25 Painted floats at Aomori, Japan April 30th

Wet and cold - just add another layer

 Aomori

A slower start to the day this morning but we certainly didn't miss our appointment in the dining room for breakfast after experiencing the buffet at Hirozons yesterday. I am not a big fan of the large numbers of rowdy "urgent" feasters first up in the morning. Have a bit of a preference for the quiet, ordered calm of the window views in "Concerto." Mosied onto the #International Cafe and took a long time enjoying a coffee in one of the many secluded spots. All too comfortable and not too excited about layering up and heading outside.

Was a bit of action on Deck overnight with the wind (chair blown over) and someone should tell @Mac to pull the curtains when we are in port!

 We didn't leave the ship until 10:30 - and it was cold - about 12° and raining. Had the down jacket, the rain and wind breaker jacket and the umbrella and once again there was some "town" representation on the pier to get you started. We collected a map and got directions but somehow found ourselves trapped in the shoreline #Maritime Museum being pursued by ladies eager to serve us green tea and set us up for some souvenirs.

Maritime Museum exit and then off to the Bay View Bridge

Successfully found an exit and made our way through the industrial area to take a stroll (wind blown and wet, challenged by more stairs) on the #Bay View Bridge. Interesting set up here - nothing like yesterday's tsunami barrier on this port tucked out of harm's way. This bridge is a short cut across the peninsular - and when we descended we were on the "beach." Hmmm, dirty sand lapped by water - not really what I thought was a beach.

Down the never ending spiral staircase and onto the beach

 A strip of dirty sand and some Bay water

This is an "apple growing" prefecture so we included a little wander through the #A-Factory (think Buderim Ginger - but with apples) before entering our prime target of the #Nebuta Museum There were plenty of options on offer in the port - shrines, temples, cultural museums, hot springs, shopping malls and even a ropeway. But we were attracted to this museum because it was dedicated to showcasing the floats from the annual light festival held to mark the end of spring.

Totally different from anything else we have visited. The main attraction were the full sized rice paper illuminated floats from the festival. They were massive constructions of wire and bamboo, filled with lights and covered with detailed paintings. They were 8 metres wide, 5 metres high and 7 metres deep, all 3 dimensional and equally detailed from every angle. Each float re-told a story or legend and featured grotesque heroes and threatening dragons and animals - lots of sword brandishing and bold colours. 

The float and trailer combo weighs approximately 4 tonnes- they are pulled through the street by festival goers

There were featured documentaries on the history of the festival and introduction to the "masters" who create them mandatory of course interactive options that allowed you to create art work and touch and explore the work. Also got to do a dance class (involved a lot of hopping - so we swayed and bobbed instead) and playing drums and cymbals. Great fun and think I wouldn't mind being there for the finale of the festival where the street drawn floata are then floated in the harbour with a background of a magnificent fireworks display over the Bay View Bridge.

I thoughtt I could see a resemblance - top left is my (digital) painting effort

As part of your entrance fee, you receive a little bell. I have tied one to my handbag and one to the backpack. Not sure how long that little incessant tingle-jingle will last- @Mac says I sound like a cat! Had two ladies comment at different times in the evening that they thought they were home, hearing their cat's bell!

Loved the "No rickshaw" sign! Steps just keep on coming

Still that slight misty rain on the walk home and after completing that little 7 km wet stroll, comolete with more stairs) we skipped lunch and rewarded ourselves with candles and champagne in the stateroom before heading out to catch the folkloric show at the adjusted earlier time in the #Princess Theatre.

Not a great view tonight .. 

Did learn a valuable lesson this evening - don't be "late" for the early shoe. It was once again packed and somehow @Mac spotted a two-togrther combo in the row fourth from the back. These seats are high up in the rafters and are not tiered seating - so although I enjoyed the rhythms, got occasional glimpses of the costumes and willingly stood up and joined in with all audience participation moments - I can't say I really 'saw' the show. But, guessing I took in more than last night when I slept through it!

Favourites - veggies and mushroom soup

Had to be quip to snap the desserts!

Finished the evening with a leisurely dinner and the simple things do keep a smile on your face - @Mac scored his mushroom soup and still on the vegetable and salad hunt I thought I had hit the jackpot. Perhaps @Mac may have beaten me on the satisfaction scale though. Somehow, with a little bit of a mix up on the dessert ordering, he ended up with three in front of him! Insisted that he didn't want to waste food - and cleared up the trio. Can only shake my head and smile.  

As penance - we took the long way home ... via the coffee shop!

Weather: 12 degrees and misty rain

Steps: 13 478

KEEP CALM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - THE END OF THE BIRTHDAY MONTH - IT HAS BEEN A BEAUTY!

Keep calm, you're only 70!

24 Miyako East Coast Japan April 29th

 

So much on the pier to welcome the "Royal Princess" for the first time

Miyako

We docked early this morning in #Miyako the most easterly point on the coastline of #Japan and home to a mere population of 50 000. The mountains that ringed the bay and the sandy shoreline are affectionately called the 'Ocean Alps.'

We have a bird's eye view of the port, perched on our balcony on Deck 15 and are privy to the action of pulling alongside the dock and can even hear some of the chatter from the bridge.

We get a great overview from the balcony - and BTW, chair got blown across deck last night

Despite our late night in the early hours of this morning- I was up at 5 am and @Mac was breakfast ready by 8. Glad we have access to our long snuggly bathrobes - it was a bit fresh outside catching all the action.

The ship offers a shuttle service at the port but as well as charging $15 US for each of us, it warns that there are likely to be delays in accessing the bus because of the volume of people using the service. A quick glance over our balcony confirmed the queues so we opted to go independently. Had thoughts of catching the local bus, but the town centre was quite close so decided to walk.

No lineup for us to get off the ship and with #Google Maps and #MapMyRun operational we easily hit the hot spots of the town.

A little stroll to get to the railway station and town centre

What a welcome the local community had organised. The pier was lined with cultural displays, craft shops and food vans. There was entertainment all day - drums, dancing and singing. High school students were acting as interpreters and they were snapping pictures for everyone. There were signs and banners and inflated bouncy mascots.

Lots of welcome fun on the pier 

This cruise ship with 3 800 potential buyers on board was a big deal for this community. And it was the first time that "Royal Princess" had been here which meant there was quite a lavish reception that involved local representatives, our Captain and an exchange of plaques.

All the guide maps that were handed out were colour coded and this corresponded with coloured street markers along the route The community really wanted to make a great impression.

I think everyone from town was on the pier

The walk was an eye opener. This community had been devastating by the 2011 tsunami that barrelled through the low-lying coastal township registering a 10-metre-high wall of surging water. It was the same tsunami that hit the nuclear reactor in #Fukoshima. Our walk took us through the newly constructed ring of concrete that is the first line of defence for any future surge of water. It was about 10 metres high - had sliding door entries that could be blocked off and staircases over the top to provide access if the wall were closed. This was backed up by a second concrete wall about 100 metres further on. Same principals but at a lower height. 

The 3-kilometre waterfront was declared as a "tsunami inundation area" and road signage every hundred metres indicated the distance north and south to escape the water and reach high ground. We noted that the bridge spans were actually anchored with huge chain links to prevent them from washing away. Warning towers were in evidence and loudspeakers were positioned along the city streets. Not quite sure - was all this reassuring - or actually frightening. 

The concrete wall ringed the harbour

And sadly, there were lots of vacant lots - apparently some didn't come back to rebuild. 

We read online accounts from the survivors and their accounts were horrific. The speed and force of the water combined to kill tens of thousands and destroyed everything in its path. Very sobering - and threat is very real.

Some flowers happening - lots of florist shops in town - was interesting to note the very poor gravelly soil - not sure how anything grows

We wandered the shops and I did make a little purchase. Found a little bag in am obscure shop that specialised in kimono fabric. The gentleman who owned the shop was dressed in traditional gear and had no English. I thought I had explained that I would take the bag but needed to go outside to get some money. But he interpreted my leaving as not wanting to purchase anything and dropped the price AND threw in a lovely handkerchief as a sweetener for the deal. I felt such a fraud but certainly walked away as a happy customer.

@Mac gave his support of the town by buying a #Sudoku book - all instructions are in Japanese - the easy ones are at the back and the harder ones at the front. But really, it's all about the numbers and he was happy. That should keep him busy for a few weeks.

Managed to clock up close to 6  kms one our stroll so we're glad to get back on board.

Welcome back - easy on boarding

That's our stateroom

Rocked up for an earlier dinner so we would be on time for the 9.30 show and get some seats in the Theatre. A kiwi diva tonight belted out the hits from female artist over the last 50 years. I confess that I definitely had too many drinks with dinner. I had designed my own degustation menu and had paired something different with each course. @Mac will have to rate the performance (he only mentioned that her dress looked like a bed spread) because I slept through all but the first and last songs.

Night, night ... need the rest.

PS Have another confession to make. Had just a tiny little mishap in the loo in downtown #Miyako. As always- desperate for a wee stop. Once my hand is on the doorknob there is a definite level of commitment. I remember registering "Oh, that's good, a heated seat" because I could see the bidet setup. What I didn't register was that the lid was DOWN and it certainly didn't enter my consciousness until I was down! Perhaps there should have been a tsunami warning in that loo. 🤔 Operation cleanup was deployed.

Weather: 15 degrees under sunny skies

Steps:  15 593

KEEP CALM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

They told me if I got older I'd be wiser. In that case I must be a genius. George Burns

23 At sea off coast of Japan April 28th

Balcony sun was available today- almost need the tracker to find each other out there 

At sea settling in

An orientation day for us. Lazy start to the morning - no alarms, no meetup, no trains and subways and no stairs (unless we made that choice - and yes, we did.)

Perfect start to my day - vegemite and cheese for brekkie

Easily found our way to breakfast in the dining room and at last, just sat and talked our way through the morning, enjoying the food and the coffee.

Calm seas, plenty of choice in food and activity

The Medallion makes everything easy - we can "chat" if we need to get messages to each other, but the best feature is the live tracking of location. I can be out and about and am never really "lost" because @Mac can see my location in the APP. Haven't had to send out for a rescue party yet, but good to know for future wobbles.

The Medallion makes ordering too easy - just scan and it is delivered wherever you are - all works on proximity - even your door unlocks as you approach

Besides, not sure I could get lost, because I really only roamed from the day bed on the balcony, to the sofa in the sitting room and the bed with a view in the bedroom. Had a little sun outside and enjoyed that and when it cooled down, could use the super-dooper full length bathrobe as a blanket.

Shhhh, birthday girl resting ... 

Did a fair bit of wandering today to locate the pools and hot tubs (it is a bit nippy so not sure it will be high on the agenda), found the "just right" coffee spot and honestly, the luxury of "feet up" was just what we needed. Mind you, we did hit the walking track in an attempt to clock up some steps - we were feeling a little guilty about the only walking we were doing was to front up for our food. Loved the little extra "jutting" piece of the ship that allows you to walk out over the ocean - it has a glass floor so you can literally walk on water.

Walking track and over the sea extension @Mac is hiding in there

It was formal night tonight - and somehow @Mac had missed that memo and had to dash back to the stateroom to retrieve his jacket. Lots of glitz and glam on board, professional photos being snapped, the Captain's welcome and the champagne fountain. Beautiful lighting, spiral glass staircases, panoramic glass lifts, dance floors with plenty of live music and a general party feel. 

Formal is as easy as a jacket and some sparkles on shoes and handbags 

Welcomed for dinner and lovely choices on the menu but have to comment on my favourite - the pâté. It was so good I could have rolled in it! Can't wait until its variation on the menu appears again.

Lots of options to enjoy - and a great team to look after you

Took in our first production show in the Theatre called "Encore." A featured soprano accompanied by the 10 resident singers and the 10-piece orchestra. They put together a wonderful repertoire and it was appreciated by the mature audience that made up the numbers. The Princess Theatre was packed - think it seats over a thousand and there was standing room only.

Moved from there to a "British Pub Night" with cruise director @Dan. What a crazy time - we had no idea what we were getting into - but it was a series of challenges and quizzes with volunteers from the audience. You were divided into two teams and there were lots of competitions that involved audience participation. We screamed, waved our arms and danced with the best of them and of course our "Lovely Legs" team won.

About 150 people in a Theatre playing silly buggers- was fun and LOUD

Found our way back to the stateroom just after midnight - bit hyped up after all the British Pub shenanigans. Nonetheless, the bed and the pillows did their trick. No alarms set for us - it is a sleep in morning.

Weather: the Captain said it was 18

Steps: 7 430 - not all of them in a straight line - and most of them for food!

KEEP CALM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We are not limited by our old age, we are liberated by it. Stu Mittleman

22 Trekking to the terminal and all aboard April 27th

Take a number - 3800 arriving for check-in

Yokohama Cruise Terminal

Well, here we go. Part 2 of the celebrating 70s adventure. This had been the challenge in the planning and preparation - to try and find a ship that was leaving #Tokyo around the time of our #Inspring Vacation end date. @Mac found the perfect connection in this repositioning cruise of the #Royal Princess that cruises up the east coast of #Japan, makes a trans Pacific crossing and ducks in and out of ports from #Alaska to #Vancouver. And obviously, with disembarkation so close to #Whistler we will get to spend a couple of weeks with @M&I.

So long #Tokyo - let's head to the ship

Thanks goodness @Mac had been quietly persistent with the dry run of the elevator run last night. Saturday is definitely not a quiet day in the subway and on suburban trains - it would have been traumatic without that reconnaissance.

Stuffed everything in the bags, checked out comfortably by 8 am and made our way through the throngs to present ourselves at the ticket office of the #JR line.

Of course, we encountered #Madam Officious here - the first one in our 20 days - but she was only doing her job and luckily we did have the cash to cover it.

The problem dates "way back." It all started when our replacement credit cards were delivered over 12 months ago and we dutifully signed them. Turns out, we signed each other's card. @Mac's card has my signature on it and of course, my card has his signature. Now, we travelled all last year - and were not called on the mismatch once. What usually happens is that @Mac hands over the card and then I sign the docket - so card and signature match. Been no worries.

Until yesterday. The combined fare on that morning was the equivalent of $9.80 AUD. And full praise to #Madam Officious - she picked it ... I signed, but she would tell I wasn't "Mr Wayne" and with much waving of the hand and many "No, no, no" she proceeded to shred the tickets in front of us - was sort of like a little dramatic performance.

Went to Plan B - and were thankful that she issued the tickets - for cash - to the obvious big-time scammers - at one point we were expecting the "ninja" police to jump out from behind the screens.

We were too embarrassed to get specific instructions to the #JR line so followed our instincts. Um, fail. Turns out we weren't looking for the "purple line" that was shown on @Mac's well-worn subway map - when in fact we need the "orange line." First time the tickets and the maps haven't lined up but we did find it thanks to the helpful attendant who hadn't yet received the memo about the scammers on the loose.

So two hours and thirteen minutes later at 10:13 am we were on the right platform and ready for the train to take us to #Yokohama. So far we had travelled just 2 kms since we left the room.

We couldn't believe our eyes when 3 minutes later the train pulled to a stop. We looked at each other at exactly the same moment and in unison mouthed "Oh $h!t." It was jam packed and I had no idea how we were going to fit in amongst the strollers, suitcases, backpacks and boxes, not to mention PEOPLE that were already on board.

Saturday morning crush

As a small gap opened as some passengers left the train, @Mac just barrelled through and somehow got all our bits and bobs on. As a seat became available, I took it and somehow the train continued to fill at each of its next two stops. At the 20-minute mark we disgorged with hundreds of others and found ourselves in a queue with the strollers for the lift. Patience.

It was the halfway mark and we decided it was time for breakfast and took the first restaurant we could find and patted ourselves on the back - the hard part was over.

Taking a breakfast break and finding a taxi

Next challenge was to get a taxi. Google Maps advised we could walk to the port in 2 hours and 13 minutes - and I was thanking every deity known that @Mac hadn't thought this was a possibility and good sense prevailed!

Joined a queue of about a hundred to get a cab and then whizzed at 100 kph in a 60 kph zone across the bridge to join the stalled traffic jam to access the harbour. Seems that 3 800 passengers had been given that same noon boarding time and every taxi in #Yokohama was waiting to drop off their passengers.

Have to admit we have never experienced anything like these queues to board a ship. The saving grace was that despite the ominous cloud cover that blanketed the sky, it didn't rain. Most people were polite and patient in the queue (only one lady knocked me out of the way 3 times with her orange bag) and eventually we were peeled off into a "priority" queue.

Staff were offering water and calming words - but it really was a warehouse processing station and we snaked through endless lines to finally board at 1.30 pm. We'd only travelled 34 kms from our hotel in @Tokyo but I can tell you we were glad that 8  till 1:30 challenge was behind us.

So lucky - now we were in the "priority" queue 😅🤣😂

Here we go - made it

Welcome aboard

We were rewarded for our patience and persistence though. Have the most amazing digs for this 23-day cruise. A suite, right at the front of the ship - huge sitting room and separate bedroom, bathroom with full sized bath and a balcony big enough to host a party.

Happy with our digs

So excited to unpack everything and rediscover what was in the hidden nooks and crannies of our luggage. Cupboards, coat hangers and drawers to spare. Comfortable bed, chairs and couches, outdoor setting an sun chairs and @Allan to look after us. The magnetic hooks are on the walls - we have our medallions and all the details we need in the APP on our phones. Only one negative - according to @Mac - the toilet seat is cold! But he did say he could send me in first to warm it up.

Drawing out these celebrations!

Got our priorities right and soon found food and drink and tapped into the ease of ordering with the -#Medallion. Pretty cool actually - got interactive maps that show your location on the ship and can plot a route for you to your destination (very handy for me), includes the daily schedule, has ordering capacity to get deliveries to any location on-board, built-in chat features for your nominated "ship mates", opens your staterooms and means that staff members address you by name as you place an order.

@Allan is looking after us and has made sure everything is on hand. We easily found a late lunch snack and set up our wi-fi connection. Headed for the upper decks for the Sail Away party - a little funny actually because despite being scheduled to leave at 5 pm - we were delayed in Port and it was closer to 7.30 before we were under way. Certainly didn't temper the mood of the party and not sure anyone noticed we were still docked!

Got a little surprise at dinner because we have a priority dining area as part of our "Reserve Collection" booking - very posh - no lining up for us - straight to the table and tonight a little twosome by the window. Everything perfect- food, wine and service. And the second surprise at dinner was the wait staff gathering around to sing "Happy Birthday" for me and top it off with a special little cake dessert.

Another rendition of #the song - it never ends

Just passing through in ship explorations

We skipped the show - a comedian tonight - and opted instead for the sanctuary of our home for the next 23 days. Welcome aboard the "Royal Princess." 

Weather: 24 degrees and cloud cover - thank goodness, no rain

Steps: 8930 - we are adding taking "up flights" of stairs for a few flights, rather than the lift, to our on board routine

KEEP CALM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age. Lucille Ball

21 Who dreams up this stuff - blown away at TeamLabs April 26th

Without doubt, my heavenly place

Tokyo

Have to say, that was a world not to be missed. #TeamLabs Borderless was something else.

We have spent the majority of the time underground here in #Tokyo and it was quite surprising to get outside and have a look at the city streets from above ground. I am sure it is possible to spend months or even years in the endless caverns that make up the subway - kilometre after kilometre of multi-level underground streets and shopping malls and entertainment spaces all connected by train lines.

When we did the map check for today's activity - it indicated a 37-minute walk or a 37-minute two train journey ... and that train journey estimate included 14 minutes of walking as well. "Why not?" we thought. Let's give the underground a miss - and take the "high road."

Amazing what you can find above ground

Had breakfast at the now familiar "Tully's Coffee" shop and decided we'd walk above ground back to the hotel as a little teaser for our later start. Hmmm, that should have been our warning.

There's no simple crossing of the road here in downtown #Tokyo - all the pedestrian traffic (that isn't in the subway) is funnelled up on overhead flyways - and although we could see our destination, it involved a convoluted series of escalators, walkways and switchbacks before we would once again enter a subterranean world and gain access to the hotel.

Anyway - unschooled and totally ignoring that little hint, we took off and 55 minutes later our 37-minute walk was complete. We'd followed the map religiously and it was only when we found ourselves following behind other couples, equally glued to their maps, that we formed a little coalition with other lost souls and found an entrance.

Fully booked out

But we had arrived - and we had prebought our tickets a good 6 weeks ago using an APP called "KLOOK." If you had turned up without a booking you would have been completely disappointed. Tickets were actually sold out and the next availability was a late evening option on May 1st. WOW.

The scale was enormous, the use of mirrors deceptive - the colours, patterns constantly changed and moved from room to room

A series of "rooms" with high walls and constantly changing "themes" combined with "rooms" of fixed installations of special effects - often immersive and requiring you to "commit" to the etiquette of entry

Entry was through a ramp descent that gets gradually darker until you are through the final check point and are in total darkness. We hadn't actually read the fine print of the ticket until we were lined up for entry - no pregnancy (we were right there), no blood pressure (hmm) and no old people (oops.) We were thinking and hoping, that in the dark, they couldn't tell. Anyway, the orientation video added an extra layer of drama - this is a world without a map! Now that was a HUGE concern and actually got the blood pressure up  for "you know who, the one that really wants a map." The beauty of this installation the orientation video claimed, was to have to find your own way through!

To infinity and beyond - so clever

Smiled in "awe" for the majority of the visit

And it was literally a maze with rooms ranging from massive multi storeyed heights to low lying ceilings where you felt you have to duck. And all in varying degrees of darkness, illuminated by immersive digital art.

Walls were covered in constantly changing images, rooms dripping with lights, mirrored floors, walls and ceilings, every colour you could imagine and many that you couldn't. Patterns and reflections and even infinite reflections. Your only clue to navigation was that if you saw your own reflection ahead, you knew you were at a wall.

We roved the spaces and it was just so beautiful, so clever and beyond anything we have ever encountered. I am freely admitting that in one room, let's call it the bubble room, I was so overwhelmed with emotion I burst into tears. I haven't thought much about it before, but if I were to have a vision and an associated feeling of heaven, this would be it. It was like being immersed in an infinite sea of gently glowing golden lights. This was just one of the rooms.

There were hundreds of people in the installation, but the background sound effects, and the darkness made it possible for you to exist in your own space. For all of the installations that involved that immersive experience, every visitor had to read out loud and acknowledge a statement about how they would respect the contents of the space and definitely would not touch any of the artwork. This was tricky - you were actually in the lights - moving and weaving and in some cases ducking to avoid whatever was featured.

Sight and sound overload

Two hours later, we had no idea if we had found every installation, but after four repeated visits to the lily pad room, we thought maybe we had covered it. 

It was incredible. And now that we know what it was like, we'd probably be prepared to walk for a week above ground to get there.

To recover, we pulled up a table in a nearby bakery, ordered a hot lunch of clam chowder and carbonara and plotted our next moves.

Lunch recovery to plot more subway routes to find a garden

Everyday we've been in #Tokyo I've said "Imperial Gardens East Gate," and every day there's been a good reason as to why we've had to postpone this visit. So over lunch we had the maps out and @Mac potentially had us back underground. I opened the website for ticketing instructions and couldn't believe my eyes. Gardens are CLOSED Mondays and Fridays! Not just this Monday- every Monday. Seriously! Bummer. Oh well, I am sure there is an online documentary I can catch later on!

Not to be deterred @Mac just hopped into "save the day" mode and found a substitute - it's not as if there is any shortage of gardens in #Tokyo. The new find had the advantage of being near our accommodation and gave us a view of the harbour.

Park is an oasis amongst the silver skyline of #Shiodome

So, it was back into the subway and then another insanely convoluted up and over and eventually an across to deliver us to the #Hamarikyu garden. This was adjacent to #Tokyo Bay and featured a series of sluice gates to control the tidal ebb and flow of seawater into the ponds. Plenty of trails to stroll, bridges for water crossing and a tea house perched on an island. What makes this garden special, is that it is an oasis of calm in amongst the silver high-rise of the busy downtown #Shiodome.

And the bonus, flashed our passport to prove we were over 65 and got in for half price. Even had one last cherry blossom tree doing its thing as our farewell to #Tokyo.

Few and far between now in #Tokyo

Made it back to the #Villa Fontaine for multiple rounds of Kahlua in their guest #Happy Hour and as the feet began to thaw from their numb state and common sense started to kick in @Mac convinced (a very reluctant and whiney, moany) me we had to walk and plot the route for our #Yokohama escape to the cruise ship tomorrow. Thank goodness he did because it took us 1 hour and 40 minutes to find the network of elevators we would need to get us to the JR ticket office and train line tomorrow.

We'd managed to find the hidden rooms in the dark in #TeamLabs, you'd have thought it would have been a breeze to find an elevator in full light. I'm suggesting the route he has plotted is such a winner, there'd be a market for it! He wouldn't let me take notes or photos, no use leaving a breadcrumb trail, someone would have cleaned it up .... hope he remembers for tomorrow.

We were up and around, down and up, off course and confused but had the constant blare and clapping of the male performer and the entourage of female fans tonight as our anchor. This whole performance underground thing that seems to happen every day in the #Shiodome was a saviour - need the magic of a similar guiding light tomorrow.

Too exhausted to even think about dinner - rounded on a familiar #7/11 and grabbed an egg sandwich (oh they have been so good) and a couple if pieces of chicken- figure we have 23 days ahead of cruising cuisine - a light late grab and go was acceptable. Too tired to even pack - set the alarm for the morning and gratefully fell into bed joking that tomorrow we would be back on a "water bed."

PS did two loads of washing here (secured the machines at 6.30 am) and the ironing. Best equipment we have encountered so far. Clothes came out dry and the iron was hot! It was only after my 3rd conversation with an Indian gentleman that I realised I was braless in the hotel PJs and scuffs in the public space of the laundry. Not sure on the protocol that - with my branded PJs top he may have thought i was staff.  Unfortunately, seem to have misplaced two little socks .... have asked the Indian gentleman to check his load when the machine finishes.

PPS @Mac is so good navigating the subways. You not only need to know station to station, line to line stuff but also how to understand the exits. Sometimes, that is the biggest challenge, knowing which exit to pop up from. There is so much information on the walls and signage. If you know that the info exists, you can take advantage of it - you seem to find another piece of the puzzle every day. Hope he has that magic locked in for tomorrow's journey on the JR line - we don't have tickets "yet."

Weather: 17 degrees

Steps: 19 845

KEEP CALM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When they tell me I'm too old to do something, I attempt it immediately. Pablo Picasso