Yupps,NYC,New England and Japan.

[drron]

I love to read about both sides of a story  Nice work mrs.dr.ron! Keep him honest.
Great TR.

And every time we venture into the outback now it is tagged-"Ron's Bring Em back dead tour."

 

[docjames]

And every time we venture into the outback now it is tagged-"Ron's Bring Em back dead tour."

There so has to be a TR for that one!

 

[drron]

First thing was to go to baggage storage-leave 2 of our 3 bags there.Then get the Limousine bus to the Westin.Only 7 pax.Also only 2 stops before we get to Westin.Still takes 1.40 hours.Check in and upgrade to Executive floor.A bigger room than our first stay.Lie down at 1400 and wake just before 1800.Go to the exec.lounge-a limited array of snacks but wine is OK.
Sunday and we go down to the restaurant for breakfast-I really like the buffet here.The Japanese pickles are now showing the region they come from.Japanese choose those from the disaster area,foreigners from areas further away.The eggs have really golden yolks-in a flash mrsdrron declares-its the radiation!

After breakfast we walk to Ebisu station.On the way is what is a common sign-

The public areas of both the NRT terminal and the Westin are noticeably warm.
It is first to the 100 yen shop-mrsdrron can always find something she didn't know she needed there.Then we catch the Yamanote line to Shinjuku.Get our JR rail passes and go down to Takashimaya.Back on the train to Ebisu.Love this station-as a train arrives or departs the Harry Lime theme is played and I hum along.

It was then to the Yebisu Garden Palace,38th floor,for lunch at the Kissho restaurant.Mrsdrron has the Sukiyaki and I have the Summer Special Bento box,delightfully presented-

After we finish the Maitre'D comes over and has a chat.When we say we are just here as tourists he is profuse in his thanks for us coming.This was to be a recurren thing during our time in Japan.We also note that many more are making the effort to speak English-many dont as they are afraid they will look silly normally.Times though have changed.

Back to the hotel via the Mitzukaya department store.A wedding display on with gifts that the couple buy for the guests.This would go down well for an Australian wedding-

We again just use the lounge for dinner.
Next-off to Kobe.

 

[drron]

Another great brekkie on Monday morning and then off to Kobe.Rather than Schlepp our bags to Ebisu and on to the local train we get a taxi to Shinagawa station.Cost 1520Y($18) and to us the convenience is worth it.So on to Hikari 469.It really looks and feels so modern yet we did this same trip 27 years ago.The Shinkansen have changed a little in looks but everything else is the same-

On arrival at Shin Kobe we got a taxi to the Sheraton-it cost 4000 yen.Mea culpa I did not do enough research-there was a bus that cost Y430 each.At the lobby I showed my SPG plat card and we were escorted to the Exec lounge for check in.The king rooms are smaller than the twin bedded rooms.We were offered the choice but decided to stay with the king room.A review of the hotel is here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....d-reviews/sheraton-kobe-31548.html#post462579

After checkin we went to the 100 yen shop then to the mall next door and the few remaining shops.They have some amazing special days in Japan-

After our drinks for happy hour-I was having japanese plum wine or Tequila,we decided on dinner in the hotel-the Kobe grill.after all we were getting triple SPG points for this stay!That is next.

 

[drron]

As is common in Japan hotel restaurants are overpriced-but we did get a 20% off coupon.We had the Kobe beef set menu,though you did have a choice of main course.First a dish just labelled as appetiser-

it turned out to be tomato 3 ways and tasted nice.then a duck pate(really a terrine)-

Then an unusual presentation of Foie Gras-

And a cauliflower and broccoli soup-

Mrsdrron had a Kobe beef stew-

Whilst mine was straight steak-

Now the beef was very tender and tasty but I dont really think it is worth the hype-some restaurants it was $1 a gram.
Then orange and lime sorbet-

Not bad but about $300 all up-however on this occasion it would give me~ $100 worth of AA miles due to the triple points promotion.

next-a day in Kobe.

 

[drron]

Tuesday and we have the choice of breakfast at the lounge or restaurant.We go for the restaurant.A good selection of juices.very little cereal-I have crunch nova-basically toasted muesli.Several hot dishes that are labelled "today's special".Certainly look like leftovers from the dinner buffet. but you can get your eggs cooked any style.we both enjoyed the Golden Mushrooms dish.They were certainly set up for kids-

After breakfast it was on the Rokko Liner to the JR line-cost 240Y.The local JR Kansai trains have a carriage I have not seen before-

We went to Motomoshi station and to the shopping street there-

Chinatown is close by-

More evidence of Jinglish-

At the end of the street is Daimaru and the Kobe Doll museum.We then walked to Itomachi park on Flower road.

More of our day next.

 

[drron]

We then walked up Flower street-

It was hydrangea season-

Past the City offices and it's flower clock-

Overlooked by a totem pole-

Of course it was on to another shopping street-Samnomiya-

In the basement were many restaurants.We chose a small local restaurant and had a cheap,tasty dish of sukiyaki for a late lunch.It was then time to head back for my nanny nap.

 

[ozmille]

Love the TR. Can't wait for the time that we have ample time and money to travel the world like you guys

 

[Princess Fiona]

Great stuff, love NYC and can't wait to go back.
I too would love to read the NT TR

 

[drron]

Now people the NT trip was 1988.Its just that women never forget.........unless they want to.
But back to the TR.We headed back by train and this time noted the public art at the Rokko Liner terminal.Rather risque for Japan-

And some pics as we travelled back to the sheraton-

In the evening we walked the local area.A wedding show on.I dont think this coach was very practical-

Wednesday-after brekkie we caught the bus to Shin Kobe,booked our remaining JR travel and then went up the Shin kobe ropeway to the Nunobiki Herb Gardens.This was our carriage-

Though you wouldn't believe it we picked the best day for views-

And possibly you can make out Osaka-

The herb garden next.

 

[drron]

We continued up the hill.some interesting buildings-

A waterfall-

As Kobe receded-

And even wattles-

And then the herb garden came into view-

 

[drron]

Finally we reach the top-

And look down on Kobe port and airport-

There are attractive gardens-

We had an icecream and bought some dust catchers in their shop.You can walk half way down through the Gardens then catch the cable car but our joints told us to just go straight down.We could see the Sheraton(slighly to right of centre)-

And tried out the zoom on my new toy-

And saw Shin Kobe station-

This is a reasonable diversion.You do get good views but the pollution doesn't help.
Next-around Kobe on the City Loop bus.

 

[drron]

I must apologise.After postponing my knee surgery I took a job in Mackay and shock,horror they are actually making me work!But back to the TR.
We were going to do a bit of walking when we got down but my knee was playing up so we decided to get on the City Loop bus-250 yen for a single ride or 650 yen for the day.We just got a single journey but did do all but 1 stop on the loop.Was a lazy way to see the sights as we went around-

there is a short break down at the Port to change drivers.A school group is on an excursion-

We continue and finally get off the bus at the Kitano Meister Garden which is meant to be a very good craft centre-we didn't think so.But some interesting art-

next back to the hotel.

 

[drron]

We walked back from the craft centre to Sannomiya station-it was virtually all downhill.Once again the Jinglish is amusing.I wonder what they do here-

We also pass the Ikuta shrine-

We had lunch near the station-a building on the south side has lots of restaurants and theatres.We had sushi but it was just so so.Then back on the train to the hotel and the obligatory nanny nap before happy hour drinks.there were 3 restaurants surviving in the building next to the hotel.Two had no patrons and didn't look appealing so we went to the third.A young waiter and we asked if there was an english menu.He shot off not giving me a chance to use my fractured Japanese and did not return so we left.
Wandered around the area and end up at Rico's which has an English menu and advertises itself as Spanish Tapas.Most of the menu though is pizza and pasta.Around the walls are pictures of the English cricket team,Scottish golf courses and African and Arctic animals!We have garlic shrimp and mushrooms,a scallop dish and a bacon and mushroom pizza.With a beer and a glass of very vin ordinaire it is Y4000($37).

Next-off to Nagoya.

 

[drron]

Thursday and a travel day.Late breakfast then catch the bus to Shin-Kobe.I like watching the Shinkansen.

As at many JR stations a tune is played-someone obviously had a sense of humour here.The tune was-Down by the station early in the morning,see the little puffer trains all in a row.But here we are in the middle of a busy port city and this is your view from the platform-

And a lot of loquat trees-

The shinkansen really is a stress free way of travel.Lunch is a series of snacks we bought at the station.Nagoya station is a large place-in the Guiness book of records as the largest railway station building.Lots of restaurants,a Marriott and Takashimaya.No trouble finding the Westin shuttle though it is every hour so a 30 minute wait.Soon we were checking in at the Westin.Review here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ws/westin-nagoya-castle-31724.html#post465470

Next-Nagoya castle.

 

[drron]

We hadn't eaten much all day so decided to eat at the hotel.There are apparently a couple of restaurants within walking distance but it was raining.We went upstairs to the Crown Dining room on the 11th floor.We were given a table with the view of the castle but we were 1 floor up and exactly the same position as our room.however we did't get sick of the view.
We chose thedegustation menu.Y11500 per head($135).We started with an amusee bouche-not sure exactly what it was as we didn't catch what the waiter said.It was unexciting.Fortunately after that the only way was up.The appetisers were very good with a selection of Japanese snacks including very good tuna sashimi.

followed by a cold pea and bacon soup.It didn't look exciting but tasted great-

Next was a lobster dish.very good presentation and cooked perfectly-

Next was the main course.I had a steak and mrsdrron the pork dish.Straight forward but the meats were tender,juicy and very tasty.I must have been a little tired and emotional after happy hour as the pics of mrsdrron's pork were way to blurry to post!But here is my steak-

Dessert again was a chocolate cake,citrus ice cream and fruit,well presented and tasted great-

We thought that this was actually good value.And triple SPG points as well!

I will finish this with a few more pictures of the view-though it was hard trying to decide which of the 2000 we both took to use!Better put a few of mrsdrron's in.

Next-going to the castle.

 

[drron]

Friday and we start with breakfast downstairs in the restaurant.Quite a good selection but definitely some left overs.There is a soup I was told was Bean and Bacon-but the sign said-"Soup-has been".Then we walk to Nagoya Castle.Although it is still overcast the rain of yesterday has gone.The castle is surrounded by a moat giving good reflections-

And fish-

They were silly enough to believe I was kind and would feed them!
You got a different perspective of the castle from ground level-

and we are able to look back at the Westin-

And watch the bird life,yes there is one there-

 

[drron]

The original Nagoya Castle was built around 1600.It was destroyed in WW2 but rebuilt by 1959.Now rebuilt castles have 2 major advantages over the originals-lifts and air con.Now just as I enjoy the architecture of New York I really appreciate traditional Japanese buildings and the shape and form of Japanese Gardens.So now you have to put up with a few pics of the castle and gardens-

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

You can go inside the castle and go to the top.Good views over Nagoya.Several exhibitions over the different floors.