I was coming from 30C weather in Manila, with low humidity and blazing sun. For start, I took a cab to the wrong terminal. Luckily I got there 3h before the flight and had to rush to take a shuttle to the correct terminal across what I thought was the longest transfer ever, with stress heightened and bladder full. Eventually I rushed tot he ANA counter in front of which there was no queue thank heaven. After checking in my luggage and relieving myself to all that could distract me from this vacation, I was on an incident free flight. I had taken a light woolen coat, pink to suit the season.
Arriving late afternoon in Narita, I was excited with the now familiar sight and smell, yet still disoriented from the change of pace. And most of all I was taken aback by the weather. It was 0C with light slush and I could not see any sign of buds on the barren trees lining the streets .I instantly regretted not checking the weather at destination before packing. I was hoping it would feel like the height of spring for those flying from snow buried Canada.
R&J's flight would land late afternoon, so I was not expecting them before 19:00 or even 20:00. It would give me time to find the hotel, rest and set a meeting point with E-san. At Tokyo station, I was finding my way to the hotel thanks to the public wifi, but somehow I was brain freezed and could not find the way. I kept walking back and forth to the bus terminal in front of the station, to eventually get into the line for a taxi. It was snowing and windy and I could not see myself dragging my suitcase in the then fading light of the early evening to the hotel.
The white glove clad driver opened the back passenger door, got out to put my suitcase in the trunk and to close my door. Then with the hotel address (printed in Japanese), we drove literally for 7minutes (lots of roundabouts and one way streets) to Villa Fontaine. I was relieved to be in the warm lobby of the hotel. It was a business hotel and lots of soap and other accessories available in the lobby (shampoo, toothbrush, cotton buds, etc...). After a warm shower and wearing all the warmest clothes I tried to memorize the way back to Tokyo Station.
As dinner time approached I walked to Tokyo station to meet with E-san in front of Daimaru. I was within wifi reach and we would not look too suspicious waiting for each other. After 2 years since 2015, we would meet again in Tokyo.
E-san knew of this Okinawan cuisine place under Tokyo station (which boasts a whole city of eateries) and we settled for drinks to catch up. It was nice and warm indeed in the south and a nice touch from E-san. Later on as R&J landed and made for the hotel, we eventually met after a game of hide and seek in Tokyo station many levels underground streets.
Subjects of conversation got drowned in the drinks and warmth of the place, and we soon had to go sleep, while E-san had to go across town to western districts to her apartment.
And so we went our way, passing by Nihonbashi one more time to snap the dragon statue for kilometer zero.
Arriving late afternoon in Narita, I was excited with the now familiar sight and smell, yet still disoriented from the change of pace. And most of all I was taken aback by the weather. It was 0C with light slush and I could not see any sign of buds on the barren trees lining the streets .I instantly regretted not checking the weather at destination before packing. I was hoping it would feel like the height of spring for those flying from snow buried Canada.
The white glove clad driver opened the back passenger door, got out to put my suitcase in the trunk and to close my door. Then with the hotel address (printed in Japanese), we drove literally for 7minutes (lots of roundabouts and one way streets) to Villa Fontaine. I was relieved to be in the warm lobby of the hotel. It was a business hotel and lots of soap and other accessories available in the lobby (shampoo, toothbrush, cotton buds, etc...). After a warm shower and wearing all the warmest clothes I tried to memorize the way back to Tokyo Station.
As dinner time approached I walked to Tokyo station to meet with E-san in front of Daimaru. I was within wifi reach and we would not look too suspicious waiting for each other. After 2 years since 2015, we would meet again in Tokyo.
Subjects of conversation got drowned in the drinks and warmth of the place, and we soon had to go sleep, while E-san had to go across town to western districts to her apartment.
And so we went our way, passing by Nihonbashi one more time to snap the dragon statue for kilometer zero.
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