After an emotional goodbye, and a very hasty cleaning and precision packing (sorry Keiko et al for the mess we had no intention of leaving), we were on the bus to Osaka to lavish our last few days in one of Japan's best cities. We chose a nice hotel near the America-mura to be near the action and enjoy some great food.
We mostly did some shopping around to collect last minute necessities like the lens cap I dropped in the indigo vat (which we never found), winter shoes and clothes for Hopper (since he outgrew everything whilst there), and a few odds and ends that we had spotted at the beginning of our trip. We had also wanted to eat okonomiaki (Japanese stuffed pancakes) and squid balls and stock up on some food items that would be impossible to find in Holland. (We also threw sudachi limes into our suitcase and hoped the sniffer dogs wouldn't find them!)
The rest of our plan was to meet up with the lovely guys we met at Ikumi beach, Takeshi, Daisuke and Fumio. We chose a cafe near our hotel that had a fab vibe and proceeded to eat and drink and have general merriment playing with Hopper and sharing stories from our stay. Such sweet guys, a real pleasure to have made their friendship, and the creators of our first true family portrait. Thanks guys for your hospitality, comradery and generous prints.
And a special arigato to all of Japan for giving us such lasting memories and the sense of home. We shall return!!!
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| hard to say goodbye to that spectacular view |
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| Nik being interviewed for a newspaper at our local Kamiyama eatery |
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| cleaning the car |
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| we tried to teach him wax on/ wax off |
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| saying goodbye on our last night proved difficult for one little boy |
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| farewell dinner with a group of superb people |
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| just a casual dinner in! mmm mmm delicious! |
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| Nik signing the prints of his colossal work |
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| dropping like flies |
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| full belly, saki, long day at the wood mill |
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| day of departure, farewell meet-up at the farmers' market |
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| last little fun with Keiko |
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| touching, these lovely faces came to say goodbye and brought parting gifts! |
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| tears were shed at the bus station |
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| and we zonked out on the bus to Osaka |
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| Osaka has great parks |
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| our favorite okonomiaki spot first found in 2010 |
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| another okonomiaki spot where your table top IS the hot plate |
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| just stuff it in |
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| one of the many covered shopping strips with lots o food |
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| and people |
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| yay more food! |
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| Hopper was so excited to see these guys... |
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| Takeshi, Daisuke, & Fumio |
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| they had so much fun |
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| and knew all the toddler slapstick |
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| love these guys |
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with our portrait from the beach (my disc drive doesn't work so can't upload the photos! will work on it)
Thanks guys! |
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| street shenanigans with the Osaka soccer/football team noise makers |
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| Nankai line to the airport |
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| 1 hour of peace & quiet on the 11 hr flight home |
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| back at home, exhausted |
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| "Mama, I want to go back to Japan. On the shinkansen high speed train. Can we go?" |
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