Heart Saving Button

My electromagnetic cooker has a "heart saving button." That may come in handy!

I had another great weekend. Really relaxing. Friday night I took the train to Ueno and had dinner at the Hard Rock Café. Now, I realize that it is not Japanese at all, but I was craving grease, American style. And a margarita. It certainly delivered. I had a huge burger and fries and the margarita. It was really loud and crowded and even though I was by myself, it was fun to get out and be around people. After dinner I wanted to walk around the Ueno area a little. Unfortunately a young Japanese guy latched on to me and wouldn’t leave me alone. He followed me around for about 15 minutes before I had to just go back into the station. His English was pretty limited but I know he understood that I was saying I was married and I wanted him to leave me alone. He was really harmless but it was annoying.

Saturday I did my chores. First I went for coffee. I was excited because I had seen an ad for a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel they were selling. When I asked for it he showed me that it was not yet available. I settled for a bagel with crab on it – it was gross. I don’t think they just sell bagels, just these weird bagel sandwiches. I’ll just have to ask next time. I need to figure out how to say “plain bagel”.

I did my laundry in a hole in the wall coin laundry. It went fine but kind of expensive. I also cleaned my apartment which took no time at all because there’s just not that much to clean! I headed back to Ueno in the afternoon. It was kind of overcast but it was still really pretty. I took lots of pictures of the cherry blossoms and people. Ueno Park is one of the most popular in Tokyo. I’m looking forward to going back again when the weather is nicer and there are fewer people. There are also some museums and a zoo there that I want to get to.

I wandered around the shops in Ueno station for a while and bought some postcards. An old lady started yelling at me when I passed her – for seemingly no reason. The only thing I can think is that my shopping bag containing a super soft and flimsy (but large) pillow hit her and I didn’t notice. I just kept walking because I couldn’t understand her and had no idea what I could have done to merit such a response.

Back in Komagome for dinner I mustered the courage to go into a noodle shop with absolutely no English on the menu. I just said tofu (which I know is also “tofu” in Japanese) and supu (which I think is how you say soup). They got the tofu part but not the soup part. Not that I really wanted soup, just tofu and noodles in a big bowl with broth. A nice lady at a table nearby bailed me out. She understood enough of what I was saying to point out a menu item. When it came to me, it was just what I had wanted. Unfortunately, it was realllly salty. I was kind of disappointed because I could not use my new found menu item as my order in the future to avoid the language issue. I’ll just have to tackle it all over again next time.

Sunday was Easter. I went to the church I had been told about and seen in Harajuku. It was really nice, all in English. It’s in a really new building on the main street in Harajuku but apparently the church has been around since late 1800’s. The service was similar in style to our church in Champaign. For a while I forgot I was in Tokyo.

I really enjoy Harajuku. I think I could go back every weekend and not get bored. I went to an awesome restaurant that was recommended in my Frommers book (awesome book!). It has a fusion menu and the staff speaks English. It seems like they have an amazing brunch menu but I was in the mood for lunch. I had a Thai Caesar salad that was really good. I can’t wait to take Nathan back. I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around – there’s so much to see and so many people from all over the world to watch.

Before I headed back to Komagome, I was lured into this little place by the most intoxicating aroma of baked goods mixed with chocolate. I HAD to have one. I saw the lady making them. She puts a huge chunk of chocolate (like bigger than my thumb) and wraps it in croissant dough. The result is a flaky croissant with gooey, slightly bitter chocolate in the middle. It was soooo good. My mouth is watering thinking about it! Another thing I can’t wait to take Nathan back to. I took a picture it was so good.

Great weekend! I am really enjoying it here. I’m also really happy to explore on my own. I don’t have to do anything that I don’t want to do! Tomo was helping his dad campaign this weekend (he’s a politician in Tomo’s home town and this weekend was some type of election) but he said that he’d “take me around” next weekend. I’m not sure what that will hold but I’m looking forward to it.

I can't put pictures in right now...I will as soon as it lets me.