Kyoto........

Bullet train didn't feel any different than trains i had been on before. It was pretty smooth and the seats were ok. The only difference was there were little cart ladies like on the Hogwarts express who had snacks if you'd like.

Our First ride...I cut myself out...oops


Here I am


We got to Nagoya no problem and took a taxi right off. I told him Nagoya Castle and he stops at the Nagoya Hotel. It was a little surprising we were like ok, we have to walk and I didn't think he would have a confusion given the fact that we didn't have any luggage but...then the guys at the hotel were like you know this is the hotel we were like yeah but I guess he didn't understand us and so they told him to go to the castle and so back into the taxi we went. This was definitely a good stop to make the castle is gorgeous and the grounds are beautiful too. We were able to go to the top look out and explore for a while before we had to head back to the station. It was pretty warm there despite the cloud cover.

Beautiful Castle




View from the top


Grace rides her Dragon Fish (aka officially a dolphin)


Gorgeous - wish you were here






Wildlife!



Took a ice cream break & saw more "wildlife"



And this - look MOM!




The can looked cool - what was inside was not.


Soda Fountain of Doom


After a couple hours we decided to head back to the station by bus. It was about 45m to the next station bus so we sat at the bus stop and entertained ourselves.

Grace the Amazing


Luckily it was a short ride to the train station. But once there we had to wait a couple more hours for our reserved ride on the bullet train to Kyoto. So we stopped in this bread shop that was at the station and got a variety of carbie goodness! Then went up to our platform and you guessed it waited and waited and waited.

Bag o' Bread


The ride was a little less than an hour and it was really easy to find J-hoppers Hostel. Then the storm hit (not actually raining). We get there and check in. My credit card won't work. It has been working fine and now all of a sudden. I am going to try later. Fortunately I had enough cash because we hadn't stopped to get cash for Grace today like we had wanted to. So I paid in cash. Then they tell us we have to switch rooms half way through our stay. I didn't know anything about this. It plainly states on my hostel reservation private twin room. I did NOT request a Japanese style room for 3 nights and a Western style room for the last 2 nights #&$%%$'#(%))#$&#%"#%{+?_****_+* Tantrum done. But wait, theres more. We are on the 5th floor, the top...its not the best and there isn't an elevator. It was like London trip #2 all over again. We were pissed to say the least. So we get up there and we are whining about our situation and setting up our beds. Cranky Americans want their normal room. Plus it is all about the shared rest room that is more like a closet and the showers that are only on the 3rd and 2nd floors....GIR-ARG!

So sweaty cranky Erin went to the 3rd floor and took a long cold shower to get her attitude in better alignment. Grace rested and read her book. Now we are having to pay for internet too. Talk about being spoiled at Oak Hotel with the completely free limitless internet.

Grace's Happy Finger towards our room situation.



Who wants to sh*t in the closet? I know I am a little bitter right now...