Days 3 and 4

Or trip into Gifu went off really well. We drove there, left early in the morning and on the way saw the sun rising on Mount Fuji. It was breathtaking!

We spent most of the day with my friends that I used to teach with here in Japan. It was so good to get caught up with them. Two of my old co-workers got married and had a son. Then, Maho passed away from cancer when their son was about 2 years old. Her husband, my best friend from Japan, and I were able to sit down and talk and he told me many of the details since her death was really a shock at the time. I had no idea she was so sick and all of a sudden she was gone. But he is doing ok and taking good care of their son. I was glad to see him doing so well because I have been so worried about him.

We spent the evening with Dama's friends. They threw a dinner party at one of their homes. It was a 100 year old traditional Japanese style home. It was gorgeous, like being in a shrine! All paper doors, tatami (straw) mat floors. Originally when they moved in, it had no bathroom in the house. It was in a shack outside. But they added on to the home and there was a bathroom with a very fancy Japanese toilet. I opened the door and I guess there is a motion sensor on the toilet so the lid lifted up and scared the living daylights out of me :)

The next day, we stopped in Nagoya city, my old shopping turf! It is hard not to spend A.LOT.OF.MONEY here since everything is just so cute and different. I did buy some cushion covers that were really cool.

Then we hopped in the car and did the 4 hour drive back to Mama and Papa's house where an amazing dinner of sushi, Japanese style chicken and pork, many of my favorites was waiting. Add a hot bath and a warm futon waiting for me and I was out like a light at 8pm :)

Today, we are going to Dama's Grandma's cemetery and then to go "Mikan Hunting". It is U-pick mandarin oranges! You go into the grove and eat as many as you can, plus you fill a bucket to take home. Tomorrow is...Tokyo Disneyland! I am going to need a vacation soon.

Here is a photo of Lucas in his hakama. Shrine is on Friday!