Tokyo - Day Two Electric City

Akihabara is an eccentric stop in Tokyo. It has a New York Times Square feel about it - but with a Anime and Manga twist. If you are a gamer, this is Mecca for you. The electronic stores and stalls are filled with all of the latest technology. 

 

 

 

Tokyo - Day Two Imperial Palace Gardens

Our next stop with our Backstreet Guide Yoko was the East gardens of the Imperial Palace which is still home to the Emperor of Japan. The Palace is surrounded by fortified stone walls and moats to ward off potential invasions by warlords against the Shogun. Most of the original wooden structures are long gone - but with a little imagination you can visualize the impressive magnitude of this place. The Ninomaru Japanese gardens provide a relaxing stroll filled with surprising views around each corner. 

 

             

Tokyo - Day Two Tsukiji Fish Market

Today we toured Tokyo with our guide, Yoko from BackStreet Guides ( http://www.thebackstreetguides.com ). Our first stop took us to the Tsukiji Fish Market. After 80 years in operation - this place still attracts the crowds to see the variety of sealife sold at its wholesale stalls. It is a bustling place with plenty of personal injury lawsuits just waiting to happen - pedestrians definitely do not have the right away here. Photography is limited and some stall owners prohibit it out right. Plans are underway to relocate the market to another more remote location. It won't be the same as this 80-year old version. 

 

         

Tokyo - Day One, yes we finally arrived

I am writing this entry on the Japan Airlines (JAL) 022 from PEK to HND. It's a 3 1/2 hour flight taking us from Beijing, China to Tokyo, Japan. I figure that we will be dead to the world by the time we arrive at The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by Hulic in Asakusa area of Tokyo - and this downtime on the JAL airplane will be my best opportunity to capture these moments. I will try to post as soon as we get into our hotel room tonight.   

It's been a l-o-n-g day. Don't ask me why - but our American Airlines route took us from Dallas to Beijing then on to Tokyo, Japan. It definitely isn't the most direct route and we were filled with envy as DFW fellow travelers departed on the direct flight to Tokyo this morning. Actually - our semi-disasterous plan was on purpose to take advantage of deep discounted airfares from Dallas. Would I do it again? Ask me tomorrow or better yet, at the end of the trip. Right now, I am just damn grumpy.

We left DFW at 11 am on Thursday and it is now 6:07 am in Dallas on Friday (as I write from this JAL airplane). We have about 1 hour more to go - which pretty much makes this a 21 hour travel period from Dallas to Tokyo. This isn't for the amateur traveler. The most mind-numbing part of the story is that Tokyo is 14 hrs ahead of Dallas so it is really 8:07 pm on Friday night here. Thank you, international date line. By the time you read this - everything we do and say will be about 1/2 day ahead of our friends in the good ol' USA. Confused? Head spinning?  Imagine how my body is feeling right now. 

In full zombie-mode, we plan on taking the train to our hotel from Haenda airport. More on how that goes in a later post. It's time for a good night's sleep before our 9:30 am private tour of the city on Saturday morning. We must be nuts! 

Tokyo - Cherry Blossoms

Our timing in Tokyo is going to nearly perfect for seeing the Cherry blossoms at their peak season. It looks like the Cherry Blossoms have rebounded after a cool spell and will be in full bloom for our arrival! I cannot wait to see the trees filled with blossoms. Forecast has rain falling soon so we will see how long they last during our stay in the city. Get ready for lots of flowering tree pictures from us. 

 

Tokyo - Pre-planning

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It is time to start packing for our next adventure - this time we are off to Tokyo, Japan. I can hardly wait to see this city of 36 million people and get lost in its streets. I love cities and this is certain to be a mind blowing experience. No better way to celebrate 25 years with Rob - yes, it's anniversary time. 

 

Day Seven Berlin - Parting Ways

Great trip to Berlin. After years of trying to make this trip - I am pleased to report that we were not disappointed. and probably waited too long. Like many places in the World - including the good ol' USA -  Germany continues to come to terms with the darker parts of its history. You have to admire and respect them for it.

We will come back to see more of this town and country. Until then - we part ways and leave a momento of our happiest moment - our wedding day - as a reminder of how much things have changed in the World.

Day Seven Berlin - Random Shots

Some random photos from to wrap up our adventure in Berlin.