Time to Explore

After a 13 hour flight from O'Hare Airport to Narita Airport where I flew with a dreadful head cold in First Class (occupying Julia's assigned seat), we arrived in our posh Tokyo neighborhood of Shirokanedai.  We took an hour-long bus ride through the rain, disembarked at a hotel, and hailed a taxi.  Unfortunately American Airlines left Doug's extra-large duffel bag with clothes behind at O'Hare but without it, we managed to squeeze into one taxi with all luggage piled to the ceiling.   

    We live in a reasonably-sized but simply furnished apartment along "Platinum Street" in this posh area.  Although the apartment was cold, the beds and floor were hard for sleeping, we arose the next morning ready to explore our new surroundings.  This building's "Happy Science" title made me laugh and reminded me why we are in Tokyo.  Doug is a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute.  We hope the scientific research experience is productive and the days spent in Japan are happy.

"What is this?"  Yes, it's a squatter.  There are some non-western toilets still available in Tokyo.  And it works just fine when the need arises as it did on our first subway trip.

The food is astonishingly delicious and we enjoy it immensely.  Julia and I are honing our chop sticks skills.  We know that stabbing food is unacceptable and that slurping noodles is perfectly permissible.