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Hello again. A lot has happened since our last blog and in an effort to please our faithful readers in a limited amount of time, this is one of those entries where I take a back seat to the wonderful and interesting pictures and videos. I realize that many times, pictures cannot do justice to something you have recently experienced and words tend to be even more tedious, but I am hoping, with the right combination of words, pictures, and streaming video, you will be transformed to the outskirts of Tokyo living each moment with us.
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Let's begin. The weekend started on Saturday. Beleza had a match in the southern part of Japan so this gave us the opportunity to have three days off from soccer to adventure and explore. Our first journey took us to Kawagoe, Japan ("Little Tokyo") and the Matsuri Festival held there every third weekend in October. The festival was every bit as interesting as it was described by the New York Times (we read the article before we left). There were floats (and not your normal Homecoming Parade floats.....these were made of much sturdier materials, taller, and thinner, used year after year to honor this storied occasion), dancers, drummers, foods of all fashions from octopus balls (Takoyaki) to chocolate covered bananas, and games for kids including fishing for many types of prizes (turtles, fish, rubber balls, toys). Each float was followed by paraders in traditional Japanese garb holding ropes connected to the movable, spinable structure. There were people everywhere...on the streets, sidewalks, in beer gardens, eating, drinking, taking pictures, dancing.......it was sensory overload.
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Rebecca, our 4 friends, and I did our best to blend in....meaning.....we walked on the streets and sidewalks, we took pictures and videos, we ate, we drank, we fished, we bought toys, and we spent hours meandering around Kawagoe soaking in all the festival had to offer. This is the point where I will step aside and let the remaining pictures and videos give you the multi dimensional view of it all.........(this blog and the ones following).
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On to Sunday and Monday. We knew our trip to Japan would not be complete without an encounter with Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san) so we traveled 2 hours outside of Tokyo to the quaint and beautiful town of Hakone. Staying on the picturesque Lake Ashi, we thrilled in the opportunity to fill our lungs with the clean air of the country side, our minds with the slower pace of life, and our bodies with the comfort of real beds (after living in Tokyo for over a month you have a much greater appreciation for these things).
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With a travelers pass that allowed us to take boats, cable cars, buses, and rope ways (not to mention our aching feet), we traversed all over Hakone witnessing the spectacles it had to offer. I will give you a interlude into what we experienced and let the pictures do the rest.
1. Fields of sulfur hot springs
2. Amazing views of Mt. Fuji
3. Black hard boiled eggs
4. Open Air Museums
5. Original Picasso art work
6. Wooden igloos field with colorful, climbable nets
7. Sculptures from world famous artists
8. Greenery as far as the eye could see
9. Pirate ships and pirates
10. Natural steam baths
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It was a weekend that we would have happily turned into a week.....but alas, we have practice again today and another chance to improve our soccer skills with the most talented players in Japan coming off a big 1-0 win. Off we go!
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