Hello Everyone,
I hope you are all happy. Yesterday Nick and I went to Kairakuen ("a place to be together") Park in Mito to see the Ume (plum) blossoms. Apparently, it is one of the most celebrated gardens in Japan and it really is fantastic. Most of the park is on a hill overlooking another park and a big lake. There is giant grove of plum trees, which are now in bloom. There is also a big bamboo grove, which is really quite amazing. It is so peaceful to walk through the bamboo grove, especially after navigating through the plum grove surrounded by hundreds of Japanese people with umbrellas. It was a bit rainy yesterday, well more that a bit, but it was still a wonderful day.
Spring is on the way, it has been cold and rainy the past few days but there are flowers on the bushes, blossoms on the trees, and birds chirping. Japanese people mark the coming of Spring with a weather pattern that is 3 days cold followed by 4 days warm. Apparently, this lasts for about a month and then it will be Spring. We are looking forward to warm weather and getting excited to do some camping and hiking soon.
Hope you are all doing well.
Love you!
PS For more photos, check my Picasa album. There is a link at the bottom.
I thought for my inaugural post I would briefly demonstrate, because they say a picture says least 10 or so words, my Japanese experience. It seems the architects responsible for this lovely guest house didn't have me in mind when they made the doorway between the lobby and kitchen- no worries though, I survived it unscathed. In lieu of the soon to come more serious thoughts on Japan, I hope this humorous image finds you all happy and healthy. 
