Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Journey Begins (in Fresno?)

Where will I find you? Possibly in Fresno, of all places, when I head there in two weeks.  Yes, this blog is about travels, and Fresno isn’t exactly my idea of a dream trip either, but I’m not one to turn down a travel opportunity, ever.   I am looking forward to seeing what Fresno has to offer;  it’s not exactly obvious, even to those I’ve spoken to who live there.

Where will I find you?   Possibly in Japan, when we head there in June.  I have been planning this trip for over a year, and I look forward to sharing all I’ve learned.  I’ll be toting manga-anime-architecture loving teenagers, which might conflict (we’ll see) with the goals of their serenity-temple-onsen loving parents.

Our itinerary, spread over two weeks and two days, is San Francisco to Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Kyoto, and Narita in time for our trip back to San Francisco.  Highlights will include the Ghibli Museum, the Manga Museum, Kibuki theater, Japanese baseball, the Peace Museum, climbing Mount Misen, tame deer, and a rich assortment of temples and shrines.

When I’m not far from home, I’ll find you on the streets of San Francisco.  I grew up in the suburbs of this amazing city, and I’ve lived in the city proper for over 25 years, yet I continue to smack my forehead (metaphorically) almost daily with the discovery of some fantastic something or other.

Still, as much as I love San Francisco, I hope I’m not here too too much.  I need to explore other places and lives, and when I’m there, I will look for you.