This should have been posted last week, but I’m a little behind in getting updates up.
The work week went by pretty well. Each morning I wake up, go down and get Starbucks, eat, shower and put on my business casuals. Yes that’s right, me in business casuals 
Each morning I join the millions of people who ride the metro system to work. It’s a fascinating thing to watch and be a part of. The first couple days I rode the monorail “new transit” line directly from the hotel to work. It takes about 30 min, is rather crowded, but has a great above ground view of the Tokyo Bay. Riding over rainbow bridge is the highlight with a 270 degree loop to get onto the bridge. The faster way, which I took most of the week and will continue to take, is on the subway. It’s actually less crowded because I’m going against the grain for a couple of stations. Riding the subway here is not much unlike the subway in Moscow. Everyone is relatively silent, with most either reading, listening to music, playing their nintendo ds/psp, or sleeping. After I get off the train, I join the shuffle of people moving in unison towards the stairs and eventually the exit. It’s definitely an interesting experience. No one saying a sound, yet everything almost perfectly orchestrated. People are polite and gather into lines as everyone walks up the stairs. The only thing you hear is the clatter of each persons business shoes on the steps as you head up.
It’s warm (80F) and muggy, so by the time I get to the office, I feel as though I need another shower. The humidity definitely takes getting used to, as it saps your energy.
Each night after work, I ride the subway back to the hotel, change out of my business casuals, and into my usual attire for dinner. Amanda and I have been trying a couple different places for dinner. We ate at a tempura restaurant one night, Mos Burger (Japanese Fast Food), and TGI Fridays. Now before anyone gives me a hard time about eating American Food while in Japan, I’ll say 2 things. 1, I’ve had plenty of Japanese style food during lunches with co-workers. 2. Do you eat American food every night in the States? Some nights we wandered around looking at the sites, and some nights we came back to the hotel to relax. One night some tourists asked US for directions. I guess we look like we know where we are. Getting around Tokyo has been pretty easy actually. The subway system is very well layed out, and well signed, with almost everything in English and Japanese. The only time we’ve gotten “lost” or turned around, is when walking the streets. It’s hard to have a sense of which way, north or south is, which can make reading a map a bit difficult We always seem to find our way to the destination.
Either way, it’s been a good, busy week.
Here are some of the various pictures from the evening time.
love all these shots! especially that bridge. makes me want to play with them in photoshop! haha!
hope you are having a great time. i am still so jealous!
thanks shari! play away
you can probably do far better with them than I can…you’re a photoshop pro!