Tokyo Sunday

I don't know why but I needed to make this face having been forced into this photo op, I did my best to yuck it up
The markets, the markets near Ayumi's house in Asakusa...

Alvin, Simon and Theodore- don't finger!

mmmmmmm rice crackers!
Ayumi, Ella Umbrella, and Keiko at Asakusa Temple

Memorial near the Asakusa templegrrrrr, he couldn't keep us out though ;-)
Keiko said this was "the smart smoke" so we rubbed it into our brows

Asakusa Pagoda

And then they decided that I must be dressed in a yukata, so off we went to Ayumi's so that her grandmother could tend to my fitting... it took nearly 35 minutes to swaddled up properly!
I felt so purdy!
The markets just outside the door of Ayumi's home... like the covered long malls of Brussels or Naples, there were street food vendors and bicylces and more!
The palace entrance, in the center of Tokyo... gorgeous!
It began to rain so there was an Ella with no umbrella! And yet, I seemed to be the only one not dampened by the downpour ;-)
Peter, figuratively and literally, BIG in Japan
most precious and unplanned gift, this sunset with this skyline
city scapes and my girls frolicking in the thunder storm met by coral sun streaks
The night cap- Ayumi's family's friend's sushi house.... mmmmmmmmmm

Great day, grateful and satiated... we were carted around in a car by gracious hosts and found ourselves lost on a whirlwind tour of beauty, splendor and quirkiness. The sushi, was all we needed to put the perfect finishing touch on a perfect Tokyo Sunday!

At Long Last- touched down in Tokyo photos

I figure that before I head off to China, I should atleast share a bit of Japan with you...
It's been a month or so since my return from the Land of the Rising Sun but it's still fresh in my mind...

The moment arrived on our first night, after some reggae in the park and a few wrong turns in subway stations... SUSHI SUSHI SUSHI!
Cheap, purchase by the plate ala tapas in Barcelona, delicious SUSHI!!!!

The gods were smiling as I nodded in their direction and engorged myself with delectable treats and sake... my student from last year, Keiko was kind enough to offer herself as tour guide extraordinaire and brought along her dance teacher, Aki. I love them, dearly- almost as much as the sushi.

Keiko, little Eagle and Ella Umbrella, Mama Eagle- UNITE in Tokyo! Reunited and it feels so good!
Couldn't get enough ginger and obviously, sushi... look at my plates! Yum!!!
The fire festival, one of the many dress up in yukata occassions in Japan, was occurring the night we touched down in Nippon. We were in the midst of Shibuya photo booth craziness and the girls were all dolled up in their traditional wear and their Harajuku gear too!
See the yukatas? They are quite difficult to master all by your lonesome, I found this out later...

Shibuya's famous intersection and flippin' boiling even at midnight! July heat, so hot!
Peter & Aki, finishing up the night at a Reggae bar in Shibuya- the apparent theme of the day.

I love Keiko and Keiko loves me ;-)