looking up

Sometimes there are so many distractions here it is easy to forget to look around.  Yesterday I made a point to just look up.  Every square inch is covered in signs, stores, stairways, restaurants; every thing has something next to, over, under, and behind it.  It blows my mind.

This time when I looked up in Dotonbori by the river, I was thrilled to notice a Taco Bell sign!  Believe me it’s on my list of “restaurants” to visit soon!  In fact, I just had bagels with my new friend from Victoria, Canada.  She’s the one who is here visiting her daughter and grandson.  She actually told me the good news of finding the Taco Bell also, haha!  We had a pretty good laugh but we admitted that sometimes it just helps to taste something familiar and more North American.

So this is the view up and out from the Starbucks at the busiest area.  Immediately below the window was a guy that was completely inebriated.  Katie explained that public intoxication is not really frowned upon here and I have seen several instances.  And I don’t mean tipsy, laughing and stumbling.  I mean completely passed out, laying on the ground or slumped over against a wall.  The guy yesterday kept trying to get up and would bash into people, then he’d be spread eagle on the sidewalk.  People just went around him.

I really wanted to try some more new food yesterday, so I kept looking for options in the market.  I was looking at the sign at this restaurant and a young English speaking guy was talking to his friends, telling them it was cheap and delicious.  I asked him what he gets and he pointed to the sign and encouraged me to go in.  I really couldn’t figure it out, but ultimately pointed to a bowl of something and asked the waiter what it was.  Beef and rice.  Ok, I’ll take a small bowl.  It was good and I ate most of it.  There were other locals there, so I figured it must be pretty good!  I still need to work on my chopsticks skills, but I just speared the veggies when all else failed and vowed to continue practicing when I get home.

I also got a new apartment and I am really excited!  I’m usually pretty good at finding a silver lining, like no wifi = I’m a real blogger at the coffee shop.  But the apartment I’m in now has nowhere to sit.  There is no couch and the one and only chair is wicker and 4 inches off the ground.  I like to sit on the floor, but there is no carpet or rug, only laminate flooring. The last apartment only had a bed, but there was a headboard to lean on.  This place has bunk beds, so you can’t really sit on the bottom, plus it’s a thin futon mattress (very common here) so if you sit on the side of the bed, the frame cuts into your legs.  So, how stupid that I missed all this when booking the apartment.  It would be okay if you had pocket wifi (many people obtain these before they arrive) and if you were just in and out doing the tourist thing.  But that’s not my situation.  I found a place on AirBnb near Katie, and the host offered to show it to me.  Turns out his company is the same who rents to Katie!  In fact, meeting him made me realize there are many options besides AirBnb.  His company primarily uses Booking.com.  He actually said it is illegal here to use AirBnb without permission from the city and you are supposed to meet people when they arrive, so they aren’t stranded like what happened to me at the last apartment.  Even in my current building, there is a sign next to the elevator that specifically says No AirBnb.  Anyway, I move tomorrow and feel so relieved.  I will lose some money, but will get partly reimbursed for the days I didn’t use.  Live and learn.

Looks like rain here, so I will pack up and head to Umeda in shortly.  Katie and I are meeting for dinner at Tacuba, our favorite Mexican Restaurant.  Funny to think that eating at a Mexican Restaurant is like eating at home!