Just 2 American Kids: June 2014

Things have been pretty low key around here as we adjust to parenthood. We hadn't really deviated from our daily schedule until LAUREN ARRIVED!

Lauren literally hit the ground running. Less than 2 hours after she landed in Iwakuni we were on the train to Hiroshima to see a Carp game. The weather was crummy but we did our best to stay warm and dry.

To accomplish this, Violet wore her mittens on her feet!

The weather was a better the next day and in between rain showers we were able to enjoy the Sakura (cherry blossoms) by the Kintaii bridge and Kikko Park.

We took the gondola up the mountain to show Lauren the castle. It was also the first time Nick and I actually went in to the Castle. We'd been up to see the castle several times but for various reason had not yet been inside it.

Lauren's 3rd day in Japan and we were off to Kyoto! We took the Shin to Kyoto main station and then a subway to get to our hotel. After checking in to the hotel we set out to see Nijo Castle.

Let me just say that traveling with an infant is quite a bit more challenging than traveling as solo young adults. Even though we set out at 8 that morning the castle was all we had time to see the first day.

Well we did have time to explore the area around our hotel some. So many cherry blossoms!

We got an early start our second day in Kyoto as well (Baby's schedule, dontcha know) and after a Japanese style breakfast at the hotel we took a bus to see Ginkakuji or the "Silver Pavillion."

Next we found ourselves on the "Path of Philosophy."

We could not get enough of the GORGEOUS sakura! This is what all the fuss is about!

From there we walked to find lunch and stumbled across the giant torii gate leading to this temple.

Next we bussed to west Kyoto, Arashiyama, and hiked up the mountain to see wild monkeys! Violet decided to have a MAJOR meltdown almost as soon as we reached the top, and I had left the diaper bag, blankie, and pacifier down at the bottom. Can you tell I'm a first time parent? Ha won't make that mistake again. So I headed back down right away with a screaming infant and Lauren enjoyed the monkeys for a while.

We had criss-crossed Kyoto and called it a day after that.

The next day we explored Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto and enjoyed a DELICIOUS lunch of burnt ramen at Gogyo.

We did some more shopping and stopped at an arcade for this action, of course!

Then we took the Shin home to Iwakuni.

Friday we headed to Hiroshima! I love Hiroshima. First stop was Shukkein Gardens. So lovely!

(I was stoked to see this red bridge because I am almost positive it is on the cover of my copy of Lonely Plant Japan!)

Then we walked over to Hiroshima Castle, although we were on a tight schedule and didn't have time to go inside.

After walking through the castle grounds, we walked over to the A-bomb dome and Peace Memorial Park and museum.

After exploring the museum we had time for a quick lunch of Okonomiyaki before we headed back toward Iwakuni to teach English to my 2 Japanese students.

Saturday we drove to Hikari to walk the beach. On the way we stopped for lunch at this very authentic Japanese restaurant. I got a sushi set which was a bowl full of raw fish with rice and miso soup on the side and Lauren got the whole fish.