Never Say Good Bye

It's 4:00 am and I can't sleep and Teresa can't either.  So Teresa makes a pot of coffee and we look out over the city of Utsunomiya.  The sun is not thinking about waking up yet and that is good.  Teresa goes back to bed because Ric has a hard time sleeping once he knows she's up and vise versa.  I on the other hand pour a cup of coffee and play on the internet.  Ric and Teresa are up now preparing for the day ahead of them.  I really hated to tell Ric good bye but he is leaving for work and when he returns I will be already headed back to Ohio. I am starting to finish up the little things I have out and packing them in my bookbag.  

 I am thinking about all the fun times and memories I have made while here.  One thing running around in my head is that it took 3 weeks for the cherry blossom trees on one of the roads Kozue goes down to take me to Teresa's every morning. Kozue told me that the road is so beautiful when the road is tree lined with beautiful sakura trees all bloomed.

 The plant that Susumu that was like a orchid after 3 weeks was in full orange blooms.  So beautiful, every morning I would get up and look at the progress of his flower. Teresa braided my hair for me this morning.  Thanks Teresa my hair didn't fall down the entire 24 hours it took to get home.
 I am now ready to go eat lunch and go to bus station.  Teresa and I packed the car and Kozue stopped by with my jacket which I had left at her house.  I tell her so long till we meet again in Ohio when she visits Teresa. We are on our way to pick up Valerie so she can come to lunch with us and walk with me over to the bus station. It's raining making this day even more gloomy than it already is for me. We are going to the gyoza place as that is what I want to eat since Utsunomiya is the gyoza capital of the world. 

Valerie bought our lunches and bought me a beer.  Loved the mug 

Heading to the bus station now and its raining, making this day even more gloomy.  Thank goodness there is not alot of waiting time once I reach the bus stop.

Painting Porcelain at Yoko's April 11th 2012

last full day in Japan, and I wanted to paint on porcelain at Yoko's house. Hopefully, Yoko Sensei can fit us all into her schedule.  I'm feeling lucky because she had time for us to paint on the day we wanted. :-)  This project was a great way to spend my last full day in Japan.  Got to see many of my good friends all at one time before I leave to go back to Ohio.  Thanks to all for making my trip such a memorable one. Yoko Sensei is a wonderful artist.  Love the gold on this plate full of sakura flowers she painted.

  
  Yoko Sensei is a wonderful teacher. Thanks, Yoko-sensei for making this last day so special. Yoko-sensei came up with an awesome way to make this painting project much easier.  

  Valerie working on a project for her Mom for Mother's Day.

Teresa working on her project.

Me and my project~ next step Yoko sensei will fire our porcelain.  Teresa will bring home my project when she returns back to Ohio.

Mioko working on her project.

Mioko could not go to lunch with us so I had to say my good bye to her before she left. :-(

  Just Cafe had wonderful food.  Glad that Valerie recommended this place.  

 

Saying goodbye to Yoko Sensei.. so glad I have met Yoko. She is  always welcome to come to Ohio and stay with me.

 Kensho I will miss you little man, loved having you on my adventures in Japan. :-) You and your Mom come any time to Ohio, you are always welcome in my home.

Snow on Nikko Mountains Japan April 10th 2012

 Teresa has decided today she will take me to Nikko Mountains for our last road trip in Japan.  The view from the car of the magnificent Nikko Mountains is so beautiful.  The Nikko Mountains are  mesmerizing as we kept driving towards them. Japan has many mesmerizing views because of the huge amount of nature that is so well preserved.  As we started up the mountain I can not tell you how many countless switchbacks we went around to get to  Lake Chūzenji.  This is a scenic lake in Nikkō National Park in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It was created 20,000 years ago when Mount Nantai (2484 m) erupted and blocked the river.  No matter what time of the year you come to Nikko Mountains you will always find the natural beauty of nature at its finest.  Even though it's spring in Utsunomiya Japan here on the mountain there is still snow covered hills and mountains.

 The Adonis coffee shop is located right on Lake Chūzenji. There were only 2 parking spots but since it was early we made one of the spots ours.  The coffee house has been remodeled from the last time I was here.  The deck is much larger, but the view is still as spectacular as the first time I was here.  So glad Teresa and Valerie are here to share the beauty with me.

 The coffee house is nice and cozy and warm as the wind around here was a tad bit cool.  The huge set of windows in the back of coffee house made for a spectacular view of the Nikko Mountains.  I love Nikko and all the beauty it holds no matter what season I visit.

Each of us has ordered a cup of specialty coffee and are enjoying each others company.  I am anxious to go see the restaurant called Le Michel in Nikko City.  The owner is a friend of Teresa's whom she met through a guy we both worked with at one time.   

 We have arrived at Le Michel's French restaurant in Nikko City. This restaurant is one of the best places I have eaten in Japan.  It should be famous, seems to me that the ones that do know about this place only tell their closest friends.  I could not find nothing on the internet about this wonderful place but so glad that now I know.  Its a place everyone must eat at and enjoy the soba made crepe sandwiches and soba crepe pastry.  YUMMO......telephone :  0288-53-4659 

 The owner Asami Yoshiko will greet you with a very big welcome smile and seat you at a table where there is always a good view. 

Shopping in Nikko City Japan