Kyoto Calling - Plans are made

Part 2 of a series...

"I think that you don't want to go sight seeing in Kyoto when half of Japan is also sight seeing in Kyoto. But I think that if you leave on Friday morning, we might be able to find a good hotel with a reservation for Friday night. You could stay in Kyoto all day Friday and all day Saturday too. Then, on Saturday evening, grab a box dinner, take the Shinkansen back home and enjoy your dinner on the train."

My thoughts drifted to the Shinkansen, the super fast "bullet train." There are signs for this train all over the Shinegawa station. It looks sleek and fast, even when it is going slow. I was getting pretty excited about having an opportunity to ride on the bullet train.

My thoughts must have been drifting for quite a while, because the last time I had looked at my watch, it was only 1:30 AM. The work week had started with a schedule change. I had to work during third shift - which corresponds to first shift back in New York. My body had adjusted to third shift very easily. Too easily, in fact, because I was getting much sleep during the day time, or at night. By Wednesday early morning, there wasn't much candle left to burn -at either end, much less either end.

"Peter san. I think this hotel is a good one. The Tokyu Hotel in Kyoto, is near the train station, has rooms available for Friday night, and I can get a corporate discount for you! It is 3 AM right now, so probably we should wait before calling to make a reservation."

Kyoto was calling a little bit louder now, and the sound was ringing in my ears. It was not difficult to stay awake until 8 AM when we were able to make a reservation at the Tokyu Hotel in Kyoto. Now, I just had to make it to Shinegawa in order to purchase tickets on the Shinkansen.

To be continued...