My day began around 8am, and I got ready, made breakfast and went out the door. The first half of my day I was around Kyoto temple jumping. I got the stamps for Ryoa and Kinkaku Temples, getting the stamp for both temples took a bit longer than expected but by noon I was back in my accommodations eating lunch.
Around 1ish, I met up with Mitch, Meagan, and Jess. We took separate trains to Osaka, mostly because I got on the wrong station. I was at 5 while they were at 20-something. They tried to get to me, but i just told them to go on any train and we would meet up in Umeda station.
On the train ride to Umeda station, I sat beside a cute little family. I played pee-ka-boo with a baby girl for the majority of the train ride and eventually the mom started a conversation with me. She began in English (because I obviously look like a complete foreigner) and I replied in Japanese. She was blown away by the fact that I could communicate in Japanese. We chatted, and it was mostly me answering questions the woman would ask me. Something I found quite interesting is that she went to Miami once for three days and has been dying to return ever since. She thought I was very lucky that I lived in Miami. I told her it was okay, but one never really appreciates any city while you are a resident. I never got their names, which made me a bit sad, but it is blowing my mind that every day I speak more and more in Japanese. Many people have complimented on how good my Japanese is, but it is a bunch of lies.
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I arrived to Umeda station around 2:30ish. There I attempted to meet up with Mitch, Meagan and Jess, but we were all unable to find each other. I told them to not worry about me and go do whatever they wanted to do. I tried to find the Pokemon Center by myself and it was very scary. The station was so crowded I felt I was going to drown, but I found the Pokemon Center (with no help, just sheer luck). When I was at the Pokemon Center I let the others know where I was, and they eventually came to meet with me at the PokeCenter.
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Once we were all together we made quick stop to Hard Rock Cafe Osaka (because I needed a magnet) and then headed to Namba. Namba is a bit like Akihabara, where there is a bunch of Japanese pop culture stuff everywhere, except it is not filled with creepy guys staring down at maid cafe workers. In Namba I bought my friend Fernando a souvenir of a video game we both like very much. I did not plan on buying anything but….I kept running into Cardcaptor Sakura stuff…I was strong! So strong! Refusing to buying anything, because I technically did not need anything. Then…I found a sweater. I found a CardCaptor Sakura sweater…I had to ask my parents if it was okay for me to get it since it was about 40USD. They said yes…I now own a CardCaptor Sakura sweater and I love it.
After strolling around Namba, and not finding any amiiboos, we began to get hungry. I really wanted to go to the Alice in Fantasyland Cafe and thankfully Mitch, Meagan and Jess were cool about going. It was expensive (I am not going to lie) I spent $30 just by myself, but it was so worth it. I had a cocktail named Red Queen Roses…and I had no idea what alcohol was in it but it did taste a bit like roses…it was strange. For my meal I had White Rabbit Pasta, and it was pasta with spinach and salmon. Then for dessert I had The Cheshire Cat Parfait and it was the cutest thing ever. The waitresses were dressed like Alice and the menu was a story book and the whole place made me feel like I was in the story. Now I kinda want to visit the Alice Cafes in Tokyo. I wonder if all the them require you to enter through a book and wear bunny ears the whole time you are there. It was such a great experience, especially as the Alice’s told their story has they brought our food and drinks. I wish there was one of these in Miami, it would be my favorite place.
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After dinner, all four of us returned to Kyoto, mostly because Mitch, Meagan and Jess had not started the report that is due tomorrow. I was not completely finished with it either, but finishing a report is much easier than starting one (including with the research).
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