Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I'm sooooooooooooo excited!

My BFF lands at Narita in T - 45 hours! Woo hoo! I can't wait!!!!!!

7 or 8 years ago, Rob and I started taking trips together, just the two of us, once or twice a year. We call them "Margaritaville". So far we've been to: Helen, Georgia (a cute little Bavarian-themed town in N. Georgia), Niagra Falls, NYC (hands-down the most awesome trip ever), Orlando, Florida, we had a mini-Margaritaville in Tampa while I was preggers w/ E, we hauled all the kids to Chatanooga, Tennessee for a "Milk-ville"

I've been working feverishly on our itinerary for months, of course, and even now, less than two days before the commencment of Margaritaville International - 2009 (maybe it should be Sake-ville?), I'm still revising, adding, taking away, there's just soooooooo much to see and do, and soooooo little time!

And the 'ritaville bonus this year: our Junior year of high school, we befriended (read: thoroughly corrupted) a Japanese exchange student, whom we nicknamed "Sorbi". Sorb is from Osaka, and a couple of months ago, after almost 22 years, we were all reunited via FaceBook!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorb and her family will be coming up from Osaka on Sunday, and Rob and I will be returning to Osaka w/ them on Wednesday. I so freakin' excited!!!!!

The current itinerary:

Thursday: pick-up at Narita. We'll just hang out at my house and relax, walk down the street to my fave little Chinese restaurant, The Wok, make some 'ritas and yak all night. Otis always asks "You've been best friends for 25 years, how can you still have anything to talk about?" Men! Completely clueless!

Friday: put E on the bus and head for Tokyo. We'll be going to, in no real order yet: Tokyo Tower, Asakusa, Roppongi (mainly for Tokyo CityView), Shibuya, Ameyoko, maybe Ginza if there's time. There'll be lots of aimless wandering too. We're spending Fri and Sat night in Tokyo. Dinner at Mai Thai in Ebisu one night, maybe Yebisu Garden the other night.

Sunday: b'fast at the New Sanno, Shinjuku Gyoen, then back to my house to get ready for Sorb's arrival. Sunday evening we'll have a backyard BBQ. More 'ritas (I'm sure Sorbi will need to be re-corrupted!) and gabbing late into the night.

Monday: Takao-san, then bowling and Thai food for dinner

Tuesday: Hakone, then back here for dinner at a yakiniku place

Wednesday: Heading for Osaka bright and early (via car)

Thursday: Sorb will tour us around and we're going for karaoke that night

Friday: leave Osaka (via shinkansen) around 11:00a heading for Yokohama. Tour Chinatown, Landmark Tower, etc.

Saturday: Kamakura and Enoshima. Head for Tokyo Saturday night, staying in Tokyo again Sat and Sun nights.

Sunday: Harajuku and Yoyogi Park, last minute shopping, dinner at Ninnikuya in Ebisu.

Monday: We'll part company at the New Sanno, Rob taking the bus to the airport, me catching a bus back to the base.

My sweet hubs has taken off work Wed - Fri so that I can ditch that kid o' mine, and he'll drop him at my neighbor's house on Monday until I get home.

Whew! Are you tired yet? I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait! Got to get busy on the sign for the airport! And where'd I put my head panties?

5 comments:

Lulu said...

WOW! That is some itinerary you have planned but it does sound great!

Not sure if you know but you can get a "free" view of Tokyo city (and sometimes Fuji-san!) from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku (west exit). I know the one in Roppongi you have to pay so just thought I would mention it.

Jealous you are climbing Takao-san- never done it but want to and used to live out that way.

I hope you have loads of fun with your BFF! Look forward to the pictures.

shinshu life said...

Oh man. I'm a little less disappointed I didn't meet you when you were here in Matsumoto- I don't think I could have kept up!! I know you'll have an amazing time and can't wait to hear all about it. Love that you're meeting up with your old exchange student friend- trust Facebook, hey?

For your Osaka travel I give you my favourite Osakan word- bochi bochi. It is a very versatile word that can mean: so so, I'm getting there, not too bad *and* we should be going soon. How can you not love that??

Bryn said...

Lulu - thanks! I've been to the Metro Bldg before, beautiful views! We're hoping the Sky Deck will be open in Roppongi (we won't go up otherwise) it's really incredible to be out in the open like that, so high above the city. Have you ever been?

Fuka-chan - is there that much to see in your neck of the woods? We'll be heading back that way in Jan. for some snow!

R's trip will def. be a whirlwind, I want to show her EVERYTHING! It's been so difficult to narrow the list!

Robin Vistnes said...

I think I forgot to pack my head panties too!!!
The trip looks awesome, wish it were me with you-
HEY WAIT- it is me with you!!!
See you soon-
Rob

Gaijin Wife said...

Jealous. How exciting. Hope you have a great week catching up.