An email sent around noon: let's have an adventure this weekend! Bags are packed! Train tickets procured! After 8 long months Japan finally rolled out a way to purchase train tickets online! with a credit card! #lifechanging #welcometothe21stcentury #finally Staring our adventure with Amazing Coffee and equally Amazing Views. 65* and sunny! A day for wandering along waterfronts, among beautiful gardens in and out of shops and stopping often for snacks on patios. All snow season we carted around the sunscreen, cause sometimes you need it when flying down mountains covered in white reflective stuff. But did we bring it for our sunshine adventure?!?! Bwah ha ha. Luckily we hit up the nearest convenience store and recognized the letters SPF 50. Jesse, man of hot bloodedness often gets asked by strangers "Samui des ka?" Aren't you cold? As he proudly struts around in shorts and tshirts. During our patio snacking the waitress brought over a disposable hot pack, apologizing for the breeze and chilly temps in the shade. One of our favorite things about weekend adventuring is the food! Our area has great Japanese food. But that's pretty much the extent. Heading to the bigger city opens up the possibilities for us: Amazing coffee, Hoppy Beer, the most fantastic Thai grilled chicken I've ever tasted! We love our Japanese foods, but we love the variety we get on these weekends. Finding new to us Nature! A quick google search of nearby parks for more sunshine walking, cherry blossom viewing and shrine admiring! Dreaming of ways to incorporate all the carefully manicured details and plant varieties into our forest back home. Todoroki Ravine: a magically place tucked in the midst of Tokyo. Crystal clear spring fed water flowing over rocks along elevated pathways. The park map pointed to a waterfall halfway through. A bit surprised at the aesthetics of this 'waterfall' but really I shouldn't be. Japan, known for it's attention to details and centuries of sculpting water to use for it's agricultural purposes. So of course they took an ordinary spring bursting from rocks and turned it into something more beautiful. Loving the culture of embracing the shifting seasons, celebration the blooming trees, making sure ancient statues get a chance to cherish this brief time as well. Checking out a famous Sakura District along with the masses of people. The government has officially cancelled all Sakura Festivals, but that hasn't stopped folks from walking through the streets and admiring the views. Typically we've been one of a few folks walking the streets, but not today. Naka Meguro is the hot spot with special Pink Champagne drinks and special pink snacks. Megaphone shouting unintelligible directions, police with light up batons waving us this way and that! Following along the with the surges of the crowd. I can't imagine what the throngs of folks would be like if the official festivals were still a go. Finding a quieter place along a river. Strolling and admiring the different blooms. Loving the way the petal dip down towards the water. In non germy years you are able to rent boats. The best time is just past full bloom when can bob along among the blooms as some begin loosing their grip on the branches and float down around you. Finding spaces to relax and admire the view. Noting our packs make for great pillows. Moments after declaring I'm not going to fall asleep in the park, the soft whispers of snores. Finding the Famous Tree! The one tree that Japan has declared as The Tree! Carefully watched, as it's blooms begin to pop the official start of Sakura season is announced! And as we prepped to catch the train: studying google maps, choosing which train route had fewer connections, a sudden realization. We're in Tokyo, land of the variety of foods. And what just so happened to be right around the corner? Wendy's and a Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Sometimes the best birthday dinners taste just like home.
3 Comments
Angela
3/24/2020 09:40:37 pm
What a way to spend a birthday. You two are so blessed. I loved the statue with the blossom-it spoke to me!
Reply
Katrina
3/28/2020 10:11:37 am
Looks like Jesse has one amazing birthday. So excited for him.
Reply
Pam Stout
3/28/2020 11:49:01 am
So fun seeing Japan through your eyes! Looks like a wonderful birthday weekend. Happy Birthday Jess! Can’t wait until we can celebrate together ❤️
Reply
Leave a Reply. |