Hangin' in Tokyo

The first day, on the train

Vending machines are everywhere...hot and cold drinks, clothing- practically anything you can imagine.

I think this is my favorite picture of the week. They were just so sweet together!

Awwwwww!

Art really enjoyed playing guitar when he had the chance.

Poor Arturo. They are relentless...

On Thursday, Mount Fuji...

We had a great day yesterday traveling to Hakone and seeing the sights. The boys were pretty good traveling companions as far as 16 year olds go, and they seemed to enjoy themselves. They took a lot of pictures. I tried to take a lot of pictures, but my camera broke when we got aboard the pirate ship. So I only have half the day documented.

The day was uneventful except for the point during the day when I left the boys for a short while in a trinket shop. The stores in Japan frequently create "Lucky Bags." They put left-over merchandise in bags and close them up so you can't see what you are buying, and sell them for usually about the equivalent of 10 dollars. Well, when I was sitting outside in the sun waiting for them to join me, they emerged from the store with one of these "Lucky Bags." Apparently they had each put forth change from their pockets and jointly paid for said bag. They sat in the sun, unpacking the bag to great gales of laughter, and after they looked through the contents, re-named said bag as the "Crap Bag." Well, after that None of them wanted to carry it. Art was a good sport, and had carried it most of the way, but I only carried it a few minutes before reminding them that I had nothing to do with it whatsoever, and made Matt carry it. The afternoon was then spent with Art plotting to ditch the newly named bag, but to no avail. It made it home, and the handles ripped finally at the station, but it was a great source of jocularity for most of the afternoon. They will be bringing home some of the contents as gifts.

We took trains, a bus, walked, sailed on a pirate ship, took a gondola, and a cable car to travel through the Hakone region under the bright blue sunny sky. We ate soba noodles in broth for lunch, and watched the sun set behind Fuji-san. (Affectionately nicknamed "The Fuj" by the guys) All in all, a very good day.

Our trip to Hakone...

And they're off!

Showing Art where we were headed. We look pretty serious about this, don't we?

The boys like this one. They think it looks like an "album cover."

Lookin' at "the Fuj."

Hey! Look at all this useless STUFF!I guess I AM lucky!!

Looks like an albatross, to me, Art.

Dairokuten Hadaka Matsuri

My friend Connie and I are planning a trip to Chiba on Monday to witness this festival. Click on the link to see the Youtube video.

http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/category/dairokuten-no-hadaka-matsuri/

The weather forecast is for a high of 42 degrees F on Monday. Brrrrr!

Tuesday, February 19: Chris and Trevor's birthday!

This was the first time in 20 years that I have been away from my firstborn on his birthday. 20 years. I told Chris he needed to tell all his friends about how there's no way his mother looks old enough to have a 20-year old! Of course, he just laughed. I called him around 6:00 p.m. on his birthday. He had really nothing special planned, but there was going to be a hockey game on, and he and some friends were probably going to a bar to watch it. Sounds like fun to me. Happy Birthday, Chris Ploss. I miss you more than you know!

A little closer to home was Trevor's birthday. Unfortunately, my day was completely booked with a meeting in the morning and a 3 hour Taiko class. It was a long day. I sent Arturo and Trevor out yesterday armed with their Suica cards (for the trains), Robin's cell phone, and my favorite map. They were feeling like some adventure as it was another gorgeous day, and Matt was still in school. I had my cell phone in my pocket all day yesterday, in case they tried to call, but never heard a word. I DID hear about their exploration when I got home, however. At about 5:30 when I arrived, the boys were home hanging around, playing guitars, watching tv, and shooting the breeze.

Here is their adventure: Art and Trev managed to find the moat and the Imperial Grounds, wandered around the large beautiful gardens, and saw the ruins of an Imperial Palace that completely burned down 17 years after it was built, back in the 1600's (I think). Then- uh oh- we tried this once, they looked for food. There's really NOT MUCH in the way of restaurants near the Imperial Grounds. It's mostly business and government offices. So, in their quest for something to fill their bellies, they got lost. Quite lost in fact. They were looking for a metro station, because they had learned from Matt who got them slightly lost on Sunday, that the metro can take you home pretty easily eventually. But they found some strange line that they took to get to another line, to finally make a connection to get back on OUR line. I am guessing it was a learning experience. They said they wern't scared, just tired, and probably HUNGRY, by the time they got home. Last evening, Trevor and Matt donned their new crazy Tokyo clothes and the 3 of them accompanied by Nathan went to Shibuya for some Korean Barbeque and bowling. That was Trevor's 16th birthday. I'm guessing that will be a birthday he won't soon forget.

Monday, stuck with Mamma Ploss

Today is Monday and after my yoga class (I can really feel myself getting stronger and more flexible!!) I took Trevor and Art out on the town. First, we went to Tokyo Tower. Loved it. Beautiful gorgeous clear Buddha-blue sky, and no crowds, no lines, no waiting. It was great. From our great height we could see the American Club right close by, Robin's work building, the Diet building (seat of Japan's government), Yoyogi Park and the Imperial grounds. Mount Fuji was stunning today. I think they were impressed by the enormity of Tokyo. After the tower, we headed up to Asakusa and had lunch. We found a place where lunch cost the boys about $5.50 and mine was about $3.80. Yum. Art is not crazy for sushi or seaweed in his soup it seems. He said at lunch today, "I like to see the ocean, hear the ocean, and smell the ocean, I just don't like to eat the ocean."

I took the boys shopping for gifts to take home and we had fun poking in and out of all the shops up there.

When we made it to the Shrine, it was shortly after 2:00, and the monks were chanting. This was something I had never heard before. It was very interesting to hear. They slide chromatically up and down by half steps a lot as they sing, and at one point they all threw stuff at the alter. I think they may have been throwing strips of paper or flower petals, because these things fluttered and fell. Then one of the monks started beating the huge Taiko drum (Trevor called it the Donkey Kong Drum) and the chanting changed, becoming more rhythmic, pulsating with the drum beat. The place was very busy with people praying and tossing coins. Trevor tossed a coin for me and one for him today.

I have to report that Art and Trevor made excellent good-will ambassadors today. On the train, Trevor hopped up from his seat to make sure an older woman with a cane could sit. When I looked at him and thanked him, he said, "Not all Americans are thoughtless and lazy." Then Art stood and offered his seat to a woman who declined it, but was also impressed by his good manners. I was very proud of them both today. We had a good time.

They have gone back out with Matthew before supper. I suspect they will sleep well tonight!

The very tall. The very small.

Here is a harmless Harajuku person who really really wanted his picture taken with the boys yesterday when they were out.

Mount Fuji, taken from Tokyo Tower which, by the way, is about 6 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Just as we were leaving Tokyo Tower, a chartered bus with young elementary children arrived. All uniformed, all with identical back packs. Very adorable.

Trevor took this picture at Asakusa. Can you find the big pink colored gijin in the picture? That's me.

Then these kids got off the bus...even younger, probably pre-school by our standards. They were fascinated by us because we were taking their picture and I was smiling and waving. The poor teachers were trying to line them up by singing a song with them. There is much emphasis on "staying in line" here.