settling into Toyko

My first day has been spent relaxing and adjusting to the new time zone. I look outside and see daylight but my body feels like it's night time and ready to sleep. So I decided to rest and wait for another day to start sight seeing in earnest. My memories of this place from past visits are slowly starting to return. In between naps and reading, I went for a couple of walks and meals. I went to stores and resturants that I remembered from when I was last here in 1996. As one of the Orchestra's three librarians, I rotate going on tours and missed the last Asian trip. We only travel with one librarian on tour and my colleagues are busy at home working on preparing the many works of music for our summer season.

I'm staying separately from the Orchestra Hotel in a little Japanese style inn called a Ryokan. I've been here before and like the traditional old fashioned neighborhood of Ueno. It's full of small little streets and private houses. This provides a real experience and flavor of Japan. It's wonderful if you like sleeping on a futon on a tatami floor and enjoy using a Japanese style bath.

good night, Bob Grossman