6/23 Kobe - Arima Onsen

Omelets made to order

Baked goods

Japanese

Baked goods

Breakfast at the hotel is a sumptuous affair. They have both a European and Japanese buffet. I ate like a pig,. The pastries were to die for!

After a couple of lectures on Japanese education after the Tsunami disaster we had an amazing Bento Box lunch.

Lunchtime Bento box

After the amazing lunch we took a bus tour of Kobe and headed out for the Arima Onsen (Hot Springs). On the way we stopped at the longest suspension bridge in the world which connects two islands. It is the the Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge and connects the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshū to Iwaya on Awaji Island by crossing the busy Akashi Strait. The main span of the bridge is just under 2 kilometers long!

Under the longest suspension bridge in the world

Then on to Arima past rice paddies and small farms in the mountains behind Kobe.On arrival at the Onsen we changed into slippers and then went up in an elevator. We were divided into groups of eight and shown into private rooms. Each room had several chairs. They weren't really chairs, just sitting places in front of a low table. We had green tea and crackers. The room had a TV. There was a little balcony from which we could look  into the street. There was also a closet. In a closet was a pile of neatly folded robes. These robes are called ukata. We undressed and changed into the ukata. Then we went upstairs to a room where we showered before getting into a huge hot tub. It was really hot. We soaked a while in that tub and then moved to another tub which was outside. we soaked in that for a bit and after about half an hour we took a cold shower and a foot massage from a machine and then went back down to our little room.

Onsen tea room

The boys in Ukata

Doesn't need a caption

Kobe beef for Shabu-Shabu

The Ladies take pictures

6/22 Kobe, Japan

Well, I'm here. I had quite a surprise at the San Francisco airport while drinking my 6th espresso of the day. I ran into my friend Diane Fukuda there. She was on the same plane to Japan. I didn't expect to meet anyone from Jaffrey here! I stayed awake for the whole, interminable flight and  we made it through customs and immigration. Jumped on a bus from Kansai, the trash island upon which the airport is built, to Kobe, where we are staying. The route took us along the coast road around the city of Osaka, Japan's second largest city and its industrial heart. It is one big ugly city!
We arrived at our hotel, the Hotel Okura Kobe , The rooms are large and comfortable. My first stop was to check out the toilet. Yes, Japanese toilets are everything they promised.I am on the 21st floor with sweeping views of the harbor (when the fog clears).

What a dashboard!

We went to a rooftop restaurant at a near by hotel for dinner and I had Kobe beef as well as sushi and sashimi and scallops tempura.

6/21 Today is the day

Yesterday was exciting. Storms in Chigago meant route changes and I missed the dinner I had arranged with the 15 other teachers who are going to Kanazawa. Still managed to get a decent dinner at the restaurant near the hotel. Up at 5:00 this morning. Off for espresso and then breakfast with the other teachers. Leave the hotel at 9;00 for the airport. Kobe here we come!

Monday 6/20

The adventure begins. Up at 5:00 for my usual two double espressos. How will I cope in Japan?
No worries, I packed my handpresso and a bunch of E.S.E espresso pods.
Check my Email for last minute changes.On to the rowing machine for my last dose of aerobics for a couple of weeks. I'll tidy my office and at 8;20 David will pick me up to take me to Manchester airport. There I intend to negotiate booking my check in luggage all the way through to Kansai. That way I can avoid having to shlepp it around San Francisco tonight.
My Ebook reader is loaded with Sustainability books, Clive Cussler and Lee Child. My Ipod is loaded with tunes, Japanese phrases, tourist guides and my itinerary. My notebook is charged and ready to blog!

Friday 6/16/11

It is Friday morning, my last day at school for this semester. I was up at 4:00 this morning. I was too excited to sleep. Today my students will be taking their final exams. I came in to school and realized I had left their exams on my desk at home. Too much excitement, insufficient focus!