We wandered around the shrine a while, looking at the merchandise and at the beautiful grounds. I lost my umbrella. I don't really know much about what the shrine was dedicated to except that it has something to do with a certain emperor and his family. You can find out more here at this external link about it.

My mom hadn't had kaitenzushi yet and Patricia desperately wanted her to try it, so we ducked into a place. My mother liked this too, and I got to try a "begetarian" roll that unfortunately had some cucumber in it that I didn't like. We got a little snack (and my mother got a Coke), and then it was off to Asakusa.

       

     

On the way back, my mom's foot was pretty bad so we sat in the disabled seating so that she would be guaranteed a seat. (Actually, Patricia and I held the rings in front of the seats.) Two elderly ladies started talking about us in Japanese, wondering if we were students and sisters and commenting on my amazing blonde hair. My sister just interjected, "Do you have a question about us?" and of course they were shocked that she understood them. "We heard you speaking so fluently in English," one said, "and assumed you wouldn't understand what we were saying." Heh.

Then my mom got to meet Michelle, at the izakaya. She really liked that place, and willingly ate a bunch of good stuff. I ordered some fries, having missed my potatoes during my stay in Japan. (They're very non-cheese, non-potatoes-eating people for the most part, unless you go to the fast food restaurants where they're trying to be American.) I had a Kahlua ice cream thing instead of the green drink (though my sister and Michelle ordered their "Sexy" and "Recharge" again). I have determined that I should not drink alcohol. I fell asleep on the table again.

 

Our transfer in Chicago and ride back to Tampa were uneventful (though tiring and annoying, we had to go through customs). We arrived back in one piece, and were grateful to get back to the house, unpack, and do laundry. I didn't go to sleep for a long time because of all the sleep I had on the plane, but eventually I did go to bed.

I think my favorite things about the visit, besides seeing my sister, were the great food at the soba shop and the sushi place, and the Japanese karaoke. I also loved shopping in Tokyo. My least favorite part was having to ride the train so much, especially when I had no seat and was tired, and having to lug a heavy backpack when my back hurt (sometimes my mother ended up rescuing me from it), and the really awful cold and rainy weather. But I am so glad I got to see where and how my sister was living, and finally got to leave the country I've lived in all my life, even if it was just for a little while.