Well our first day in Japan was exciting, overwhelming and heartwarming. We started with a Japanese onsen visit, a natural hot spring in our hotel. Here you take off your clothes and sit on a bucket while you wash beside others. Then you slip into a hot pool and soak for as long as you can handle it. It's hot!! But I loved it. Our day was so long that all I could think about was doing it again at the end of the day. And we did! Between our early morning and late night dips we explored Umeda, a hub of Osaka where there are many train stations, and super malls. We enjoyed a ramen lunch in one of Christopher's favorites, and oogled at $100 melons packaged with bows. Our afternoon was spent chanting and banging bats together at the sold out Hanshin Tigers baseball game. This was a real treat and like nothing we have been to in the world. Stay tuned for footage of the 7th inning stretch where we blew up balloons with the 55,000 others and let them scream into the field. Our dinner was special as we met with an old friend of Chris's. Dave and his wife Miyako treated us to Korean BBQ with their two lovely children.
What have I learned today? Japan has kind hearted people who will stop what they are doing and help you with anything....like carrying your big bag up the subway stairs and walking you to your hotel in the dark. Thanks to our our new friend Yogi for that. Japan, you and I will get along just fine!