The direct flight from Detroit to Nagoya on Delta is very convenient for several reasons. One is that once you get on in Detroit, you are done flying if Nagoya is your final destination. Previously we would fly from Chicago to Tokyo and then, after the long 12 hour flight, suffer through a 3 hour layover to catch the Tokyo to Nagoya leg of the trip. You are murderously tired and you still have hours before settling in at your hotel. But in Nagoya we breezed through immigration and customs and that is because almost all the other passengers continued on to the Phillippines. That made for a very quick document check process and soon we were on the shuttle bus to our hotel.

We stay at the AB Hotel right next to the Mikawa-Anjo Shinkansen station, very conveniently located. There are a few restaurants and small bars close by and our hands-down favorite is a delightful cafe called Choux and Cream. *I apologize for the lack of proper punctuation; this is being typed on a japanese computer keyboard and the letters and characters are a bit different. So, I can't figure out how to use parenthesis, quotes and others. (* Choux and Cream serves the usual array of coffees and other beverages, including top shelf liquor and wine and beer. From the outside it is pretty cute and it's obviously an eating establishment but it also looks like it's a baby-clothes shop. But wait, it's not; because those are not baby clothes prettily displayed in the front of the store, but doggie outfits and accessories of every kind. Here, the regulars are not only hip, young attractive single women and couples, but their dogs too. Yes, here you may bring your pup, as long as it is well trained and preferably outfitted with some piece of doggie apparel and/or accessory. While sipping on a kir royal, you can peruse the extensive selection of dresses or suits and collars and sweaters for your poodle or retriever. You may might think that Kaori, the attractive, charming 35-something owner runs the place but you would be mistaken for it is actually her two fluffy puffy black and gray poodles, named Choux and Peace, father and son. Cream was Peace's mother. Choux and Cream run in and out of the wide open doors of the cafe when customers arrive (there is a safe parking lot( and they will sit across the table from you on the white leather chairs, but only if invited. Choux and Peace also favor the barstools where they may garner a treat from their owner if they are being especially irresistable. I still have to find out how this situation is possible because there is a board of health in Japan too, of course. Photos will also follow.

bibaboxes

So, I'm still working on this blog thing. I don't want to bother you everytime I accidentally do something like loading up too many photos but, like I said before, please bear with me.

These photos are of some of the "BibaBoxes" that I make in my free time. These old jewelry boxes get a rejuvenating treatment that includes cleaning, repairing, painting and covering the outside sections with beautiful japanese papers which I have collected over some 10 years. The drawers are also lined with paper or japanese style fabrics, many times vintage. Finally, the hardware is replaced. Sometimes I use the same knobs that are on the piece and paint them, but mostly I attach new pulls that I buy on each trip that I make to Japan to ensure a plentiful inventory. I will be doing a little hunting at flea markets for new supplies. Also, there are lots of "furugi-ya", second hand shops that specialize in clothing, much of it brought back to Japan from thrift stores here in the States. There one may find the cast-off kimonos or obis that are damaged or otherwise unuseable, except by me.

Rail pass

We got our Japan Rail Passes yesterday at the Japan Travel Bureau inside the Mitsuwa store in Arlington Heights. It took a half hour to process and cost $488 for a one week pass in "green" cars. That means reserved seats and a little more comfy. It's nice for the longer trips and you will always have a seat. We'll use it primarily on the Shinkansen going from Anjo to Tokyo to Nagano to Kanazawa or Toyama. Not sure yet of the exact itinerary but wherever we end up, I look forward to seeing the amazing colors of the leaves turning. We'll for sure be riding through some mountainous areas that are gorgeous at any time of the year.

Getting started

Whoever reads this, please bear with me as I am totally new to this and don't know what the heck I'm doing. I'm just free-falling on this "blog". I want to create this blog to share my travel experiences and hopefully, pictures. I also want to show my "BibaBoxes", my hobby of refurbishing old or used jewelry boxes with beautiful japanese papers and fabric linings.

So, here to publishing - let's see if it works...