Back from Tokyo in Time for Lunch!

I don't have pictures from Tokyo yet, but we got back to Kyoto today in time for lunch. We went to "Second House" which is probably at least as good as First House. Coincidentally, it was the second time we went to a Second House establishment, and I'm not making that up. After lunch we went to the Imperial Palace, which was open to the public for the weekend (one of only two times a year it's open like this). We are shown eating a cookie from Second House near a cherry blossom. We've been meaning to have a picnic but this was as close as we got today. It was a beautiful day in Kyoto, we're already sad that we are leaving so soon.

Breakfast at Tom's in Japan

I wanted to take a picture and describe the breakfasts at Tom's here in Kyoto. We have great breakfasts here. Almost every morning we have fruit and bread. Most days it's fresh straberries, bananas and apples and good bread with peanut butter ("natural" peanut putter, not Skippy). It's a great way to start the day. I shouldn't even have to mention coffee, but we always have coffee.

Sushi!

Today we went to a conveyor-belt sushi bar in Kyoto after a train trip to Osaka to see "Me and My Girl" by the all-girl Takarazuka Revue. They are very famous in Japan and if you've never heard of them, look them up. It was an excellent show. I've never been to one of these conveyor-belt sushi places before, but I've heard about them. Tom's trying to expand my culinary horizons, and I like some sushi - it's just that I'd take cooked shrimp over raw shrimp on just about any day. In fact, I was glad to see the some of the shrimp were actually cooked, so I had one of those plates. Hidden under the shrimp was a bit of wasabi sauce, which I really like to say. Say it a few times; "Wasabi... wasabi... wasabi". Fun, isn't it?


Pictured - me about to indulge in sushi with wasabi. -->

Beautiful Manor Downs

It's well known - but not well documented - that I enjoy an occasional jaunt to the track to bet on the horses. This past weekend I went to our beloved Manor Downs, which is also the site of some Grateful Dead concerts from back in the 80's. I actually went to a Dead concert there but for some reason the whole experience is kind of foggy. After all, it was a long time ago... and what a long, strange trip that was.

Anyway, I went to the track Sunday and had a chicken fajita taco (advertised as a new menu item!) and a Pepsi. The Pepsi was good. Stay away from the chicken fajita tacos.