Excuses Excuses, and Directions to My House

I know I told you I'd post pictures in the morning, but as it turns out, being employed takes up a lot of one's energy. I'll attempt to be more faithful about posting in the future. <3

Anyway, as you may or may not know, the first day I spent in my new apartment, was actually a national holiday and so I got to spend a bit of time wandering around the local area. I located my new personal Starbucks...

It's funny, as it turns out, no matter where I am in the world I immediately feel at home when I walk into Starbucks. Is that sad? I don't think so...It is a shining, welcoming beacon of caffeiney goodness. Plus, you don't need to know any Japanese at Starbucks..."Ice Cafe Mocha" is apparently universal..

Aside from that I just got a lay of the land, bought an alarm clock at the local Bic Camera (which, as it turns out, is not a camera shop, rather an all around electronics store), and walked around the shopping mall area above the train station. Good times!

I took some pictures on my walk for you, though I wouldn't say that they accurately portray the area I work in. I'll have to take some pictures of the general area for you...

Here is the view at the outset of my journey. The train station is down past that brown building to the left of the tall cylindrical building.

(Don't forget that you can click pictures to expand them)




Uhm....where am I?

Thank goodness, they have these little maps scattered every few blocks or so and they show a pretty wide range of the surrounding area.


Oh look! It's Charissa's new car...

All the cars here are tiny, but this little green Nissan is TINY-pocketsized-tiny, and oh so cute!

Of course, I'm partial to the green as well.

Aaahh, yes...Here's the great thing...no matter where I am in the city, if I can see the big tall cylindrical building...I'm not lost. I just walk back in that direction and I'm in the right place.














Alright, it's time to head home, so I'll make for the big round building, then through the the eateries above the subway, then up this way:

You'll follow this road up as it curves to the left, then to the right...

Along the side of the road to the left is a small random plot of some kind of vegetable...maybe lettuce..

Along the right, up ahead is some...wildish area, a buffer between this street and some apartments up the hill a little.

There seems to be a path up into the little woodsy area, possibly through to the apartments, or houses, on the other side....but it's full..I mean FULL of HUGE spiders, so I won't be venturing up in there.









There also seems to be a little....shrine or something akin set into the woods just off the road..

Behind it you can see some housing, as the woodsy area gets thinner.
















Ahead, and on the left not 50 feet away, you'll find another little...shrine or whatever it may be...

If you see this you know you're on the right path...don't go left there; bear right, and keep heading up.

You'll see this, and know you're in the right place. Just keep walking.



Soon you'll have to turn right and walk over the bridge above the train tracks. The road bears left after the bridge, just keep going.

You'll pass some apartment buildings on the left and right, then on the right you'll see a row of three little shops.


Here you'll find a tiny yakitori bar (only open from 4 to 11pm), a produce booth, and another tiny eating establishment...I think.













This last shop in on the row has a tank of live eels on the corner.

Please make a right at the eels.


After you make the right, you'll see this...

There are cigarette vending machines to your left, and that red box is the post...set in behind the postbox is a little window that is open sporadically. I think they sell stamps or...some such sundries there.



After you pass the post you'll see these stairs, start on up, it's a good workout.

At the top you'll have to go left, don't worry though, you can't get lost. You have no direction to go BUT left.




As you follow the road, you'll see this, just keep hiking, and follow the road as it curves a little more left...












Next you'll see these stairs. Don't be afraid! Up you go...



















As you're headed up the stairs, you'll know you're in the right place if you see this cemetary down over the railing to the left.

Keep heading up and as soon as you get to the top of the stairs...turn to your right, and there's my building....

Ahhh. Home again.

Now, wasn't that a nice walk? Do you want to see the view from up here? Ok then...

Actually, that's the view from my balcony. The first picture of the post is the view from the top of the stairs you just climbed.

The first couple days that I was here, going up and down the stairs was terrible because it was SO hot, but for the past couple days, the weather has been deliciously cool. I think maybe autumn has begun, and hopefully I can look forward to the gradual cooling and crispening of the air.

I'm hoping to make some trips to see the leaves change colors at a few gardens this fall. And I'm very much anticipating the scarvs, boots, and jackets of a chilly autumn.

It will be nice to not have to air condition as much at night...I'll just leave my sliding door open. It's safe...I'm on the second floor.

Today was the first day of my first official weekend. Last night I took the train from Shin-Yokohama to Yokohama station with some other teachers after an office party, so I learned to use the subway, and today I got on by myself and went back to Yokohama for a full day of exploring and shopping.

I really wore myself out, but tomorrow I'm headed back out to try and find towels and curtains. I'm going to try to find the shuttle to Ikea, and maybe head back to Yokohama and try to find the Loft which I'm hoping has the same curtains as the Loft that I visited when I was in Omiya.

In the coming weekends, I'm planning on heading into Tokyo to go to Shinjuku with some friends I made at training, and one of those friends is also planning a trip to see the big Buddah.

I'll keep you posted. Until then, remember that I love you.

<3!

Mata ne...