Waking Up in Oshiage District
October 20th 2024
OSHIAGE DISTRICT
Oshiage is a district of Sumida Ward in the east of Tokyo. Oshiage Station is a major interchange station
with the
Keisei Oshiage Line, the Tōbu Isesaki Line. This neighborhood in Tokyo was a center of
commerce and activity long before the existence of the world's tallest telecom tower, Tokyo Sky Tree.
The flowers + plants on every block when taking back streets or alleys where always such a pleasure to encounter.
The comfort sign that we will be happy to see every time.
I ran back to the kawaii shop from last night to get her!
This is the little canned cake from the vending machine mentioned in the previous entry!
Walking around at night.
We actually ended up going around the corner of our hotel to a small local sushi restaurant where our vocabulary, and etiquete where put on test.
Table manner #1 As you see here Chris is pouring sake into my cup. One must not pour sake into their own cup. After the photo I went ahead and served him sake.
The owners of the restaurant where so kind to us. He called Chris a rock star and as we headed out he yelled “HEY….take it easy ^_^” and gave us a thumbs up. I. hope to see them again on our next trip!
Japan Here We go!
En route to Tokyo, Japan.
We finally made one of our biggest dreams a reality. Going to meet our #1 destination across oceans: Japan. We flew from Chicago to a connecting flight in Montreal, Canada. The flight was going to be long but we had the extra leg room on the front row! I wore my comfortable slippers while others kicked back al-fresco. Yikes.
After a VERY long flight, numerous snacks later & a lot of questionable in flight meals we finally reached Japan! Entering Tokyo via the metro at night was like entering a dream.
We were handling the jet lag pretty well. We where tired but so hungry so we hit up the closest ramen shop to our hotel. It was the lower level of the Tokyo Sky Tree mall.
We found a kawaii shop & I just had to get a Pochaco umbrella to avoid the rain on our way to check out the 1st thing in our itinerary.
Konbini
are Japanese convenience stores that are a central part of daily life in Japan. The word konbini is short for konbiniensu sutoru, which means "convenience store”
7-11 was our first convenience store visit. There are other popular ones called Lawson and Family Mart. They all have a unique jingle they play when you walk in. The amount of ready to eat food options was jaw dropping. They even ask if you would like an item heated up for you! My favorite thing to eat was the cream filled mochi, Mochi Custard Taiyaki! These are the spots to also grab energy drinks, vitamin c liquid shots, liquor, and many useful household items. There even was a “cooler” with coffee and tea drinks that kept them warm! I highly advice trying the egg sandos (egg salad sandwiches)
total=$18
On the way back we admired the plants placed on the sidewalk by business owners. It is very peaceful at night and felt incredibly safe. It is courteous to not make loud noise after hours for the local residents.
and this canned cake vending machine ^.-
Dalí: The Image Disappears
The Art Institute of Chicago’s first ever exhibition dedicated to Salvador Dalí.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting a Salvador Dalí exhibition and it was truly a mesmerizing experience. As soon as I walked into the space, I was immediately transported into Dalí's surreal world filled with melting clocks, distorted faces, and bizarre landscapes. The exhibition showcased a wide range of Dalí's work spanning from his early days as a young artist to his later years. It was fascinating to see the evolution of his style and how it became more and more eccentric as he aged. One piece that particularly captured my attention was "Inventions of the Monsters" painting. Seeing it in person was an entirely different experience than just seeing it in textbooks or online. I could truly appreciate the intricate details and the sheer genius behind the work. Overall, the Salvador Dalí exhibition was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.
Going to the Art Institute of Chicago is an awe-inspiring experience that leaves you in awe of the beauty and creativity that can come from the human mind! With its extensive collection of art from a diverse range of cultures and time periods, the Art Institute offers visitors the chance to see pieces created by some of the world's most famous artists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso. Whether it's exploring the highlights of the collection or discovering something new in one of the museum's special exhibitions, there's always something to appreciate and learn from at the Art Institute of Chicago. Walking through the halls, you get a sense of the immense artistic talent that has defined the human experience over the centuries, and it's impossible not to be moved by the beauty and power that each piece possesses.
Photo Exhibition// Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For
We also saw a photo exhibition of a photographer I have not heard of before. I loved their work with fashion, portraiture and bands as you can possibly guess why!
Christmas Eve At The Art Museum
The night before the 25th.
As the snowfall intensified outside, I made my way through the dimly lit galleries of the Art Institute of Chicago. The towering marble statues in the center of the room, and staircases adorned with twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments, cast a warm glow across the entire museum. I marveled at the intricate brushstrokes of European works ranging from 1400-1900.
We also hit up the print and drawings room. Made a stop to the Photography & Media room. Had fun among the sculptures of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine world. Pure magic of the night before Christmas.
As we made my way out of the museum and back into the frosty Chicago air, I felt inspired and grateful for the experience of being surrounded by such beauty.
Random Cemetery
As we walked up a narrow dirt road, the dense trees on either side began to thin out, revealing a huge cement block like structure. Intrigued, we walked up to it and cautiously made our way around it to find steps leading up to a huge wooden cross.. It was as if time had stood still; ancient gravestones stood amongst the blades of grass, their engravings barely legible with age. The eerie silence was only broken by the sound of leaves rustling overhead. The Gothic architecture of the weathered structure, possibly a mausoleum, was both haunting and beautiful, making me feel like I was in a different world altogether. I couldn't help but wonder about the stories of the people buried there, and why such a captivating place was hidden away in the middle of the woods.
