Nothing like 72 degrees and sunny to keep your mind in the right place! Quick update on the stupid thing: For now I am staying where I am. I spent time this morning researching options–a new apartment or hotel. It’s such short notice and popular time of year that there is very little available. I also found out that 2 of Katie’s good friends/coworkers live just around the corner and have had no problems, so that made me feel better. Like Katie said: just bad luck! Plus, I bought a hoodie. Maybe it’s stupid but I just tucked my hair up and walked quickly out of the neighborhood and down into the train station and felt much less obvious. I am keeping it open with AirBnb in case I change my mind though 🙂
I had to go to the post office again today. It took 8 days for the card I sent to my nephew to arrive. Halfway around the world for $2–what a bargain! It was such a beautiful day I just kept wandering. I was happy to realize that I really feel much more comfortable moving around the city now and despite everything I still wanted to turn new corners. That is truly what moves me forward.
I could not figure out what this beautiful building was, right near the post office. There was a young family there and they were playing hide-n-seek with their kids. The mom was taking the 3 year old and hiding with her behind a couple bushes, while dad and sibling searched for them–so cute!
In Namba today I saw a man literally wiping up sauce he had spilled off the sidewalk with a napkin. The city is pretty clean for such a big place! Gum chewing is very uncommon, so there are never wads of it smashed into the sidewalk.
I mentioned to Katie that I had not seen a cemetery. She said when I did, I would know it because they are quite different. Turns out this one is visible from my apartment. Notice the high walls–the only way you can see it is from above and the gate was locked, so maybe it’s private or something. There are beautiful brightly colored flowers throughout.
The area above is in Namba, where I’m moving to next. It is very busy with retail and banks, and lots of tourists. This area is actually a smoking section, which I’ve now seen throughout the city. You can see people leaning on the wall at the far right.
It’s such an interesting mix of areas. Within a block or two you can be in a high-end area selling Chanel, or a modern area like this with yet another pretty mall.
Below is the first theatre we went to, which was on the 7th floor. As you can see there’s not a cloud in the sky! OIOI (pronounced Oy-Oy) is a huge retail store. If you go through that tunnel at the bottom right, you’re in one of the traditional looking Japanese markets with block after block of shops and restaurants. And notice the poster of the baseball team. Those are the Buffaloes, which I gather are great but not as popular as the Tigers.
The area below is called Triangle Park, in a smaller district next to Shinsaibashi called Amerikamura. I saw more tourists there than anywhere else. It was really nice to have a place outside where you are allowed to eat and drink! It’s actually a relatively small courtyard between all the businesses, but Osaka has very few of these as compared to the places I’ve seen in France and Italy. I stopped at a McDonald’s near here–couldn’t help myself after a couple days of trying so hard to eat Japanese food. Anyway there was a women from Oregon and we were talking in line and ended up having lunch together! It was really great to meet someone from the US and just visit for a bit.
Amerikamura is kinda hipster, with lots of vintage shops and cool cafes. This is the area where we had eggs and pancakes a couple times. Notice the black van on the side of the road–there was a guy in the driver’s seat completely asleep again!
When you turn yet another corner, you can see another shrine. This one was really small, but right there on a busy street. There was incense burning, which I guess is common. 
Only 3 more days of work for our girl! I can only begin to imagine what a year she has had! Katie said it took months for her to feel pretty comfortable, so I guess that it’s been 5 weeks and I’m feeling less freaked out is pretty good! Similar to how it is in Florida when we finally get a break from the heat in October (if we’re lucky!), everyone is definitely in a good mood!
Photo: Entrance to Namba Walks, an underground mall
Tell Katie I said hi ?