under namba

The weather took a chilly turn again, with rain and clouds and 54 degrees.  So yesterday I did what I imagine many Osakans do:  I went underground!

I am just starting to realize the virtual tip of the city iceberg.  Under nearly every mall, is another mall!  Like a full mall.  It occurred to me yesterday, when I was looking for the nearest Kaldi, the store where we get Katie her Kraft mac ‘n cheese.  When I could not find the store using my map I realized that is because it is underground.  How does google maps show that?  (I’m sure they are working on a way!)

So I descended to B1 and there was an entire mall.  Then I looked at the signs and realized that I could get to at least 3 other malls without going back upstairs.  So I went to B2….yep, 2 floors underground.  Which should not be confused with the subway systems, in which you take another escalator further down.  Sheesh!

Here are random pics of the stores.  They aren’t that great, but I was trying to get the basics without featuring any close-ups of people.

Notice our cantaloupes have jumped to $39 and $48 for the really good ones I guess!  There was a gift box with 1 cantaloupe and 2 mangoes for $200.

I took these 4 pics as I turned in 4 directions closer to the subway lines.  You can see Oi Oi in the first one.  When you go above ground, that is the building with the movie theatre on the 7th floor and the restaurant where you sit on beds, where I ate my first week here with Katie and her friends.

This is in the Namba station, which has 32 exits.  Every time I get here I try to use my compass to figure out which exit is best to get home, but no luck so far.  I doubt the size really shows in the photos, how it just goes on and on into infinity 🙂  The machines along the wall in the third pic are where you charge up your train card or buy a ticket.

As I was walking through the subway station, an old lady was walking by and staring at me and waving.  I smiled but she just kept looking right in my eyes and waving so I waved back 🙂

Once I get upstairs again and close to my new neighborhood, here it market, including a peek inside the door of one of the many pachinko casinos.

When the doors slide open, a dull roar of the thousands of silver ball bearings comes pouring out. Nearly every seat is taken at most places.

Today is Todd’s birthday, or in Florida it is since it’s already tomorrow here!  It always feels weird to be apart from the kids on a big day, but I guess all parents experience that.  Only a month and he will be here, but I’ll probably have to wait till I’m home to take him to dinner he will appreciate!

I kinda feel badly for the many people arriving this weekend.  I am sure that many of them timed their visit with hopeful cherry blossom views.  But the blossoms were already past their peak and now that it rained yesterday they are completely gone.  Just like up north when you try to see the leaves change, part of it is just luck.  I feel sooooo lucky to have gotten to see them in all their glory!  Now new trees and flowers are blooming though, so I know there are lovely days ahead too!

Photo: Shop in Namba