Happy New Year, from Tokyo

Tokyo.

Arrived on time... Perfectly easy train navigation from the airport to Shinjuku... Clean and oh so quiet for a huge international city.... Serendipity put Laura and I together at the train station by our hotel purely by chance, I turned around and there she was.... Then we walked into a world made of cute things and little people.  Our hotel was perfectly fitted to someone my height, I can't imagine being much taller (or longer trying to sleep in one of those little beds) 

Rallied hard from no sleep and too many sappy movies on the plane to a New Years party of street beer and juice boxes of sake (no open container laws here)... Brought in the New Year under the Tokyo Tower, then wandered around Rappongi, people watching and finally settling into some karaoke before falling into bed around 4 am.  Woke up to a sign next to my bed that read-- No smoking in the bed... you got it.

The toilets all have bidets and more buttons than I know what to do with... Vending machines with hot, tiny cans of coffee, menus with delicious ramen, rice, met and fish but no idea how to say anything except thank you.  I just pick one that looks good and hope for the best-so far so good..... Sitting in my capsule now, planning our next day, already New Year's Day is turning into night whereas the US has just celebrated....  I hear rumors of big snow in Flagstaff, a few flakes here and a stiff breeze remind that's its still winter.

Here's to 2015, whatever it may hold for you, me, and everyone in between:)

As for Japan, I am enthralled.  

---