We're Back!

A big thank you to Pauline for getting us to Logan at the crack of dawn.  

Logan Airport

And we are off!

It was an uneventful flight.  Thought I would take some ambien to pass the time, but decided to watch four movies and the first season of Nurse Jackie instead.  Boys did great.  Must say that the food could not have been worse.  It was like Continental had the single minded pursuit of designing the worst, most nutritionally deficient and inedible meals possible.  




Whatever...we made it.  24 hrs later we arrive at our humble abode Step 21.

We quickly settle in.

this is the big family couch-things are a little scaled down

Jackson finds himself a book nook

So it is hot here.  Really, really hot.  The Japanese words are "mushi atsui" which means ridiculously hot and sweaty.  The kind of humidity where sweat just starts pouring down your face the minute you leave the air-conditioned interior.  When I was an exchange student to Japan in high school, one of the items on the packing list was a "handkerchief to wipe your sweaty brow"  That expression struck me as absurd and has always stayed with me.  But I totally get it and purchased my very own handkerchief yesterday to use with the rest of the sweaty masses.  I also might have to start using the umbrella Miriam gave me as a sunbrella as is the fashion.

With the time change and jet lag.  I am up at 5 am ready to go for my first run.  I bring Alec on a quick loop and then head out to the Imperial Palace feeling great, nodding and saying ohaiyo/ good morning to the locals out watering the sidewalks to keep the dirt at bay and their mini gardens alive.  Four minutes into my run I try to cut across a 4 lane road and twist my good ankle and skin my knee.  And Annie didn't even push me this time!

Bloodied, I persevered but I am now limping with a swollen ankle and we will have to push back our Mt Fuji climb for a few days.


While Ian met with University people, the kids and I set out for our first urban adventure.  Off to find the Tokyo Great Buddha.  The amazing thing about Tokyo is the constant mix of ancient an ultra-modern.  Women in kimonos next to girls in punk next to Buddhists monks.  In a place where every inch of space is utilized, it is amazing to discover pockets of serenity and extreme beauty.  Once we found it of course.  It just took asking directions from 5 or 6 different people along the way.  Each time more Japanese came back to me, but it's still pretty sketchy to say the least.

feeding the koi

Tokyo Great Buddha

the boys with the man

our new old friend

We met a couple of older gentlemen who showed us around while we spoke in the Japanese-English version of Spanglish and mime.  They bought us some koi food, although the fish acted more like piranhas when fed and took us through the gardens.  Alec was not happy when they asked whether he was a boy or not.

Walking along the neighborhood streets, the boys were impressed with the narrowness of the roads as well as how minivans were actually mini.

Had great sushi for dinner and the owner took our pic to put on her facebook page.

All in all things are off to a great start.  As Lou Reed says, "It's the beginning of a great adventure."