceDMRoAI5sjLEmuCA0IQlOndfXQ/s1600/DSCF0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5UL-tApi4WcmujCyixLUQOBqknS2NsnNlNDFe0I3X0_mPk8LgYs7D06Q5CjBlAGXv9kipS0sHD8jcO-E3UFcpbZxkmjCmNpaGmjwagOzQ-JUfdXJceDMRoAI5sjLEmuCA0IQlOndfXQ/s1600/DSCF0235.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Finally, in our room, and the reason why we picked this ryokan </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKFfwxGmHpAPxN5kDFETqgJftS8RBlUXe0kmrZ_w3g8CENsl2QN5FHLcKyQAQvDJFrLG88A06TuM47xd6Z7EBWzTs_04qAtx34QMN1OHrMGmuYLwkhmQ9ImtE1jYjMe6LJJ_N0oyV5rc/s1600/Japan+2013+090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKFfwxGmHpAPxN5kDFETqgJftS8RBlUXe0kmrZ_w3g8CENsl2QN5FHLcKyQAQvDJFrLG88A06TuM47xd6Z7EBWzTs_04qAtx34QMN1OHrMGmuYLwkhmQ9ImtE1jYjMe6LJJ_N0oyV5rc/s1600/Japan+2013+090.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRhh_PRVGhJGCuAuGPQEdPIpKwzqZOEWKQtsCkfG6CWC7Dv8dn5mBCMDqVchCUfb63KCLXRLoXxxszmMiQ1y5aBRdGFPqyTnQYLuCqNG_0C-n5jhErTdX9rRCkUky24cOyLFzcXC5X2k/s1600/Japan+2013+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRhh_PRVGhJGCuAuGPQEdPIpKwzqZOEWKQtsCkfG6CWC7Dv8dn5mBCMDqVchCUfb63KCLXRLoXxxszmMiQ1y5aBRdGFPqyTnQYLuCqNG_0C-n5jhErTdX9rRCkUky24cOyLFzcXC5X2k/s1600/Japan+2013+091.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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In room (on balcony) onsen!!!!!</div>
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This was put to use immediately, and although it looks small 2 adults can fit in there.</div>
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Here is the view. Quiet and private.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewnU8RJMtmoUXlKbCIb9Ix9X2qnw4SWyLCSSd9jpujqokkATWHdvhQ6g0QU8QQDQQICS78TlR9a1SruxOsVd4pcsLuzeWezBFP8VO7Wi3yZzNG_pJs5I1OLdpTWJP0CCq1kwg0t8zzUc/s1600/Japan+2013+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewnU8RJMtmoUXlKbCIb9Ix9X2qnw4SWyLCSSd9jpujqokkATWHdvhQ6g0QU8QQDQQICS78TlR9a1SruxOsVd4pcsLuzeWezBFP8VO7Wi3yZzNG_pJs5I1OLdpTWJP0CCq1kwg0t8zzUc/s1600/Japan+2013+089.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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All meals were kaiseki style </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJV23z0_Vuqrl2W6rmyQ5fkqpacc7hxeauNoVJV5UuoR_WOuyTxUOdQWRqwwvuUb5-PVc3A-OxOXB_0Q5sj-B3eo0nQH8RluVl8a2i65DrP6D2B_HaM5H3nUS8wjLMMZzxzeLo4XpINU/s1600/Gora+Ryokan+Breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJV23z0_Vuqrl2W6rmyQ5fkqpacc7hxeauNoVJV5UuoR_WOuyTxUOdQWRqwwvuUb5-PVc3A-OxOXB_0Q5sj-B3eo0nQH8RluVl8a2i65DrP6D2B_HaM5H3nUS8wjLMMZzxzeLo4XpINU/s1600/Gora+Ryokan+Breakfast.jpg" height="139" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9U1qKmAhgct75m6S5xGkhpGFPECMlsnaAfe0M_6MCysRBMANdF5ako-JRJLZr-2l8hmSkDuN8f9xGfQHx_lUg3lB6G3LWW7Ay7egEcuH5_pZHUv_GSYIFrBdsPnN_LgpNIigUh6OJF8c/s1600/Gora+Ryokan+Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9U1qKmAhgct75m6S5xGkhpGFPECMlsnaAfe0M_6MCysRBMANdF5ako-JRJLZr-2l8hmSkDuN8f9xGfQHx_lUg3lB6G3LWW7Ay7egEcuH5_pZHUv_GSYIFrBdsPnN_LgpNIigUh6OJF8c/s1600/Gora+Ryokan+Dinner.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYUTzMVtf-lb0JqIPIid3Ame1w6LolkA1UKjlMkGree-EcmGC1UFlvdNBR7urf8UsTCjjVyLL16pY8R4xAY07vztZPQx1gcqXGW_kTaWaDVbKlncTHSmxIGREZN7ILRCkiiQx7OyZ2Q/s1600/Gora+Ryokan+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYUTzMVtf-lb0JqIPIid3Ame1w6LolkA1UKjlMkGree-EcmGC1UFlvdNBR7urf8UsTCjjVyLL16pY8R4xAY07vztZPQx1gcqXGW_kTaWaDVbKlncTHSmxIGREZN7ILRCkiiQx7OyZ2Q/s1600/Gora+Ryokan+fish.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">*Tip, if you do not like an overabundance of seafood ask for a vegetarian selection.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Next post a day on the Hakone Round Course</span></div>
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I hadn't built jet lag into my itinerary, so the extra time turned out to be a bonus.<br />
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Only problem with Day 2, the freezing rain and snow...mixes well with a cold.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbj7g_xJ8B9AOMdhlqJ7GJEaVjLpJbGa9VL9YzQYscx03zOfq7Jk01wYCpd-Td9g86QIFh7uo4V8Tu1Jxv_Eapz9ggUpBLfCLNO2842pdj7B9gFV8y5U9XnvemU1C4MLFZAonFO5wKKZ4/s1600/2+Sapia+Bldg+View+(2)+2-6-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbj7g_xJ8B9AOMdhlqJ7GJEaVjLpJbGa9VL9YzQYscx03zOfq7Jk01wYCpd-Td9g86QIFh7uo4V8Tu1Jxv_Eapz9ggUpBLfCLNO2842pdj7B9gFV8y5U9XnvemU1C4MLFZAonFO5wKKZ4/s1600/2+Sapia+Bldg+View+(2)+2-6-13.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from 3rd floor Sapia bldg.<br />
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Ignore it we did (that is, all the above) and braved the frigid outdoors. But not before a hardy breakfast buffet at the Marunouchi Hotel restaurant. Oh so good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAG4iwEJle1x71i05P5W_1_nDD_94iKkQ3b01QimlfRusLVLx5xDmpbTKjAShhJ_h8XonXLOJzRk4x0mNfalNk0Gb_Sf9H38zqtE-GnBQ52czRLB48GZBG9pvGkGtVyKIVdzLmqG4T12U/s1600/2+Marunouchi+Brkfst+Buffet+2-6-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAG4iwEJle1x71i05P5W_1_nDD_94iKkQ3b01QimlfRusLVLx5xDmpbTKjAShhJ_h8XonXLOJzRk4x0mNfalNk0Gb_Sf9H38zqtE-GnBQ52czRLB48GZBG9pvGkGtVyKIVdzLmqG4T12U/s1600/2+Marunouchi+Brkfst+Buffet+2-6-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Style</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztcOJFTvxNqEnvih7WrOxDZJo1s8iRNOooIgJeuN_VO6EeFtBhOvkIxOGGbLdGVAm0YeoKEjErg5K_bYWxLJeacHugBB5e3TTiQ5VK_KBiqbS3siMwjavvfq1u9VNaZLuUEDWFHLihWs/s1600/2+Marunouchi+Brkfst+Buffet+Japanese+2-6-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztcOJFTvxNqEnvih7WrOxDZJo1s8iRNOooIgJeuN_VO6EeFtBhOvkIxOGGbLdGVAm0YeoKEjErg5K_bYWxLJeacHugBB5e3TTiQ5VK_KBiqbS3siMwjavvfq1u9VNaZLuUEDWFHLihWs/s1600/2+Marunouchi+Brkfst+Buffet+Japanese+2-6-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese Style</td></tr>
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Anyhow, the day's plan was to ride the Toei Streetcar Arakawa Line around to Jizo Dori Shopping Street to buy the famous red underwear. But first stop Kappabashi Dori!<br />
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We spotted the legendary Kappa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MdVCEIaJJ45suswpabmEQCZrDitnEIwIgFNDXXNZNhU6LUwJg9daBzO9DxtWHf5syWzctk_daZnwRLZFliAD-MyOGZzsxmzeSfjYgaMEuDQe9SoZuRj6-iT_B4V6jRe_G2JeT7vK-KA/s1600/The+Kappa+in+Kappabashi+Dori+Tokyo+2-6-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MdVCEIaJJ45suswpabmEQCZrDitnEIwIgFNDXXNZNhU6LUwJg9daBzO9DxtWHf5syWzctk_daZnwRLZFliAD-MyOGZzsxmzeSfjYgaMEuDQe9SoZuRj6-iT_B4V6jRe_G2JeT7vK-KA/s1600/The+Kappa+in+Kappabashi+Dori+Tokyo+2-6-2013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Kappabashi Dori is quite an interesting street, many blocks of all kitchen stuff. Kitchen stuff for home, kitchen stuff for restaurants, kitchen stuff for whatever the reason and the only place I could find the coolest things of all...plastic food samples! Because of the price for an amazing meal of plastic noodles and the fact we only carried backpacks for luggage, I dared not buy any of the larger items for fear of breakage, but did settle on a mouthwatering piece of bacon and delicious looking chocolate covered strawberry. <br />
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Even though most the stores were closed and we were walking in the freezing rain, this sure was a fun place to visit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeamx7eM0jsIWqEScRAbIGMqt_UhO4X8JKxnbPC9skhEHgBMj7HWaAL0v7hLf045sEieDrZjmWxCTAeCL9HATNWyf6DLpYMtfGSX17Gcb87MFUM-lBe33FxJFz0o2UCAdCrn0atyaTocE/s1600/DSCF0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeamx7eM0jsIWqEScRAbIGMqt_UhO4X8JKxnbPC9skhEHgBMj7HWaAL0v7hLf045sEieDrZjmWxCTAeCL9HATNWyf6DLpYMtfGSX17Gcb87MFUM-lBe33FxJFz0o2UCAdCrn0atyaTocE/s1600/DSCF0108.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2EU8zKRFlnodq6nt2h3gxp9xSI6HS76sHTg1192KYVSAmcR_pt8GSxsymSvTM0dmCDh2tPcCZiLLQybEE-tQBEibO9rT6RqQm6gLzDK_6ur0Oltic2ObUf6-ZnIvP1ZcJ3kKIXI7hRI/s1600/DSCF0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2EU8zKRFlnodq6nt2h3gxp9xSI6HS76sHTg1192KYVSAmcR_pt8GSxsymSvTM0dmCDh2tPcCZiLLQybEE-tQBEibO9rT6RqQm6gLzDK_6ur0Oltic2ObUf6-ZnIvP1ZcJ3kKIXI7hRI/s1600/DSCF0111.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Next stop, the streetcar. </div>
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As I understand, after reading websites about Japan, the Toei Streetcar Line is the last street car running in Tokyo; so we had to go for a ride. Besides it was cheaper than the subway and goes all the way around to the other side of the city. What's not to like...except getting lost!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdfyXTx55BtZGS6rXiGx8ly6bQckif12mb1NDbCjUOIxQe4XelXmMmulCclrhDCsVjQ8RWKeZK5jDoew18Wr-ZA7Lskz1Tl_1dnE1ZQjPT9S-RQF_I3GqFGIdnHxuIqc54wUYyCJNL_s/s1600/2-1+Toden+Arakawa+Streetcar+Shops+2-6-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdfyXTx55BtZGS6rXiGx8ly6bQckif12mb1NDbCjUOIxQe4XelXmMmulCclrhDCsVjQ8RWKeZK5jDoew18Wr-ZA7Lskz1Tl_1dnE1ZQjPT9S-RQF_I3GqFGIdnHxuIqc54wUYyCJNL_s/s1600/2-1+Toden+Arakawa+Streetcar+Shops+2-6-13.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Our streetcar journey began in Minowabashi at the Joyful Minowa Shotengai.</div>
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Here we discovered a covered shopping street, but once again almost all the stores were closed. Lucky for me and my worsening cold, the pharmacy was open and I was able to purchase proper medication; thanks to lots of pointing at pictures on boxes, hand gestures and a very patient store clerk.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRVjJkEc6tRiyw1FeHesMBWOK3kRSqs2Q-9kNUMmMukDcMDkuNdo04SV6W4zO2HCHzq8y053sSaBRYKckCIKTE5_GRnmGSzyvMqtwp0FSjR_6ltgh0iJ7LK5uert-rkssaBs-oZJodPk/s1600/2-1+Toden+Arakawa+Streetcar+2-6-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRVjJkEc6tRiyw1FeHesMBWOK3kRSqs2Q-9kNUMmMukDcMDkuNdo04SV6W4zO2HCHzq8y053sSaBRYKckCIKTE5_GRnmGSzyvMqtwp0FSjR_6ltgh0iJ7LK5uert-rkssaBs-oZJodPk/s1600/2-1+Toden+Arakawa+Streetcar+2-6-13.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Moving on, we boarded the streetcar to Jizo Dori Shopping Street.</div>
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Armed with my detailed street maps and directions, I was sure I knew what stop to get off at for the shopping street and absolutely sure I knew how to navigate the streets of Tokyo...YEAH RIGHT!</div>
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Strips of narrow pathways I thought for sure were sidewalks were actually streets for cars to drive on, go figure. So with my interpretation of the maps, we bypassed many "streets" looking for the ones on the map.</div>
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I can tell you, bread crumbs would have been handy at that time since we walked in a circle for about an hour. At least the freezing rain stopped and we saw this interesting store front:</div>
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That's right, a dog sitting on a toilet. Now there's a site!<br />
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We followed the sounds of traffic and made our way to the main road, still no sign of the Jizo Dori. Oh well, at least we found the metro and headed back to Tokyo Station. <br />
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<em>Somehow I figured how to navigate the metro, subway and streetcar, but couldn't figure out the actual streets!</em><br />
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After all that walking and getting lost, we required FOOD. Now the one thing my better half requested was plump, juicy oysters? What? <br />
Well, that is what he asked for and darn it after getting us lost I figured he deserves those oysters.<br />
I read on a few different food sites about an excellent oyster restaurant in Tokyo Station, so we went looking...and looking...and looking. Oh my goodness, Tokyo station is soooo big, we finally found the restaurant but WHOA, talk about expensive. No oyster is worth a brick a gold. And off we went in search of other food. Now, I don't know how any of you are when jet lag sets in, but we get downright cranky and can't agree on anything not even as simple as food when we are hungry. <br />
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The cool thing about the major metro stations in Japan, is that they are malls that seem to go on for miles and within these malls there are gigantic department stores. Each department store has a gourmet food floor in the basement, mostly take away and dessert; and then there are two or three or four floors on the top of the store for restaurants. <br />
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We passed our time admiring the plastic food models at each and every restaurant until finally, low and behold, OYSTERS! Yes folks that's right, plump juicy oysters at a German Bistro in Japan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6HNq_oPLzxsbdTGhYqAps3TjE40h5thdqsL6NUGosXYigwB_wMT5pYHz3wYV41gfd_ORaGMVLO3uguiXcd3OBbaExyFJzzJFN0Xm5L9pSDIBdOodMu3OrZ0QFUeb7NttVdPqMGEd7Zg/s1600/Daimaru+Dept+Store+German+restaurant+Tokyo+Station+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6HNq_oPLzxsbdTGhYqAps3TjE40h5thdqsL6NUGosXYigwB_wMT5pYHz3wYV41gfd_ORaGMVLO3uguiXcd3OBbaExyFJzzJFN0Xm5L9pSDIBdOodMu3OrZ0QFUeb7NttVdPqMGEd7Zg/s1600/Daimaru+Dept+Store+German+restaurant+Tokyo+Station+(2).jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
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As the night wore on (and I swear it had to be about midnight), no really only 7pm, we made the decision to stay awake and walk the station. See below for results! Looked just like the plastic model.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhItScgKEoZYW9aXcLYBC5gESeCFXnEMJxr9UXyB591e7ddy3EB3P3GhL-_bJUEboDvxmCIA3yO1bumri5OThscUNUAp2_apMwGQ-Q0Tc4FOwQtySFH0-2Zp2k4d8rnsqhhEOJ2pHUH_w/s1600/Tokyo+Station+Ice+Cream+2-6-13+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhItScgKEoZYW9aXcLYBC5gESeCFXnEMJxr9UXyB591e7ddy3EB3P3GhL-_bJUEboDvxmCIA3yO1bumri5OThscUNUAp2_apMwGQ-Q0Tc4FOwQtySFH0-2Zp2k4d8rnsqhhEOJ2pHUH_w/s1600/Tokyo+Station+Ice+Cream+2-6-13+(2).jpg" height="320" width="311" /></a></div>
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We did it! We stayed awake until a normal bed time. </div>
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TIP - Any more trips abroad require a jet lag day at the beginning and the end - lesson learned!</div>
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Next Stop, Hakone!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-79160160218112488062014-02-09T15:53:00.000-05:002014-02-09T15:53:09.375-05:00Japan Trip! Arrival.<br />
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Our very first trip to Japan, what an adventure. At first I was worried about not speaking the language but was pleasantly surprised to find us able to get around and asking for things using our handy dictionary and pictures for food. Plus many Japanese folks know some English and don't hesitate to try and have a conversion. Next time I promise to have learned more Japanese!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUQ54MKBThrEIS8vuB9fGi0G4sc7qMq2C-gQFGsYKxcTYTZdpyQusbflXDrulNA4bobwCOZcze76ccu2dc_bOkH7-saypciTHCz9mq4JEMOHdzioVXlhyphenhyphenjEwZaHPSzLZzUw_OYtFXUOA/s1600/02092014897+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUQ54MKBThrEIS8vuB9fGi0G4sc7qMq2C-gQFGsYKxcTYTZdpyQusbflXDrulNA4bobwCOZcze76ccu2dc_bOkH7-saypciTHCz9mq4JEMOHdzioVXlhyphenhyphenjEwZaHPSzLZzUw_OYtFXUOA/s1600/02092014897+(2).jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a></div>
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A quick re-visit through pictures of our trip. <br />
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A little background first, I spent months reading blogs and travel sites to find the most "off the beaten path" non-touristy places to visit. Our itinerary turned out to be over 20 pages long that included down to the minute train schedules and to the penny costs.<br />
A very handy guide it made. I included at least 3 places to visit at any given time, according to weather and mood. We had limited time (6 days) getting lost and wandering wasn't a choice for this visit.<br />
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Call me obsessive, I know, but my husband was just as bad when it came to choosing airline seats and schedules (our tickets were changed at least 2 times). But this made for an extra day in Japan - Bonus! Have to give a big thanks to all those obsessive folks who blog about airlines - who knew there were so many...<br />
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So, here goes.<br />
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We began our trip in DC at National Airport which took us to Los Angeles (not a fan of LAX!)<br />
This is when changing the tickets worked out to our advantage. We went from an overnight layover in LA to a 5 hour layover and added a day to our trip. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrRMbxKyYnNZoEaDWvhXjEjvmco7F4sSmwbklthZqNE6Mn7yKtvIwkB4YtChB23CeSUYj6vYg4c86-HhctR_f9xEc57pS2_rQzLMVfXgb-FER41VQEjdo1wYywJXQo51PiylAVU3ru2Q/s1600/DCA+Delta+Lounge+Capitol+Bldg+2-4-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvChQJwg0YIaiSrtyVZucceGA9iMDKNSsNNQ0xBrXMZ3sux_NbA14zHYRJhW06gXaqGq_RKjXlU76Vg716G7Jd7zEvkhNixa4L4vYsDGx6lk56BR4_CdBl3SfAgKnWfacsGvXx5UQaIKE/s1600/1+DCA+Delta+Lounge+2-4-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvChQJwg0YIaiSrtyVZucceGA9iMDKNSsNNQ0xBrXMZ3sux_NbA14zHYRJhW06gXaqGq_RKjXlU76Vg716G7Jd7zEvkhNixa4L4vYsDGx6lk56BR4_CdBl3SfAgKnWfacsGvXx5UQaIKE/s1600/1+DCA+Delta+Lounge+2-4-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
The Delta lounge in DCA served a continental breakfast of oatmeal, cereal, muffins and juice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT18C4OOlj6KesGp-1vwYuw_d0DywvWK3eTFgrca0hNuCR0fOBPZIxCWxWXVrIHqKz1RSd6jFHmG02qXEz_9_Kigixll5gGyPsojTdnLiLOUzfvscCc-3bXRBd1tbYwsykcphobZmXgdw/s1600/LAX+Delta+Ladies+Lounge+2-4-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT18C4OOlj6KesGp-1vwYuw_d0DywvWK3eTFgrca0hNuCR0fOBPZIxCWxWXVrIHqKz1RSd6jFHmG02qXEz_9_Kigixll5gGyPsojTdnLiLOUzfvscCc-3bXRBd1tbYwsykcphobZmXgdw/s1600/LAX+Delta+Ladies+Lounge+2-4-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT18C4OOlj6KesGp-1vwYuw_d0DywvWK3eTFgrca0hNuCR0fOBPZIxCWxWXVrIHqKz1RSd6jFHmG02qXEz_9_Kigixll5gGyPsojTdnLiLOUzfvscCc-3bXRBd1tbYwsykcphobZmXgdw/s1600/LAX+Delta+Ladies+Lounge+2-4-2013.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
The lounge in LAX is nicely decorated, although very overcrowded, which is why I could only get a picture of the restroom.<br />
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The Delta Lounge in LAX also has a well stocked bar - but the drinks are not free; and there were only snacks like trail mix and pretzels to munch on.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEUbgbhk6wjzsEdcF3tkbU6mKvgFBFDGb_LZ2uTQzOUo2leSECTjeHLYW_2OavccVFWjfIPUlJVeys8oCe1xNC-f8H9QAhUMZEVS4Z_gN55SiWEI_1nkckKw9M5fmvtUMRjvh8PbwqXM/s1600/LAX+Delta+Lounge+-+NOT+FREE+2-4-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEUbgbhk6wjzsEdcF3tkbU6mKvgFBFDGb_LZ2uTQzOUo2leSECTjeHLYW_2OavccVFWjfIPUlJVeys8oCe1xNC-f8H9QAhUMZEVS4Z_gN55SiWEI_1nkckKw9M5fmvtUMRjvh8PbwqXM/s1600/LAX+Delta+Lounge+-+NOT+FREE+2-4-2013.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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We were so happy to board the 5pm flight to Haneda! Not only to get away from the LAX terminal but also (drum roll please) this was the first - and most likely only time- I have been in first class!</div>
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And WOW what a ride. </div>
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Being Chinese New Year the plane was nearly empty and we had the 2nd First Class cabin all to ourselves. So cool. Once seated we were served Sparkling Wine, and after a bottle and a half it was time for take off - thank you Ms. Vicky. </div>
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Dinner was a choice of Western or Japanese. We had one of each and I can tell you NOT to get Japanese dinner on an American carrier! What was I thinking? I managed to eat all my food but YUK! Anyhow, being the only passengers in the section we had our choice of ice cream or fruits and cheeses or both. I hate to let food go to waste so one of each it was. Why can't they offer dessert first?</div>
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Did you know the toilets in the front of the plane are twice as big as the ones in the back? My butt hardly fits in the door in the back of the plane toilets, but what a treat to have a room that was so big.</div>
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<em>Going to be hard having this knowledge sitting in the back of plane for any future trips.</em> </div>
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Anyhow, as I cannot sleep in any moving vehicle I watched many movies and enjoyed the progress of my cold into a slight flu. Even Abe Lincoln Vampire Slayer is awesome on such a long flight.</div>
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Did you know at Haneda Airport at the entrance to Passport Control there is a security area with guards and a thermal camera? Well there is, and it is a good darn thing that someone posted this in a blog I read before getting to the airport, because I knew to hide behind my husband as we entered the area. No thermals on me. Who knows what they would have done if they noticed I had a fever...sent me back to LA - oh the torture that would have been. </div>
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Before landing at about 9pm in Tokyo, we were treated to one more meal of I think everything that was left on the plane, some kind of breakfast, lunch and dinner combo - and again leaving nothing to waste, my poor tummy! </div>
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More about Passport Control, on other blogs I have read most folks have gotten through the lines rather quickly, but of course on my trip this turned into over an hour of passing up the restroom and not wanting to leave the line (just in case it moved). I think 4 or 5 flights arrived at one time. Oh the agony. TIP - go to the bathroom before entering passport control!!!</div>
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After getting our passports stamped and having no luggage only backpacks off we went to the Haneda Airport Subway line. The ticket terminal is fairly easy to navigate and we purchased our tickets to Hamamatsucho Station. The trip took about 30 minutes and $11.40 for 2. Then transferred to the JR Yamamote Line for 6 minutes to Tokyo Station (about $3.60).</div>
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Sorry for the lack of pictures here, not sure why I didn't pull out the camera for the first class experience and the subway had many people so I did not want to be rude. But there are plenty ahead.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMba1evR9vX3iQcEsRLponJ7aN3SEXj0kecLEbhwmfSCr0te0FPPf1Nn5NXdk1i2mJWiRuwqZqh7JQQwJECAOoGKjltH_g6pvr8ekVwNoBOSE9Gbt-vaYmzDrWaLJ4IrCJ_yCA7S95wa0/s1600/Tokyo+Station+almost+midnight+2-5-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMba1evR9vX3iQcEsRLponJ7aN3SEXj0kecLEbhwmfSCr0te0FPPf1Nn5NXdk1i2mJWiRuwqZqh7JQQwJECAOoGKjltH_g6pvr8ekVwNoBOSE9Gbt-vaYmzDrWaLJ4IrCJ_yCA7S95wa0/s1600/Tokyo+Station+almost+midnight+2-5-2013.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo Station at midnight</td></tr>
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We stayed at an very nice hotel right at Tokyo Station, the Hotel Metropolitan Marunouchi.</div>
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Mind you, their website read that the hotel is right at the station. After walking around the block three times and through the station twice we finally called the hotel desk. By the way, they are in a building called the Sapia Building right at the exit where we passed multiple times. TIP - ask if the hotel is located within another building - oops missed that one.</div>
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The room was small but clean and nicely decorated.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FRO66XmvFcihyphenhyphenkt2WRR4gqwMllcMA2MGaAj_FYPoW3XPUg__pfjrlQnhZ_sIa4nas4_z6ieb3Hx0g-EY_M6JJ2ORdJz1vkJ8uOlYSVz7IkpgtgEEMRNpev9mmJtxlM8Zxj7RbW_2Gok/s1600/Marunouchi+Hotel+Desk+2-5-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FRO66XmvFcihyphenhyphenkt2WRR4gqwMllcMA2MGaAj_FYPoW3XPUg__pfjrlQnhZ_sIa4nas4_z6ieb3Hx0g-EY_M6JJ2ORdJz1vkJ8uOlYSVz7IkpgtgEEMRNpev9mmJtxlM8Zxj7RbW_2Gok/s1600/Marunouchi+Hotel+Desk+2-5-2013.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiELE2YUK7OFG2wOkHI_XGy3GIZbatT65ob6AR-D1P_Hz6X8PiMRSsbIVpi9Om47B-IJX6wQAONwGd0PzqRazzc6FIXuSpzxD-dNfqNQ97V1N6ptTkBdyJsdHsvZGoo1Z4VnIEW1egLPQ/s1600/Marunouchi+Bathroom+2-5-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiELE2YUK7OFG2wOkHI_XGy3GIZbatT65ob6AR-D1P_Hz6X8PiMRSsbIVpi9Om47B-IJX6wQAONwGd0PzqRazzc6FIXuSpzxD-dNfqNQ97V1N6ptTkBdyJsdHsvZGoo1Z4VnIEW1egLPQ/s1600/Marunouchi+Bathroom+2-5-2013.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IYYq6fbb2T0ZaBeDUi2WKx5kFzf0LvEWy7YpVTvOvtFQjlJJhEpwPwzofP1PwLx8c2y_r2PZI_Y8q-TkeTIaTx0cr-Y_GT6ysuPcRyGjhqqZVQFCSEb8BW7xFWhTtsgGu-BQvLXyBEw/s1600/Marunouchi+Room+Bed+2-5-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IYYq6fbb2T0ZaBeDUi2WKx5kFzf0LvEWy7YpVTvOvtFQjlJJhEpwPwzofP1PwLx8c2y_r2PZI_Y8q-TkeTIaTx0cr-Y_GT6ysuPcRyGjhqqZVQFCSEb8BW7xFWhTtsgGu-BQvLXyBEw/s1600/Marunouchi+Room+Bed+2-5-2013.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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The view of the Shinkansen tracks from room.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgry__tN0YO9zvA41YhgwDDm5nvgdrJ8xb1uZefQtveLY_18R-2x9BPKpbXi1jH5duq2UlpeBon3W3Exw6P82LLA76Tk72FN_1APoVle0pSdcIgRJMiDqxS_W-nl1TxTUJUYfU8eALxLAk/s1600/Tokyo+Station+View+from+Marunouchi+2-5-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgry__tN0YO9zvA41YhgwDDm5nvgdrJ8xb1uZefQtveLY_18R-2x9BPKpbXi1jH5duq2UlpeBon3W3Exw6P82LLA76Tk72FN_1APoVle0pSdcIgRJMiDqxS_W-nl1TxTUJUYfU8eALxLAk/s1600/Tokyo+Station+View+from+Marunouchi+2-5-13.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This being Lola, l-o-l-a, Lola. She is no show dog, all rough and tumble this one is.</div>
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<img border="0" closure_lm_126141="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3jWeyky0yUaOWysGoN1GoeIjPa1bsiQEUnCD-SpFUpTTNohFNLLQumHssmAkw3uWllO4e9WdzZLV_0sPpLX4bH-vLpWV0W_MEVbkp1IXS4pAK9cP0odqaKdtUwPqlkcRv0EggM2gI8Y/s1600/hello+lola.jpg" height="240" isa="true" width="320" /></div>
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We thought adopting Max's sister would help tame the beast that is the Maxinator. </div>
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Funny thing this idea, turns out Lola is twice as crazy as Maximillion. She doesn't stop moving except to catch a cat nap and then it's back to crazy! She jumps and spins, leaps and sprints. Havanese breeders call this behavior "run like hell" for the way these dogs move, and it is true! Even Max can't keep up and he is Havanese too. I tried the Rare Frozen Green Bean, but she is immune to it's kryptonite powers. The only way to slow the Lola is the crystal powers of the frozen freezer water - the ICECUBE. But even the cube only last for moments before the whirlwind returns...</div>
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I am a little late in posting this since we adopted her in August and we are now in November; where did the year go? Hard to believe we are near to Thanksgiving and Christmas school breaks. </div>
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But back to Lola, Max, Daisy and Freds - 4 months in pictures:</div>
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July to August: </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8Ro5VhCV5PjQ2ZeQ7yeJc6XkQD5Jc0wOVT11voaOQwMm3zeS_pGci5-mtEuaDI9lIV9XbBw0GC_-BsD8TRPNpoaUn4_TOTO1nGKFnyNUZ9Oi2HbefBnPjmSglIU8BEKT5S6RPOk_IhY/s1600/Max+in+sun+shadow+8-2-13.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWetBo02RTvI_x3HgZeCTrhPbfdyLTwMg-alZIL_UZYiMTTS_30viprTzOnfhieR5LJxhES3O9rmC28S3JVdu05GObzkGKZAjF7eEiHDuuoCb4PEjF1JfWGd22dZROxe1PoMoCNoCt38c/s1600/Max+Sleeping+7-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWetBo02RTvI_x3HgZeCTrhPbfdyLTwMg-alZIL_UZYiMTTS_30viprTzOnfhieR5LJxhES3O9rmC28S3JVdu05GObzkGKZAjF7eEiHDuuoCb4PEjF1JfWGd22dZROxe1PoMoCNoCt38c/s1600/Max+Sleeping+7-13.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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August:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICpVKg8TOdzUJXeaEmFNmNwa8OKfghuz-cN2LKEUhAbHwGVkHpUcAKPhND4fTnMO7F_IiqX-1j06Z_9eR27414BCr1F95qS_id0exsmaXKH7Z9R-E6lt1FaR2A1auyOPGwCuundwaPaY/s1600/Lola+pic+8-26-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICpVKg8TOdzUJXeaEmFNmNwa8OKfghuz-cN2LKEUhAbHwGVkHpUcAKPhND4fTnMO7F_IiqX-1j06Z_9eR27414BCr1F95qS_id0exsmaXKH7Z9R-E6lt1FaR2A1auyOPGwCuundwaPaY/s1600/Lola+pic+8-26-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lola and Max 4 mos</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCfNuZ-8EisDlGl50Um645d1jyhLT_1BkJLbsjUT4qJyRVzecgHsImbNAn1vn_8LGIZ6JH5-b6vuYMUyszmDJgn34hqYKQmiv2pibbXMqFgfV5Sw81Nw0SQ9MnGnuZyB8FM9eh2opcTs/s1600/Lola+watching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCfNuZ-8EisDlGl50Um645d1jyhLT_1BkJLbsjUT4qJyRVzecgHsImbNAn1vn_8LGIZ6JH5-b6vuYMUyszmDJgn34hqYKQmiv2pibbXMqFgfV5Sw81Nw0SQ9MnGnuZyB8FM9eh2opcTs/s1600/Lola+watching.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max learned to bob for ice cubes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDaZ7cGsn5JNXPGWTZZEj9ckacSAbiUH5t3LDFWyxiuySnMNkukBHemm3-SwDvTFvjB1PDV50hMBC_MiYveaeCnOPK1kU9JCMzX0E3488Nwuic7oEzffGf0dWibZ56PPEav7R1rU9hlY/s1600/Crazed+Max+8-23-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDaZ7cGsn5JNXPGWTZZEj9ckacSAbiUH5t3LDFWyxiuySnMNkukBHemm3-SwDvTFvjB1PDV50hMBC_MiYveaeCnOPK1kU9JCMzX0E3488Nwuic7oEzffGf0dWibZ56PPEav7R1rU9hlY/s1600/Crazed+Max+8-23-13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and smile for the camera</td></tr>
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September to October: </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jzZ09Yp7Dc7SaPXqcD1rfwcI351IKFZCGTt18D-zk-KJEFLp5ZIYC79gl4CBtSS850260CKKN43VY7pTkVzD2WYIC0j8vTQqYRPa3YyF5iIFKXTwdQh-Te1B42NLUcaxihDf9A_M_vk/s1600/10022013711.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxjQ3ez29psBE4s6VbGXobm53GewTOR-3UdpMK94oY54F_NEHD9ijyTk4T1CH7HNssLhJF5qbdIVB56mNuH08LkURRyXi2DLR0aavG-VKCSIMFYJInCvPC94de-DKGK8O6gvmgmV_oBs/s1600/Chase+nap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxjQ3ez29psBE4s6VbGXobm53GewTOR-3UdpMK94oY54F_NEHD9ijyTk4T1CH7HNssLhJF5qbdIVB56mNuH08LkURRyXi2DLR0aavG-VKCSIMFYJInCvPC94de-DKGK8O6gvmgmV_oBs/s1600/Chase+nap.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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The mild summer weather was enjoyed by all</div>
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October to November: includes the furloughcation (which consisted mostly of naps)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since the zoo was closed, I had to stalk the ever elusive wild house cats<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibieldKZaS_42RwCDYtjCE7u7icDd_ZmNJgCeYIJOPM6VGjBber-nbu5Q1DUw4z25Rtmnt-Hl7uwBzu8f6gT2FPLIWjuW6pjuIi2Su-c0fhhIvHmDMaGPUZ3ytPbwT9_Docf7h2jQw9k/s1600/Lola+Stairs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibieldKZaS_42RwCDYtjCE7u7icDd_ZmNJgCeYIJOPM6VGjBber-nbu5Q1DUw4z25Rtmnt-Hl7uwBzu8f6gT2FPLIWjuW6pjuIi2Su-c0fhhIvHmDMaGPUZ3ytPbwT9_Docf7h2jQw9k/s1600/Lola+Stairs.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfePC4DuhsFWMGCPCH-J7qNnJi3IqtzLU8VidxH4W0S0SqcVtgAmREIdJRfPAGzpd3bYj4Bqv9i_JH8bgJmWQm1X98u9r2yizQ_rXS9EdKcoP7zFLIHa0_x8OX55sUsUgNoMSi-DEXC7s/s1600/Lola+laying+patio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfePC4DuhsFWMGCPCH-J7qNnJi3IqtzLU8VidxH4W0S0SqcVtgAmREIdJRfPAGzpd3bYj4Bqv9i_JH8bgJmWQm1X98u9r2yizQ_rXS9EdKcoP7zFLIHa0_x8OX55sUsUgNoMSi-DEXC7s/s1600/Lola+laying+patio.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">And up to present; a beautiful fall day</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This leaf had no chance!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-81531522375284920232013-07-19T14:40:00.002-04:002013-07-19T14:47:33.949-04:00Japanese Language Class<br />
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So I finished my adult education class for "<em>Beginning</em>" Japanese language and realized I am going to have to go back to school for a real course, one with 2 to 3 days a week rather than 2 hours once a week. <br />
I write "<em>Beginning</em>" in quotes because that was a joke. We went from "hi" "hello" to counting to 1 trillion...huh? Why do I need to know what 1 trillion is in Japanese? Maybe when I am super famished after walking a million miles through town one day I'll just stroll on into a Sushi joint and ask for 1 trillion unagi rolls or something like that - yea, sure that'll happen.<br />
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iW6TcTxjy0k/TCi3te1QYgI/AAAAAAAACFg/eg0LG3mvgEs/s200/-images-stories-food-Unagi_Deluxe_Rolls.jpg" height="132" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" />Yummy!!!!!!<br />
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I did learn proper sentence structure which will help me to decipher the subject of each sentence; of course I still have to learn elementary vocabulary. </div>
Which is why I bought this:<br />
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But what I did not need to learn was "is that your sister's boyfriend's friend's red car over there by that postoffice?" I don't say these things in English!<br />
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To top this whole mess off, the required book is written in Hiragana. Why would a beginning class that assumes a student has no knowledge of the Japanese language require a book written in one of the Japanese alphabets, why?.....<br />
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This is as much Japanese language as I knew when I started:<br />
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even this confused me the first time I saw it...did it mean run to the bathroom or run out the door. Lucky for me, in the the airport both the bathroom and emergency exit were in the same place.</div>
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A fellow student told me the book is available in English, so I purchased that one also- not that it was much easier to follow. Of course this student was smart enough to drop after the thrid class and hopefully get some of her money returned.</div>
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I have a lot to learn and according to my teacher my lack of learning is because I take too many notes. Who knew that taking too many notes contributes to lack of learning.<br />
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Despite all this I am going to try again, I really want to go to the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, which we couldn't go to on our trip to Japan because the tour is conducted in Japanese!<br />
I also will be better prepared to ask what the heck this squishy wriggling thingy is on my plate - although I think there is slight comfort in not knowing what the heck the thing is so as not to insult the chef and just eat it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-73072356913982295772013-07-19T14:08:00.000-04:002013-07-19T14:51:45.545-04:00MAX!I still have yet to update my Japan travel photos and am really wanting to post for everyone to see; I am looking forward to revisiting my travels. However I have a new struggle causing me to take time away from my blogging...MaxiMillion! Yes that is correct a puppy named Max. You ask, how could such a little creature take so much time and care that I can barely get my household chores completed?....<br />
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(This being MaxiMillion)<br />
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Introducing the new and improved Havanese, he climbs higher than any mountain goat, leaps tall objects in a single bound, chews the toes and fingers of mortal men and women, and yes folks, the new breed can out run the fastest of all cats. There is no limit to his super-Havanese abilities. He even has super hearing, one little creak in the floor and you're caught - the alarm howl sounds. </div>
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The only thing that can stop such ferocity, his kryptonite, is the Rare Frozen Green Bean. The powers of the Rare Frozen Green Bean bind the Maxinator and make him weak, but only for a limited time until he breaks (chews) free of the Bean's hold...</div>
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Beware!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-68674026127048165922013-07-09T11:54:00.003-04:002013-07-09T11:54:52.784-04:00Another Thank You - Camp Food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once again I find myself needing to say "thanks" to all those who have posted reviews, this time for camp food. <br />
The family and I stayed 2 nights in the Greenbrier State Park camp site in Boonsboro, Maryland and had a really nice time (even in the 30 degree weather, but that is a whole other story!)<br />
Because of all the folks who have tested and sampled camp meals and posted results we were fortunate to use this expertise to our advantage. I wish I had taken pictures (too cold to get the camera out), but our meals were amazingly good. <br />
We made foil pocket breakfasts, one with hash browns, scrambled eggs, turkey sausage and cheese and the other all that in a burrito. I think we had the best breakfasts of the families we were with. So good, premade and frozen the night before then thawed and heated on the coals, no clean-up. For the dinner to share, we made pasta salad, hard boiled eggs and premade pull-apart cheese and ham and cheese sandwiches, just heat and serve. Of course we had the obligatory smores for dessert. I am not a fan of these things, so gross. Just give me a heaping tablespoon (or serving spoon) of Marshmellow Fluff and I'm good.<br />
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<em>*On a side note, why does anyone think giving kids flaming sticks of hot, sticky goo and melted chocolate a good idea? </em><br />
<em>I did, however, see an alternative to flaming sticks of goo in the form of an ice cream cone with all the stuff tucked inside and wrapped in foil and neatly placed on the grill for a few moments to melt the chocolate. The recipe I saw has bananas, which (when I have a chance to try) I will replace with bacon!</em><br />
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There were so many ideas and pictures of delicious food posted for us to choose from I went for the easiest and less fussy, but all the recipes available sounded great. Since I don't camp much, I do not have the fancy camping supplies like a dutch oven or those fancy sandwich maker things - a reuben would be really good in that thing I bet! Heck, we don't even have a proper cooler - had to borrow a neighbors.<br />
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Anyhow, this is really a big "<span style="color: orange;"><strong>THANK YOU</strong></span>" to everyone that continue to post all those great ideas for everything - people are reading, especially me!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-5272743036174616022013-04-24T14:05:00.001-04:002013-04-24T14:18:54.076-04:00Offline for a bit...I have been wanting to post some photos of our trip to Japan, but as luck would have it I had to restore my computer to when it was created. Ah...the joys of technology. And, as if that wasn't enough, turns out my computer is SO old I'm having trouble loading the necessary drivers. Good times.<br />
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On a different note, I have also been enjoying such strange weather here in Northern Virginia; we are having a Spring of sorts. I thought we would go from cold to hot (as is typical) but not so much this year, so far...<br />
So to the great outdoors I have been heading enjoying the "idea" of yard work and gardening.<br />
Really here's what it's all about:<br />
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That's right soaking up the sun and fresh air. Ahh to be a cat.<br />
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I am looking forward to sharing my trip with everyone and lessons learned and such. <br />
In fact I loved Japan so much I was given the challenge that if I learn to understand, read and possibly speak Japanese I can go back. Yeah!!!!! So I just started a Beginning 101 Japanese language class. <br />
Here is my desk, not kidding about class. So weird to be in school again.<br />
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Learning a whole new set of characters sure is proving difficult, but I'll have it mastered soon enough. And back to Japan I go! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-70305928406299771782013-03-13T17:26:00.001-04:002013-03-13T19:30:07.586-04:00A little bit of HeavenI meant to have all my latest vacation photos, commentaries and lessons learned up by now, but have gotten distracted by spring school activities, please forgive me. <br />
One thing I must mention is how much I miss the food in Japan. I've tried to copy recipes, but I am the worst cook ever. My claim to fame, at least here in the household is nachos and Beefaroni - that is it. I can't even get those simple little white bread and ham sandwiches to taste the same as they did in Japan (and I ate plenty so I have an idea of how they taste.)<br />
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So when I went to my local Asian food mart I was happy to find a small food court with all my favorites. And although the food market is not a Japanese food market, the DC area is lacking BIG TIME!, I was still able to get katsudon served just like I got in Arashiyama. Oh man was it good too. I had the miso soup, salad with citrus dressing and pickled radish. I can't help but think of such good food every time I pass the exit on the highway to go to the store, but that would be so unfair of me to do such a thing to the family (hummmm.) Now if only someone can find me an okonomiyaki restaurant...<br />
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Here is a delicious example of one of the many ham sandwiches I enjoyed. The fishy rice triangle was for my better half. This exquisite meal was purchased in Odawara Station on our way to Kyoto from visitng Hakone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030372750847702047.post-86142690602604992812013-03-01T07:57:00.000-05:002013-03-01T07:57:17.238-05:00Thank you<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>First things first...I want to say "thank you" to all those folks who post reviews on travel sites and to those that have created their own blogs about trips, things to do and food reviews. There is no better recommendation than personal opinion and experiences. All these references made planning for my Japan trip so easy. I was able to find "off the tourist path" things to do and get real opinions about restaurants and using the railways. My husband was able to choose the best seats on the long trip over and back by reading about the experiences travelers had on airlines. He changed our tickets multiple times because of these reviews so we were able to use our time more efficiently and stay longer. Please continue to post reviews, experiences and pictures, they are so helpful and some rather amusing and fun to read. The little things do matter. THANKS!!!!</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0