Why has it taken me 42 years to visit Tokyo? As we leave Japan, I am putting this country right back on the "MUST VISIT ASAP" travel list! The culture and people are amazing and there isn't anything that isn't done right...the best sushi you will ever eat, spectacular gardens, "Yowdy" fashion (Otto's new word that means "funky fresh" according to him), killer flower arranging, technology wildness EVERYWHERE and outrageous architecture. A bonus is that everyone wears head to toe black so I fit right in :) Just sitting at a Cafe in Shibuya and watching people commute to work is cool!
Two things I have to note as simply "GENIUS!" are the vending machines and the toilets. Vending machines have both hot and cold drinks including coffee and hot green tea in hip aluminum containers. Toilets have more options than an iPod with everything from heated seats to stuff we really never figured out.
Without a doubt, however, the best part of Tokyo was catching up with the Pond Family! Bill runs L.L. Bean Japan here and both Karen and Bill cleared their calendars to show us their city! Without Karen, we wouldn't have been able to figure out how to leave Shibuya. Instead, we mastered the subway and she took us everywhere! We packed more into 2.5 days than most folks probably try to do in a week! Thank you Ponds!!!
Ok .... I had no desire whatsoever to visit Tokoyo until I read your blog. Now I really want to go! Glad you all are having fun - can't wait to hear about the boys!
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You are so lucky to have the Ponds there. I wish I had been with you. Thanks for bringing Tokyo to life for me.
ReplyDeletehello sharples family! your adventure sounds wonderful, we are now "blog followers"! lisa, love your toilet and vending machine comments ;o) got your "new years" card today...adorable as always!
ReplyDeleteno wonder we have gotten the pond's xmas card back the last 2 years without a forwarding address!!! if you get a chance please send me their email info.
be safe, have fun and keep us posted
This is from Matt and Kirstie DeSorbo: What a mission! good luck and God speed
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