weren't we just here?, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

Tokyo is just such a fun city. We went to explore again yesterday with our friends Jen and Jamison. Took the train in, had a GREAT sunday brunch at the New Sanno (ridiculously nice ridiculously inexpensive military hotel in the heart of Tokyo), and then went off to find some landmarks. We went to an Oriental Bazaar -- now, you'd think because a) it's the Orient and b) there's all sorts of cheap cr#@ everywhere that EVERYWHERE was the Oriental Bazaar...but no - it's just a really good place where Gaijin (um, foreigners) can go to one place and find all the good stuff you want when you come to Japan...obis and kimonos and chopsticks and chopstick rests and all that good stuff. A little overpriced, but fun. Right in the heart of streets that remind you of New York on Black Friday - except busier. Holy Moly.

Then we went back to the hotel and changed and then went out again -- first to see the TOkyo Tower (huge replica of the Eiffel Tower), then out to the (in)famous Roppongi district - what you think Tokyo is REALLY like...for, you guessed it...Mexican food. Terrible terrible margaritas. But good food. A little dancing.

And then a rush to the train to get back to the Shinagawa station to transfer back to Yokosuka before the trains stop picking people up at midnight.

yeah. funny story.

Missed the last train.

Seriously.

Stuck in Tokyo. Overnight. WIth no place to sleep.
The cab ride back was $200.
The nearest open hotel had a room for $240 - it was already 1am.
4 other hotels nearby had no room.
Finally we called Jen and Jamison and begged to sleep on their floor, which they graciously allowed us to do.

Note to self. you WILL turn into a pumpkin if you don't get out of Tokyo by midnight or have some place to stay.

All par for the course, I guess. That won't happen again. I guarentee it.

Needless to say, we visited Paris, then Mexico, then snuggled on the floor of a hotel room all in the same day. Gotta love it.