the folly

goofy photo by equally goofy waiter

So O and I headed out to Shimoda to celebrate another birthday. In the words of La Muneca, (probably the most quoted photographer in AP history) los años se pasan. Like many things in Japan the charm of the place initially alluded us. There is something about Japan that never quite matches your expectations and yet somehow ends up exceeding them. The walk from the train station was hot and somewhat dreary. We arrived at our faded old hotel, high on a cliff top after climbing the switch backs of the drive in the noon day sun. (mad dogs and welshmen) When the woman who showed us to our room asked if we wanted dinner reservations, I shuddered at the thought, as I tried my best not to touch anything. But later that night we came back the hotel to find the manicured lawn transformed into a luau of sorts, with rows of white tables each equipped with thier own bbq facilities, and hawain-esque dancers swaying under the palm trees. I was (obviously) beside myself with glee.