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Happy New Year!
I just want to wish you all the happiest of new years.
I'm counting my blessings here.
We're all healthy and doing fine. I guess I can't ask for more.
Love to you all. -
So sad to be leaving...
The last week flew by ( Read more... ) -
Michigan
Monday night's weather forecast for the rest of the week predicted sunny on Tuesday and rain to follow. So we decided to use Tuesday to take a ride on a ship on Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, often compared to Lake Michigan, for example, or one of our Great Lakes ( Read more... ) -
Nara at night
Saturday, the 11th, we ventured out into the heat and headed for Nara, stopping first in Kyoto. We needed to transfer there anyway to a different train line, so we stopped for a quick supper of pizza (and tiramisu ( Read more... ) -
How can it be 5 days since I last posted?
Time flies when you are having fun, I guess ( Read more... ) -
Crossroads of Japan
For the last day of July we visited the city of Nagahama on the northern shore of Lake Biwa. Four hundred years ago this was a strategic military point between several feudal regions of Japan. To the north was Kanazawa, to the south and west were Kyoto, Osaka, and Himeji, to the east was Tokyo. Today Nagahama is known for its glassware and a ( Read more... ) -
Osaka Castle Museum
Today we left the house by 8:30 heading out to Osaka for a visit to the castle museum there.
Upon arriving, just coming out of the train station, we were greeted with a loud symphony of cicada sounds. It was almost deafening. It actually drowned out the sound of a helicopter flying overhead.
As we approached the impressive castle we were ( Read more... ) -
Four more days zip by
It's hard to believe that four more days have passed. The time is going by so quickly ( Read more... ) -
Himeji and Osaka
Wednesday, July 25, we headed out to Himeji, a two hour train ride from here. There we visited the most famous castle of Japan, the Himeji castle. It's really high. We did a lot of stair climbing. The stairs weren't quite as narrow and steep as the previous castle we visited. Since we always remove our shoes upon entering, the staff is kind ( Read more... ) -
Sight seeing
Yesterday we went to Hikone where we visited the Hikone museum (where one can dress like a Samurai and learn to fit rocks together to build), the Hikone castle, and the extensive gardens around the castle. There was a special Lego exhibit that was rather beautiful to see. The weather was absolutely perfect, cool and dry and breezy, for a walking ( Read more... )