As I awoke I mentally prepared to rejoin my countrymen in the States.  It has been quite a journey; very new and exciting. 
E. and I dressed, packed our things to go and then went down for breakfast.  The hotel has an exceptionally late check out time: three o'clock in the afternoon.  My plane leaves at 3:30 so we will take the shuttle  for the ( Read more... )

 Today was my last morning in Sendai, Japan.  E. met me at the hotel in the morning.  I told him to bring a duffel with his winter clothes so I could take it back to the States.  He provided me with space in the duffel for the extra packing room I needed on my return.  I turned in my key to the desk and off we went.  First we stopped by an ( Read more... )

 Today is Tuesday and E. will be playing with a trio for his "farewell" concert.  He will play with Motohiro Sawano, trumpet, and Makoto Iwaya, bass.  Makoto played bass at the last concert with him and he is very accomplished.  I slept in until around 9:30 enjoying my room in the Library Hotel in Sendai.  I seem to be a preferred customer now ( Read more... )

Sunday, July 13 Hiroshima

In the morning we started our morning by sleeping in a bit.  We planned to stay two nights in Hiroshima at Hotel Kawashima so we wouldn't have to lug our bags around.  E. had stayed at this hotel before so it felt familiar to him.  Since there was a big birthday and bon voyage party taking place back in the States at ( Read more... )

Saturday July 12, Kyoto

Kyoto was founded in 794 A.D. and is the former capital of Japan.  It was the capital until 1868.  Kyoto is bounded by mountains on the North, West, and East sides.  As we arrived at our hotel the evening of the 11th  near the Imperial Palace we were greeted by friendly staff and shown to our “Japanese style” hotel room.  ( Read more... )

After leaving our wonderful hillside hotel , Hotel Senkei, with the great onsen we took the hotel
shuttle bus into town.  We went to the train station and stored our luggage in a coin locker.  We planned to take the circular tour of Hakone National Park and we knew we would end up back at the station.  First things first :Coffee and sandwiches at " ( Read more... )

Our day in Tokyo started off with a visit to the  Senso-ji temple near our Hotel in Tokyo.


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Wednesday, July 9th

Took bullet train from Sendai to Tokyo. Checked into Hotel Mercury in Asakusa district in Tokyo.

Took shower in hotel.  E. sported his yukata for me while reading the teachings of Buddha!!


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Tuesday, July 8th Sendai

Today was a more relaxing day. I slept in.

I went for coffee at the doutor coffee shop across the street from the hotel. They make the biggest cappuccino I’ve found. Since it was already brunch time I ordered a sandwich with my coffee and sat and planned my day. Here's a picture of my usual cappuccino with a piece of Hazel ( Read more... )

Outside of Sendai (30 minutes) are mountains and valleys that remind me of the foothills to the Smokies.  The air is clear and sweet and everything speaks of nature.  E.'s friend Yuki, the photographer and hairdresser) planned a BBQ for Evan's birthday.  Only seven people were invited and he planned the whole event.  In the morning we all met at a ( Read more... )