Shinkansen to Osaka

**Our apologies to our loyal followers --We won’t be posting as many pictures for awhile because of the internet connection.  It takes too long to upload pictures because we have to use shared internet stations in the lobby**

This morning Mama made us a pizza toast. It was on texas toast and toasted to perfection with ham, potatoes, cheese, and veggies. We packed and then went on our way. We took the Hirake Shinkansen to Osaka for 3 hours.

Our hotel is nearby the JR Shin-Imamiya station.  Immediately we felt a different vibe from Kashiwa. It reminded me of the New York subways. Dirty, smelly, and you can feel the poverty around you. We checked into our hotel – our room is the size of 8 tatami mats that fits 2 futons. It’s small, but it’ll do for the deal we got it for.  Elgin feels like it is a little like jail since we have a small room, small tv, and have separate male and female bath times.  There are shared co-ed bathrooms on each floor and the traditional Japanese showers on the 1^st floor. It’s like dorms again, but with toilets on the floor. Eww, I try to use the western toilet located only on the 1^st floor.  Don’t fret though, Elgin and I will survive this experience!

For dinner, we went to Shin-sekai where the Tsutenkaku tower is. Kinda boring, not too much to see, a little sketchy, and not many people around here. We located the East Oakland sketchy alleyway and now we know where to keep away. Still though, I’m sure that I’m safer here that most places. For dinner, we had udon. If we can’t find a menu with pictures, then we don’t usually go.  So far we can only order by pointing at pictures. We’ve been pretty unlucky ordering from menus without pictures otherwise.