We didn't leave our hotel until about 11 today, which was a nice change of pace. The kids are in travel overload mode though, and bouncing off the walls every where we go. No matter how much we walk or we try to get their energy out, they are still going and going or sound asleep, no in between mode. We finally came back to the hotel and let them swim late tonight, which seemed to help a little. Our hotel room is actually quiet for the first time since we got here, with everyone awake. Hahaha, well for 4 minutes, I spoke too soon! :)

Today, we explored all around Tokyo. We went to a shrine that was built by a famous samurai warrier. The boys really got into it as you can see. It was really interesting, there were lots of people there offering burnt offerings, washing in holy water, paying for prayers, etc. There was a marketplace full of shops, and the boys got their samurai gear there. A few groups of Japanese people came up to Narci to talk to him or take his picture, his head gear says "ninja" in Japanese, and of course he had to pose for all of them, what a ham.

We also went to the Imperial Palace, which was set up a lot like Buckingham Palace. You really can't see much except a few buildings. The guards had everyone on lockdown, so we couldn't even really peak in. There was even a moat around the grounds too, it was interesting to see.

The highlight of the day was the Apple Store in Ginza - not. It was really just like a normal Apple store, except it had 4 levels. There was a cool glass elevator that took you up to all the floors. It was hilarious though, the elevator wouldn't allow you to select a floor, it just took you to where it wanted to take you. Jeff said that is just like Apple to do tell you what you should be doing and do the thinking for you. There was a theatre for training classes that was kind of cool. Narci attracts attention just about everyplace we go, because he is so animated. He was going crazy with the "Ninja Fruit" game on and ipad in the store, and he had about 4 or 5 employees watching him chop fruit. We really didn't spend much time in Ginza, it was just close to the other areas we were exploring today.

We also went to Akibara, the electronic center of the city, and the guys spent a couple hours in the electronics store. Malikai said he could have stayed there all day. He is in love with gadgets. The girls stayed outside while Narci took a nap and we all rested our feet.

For dinner we went to the best place we have been so far. It was a noodle shop that you order through a vending machine. I know that sounds absolutely crazy, and I was not really thrilled about going there. Jeff's cousin that travels all of the time told Jeff about it. You go in the noodle shop and enter your order through a vending machine menu, including meat, toppings, etc. Of course, no one really spoke English, and everything was in Japanese, so we really winged it, and just hoped for the best. The guy at the restaurant did help us with "small", "medium" and "large". Everyone in there was watching us the whole time, it was pretty hilarious. Here we are, these crazy Americans with 3 kids (Jeff, Adam and I were with the kids), and we order 3 bowls to share because I was worried about what it was going to be like. You eat at this little counter that is wrapped around the kitchen, similar to the bar at a diner. The food is all prepared in the kitchen area, the vending machine is merely for paying and ordering. A bunch of people came in after us and they wait behind you while you finish so that they can sit down and eat. There were a total of probably 12 chairs in the place, and we occupied 6 of them, and we were all sharing food, picking out the toppings, switching bowls, etc. The spicy noodles were REALLY spicy, so we were all coughing and laughing. The kids all tried them, and everyone in the place was giggling as Narci gulped down his water afterwards. It was really fun and the noodles were awesome, and I think the guys that worked there really enjoyed watching us enjoy their food. They all had big smiles on their faces, and I am sure they were poking fun at us a little too.

We have seen tons of Americans though, you see them on the train, around the city, at all the tourist destinations, etc. And really, quite a few people speak English, so it is usually pretty easy to get directions and find your way around, find the bathrooms, etc. Everyone is really friendly and polite for the most part.

We are looking forward to seeing the Meiji Shrine tomorrow and going shopping in famous Harajuku. Should be a blast! Can't believe we are going home in two days. It feels like it has been forever, and not very long all at the same time.

I am definitely looking forward to working at the office, and not in the middle of the night, to our trampoline where the kids can yell and scream like the wild Indians they are, and some good American eats.