We've been in Japan for a week now so I guess it's time to post something. Gpanda is probably assessing the late charges by now. Started in Kyoto and had some decent weather, except for the day at Hemiji, where it rained. Of course we left our umbrellas back in Kyoto and had to buy new ones. We revisited some sights we saw last time in Kyoto and went to some new ones as well. Spent a night in Nara, which was lovely. Spent two nights in Kamakura, which is a delightful place and I'm glad we spent the time there. The weather was beautiful and the cherry blossoms were at peak, making it a perfect stay. Arrived in Tokyo this afternoon. Champagne is chilling in the fridge Looking forward to meeting up with Karanosuke and HT tomorrow night.

A mid-trip beginning to a report usually does not incur a penalty. However, noting the many hysterical anecdotes from past reports, we are seeking the level of detail we've come to expect.

Thanks for checking in - looking forward to hearing more...

Wow, hitting the sakura at their peak in Kyoto is absolutely amazing. You guys have an amazing knack of being in the right place either at exactly the right time or exactly the wrong time.

I found that Japan grows and grows on me a bit more after each visit ... sometimes a difficult place, but absolutely fascinating.

(my bad ... wanted to type "...their peak in Kamakura" in previous post, but typed something else instead.)

great start, looking forward to more....

B&K

It sounds wonderful! More! More!

laurie,

We went to Ueno park yesterday where the bloom is at it's peak, SPECTACULAR!

We also saw lots in some parks in Shinjuku and went to the Imperial Palace where the trees in the front garden were in full bloom. Good luck and looking forward to seeing you all tonight!

Aloha!

Youre having dinner with HT and K-suke? Prepare yourself for a very sedate and solemn evening.......
>;-)

put another way: the wait staff better count the silverware....

For Laurieco:

Sorry to but into this forum and I know you are in Japan right now but I have a question about Costa Rica that if you would be so kind to answer when you return, I would greatly appreciate. I saw that you stayed at Casa Quinta and wondered if you could describe the interior for me. Are the bedrooms private ( we are 2 couples traveling together, but not related, like our own space). On the website it looks like one of the bedrooms is open to the living room but that may be a photo of another villa. I have asked Costa Verde specific questions, but they just forward me the description from the website. Did you find the furnishings comfortable? And how is the view? Thank you so much and enjoy the rest of your trip.

That's wonderful! Glad you enjoyed your night in Nara.

might want to get separate checks at dinner

maryvh, I will answer your question when I get back to NY. Right now, I can barely remember where we stayed in Costa Rica!

HT and Karanosuke have left it up to me to relate our night out in Tokyo. They seem to think I have an air of respectability about me. Well, Miss Respectability couldn't even get out of bed until noon after our night out and didn't start to feel even remotely human until about 4pm! To give you an idea of how the evening went, the bill came to over $400 for the six of us and it wasn't for food! Put another way, I never want to look at sake again. Jackie (Mrs. K-suke) had the last laugh I'm sure--she drank tea. We had a great time, laughed a lot. It was great to meet more Fodorites. Eric and I really enjoyed the time we had with Mr & Mrs HT and Mr & Mrs K-suke, even if we did have hangovers the next day! I trust they did too (except Jackie, the smart one). I'll try and post some more detail when I get home. I might remember more then!

you better come to LA so you can continue your discussions with ken...

Note to self: when drinking with Laurie and Eric and/or Mr&Mrs HT, Mr&Mrs K-suke, drink only tea...just kidding. When your brain cells are functioning again, please do give us a full report.

To Mr. & Mrs . Respectability:

Well we are finally back from our onsen tour and back in Tokyo at the Hyatt and this is the first time I have had access to the internet.

It was so nice to have met you and Eric, two of the most beautiful people we have ever met. Hope we didn't scare you away from visiting Hawaii one day. We really had a blast with you all. We hope to see you again real soon!

Laurie,you and Linda are so much alike it's scary. I think I may have said that a few times that night but I get a little nervous in the presence of people that make such an impression on me, I hope that you will forgive my naive nature.

Ken and Jackie it's always a pleasure to see you. We should do this more often at home but we might not survive it, lol.

Thank God Jackie was there or the Banzais we were doing might have gotten us thrown out on the street, and for her to be the voice of reason and the voice for reordering..... Sumimasen!!!!

Thanks Ken for creating the instant air conditioning,with one finger you pocked a hole through generations of Japanese culture, lol.( I'll let you explain to everyone else what that meant).

We, unlike you all had to wake up at 7:00 am to catch the train to Kakunodate with such heavy heads that we were in a fog all day and it was like we were in a bad dream and slept uneasily most of the train trip,but we made it and we were glad we did as it was a real blast. I'll post a report soon, I hope

From the voice of controversy, lol....... take care and ALOHA!

kinda late in posting here, but have been extremely busy at work, and getting ready for another trip next week, then back for the la gtg.

the night with eric, lauire, linda, peter, and jackie was the most fun i've had since the night i spent in the texas bar in sasebo, along time ago.

we enjoy meeting the new yorkers. eric, i hope you weren't too uncomfortable sitting at the end of the table. were you able to put your feet in the hole? and of course, listening to laurie talk reminded me of the time i lived in bayridge. i thought about you guys already zzzing, while we were still walking back to the hotel in the chilly spring weather.

ht and linda, hope we can gtg more than annually, and not only at these gtg. i had alot of fun with the lively conversations and funny oneliners. i thought about you guys as my head hit the pillow just after midnite, wow! you have to get up in a couple of hours for your trip north to tohoku. poor thing.lol

i was happy to see that i spent all that money at ganchan, and not at the pachinko palour. lol.

at ganchan, the staff was wise enough to put us in a small tatami room(sans tatami) in the restaurant so as not to disturb the other patrons too much. the size of the room was just about right for the six of us. we sat on the floor, but thankgoodness for the hole in the floor for legs.

i think for all of us, this was a perfectly timed trip. the sakuras were at full bloom, a warm day for the veiwing at various locations, and of course, the great gtg with six really cool fodorites. hopefully, we can do this again.

and lastly, yes, i pierced the paper screen that covered the small window in our tatami room. i was sliding the window open, and somehow, i clumsily stuck my finger and made a hole in the paper screen. and i was still on my first sake glass.