Another Visitor!

"I present to you...the Meiji Shrine Torii!"

My sister takes the long trip overseas to visit us!  She makes taking pictures fun - no need to just stand there.  

Of course, we have to visit the main sights.  I discover a new entrance into the Meiji Shrine - and with a light on-and-off rain, it's practically empty. 

"I feel strong after moving all these wine barrels."

I had never really noticed this bridge at the Meiji Shrine.  It's a nice green shot with all the trees in the background.

A scenic Japanese bridge...I think she doesn't feel well, otherwise she'd act like she was climbing over the railing.

Shabu shabu makes a relaxing dinner after a day of sightseeing. 

If you've ever eaten shabu shabu, you know why they give you bibs!

Sensoji Temple is also on the highlights tour of Tokyo and it's crowded, as usual.  My sister enjoys some shopping along Nakemise Dori while we are there.  You gotta love a religion that celebrates with over a hundred souvenir shops inside the temple grounds.

If only all these people would get out of our photo.

I can almost hug the pagoda!

We make good use of our time at the temple.  In addition, she lights some incense and wafts the smoke towards her nose.  This is supposed to have healing properties and she's gotten sick while she's visiting us.  Hmmm....Shirley got sick, Heather got sick....maybe there's something wrong here....

"Coughing, coughing, go away"

I should have bought platform shoes instead of socks!

We try to make it look like the Tokyo Skytree is growing out of her head, but she isn't tall enough. 

Jump!  Jump!

Touching the giant straw sandal (owaraji) that hangs on the back of the gate is supposed to help sore feet.   Unfortunately, she's too short to reach!  There's actually a really good story behind why the sandal is hung at Sensoji.  You can read about it here:  http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2005/06/16/reference/owaraji/#.V42c7aIpo21 gives     (I understand why a new pair is donated every ten years - you can see the fraying at the bottom of the sandal from people touching it.)





Everyone says you should attend a Japanese baseball game if possible, and we're lucky the Swallows have a home game while Heather's here. 

If she actually had a baseball it would hit the camera.

And speaking of lucky - Heather catches a t-shirt launched from one of the shirt cannons during the pregame festivities.  She graciously lets me keep it!

Maybe we shouldn't have let her drink seven of these...

Heather doesn't like alcohol, but she's up for trying new things.  (She actually doesn't like fish or seafood, either.  But she's been a trooper the whole time, sampling all sorts of new goodies).  We find a drink she likes - there's no liquor taste at all.  

There's a Swallows mascot in the middle somewhere.

Steve has the best time at the baseball games.  I think he's got his own little fan club.  They even bought him a beer.















After some busy days running around Tokyo, it's important to hydrate your face!  I call these "scary masks."  A couple months after I "named" them, they ended up coming out with kabuki mask patterns printed on the paper.  I wish I could have claimed credit!

The dogs run and hide when they see us...so does Steve.