THE LAST DAY IN TOKY0 #10

{A NOTE FROM THE BLOGGER. THE JET TRIP AROUND THE WORLD IS NOT BASED ON ANY ONE TOUR GROUP. It is based on information I found about several. The Four Seasons Hotel is promoted by one, but not everything in the tour am I using.So don't save up your $70,000 to go!@!@!@!!}


When Beanie came in from the night out with Dr. Peterson and the others in our tour group, I was sound asleep.
She said some of the people got drunk...which was disappointing for Beanie, who  doesn't drink alcohol at all. Still she had a good time. It was funny though about why Dr. Peterson wanted to escort us. His wife had died about six months ago...he had hardly been able to practice medicine he has been so grief stricken. He applied for job of the tour physician to help him clear his head. Then when he met us, we reminded him of his two elderly aunts, now deceased, who had meant so much to him. Dudn't that beat all??!! Still he is someone we will enjoy knowing even if we remind  him of dead people. hah

"Annie, Pete (ITS PETE NOW?)) got the idea that some of us should go by train to Kyoto tomorrow. He hopes we will go too. The teacher friends will be going and I don't know how many others."

I jI just loved the idea. We were already dressed for the day and met the others downstairs and proceeded to the Tokyo Train Station close to our hotel.
                     


When we saw our train for the trip, we were excited...not much like our Amtrak, & it is so fast.

 We would be in Kyoto in a few hours. Amazing. I was so happy to be going there because that is one of the places Ben liked best in Japan. He has pictures of himself there. Only 20 years old.
  

 

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The pictures of Ben in Kyoto in our scrap book of his days when in the army stationed in Korea, are small black and white pictures made on a Brownie camera.  Now we saw it the way Ben describes it. It is as though we were walking in a wonderland...not quite real. Surely I'll never forget yesterday...or PETE for suggesting we do that.

When we got back to the hotel the city looked all lit up!!~

When we returned to the Hotel, the passengers who had not gone with us to Kyoto...begged us to see what they had seen yesterday.
The Panasonic Living Show room...we were too excited to be tired  The tour had ten large vans sent to take us.  All 53 of us went.

                          



                   
                         "Communications Hub for Panasonic.

With Panasonic's aim to become a "Green Innovation Company" and the vision of bringing about innovation in lifestyles and business with eco ideas for the earth, the Center serves as a vehicle for communications, receiving opinions and requests directly from customers while presenting actual products and services.

Starting with a firm customer commitment, we will create new value as we reach out to more people.

Panasonic Center Tokyo will continue to evolve together with its customers."

 Showing homes of the future...

My son, Ben, is not much of a traveler, But he would have loved seeing this remarkable Showroom, with so many things for houses of the future.

Panasonic beauty of the future for my granddaughters!!

We had to tear ourselves away. I wish these pictures showed better what the Showroom was like.

Perhaps this video will help!!

    

The evening wasn't over. We piled into our waiting vans and 

and drove around Tokyo for the last time. 


We were in the

Rappongi 

district...where there

were plenty of bars 

and night 

clubs!!

but we just wanted to look ...and talk to each other. We were 

beginning to be friends 

....we could sleep on 

the jet today as we fly to our next destination: Shanghai.

with love beanie and annie and 51 other passengers!

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FELLOW PASSENGERS ON THE PRIVATE JET TOUR #8

Beanie and I had been curious about the other passengers who would be with us for twelve days. I guess we assumed they would be "filthy rich!"   

We are surely the oldest passengers at 80 yrs old. Most are in their early seventies, sixties and fifties. 

 Three couples have come together from Detroit. The husbands have important jobs with the  auto industry. Their wives had insisted they needed a rest from their heavy obligations. The six are obviously friends back home. 

 Some had been given this trip as a Christmas bonus or as a prize for being especially productive on their jobs.  

Some were retired business men and women who are frankly bored by not working anymore.  They looked "rich!" 

Two passengers are in wheelchairs. One has a nurse with her.  The other, a man in his sixties, has his daughter, The nurse and daughter are in their early forties.

 There is one man in his late sixties with a young woman around twenty five...they keep to themselves.

 There are several school teachers who have not mentioned yet how they got the money.  

Everyone seems to believe my story that I have come into a great deal of money, which can only be used for travel and not every day llfe.  in truth, Monopoly money and a Monopoly Charge Card

 There is a special chef, a concierge, experts on the places we are going...and get this!!  even a PHYSICIAN!

EXPEDITION STAFF AND CREW

Travel worry-free with talented teams of seasoned professionals who are renowned for their attention to detail, dedication to safety and security, and top-notch hospitality. The highly experienced 

We got the impression that Memphis is most southern hometown of any of the travelers. I don't see us making any lasting friends here.But who knows? Beanie has a great persoality...But as for me I liked my old way of pretend travel better.
Will let you know as I know more
with love, annie
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BOENING 757 TOOK US FROM SEATTLE TO TOKYO # 7

The next day we wistfully said goodbye to Karen as her parents drove  away to Spokane. Then we went to the Seattle Art Gallery, which was walking distance from the hotel. Then we took a long walk past Pike Place Fish Market to the Needle, and went to the top. I was so excited because this time the mountains could be seen.

When we looked south we saw Mt. Rainier.  

This meant so much because Ben's Aunt Mildred had actually been to the top of that mountain with a group in her younger days. We had seen old snap shot of that trip, and heard her describe what it was like to do that.


When we looked to the east, we saw the Cascade Mountains. 
                     

Then to the west the Olympics. 

Then looking out on Puget Sound we saw the sparkling water. 
                  

It was so awesome that if we had gone home then, we would have had a great trip!! Then as we had planned we ate at the revolving restaurant atop the NEEDLE!!  I don't even remember WHAT we ate. I was just so happy neither rain nor fog ruined our time there.

Then we walked back to Four Seasons Hotel for the Welcome dinner. 

 We met the other 51 other passengers. Funny we had been seeing some of them already for the last two days...just didn't know who they were. That same evening we boarded the jet that will take us far away to Tokyo. 


Now we are here in Tokyo. This means a lot because Beanie's husband and my Ben were in Korea, and and a few times  had R&R in Tokyo. Ben always wanted to go back. So I am here, Ben. I am here.
More when I catch my breath.
love, annie
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IN SEATTLE FOR PRE TOUR VISIT #6

Because I have reached Seattle by plane and Greyhound in previous trips, I won't go into our pretend travel from Memphis to Seattle. Suffice to say we are here. 

 The tour is lodging us in Four Season Hotels during our entire trip around the world.  Beanie and I arrived a two days early so we could see Seattle for the first time for her and a second time for m

             

As soon as we checked in, we caught a cab to the Greyhound Bus Station. 

    

I wanted to go inside and remember how it felt when I was there alone 30 years ago. The bus had arrived before dawn. I just patiently sat in the waiting room until it got light and Burger King would open. Police came in searching for a robber. 

 I said to Beanie. "Ya think we can just have a hamburger here...I know we will be eating such gourmet food on our tour...but I would so love to have a hamburger right here right now! It is eleven o'clock, we will be hungry again in a few hours."

So we did...talk about daja view!?

Then Beanie and I descended that very steep hill street down to Pike Place fish market. A girl who had been eaten a small size order of fries at Burger King also left when we did. Surely she wasn't following us?!

 

It was just as crowded as I remembered it thirty years ago. It is hard to believe fish can generate such excitement!!

 

We sent a few cards back home; we didn't plan to do that on the tour...the less trouble the better. There were buskers of all kinds; we loved the rhythm and blues quartet in particular. There was also a guy who trains cats. We were more than happy to drop money into their buckets. 

The girl definitely seemed to be following us.  She never spoke but stayed close...Finally Beanie asked, "What do you want? Why are you following us??"

The girl was quite pretty and looked well care for. She was holding her arm as though it was hurting.

 She starting crying. "I thought two old ladies would care about what happens to me. You see, yesterday I got in trouble with my parents. I am 14 and I ran away with my 20 year old boyfriend. I had saved a little money and we caught a bus from Spokane. He dumped me and is probably stoned somewhere. I don't what to do now...I don't even have money left to place a phone call to my folks."

She told us her name--Karen; we told her our names. Then I invited her to walk with us for awhile, while my friend and I think about her situation.

In front of us stood a distraction: a pig. It caused Karen to wipe away her tears and laugh.

We were fascinated by Rachel the Pig that weighs more than 550 pounds. It is the unofficial mascot of the market. Here she is with a pretty girl sitting on it.

                       

The three of us continued to walk together. There were so many shops of various kinds. some with gorgeous flowers, chocolate treats, and very nice restaurants. We must have walked for hours never getting bored.

The sky darkened.
 Then it started to rain...very hard...then harder. 


We made a decision about our new friend. We decided to catch a cab back to our Presidential Suite in the Four Season Hotel. From there we would call her parents.  Our conversation is sort of private; so we won't tell you all that was said. I hope we were honest without being preachy. We even prayed together a little. So we had our first adventure without even leaving the country. 

The parents were thrilled over the call from their daughter. It takes 4 hours to drive from Spokane to Seattle. Since it was raining, we offered to keep their daughter over night. They will get her by 10 am tomorrow.

We realized just how tired we were and had room service bring us a wonderful fish dinner; Alaskan Halibut.  Maybe we did a dangerous thing letting Karen stay with us overnight....but we were blessed.
                            

The other passengers will arrive tomorrow afternoon. But Beanie and I will have time to go up in the Space Needle. 


When I was in Seattle before, you couldn't see the mountains from the Needle. There was so much fog. I don't think we will see the mountains this time either, if it is still raining. Nevertheless, we can eat lunch at Sky City Restaurant.  Tomorrow night is the Welcome Dinner for our tour. But we will be thinking about Karen for awhile.


Beanie and I will write more when we know more. Love, annie
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LOOKING AT PICTURES OF OUR HOTEL IN SEATTLE WHERE THE TOUR BEGINS

Since we won't actually leave Memphis until Sunday, we  are anxious to see pictures online of  our hotel in Seattle.
                    FOUR SEASONS
 \\Beanie has never been to Seattle and I was there thirty years ago in my "in the flesh" 6,000 mile trip by Greyhound. On that very long trip I mostly slept on the bus. This time we sleep in the President's Suite until we go to the room assigned to us for the tour. Anyhow, I am anxious to revisit this fascinating town before the tour actually begins.




Our room on the tour will be like this one.



Our WELCOME dinner will be in this room. I remember when I was in Seattle before, I ate in the BURGER KING which adjoins the Greyhound Bus Station. Yet that trip was wonderful in every way.

There really isn't much to do...our passports and visas stay in order. I have already paid roughly $140,000 dollars to the tour company by Monopoly Charge Card. 

I am curious about the other passengers...can't believe many young people will be traveling with us...


As Beanie and I know more, we'll tell you more.

with love, annie
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AROUND THE WORLD BY PRIVATE JET WITH 53 STRANGERS!!#4

Today both Beanie and I left our travel planning to do other things.

She went to her church and I went to mine.

Also I went to a marvelous NEW BALLET program at Theater on the Square here in Memphis.

Yet somehow we agreed by phone not to fret but take an easy way out to go around the world by private jet with 53 strangers.

We will leave Memphis Sunday and go to Seattle where our tour begins with __________Private Jet Company.

These  places are not necessarily on the top of our lists of places we wanted to see....
but this will achieve our goal of going around the world.

Now for some sleep. with love, annie