New Otani Japanese garden, then Japan traditional craft center with the traditional visit to Takashimaya.
Waterfall not pictured
After visiting the traditional craft center, we stopped for tea at Toraya. Been around since the 1500 hundreds.
Ended up skipping Takashimaya in favor of going back for a nap
A day of shopping wandering and eating, that is a normal day for us.
Ginza train station is an enormous underground maze.
Some successful shopping
Dessert of course
A lovely trip planned. A few days in Tokyo and area, then onto a cruise centered on Northern Japan this time and finally an anticipated stay in NYC with Neil before returning to RI for the weather (the weather??), a wedding and Thanksgiving.
Pvd to ord to nrt
Easy but long flights.
Hotel: New Otani near palace.
Hotel view
The 2nd Avenue deli corned beef sandwich did not agree with Sharon. The sandwich won. An extra day at Neil’s place.
A good small chain to know if one is in NYC.
started wandering around the city while Sharon was sleeping at the apartment. Ended up again at the New York public library which I’ve never really explored.
upon the third floor is the big reading room. I want to take a picture. No pictures allowed unless you join the tour at a certain time so I got online or on line …

typical but professional 20 minute tour. History of the building construction size of the rooms art lots of rules about what we could do pictures allowed don’t take the books, etc..
Very loud – air pods worked and needed
May day labor rally – part of nationwide.
Almost as many police as demonstrators
Dinner at apartment. Leftovers and WF stuff.
Sharon better and ordered yogurt for dinner.
after dinner walk to an Indian section in New York City on Lexington Avenue and the upper 20s. didn’t know it existed. 
Frick Museum visit
Notes at the Frick
No photographs allowed, seems like every space on every wall needs to be filled
Very many Gainsborough’s and Titians as well as Reynolds, Constables, etc., etc. Frick certainly collected all the great name brands and there were even more upstairs when we climbed up.
At least one guard per room. While photos were not allowed, I would occasionally ask the guard and he would sort of say they’re not allowed, then turn his head the other way.
For those not familiar with the Frick, there has been a five year $400 million renovation. The second floor had never been open to the public, but is this time.
There was a very long line to get in, and a separate line for Members. We joined the Members line and got in very early via NARM cards as we are members of San Francisco’s De Young Museum.
Dinner: Neil picked up items from Second Avenue deli:
Remembrances of one of the readers of this blog getting sick on this dish at Katz’s
Final stroll in Washington Square, Park on a warm summer evening. And so this long trip or not so long trip comes to a smashing conclusion.
An absolutely glorious day
Above Sharon’s old hood.
Chelsea market
On way to dinner Another longish walk
Bar Boulud- been here before
NYC ballet. Balanchine
A great ballet
Angelina’s with Sara
John’s Pizza
Museum of the City of NY
NYC Public Library …. But not in that order
No, Bryant Park in New York City is not named for William Jennings Bryan.
It is named after William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878), who was a Romantic poet, the longtime editor of the New York Evening Post, and a leading advocate for the creation of Central Park. The park was renamed in his honor in 1884.
A very good meal. Intending to eat here for several years after visiting it in Paris. The food was equally good, the tables further apart and service much friendlier. We will definitely return.
Just an interesting assortment of stuff in the main treasures room.
Some very good exhibits of graffiti art, Urban Stomp and music. No paintings this time, although some graffiti was on canvases
A less active day today because Sharon is suffering from the high pollen and is not able to walk long distances.
First Eataly, a fav.
Oops, when we get there, we find out it was closed on Friday or unhung as they said. No indication of that on the sign.
Then a walk in Washington Square, Park
Murray’s for bagels
New York thing: eat dinner at home via delivery service
First full day in New York
Arrived last evening and spent most of the time getting a new Apple phone and getting it configured. By then it was too late to eat pizza at John’s. The line was well over an hour
Had a very fine dinner at a restaurant close to where Neil lives. Arte. Very good Italian restaurant which we would go back to again. Professional service, and good menu.
Several drinks were consumed
Bagels with cream cheese and lox from Bob’s bagels start of the day.
Then a walk to the pigeon. Sharon has been talking about seeing the pigeon for more than a year.
Finally reached the …..
Then “Marriage of Figaro at the Regal theatre. Outstanding performance. Both the voice of course but also very fine acting.
Carmen was better because it was live and the voices sounded better, but the acting was certainly better at the marriage of Figaro.
Dinner, again local, and good. For our records: Jack’s Wife Freda.
Carmen (opera) to top it off.
We had fabulous seats near the Orchestra, listened to some outstanding singing, including a fine Mezzo, but all were splendid.
Day ended rather unpleasantly. Jeff’s phone was pickpocketed on the way to the Tube. Took a while to block the phone and secure information. Apple support was quite helpful.
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