Here In Japan

After a gruelling 10 hour flight on food-horrible Air Canada, we arrived in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2009.
I immediately wished I had studied my Japanese more but there are lots of English cues and people are great at signing. We got our apartment (Lots of paperwork in triplicate) and a cab to get us there. It is through Sakora House and is small but efficient and warm. I was immediately impressed with the fashion sense here; everyone is dressed to the nines. Love how well tailored and intricately designed the clothes are! High heels are a must and you can see everything from fur to buckles and silver and gold. The boots are fabulous - leather and style - not many ughs.

We plan to see as much as we can here, especially Tokyo Fashion Week in March. Already there are some flowers blooming and in every small space, there is greenery. On our neighbor's balcony,there is a container garden and oranges grow on the small bushes. The streets are clean and people seem to walk in files - there is a slow lane and a fast lane and bicycles in between. Lots of BMW's, convertables, sedans and small trucks but few accidents. When the lights change, millions of people cross in all directions but there is order to everything. It seems a safe place with small school kids unaccompanied, travelling on trains, early in the morning and late at night.

We start out looking for the familiar and see McDonald's, Burger King, Crispy Creme, and the Hard Rock Cafe. We see Zara, American Apparell, Banana Republic and more. Haven't seen any camping stores yet. (yeah) There is the 100 yen store and small grocery stores and we buy staples and some breakfast items. We say please and thank-you and hand over the money. Things cost the same here as at home. Oh and although we don't see big dogs or poo on the streets, there are dog stores and well dressed purse pups. But people wash the streets down every day, like in Greek villages and the garbage is orderly and swiftly taken away.