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Everything looks better, fresher with a coating of new snow. This includes the Toshogu Pagoda in Nikko and the stone lantern in front of it.
Or even just the stores in front of the Tobu Nikko train station.
On our first day in Nikko the snow became even fresher as it began to fall from the sky while we were at Futarasan Shrine (二荒山神社).
When I last showed you the grounds of the Four Seasons Hotel (Chinzan-So), it was summer. Now, the fall foliage is making a statement.
While on a walk, just to the northeast of our apartment along the Kanda River (神田川), we came upon an open gate with nice looking grounds inside. We went in and strolled around, only later finding out that this property is part of the Four Seasons Hotel in Tokyo.
The above photo is of part of the pagoda on the grounds. There are only three pagodas in Tokyo. This one survived World War II, unlike most others in Tokyo. It was moved to this location in the early part of the 20th Century. On the pagoda itself it says the age is unknown but is thought to be about 500 years old.
Closer to the Four Seasons Hotel is this picturesque bridge. I need to head back to this spot when the leaves change colors soon.
On the Fourth of July we went to Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the world dating back 165 years. It brought back Independence Day memories from when I was a kid as we went to the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California on the 4th a few times when I was young.
My wife was reminded that it was the 4th of July at the grocery store earlier in morning by the clerk. Then, when we were getting ready to board our first ride at Tivoli, Vintage Cars, the ride operator heard us say something in English and he says to us, “Congratulations on being an American today!” I thanked him for his well wishes. What does one say to others on the 4th of July? The Danes don’t know any more than I, but I enjoyed his attempt.
Later in the day we ran into the same ride operator on a different ride. This time he was running the Hans Christian Andersen stories ride (The Flying Trunk). He didn’t remember us from earlier in the day but did take another stab at wishing us a happy 4th. This time he said, “Happy Birthday to America!” I had to smile.
I asked him if he had been to America. He said, “No.” He had been to Canada once though. He went to Montreal so he used his French there–not English. The language ability of these Scandinavians is amazing. Some of my students here can speak four or more languages.
Above is the family on the Galley Ships–a ride in which the pirates in the middle fire on the viking ships spinning around them.
Tomorrow I’ll blog some more about Tivoli.
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