It's a Gundam!!!

Today started early again, but at least this time we had bought an alarm clock so we new that we were on time. Japan, is basically the land of temples, and this is what we did again today. The first temple has over a thousand tori (the gates that stand at the entrance of every temple. So we hiked around there for a while and then caught a bus to the other really popular temple in Kyoto, where it began to rain. Then it was off to Shizuoka,which is where the main part of this trip comes in. There is a giant robot in this town on display and we finally got to see it. Thirteen year old me is so jealous right now. It was a kids dream come true and I am glad it happened. Then it was off to Yokohama where it took us far too long to find our hostel. Too tired to type a lot tonight, tomorrow is New Years and I will celebrate it before everyone, hope to right some tomorrow.

Morning's with no alarm clocks and other such events

There are nuances to travel, it is a skill, an art form, practiced by many, but mastered by few. As one has to remember skills once learned, so is the art of travel. There is a pace, a rhythm to the way the road feels on your skin. It is remembering how to take a shower while piling all your clothes on one hook so they don't get wet, washing underwear as you take a shower. Getting to your hostel after 36 hours of travel and having to make your own bed and not getting to tired to go get dinner. Mornings where you need to get up so you can catch a train, but having no alarm clock.
Woke up at 6:45, the perfect time for still making it to Tokyo station to catch the 8:00 train to Kyoto. One CC lemon, espresso, and chocolate danish later we are on the train to Kyoto. From Tokyo this is about the distance from SF to LA, but Japan knows the benefits of bullet trains and it only took three hours to get there (this should happen once the high speed rail is installed in California). We get into Kyoto around 11 and decide to have an early lunch so we can move for the rest of the day. Tonkatsu (pork cutlet), miso soup, rice, and cabbage salad. Very impressive restaurant and a hearty meal to keep us going. After this it was off to Tenryu-ji temple, which is on the outskirts of town and is about a 45min bus ride from Kyoto train station. This wouldn't be bad if it weren't for three things: the bus was super hot, Cuyler and I do not fit well in the seat made for two people, and there was a crazy man behind us who kept breathing in rhythm with the bus, humming, and preying to the toilet god(no joke). The conversation of the daY:
Cuyler: I think the guy behind us is crazy.
Me: Yeah he is, crazy is a universal language.
Get to Tenryu-ji and explore the temple and the grounds, which include a pretty impressive bamboo forest. Later on we were wondering around and fell upon monkey mountain, now some might as "what is that?" It is exactlly what it sounds like, it is a mountain with monkeys on it (140 to be precise). It is home to the snow monkey and they are all over the place, and the mountain has great views of the city.
After this it was onto the golden temple. I wont go into the details of this, it is a temple and it is gold.
Got to the new hostel, went out to get Okonomiyaki and then off to an Irish pub (oh YES!!!!) for a pint. All said and done it was a very productive day and looking forward to more tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow is the day that they reason for this whole trip will be revealed and it is marvelous. To yokohama!!!

American car sitings: 2

Making it

We have arrived. The flight from SFO to LAX was great, we got the seats next to the emergency exit, so extra leg room. Then got the same seats on the flight to Japan, which is good because Cuyler and I need all the extra room we can get. There isn't much to say about an 11 hour plane flight. You watch movies, you fall asleep, repeat too many times. The woman that was sitting next to Cuyler on the flight spilled her coke on herself within the first twenty minutes of the flight and then also spilled coffee at the first meal.
Finally, got to Narita and got to get smelled out by the police drug smelling dog who lingered to long for me to feel comfortable, but I was ruled out as being a drug smuggler. We get out of customs and into the train station where we are "randomly" selected to be interviewed by the police. They were stoked to find out I was an accountant and one even used the word "cool". It is great to be in a country that admires your work and where you can be cool for adding numbers all day (I think something was lost in the translation). Cuyler and I finally got to the train and then into Tokyo. First stop was scheduled to be a bar but we ended up running into this old temple in Asakura and the temple was Sensoji. We pulled little fortunes at the temple and I got the bad fortune (you will have a bad trip(no joke that is what it said)) but Cuyler got a good one so hopefully that off sets my bad luck. Off to finally get food and some beverage of the golden amber color.
It was after several beers that we decided it was time to track down where the hostel was,not the best idea. The map was not clear, and needless to say, why the hell are there two hostels in a two block radius with the word smile in the title. In the hostel, time to rest, tomorrow it is off to Kyoto and more adventures.

Japan Nine year reunion

So Cuyler and I have decided to back to Japan, which actually came about because they built a giant robot, took it down, and then we said if they ever put it up again we would go, well that time has come. We will be in Tokyo for New Years Eve which will be my third time in a foreign city for the new year, and the Japanese are super into New Year's so it should be exciting. We have decided to do the Mac special on New Year's eve by not getting a hotel room and just winging it, should be interesting...I am going to get a ton of red bull blog not sponsored by this). More to come!!!

Getting there and back

The fun of having a GPS that is broken, or that you think is broken, is that you get to go back to the car rental agency to try and get another one. We found out on Thursday that it was not the GPS that was broken, but the outlets in the car itself. Half-hour later and a new car (having to go get anther car was not on the books and set us back a bit) and of course, once we get the new car, the rental place says they don´t have a ticket for us to get the new car out of the parking lot...what?! That was another twenty minutes, but we finally got our pass, turn the car on, the check engine light comes on. Alex "No, we are not going back". We finally got on our way to San Miguel (yes Alex, I know I am not spelling it right), we drive down the road, stop at a gas station to check the water and oil levels, nothing out of the ordinary...so we just said screw it and kept going, oh to be young.
A couple hours later and we are in San Miguel, but it took us another hour to get from the enterance of town to the parking lot (true story), see there is this little event going on down here called, oh what was it, oh yeah, BICENTENIAL, that makes every place crazy. FInally get to the parking lot, get parked, it is now 4 in the afternoon and we are supposed to meet people back in Q-town for diner (yeah that didn´t happen). San Miguel has a really cool church, so we checked that out and then walked around the town to stumble upon a parade in the works. Seeing as we have nothing else to do, we hangout to see what it is going to be. Yeah it is a re-enactment of the independance movement and the revolution (good videos of my trip to Mexico). There were lots of running horses (some people fell off their horses and seeing as we were at the turn in the parade a couple hours got really close to breaking the parade line...hmmmmmm) and angery villagers yelling "Viva Mexico". After the parade we go back to Q-town (check engine light off now, yes!). For dinner Alex took me to this really good Torrta and tocos place, where we stuffed ourselves and then finally made it back to the hotel (more then twleve hours after we left).
The next day was our long day (what?!, yeah I know) and the day we most needed to GPS becuase we were driving south close to Mexico City to see the second biggest pyramid in Mexico. So we get on the right freeway to get south, turn the GPS on and get going to Tuatitichan (not spelled right either). Somewhere around Mexico City (it is 1230pm and Alex says we should get there by two thinking we might get lost a bit) the GPS apparently has a meltdown and we end up in the middle of random (I´m just going to say no where) Mexico subburb of Mexico City. We finally stop for directions and the man laughs becuase we are no where near where we need to be and even further from a real freeway (this is the point in the day where Nathaniel says he will scream if the GPS says one more word). Finally get back to a semi-big road to get back to a freeway, people are cutting us off from another lane and Alex says she needs something to throw at the next car that try´s to cut us off, true story. The next set of events invlove going down a one way in the wrong direction, looking at four lanes of oncoming traffic all headed at you, the correct direction we need to go, and Alex saying "don´t freak out for the next four seconds", Nathaniel covers his eyes and prey´s. Finally see signs for the pryamid and get there, it is now 330, and we have been in the car since 11 (think about that).
Got into the pyramid, it was pretty cool, but you have to walk a ways till you get to it, go through the courtyard and stuff (side note, earlier Alex and I note that it looks like it is going to rain in Q-town and niehter of us decide to bring a jacket or umbrella, I think you know where this is going). About halfway up the pyramid it starts to sprinkle, but then stops. No big deal, about three steps on the way down (these are not easy small steps) it starts to pour, that is not where you want to be thirty stories up on a thousand plus year old pyramid with it raining (oh yeah and Alex and I have both chosen sandels as our pyramid hiking shoes). We both made it down that´s all I can say.
Due to the rain and the wind, Alex catches a chill, so on the way back to Q-town she cranks the heat and I build up three layers of sweat as I drive (longest drive EVER!).
All said and done each day was an adventure, but it was a lot of fun and I got some great pictures. We are now in Toluca getting ready to head to the airport and fly back.

Chao!

P.S. This was writting on a system that highlights every word I wirte as being wrong, so I am sure there are lots of errors, deal with it.

Finally Internet

So I wanted to blog everyday that I was here, but with the Bicentenial going on there have been random shop times and many events going on that make that difficult. As I am sure people can guess we made it here and I have not been kidnapped by a drug cartel...yet. The plane ride was interesting, seeing as we were the very last row, Alex was chill about getting us on the plane and almost all of the overhead space was full, but we crammed our bags in and were seated right next to a baby (oh my luck), it was actually pretty good though and slept most of the time till the end. A stop over and three hour bus ride later and we finally got to Q-town.
That day we spent wandering around the town and then metting up with some of Alex´s freinds from school. The next day it was off to rent a car and go to a couple of close by towns. Now one would think with a car and a GPS system one could get anywhere, well guess again. The GPS needs to work, that is a crucial part of the plan. The car´s power outlets didnt work and half way to the town we wanted to go to it died...four times stopping to ask for directions and we finally made it to the town. Short visit and then back to Q-town to get ready for Bicentenial. It was pretty cool, lots of fireworks and the longest national anthem I have ever herd personally.
Notes on the trip: it is not smart to leave the windows open to the car while driving through the country as a wasp my fly in to your shirt and sting you...true story. Luckily this did not happen to me it happened to Alex, but all I herd was it hurts it hurts and her rubbing her back. I thought she was getting desert fever. But stopping off to the side of the road, yet there was a wasp. More to come.

Viva la Mexico!!!

So Alex has decided to kidnap me and steal me away to Mexico. Who is ready for tequila, cerveza, cuarto de baño, agua…alright we have exhausted Nathaniel’s Spanish words, this may be more difficult then first expected. Luckily I decided to bring a Spanish minor and former resident with me. As to where we are going and where we are going to be, I don’t know anything, this is my vacation (sue me).
So this is not completely true, we are going to a town called Querétaro, but I just call it Q-town. This is where Alex studied abroad for a year, so I assume that she has a pretty good knowledge of this area (but we will see). I will be posting more on an itinerary and what we will be doing on the day to day once we get there. Our flight leaves out of Oakland at 1:00 in the morning (oh good baby jesus (the j makes an h sound)). Then it is another smaller flight, and a bus ride till be get to Q-town. Let the vacation begin!

My crypt is bigger then your crypt

So today started out like every other American day, going to Starbucks (oh yeah!). I know your in Paris, there are cafes all over the place why got to Starbucks? Because when I order cafe in one of those I get a tiny shot glass of coffee for five dollars, for six you can at least get a decent sized portion of coffee at SB (this is a paid product placement). After breakfast we headed off to Jardin du Luxembourg and the Pantheon. The garden is very beautiful, though like Versailles I would think it even better in summer. I got to see the Pantheon last time, but didn't go/know you could go inside, the inside is sublime (many architecture students making sketches of the buildings unique features. In the crypt is where Hugo, Dumas, and Voltaire are now buried (to mention a few). It was at this time that the day started to take a turn for the worse (meaning the weather). Every day the forecast has been rain, but it only ends up just sprinkling in the afternoon, except for today when we wanted to do a lot of outdoor activities (Murphy's Law). To get out of the rain, the Musee de Orsay offered comfort and a good cappuccino (that was for you Alex). This museum has a huge collection of Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Rodin. It is often hard to enjoy such museums because of there sheer mass, so much artwork in such a little time, you have to put horse blinders on to not get sidetracked. For a side note, why do people feel it is acceptable/needed to take pictures with famous art? The people that have the six thousand dollar cameras that sit there clicking away at every Monet and Rodin, put the camera down! Unless you are an art history professor on sabbatical or an art photographer, just enjoy the art work and leave the picture taking to the professionals. After some lunch it was off to the Rodin museum to keep getting out of the rain, which the first thing they did when we got in was shove us back outside for the first part of the exhibit. Finally we ended at Napoleon's tomb, man that guy has the biggest ego ever! Who needs a gold domed building ten stories high to be there tomb? (a short man that's who). Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for you people back home, but we are off to London on the Chunnel.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Nathaniel out!

P.S. Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Stories from Paris: an abbreviated tale

Alright, I finally got an internet card, in fact I wanted one for just one hour, but the hotel was out of those so now I am using one that was already purchased and thus stealing internet (my luck continues to Paris). So there is a lot of stuff to cover considering that I haven't posted for a couple of days so I will try to do the reader's digest version (I know ironic considering they went bankrupt) of the story thus far. So yes we got here, and me assuming that because we booked the flight and the shuttle at the same time that the shuttle would know when we got there and we would have no problem, well you know what happens when you assume. After a ten hour flight we get off the plane, get our luggage (yes Dad that garment bag made it), and walked out of the terminal to get our shuttle, one small hitch in this plan was the catching of the shuttle. What we did not know until later was that you needed to call them and let them know you were there so they could come and pick you up...well fine then, after several trips in and out of the terminal that picks you up we get someone in information to call our shuttle company and they say they will come to pick us up. One pulls up outside and we go to him and say we have a reservation for Miller. No luck, we go back to the information counter and try again (while doing this the shuttle that was sent for us must have come and left) so we go out again, and find another couple of people that are having the same problem. We try to get in the shuttle that comes for them and still no luck (ahhhhhhhhh!, this is on no sleep mind you). To make a long story longer, we go to information again (getting lots of looks from the person who is helping us) and call the place ourselves, we got a hold of them, Mom is livid and they say they will be there in five min. Well that was more like 10, and then we had to go pick other people up at their terminals. It took as a very long time to get to our hotel, but at least it was our hotel.
At the hotel, we had requested two twin beds instead on one queen (yeah Mom and son in same bed, this isn't Oedipus). We get to the hotel and they are like "two beds" we don't do that. We show them the reservation and then all the sudden it is "oh yeah, I guess we can do that". We get to the room and wait for the maid to come and then she had to call the front desk to ask how to do it and then get another maid in there to help her figure it out. This is all with us looking that street bums and being really tired. This is where the nap comes in and then wondering around at night around our hotel. We found a good restaurant and had crepes for dinner and then strolled around the Opera district, finding some windows that had been decorated in Christmas fashion (like the New York Macy's ones) which were cool but kind of weird (gingerbread men humping women's legs...I'll leave you to imagining that).
OK, let us please move to day one (I am not counting that first day as day one, FYI) we get up and it is not raining (forecast said it would) so we decide to just to Eiffel Tower just in case it rains the rest of the week. We get there, do the picture thing, and get in line (we were third in line) to get in. Get up to the window to get tickets to find out that it is so windy that day that they have closed the top floor (mind you last time I was here I didn't go to the top for time constraint reasons, foiled again!) So we reluctantly got to the first two stories (of which there is a cafe on the second floor that we wait for it to open, they have muffins and coffee there, but then a man comes and says "NO, we are not open", why the hell was all the stuff there if they weren't going to open? oh Frenchies). We ended up getting our cafe at the first floor cafe (thank god). After this we walked the grounds and took more pictures during which time we were almost scammed by the drop the ring and then ask for a reward to keep it (oh Paris).
From here it was off to the Louvre. The Louvre is the Louvre, though there was hardly any people in it and I got to see the Mona Lisa for a good long time, plus a couple of pictures this time (the guards did nothing to stop it, who am I to not take advantage of that).
Today we wanted to do Versailles, which is what we did. I planned the stations the night before and we got there early with all the other people that were going out to the Chateau. On the train ride we bumped into another American off to the races, his name, Dave (when one Dave leaves another enters). He ended up tagging along with us the whole time (what a character) but the company was more then welcome to break up the party a bit. Versailles is beautiful, I hope to back sometime in summer when the gardens are in full bloom, you could really spend all day there and not see all of it.
After saying goodbye to Dave, we headed to Notre Dame, which is about the best cathedral that you can go to, nuff said.
Tonight we headed back to the Eiffel Tower, because they are doing a special light show for the 100th year celebration (I think 100 years at least) so we watched that and then noticed that elevators were going to the top and not to be one to be bested, got in line to see if the top story was open, it was and before you knew it, we were on our way up. It must be mentioned that Mom does not do well with heights, not well at all (horrible). The elevator from the 2nd to 3rd story is open (not like Empire State building at all). Mom is freaking out, but she made it, and I can finally say that I have been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but it was really windy still (I almost got blown over). After that we went back to the Louvre to get some night pictures and then back to the hotel as I am writing this right now.

That covers some of the basic stuff, but there are lots more stories to come. Tomorrow is another jam packed day and I am looking forward to it.

Nathaniel out!

Picture count: 337 (damn!)

Drems of planes, trains, and shuttles

First I have to say that this is being typed on a French keyboard, which is not set up like an English keyboard, so this is where weird mistakes may come from. We finally made it to Paris and had gotten a shuttle to take us to our hotel, but did not research how to use the shuttle and needless to say it ended up taking us forever to get to our hotel. I made the mistake of lying down on the bed and ended up taking a two hour nap, but the sleep was much needed. ok typing on this keyboard sucks and there is a baby crying in this internet cafe, I am going to go back to the hotel and hopefully get some wifi.

nathaniel out!