Japan

I still had a fever and splitting headache this morning, and then proceeded to spend all day in bed. Supposedly there is a big flu outbreak in Japan right now and I think that’s what we’ve all had. Meanwhile, Nick and Millie spent the day together. When they returned to the hotel this evening, Millie…

I woke up today feeling worse. Took my temperature and yep, a fever. Being sick is rough anywhere but it’s especially rough away from home, and on a transit day. We packed up and waited until it was time to leave for the station. Millie took a bunch of adorable selfies with my parents. I…

Either my previous sore throat virus came back with a vengeance this morning or I got a second, overlapping bug. Either way, I slept badly and woke up with sore lungs and a hacking cough. I can’t wait for us to all be healthy again. Millie FaceTimed with some friends and it ended in big…

Nick woke me up in the middle of the night to ask for cough drops. We thought he had managed to avoid the sickness but apparently not. He was hit with the first symptom that the rest of us had: throat knives. This morning we were both tired and took a while to get moving.…

This morning we had to pack up one Airbnb and move to another just a few blocks away. We had originally planned to go to Hiroshima but for a reason we have not yet figured out, every hotel and Airbnb is booked. So we decided to stay a few more days in Osaka. We walked…

Before I left my job earlier this year, my beloved team all got together and gave me a bunch of very thoughtful and generous gifts. One of those gifts was a sushi making class in Osaka. (Thank you Ioana, if this post somehow makes its way to you!) At the time, Japan felt so far…

At about 10 we got on the nearby train and began the journey to Nara. It was only a 35 minute train ride but felt much further. We were above ground and felt the city falling away from us. Millie, I think, is still getting over her illness and was grumpy and then fell asleep…

We started our day by taking the train to Osaka Castle Park. I realized last night that I’ve failed at taking many photos of my parents, and especially of people together, so here is one of them on the train. My dad is fitting in with Japanese society as “man getting over a sickness”. Our…

When I went to bed last night everyone seemed sick enough that I was worried if we would make today’s train. But my dad and Millie seemed better and we were able to pack up and get on our way. Nick dropped the rental car off while I bought tickets at the station. The ticket…

We did very little today, but got a lot done. Everyone is still recovering from their illnesses. Millie and I have bad coughs, and my dad is still very tired and now banged up from yesterday’s fall. We needed a day at home. My mom entertained Millie most of the day so that Nick and…