Notourguideneeded

Japan – A place of Contradictions

August 4, 2019 by Notourguideneeded 3 Comments

Going to Japan was a last minute decision for us and I did not realize how much research I would need to do to make the trip enjoyable.

First, as you start to prep the trip, you get a sense of a completely different world. Then it starts to get quite confusing. Will there be signing toilets or holes in the ground? Will the restaurants be four star cuisine or street food? I could go on…

The truth of the matter is that Japan has everything in extreme. I hope this article give you some insight into the country and what to expect.

The main thing to consider is the timing of the articles you read. Japan has changed a lot in the last five years and some of the information is a bit dated. You wouldn’t think five years is a lot but it is.

Things to Remember:

The Japanese are the most kind, friendly and stand off people you will even encounter. Kind of a mixture right? What I found was if you are sitting at a communal table (think Hibachi grill), they will not acknowledge you at all. But then ask what they are eating and they will go out of their way to help you order and ask tons of questions about where you are from (all in Japanese of course!)
Most people do not speak English (or Spanish, French, etc). This isn’t like going to Europe where most of the words sound alike. However, google translate works just fine and you will find a lot of signs just have pictures. Japan has a huge tourist economy, mainly from other Asian countries, so they are quite accommodating.
Food is different. If you are picky, you should leave all your reservations of food at home. I heard from a lot of people that especially westerners get their meals from 7-11. That sounded so strange, but they did have some basic foods like noodles and sandwiches. Don’t be afraid to look at what others are eating and just point to what they are eating when ordering.
The 7-11s are crazy. Think your local service station, in the middle of downtown. Then add a section for anything you can possibly think of buying. They are still small like the ones in the West but their selection is unlimited. Will buying snacks, we saw a bottle of scotch that was about $5,000 USD. Not behind the counter. Just there on the shelf right next to the other expensive liquors.
You will eat a lot of fried foods. Tempura at the next level. They fry everything from veggies to meats.
Kobe beef is just okay. We had it three times in three types of places and our expectations were not met. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but if you are thinking it will be as you imagine, my guess is it won’t be.
The department stores have tons of restaurants. In the basements of some are little stands that sell anything you can imagine from juices to beautiful pastries. The full restaurants are on the top floors. Again, lots of pictures to tell you what you are eating.
Sleeping on the floor is cool for the first night. And only the first night. If you are going to spend a bunch to have an authentic experience, I recommend it but only once. The floor isn’t really the issue as that when you walk into your room there isn’t a chair to sit on and places to put your things. If you are staying long term, this gets obnoxious. Ours didn’t have a tv so you couldn’t just lounge around for a bit and relax. If we wanted to take a nap, we had to call for them to make our bed.
The metro is super easy to navigate once you figure it out.
The whole idea of being ‘pushed’ into the metro car was not for me. However it was done and wasn’t really that bad. They are so polite about it that you don’t really realize it is happening.
The Japanese love order and queuing in lines. I saw lines everywhere from stores to getting on the subway. It is really amazing to see when you are used to just hanging around until the train stops.
The city of Tokyo is really quiet considering it is the largest in the world. On the train, there is no one really talking. They whisper. Even the park had a sign that said, “do not have behavior that would be irritating to others”. I fell in love with Tokyo then and there!
You will read that they dress up more than other cities. While this is true, it isn’t overly complicated. If you go to Kyoto or touristy areas, people just seem to be dressed like tourists. In Tokyo people wore pretty much anything. The whole “keep your body covered” seemed to be a bygone because I saw plenty of short/tank tops and short skirts.
I was really really concerned with the toilet situation. Tip: all Starbucks have modern toilets. Yes, I saw ‘holes in the ground’ type toilets, but they were few and mostly in parks. This seems to be a thing of the past as well. The modern toilets have all kinds of features from music (privacy) to water pressure options for the bides. Do not fret because the basic go and flush are pretty explanatory.

Keeping these things in mind, you will not have any trouble navigating the culture. The country is wonderful and you will enjoy!

Japan Food 7-11
Japan Food 7-11
Food at Train Station – note everything has a photo of what you are ordering

The reason we drink beer in September and call it October (Oktober)

September 3, 2018 by Notourguideneeded Leave a Comment

It is all very confusing for people who do not understand the story of Oktoberfest. We have an October festival in September. Are we confused? Drunk? Little of both? Maybe, but that isn’t the point. The festival is more than just a bunch of people sitting around drinking. There is history that you should know so you can impress people sitting at the beer table with you.

First let’s clarify something – Germany calls it Oktober. If you speak English it is October. Same word, different spelling.

On another note, Germany does not call itself that either. It’s Deutschland, but I digress.

The Wedding

So take yourself back in time to October the 12th 1810. Then Prince Ludwig was being married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen (or Therese of Bavaria to be easier to remember).

Their wedding was the very first Oktoberfest.

The reception was in the fields of Bavaria renamed Theresienwiese (“Therese’s Fields”) to honor the Crown Princess. Everyone was invited to celebrate the occasion – “Wiesn”. It is still held in these original fields (although more of a fairground than a field now) and as tradition remains, free and open to all people.

The Confusion of Dates

There isn’t really any confusion once you understand. Germany can get really cold come mid-October. So rather than starting Oktoberfest on Oct 12, it gradually started moving back to September. The tradition now is that it is two full weeks (16 days total) where the last weekend is the first weekend of October or October 3 (whichever is later).

The Beer

Back in the day, beers were stored in March and not processed during the hot summers. So, the beers that are opened during Oktoberfest are referenced as March Beer – or Marzen or Marzenbier. This beer is traditionally stronger than an average beer (6%) and is richer and fuller.

You can get Oktoberfest shipped out to other parts of the world, but only Oktoberfest beer (Marzen) is sold at the fairgrounds. Well that and some wines, but I digress again.

So, now that you have some basic history, you can enjoy your LITER of beer and know that you are carrying on a tradition from 1810.

Prost!

Beer at Oktoberfest — The waitress carried all of these in one trip!! WOW.

Paris Overview – Everything you need to know in one place

February 27, 2018 by Notourguideneeded 2 Comments

Paris is one of my favorite places on Earth. The history, culture, food and wine! On this page I am going to cover basics. Feel free to email me if you want more information or have questions.

First, you need to think about what kind of Paris vacation you want to have. We have been there for three days and for more than a week. We have done all of the tourist options and on other trips did none. Do you want to see all the museums, or spend time sitting at a cafe absorbing the view (Highly recommend).

These are my favorite things to do in Paris. There are many so they didn’t fit here. Not sure if something is worth the time – just ask me!

It is worth the steps to see the city from a different view point.

When to go…

I went to Paris once in July. NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN. It was so crowded with too many tourists. The staff at the hotels had clearly had enough and it was just busy everywhere. This is not the Paris I know and love.

There are two good times to go: May and September. Both of these are close enough to summer that you might get a few warm days but kids are in school so much fewer tourists.

There is one other time to consider: Christmas. The holiday shopping is wonderful and while it is cold, not too bad. There are a lot of people, so you have to be prepared for the crowds. The lights and Christmas displays though are like nothing you will have ever seen. Take NYC Christmas x 10!

You should always take appropriate clothing as it probably will rain at some point while you are there.

Where to stay…

Unless you have a lot of money or a ton of points, you probably will not be staying on the main street – Champs-Elysees. It is the main shopping avenue in Paris and the most tourists you will see in one spot. It is convenient though, especially if it is Christmas time. You step right out of your hotel and there is Paris. Well, the shopping touristy part anyway.

I have a few favorite spots to stay.

Le Meridian is in a spot that is near the metro, but not in a crowded area. There are enough eateries that you do not have to leave your hotel very far. Plus the hotel is big, which means they have a good bar, and lots of room in case you are rained in or just too tired to go out.

The Marriott Renaissance by the Louvre is excellent too. It is small but is very nice and in walking distance of many attractions.

A small boutique hotel called Duret also was a good bet. It is a little out of the way but if you are going for a relaxing time, I highly recommend.

People pay a lot of money for hotel rooms to be near landmarks. I will say it over and over.. consider how much you will save in cab rides if you spend a little more to stay close. However, keep in mind that you will get a lot of tourism if you are in the wrong spot. This could be good or bad. If you are near a metro, you probably are ok. Le Meridian is kind of far, but the metro is right there (and not a lot of tourism) makes up for the 10 min metro ride. Plus, sometimes it is cool to be on the metro in another country.

Planning your trip…

There are thousands of websites that give you an overview of Paris and what you should or should not do. It is really a crap shoot. What is good for one person isn’t for the other, but had they gone on a different day would have been spectacular. My advice is to think about what you want to do and why, then adjust.

For example, if you want to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower to see the city, there are MANY better views. If you want to go up just to do it, then that is another thing.

There are three excellent views that do not usually make people’s lists:

1. Arch De Triumph – you can take the really narrow stairs to the top. It sits at the top of the Champs-Elysees so you get a really cool view of the trees that line the street.

2. Pompidou – Take the escalator that is on the outside of the building up to the top. That is cool in itself. The view you get is of the Eiffel Tour and the city. This is one of my favorite views.

3. Sacre Couer – Going up to the church is a cultural event in itself. The good thing about this is that it is free, so if you are on a budget, I recommend doing this one. If you aren’t, do it anyway 🙂

In addition to seeing the city from a bird’s eye view, you also want to make sure you at least see a few of these:

1. Musee d”Orsay – even if you aren’t into art, go here. You will recognize things you have seen before, I promise. Check out the website before hand and make a note of what you want to see. Last time I was there they had a big visit of Van Gogh. I wished I would have checked before so I could have had more time.

2. Eiffel Tower – like I said before, there are many other ways to see the city, but the park around the Tower is cool.

3. Notre Dame – Go at an odd time. Go to mass if you can. Otherwise the lines can be long to get in. If you see the line, go have a coffee and come back. If you are going for mass they let you cut the line (but you must go to mass!). I also have a funny story about going to mass. Read it here. You never know what you will see!

4. Montmartre – spend at least have a day roaming these streets. The shops are tourist traps but you were going to buy that scarf anyway!

5. Le Marais – if you like shopping, this is another good spot. There are some newer stores and it isn’t as crowded as other areas.

6. Louvre – Even if you are not going to go inside, the building itself is just awesome. Its on the river so that whole area is just beautiful Paris! Hint: don’t go in main door. Go through the subway entrance for a shorter line.

7. Saint Michael and Latin Quarter – just cool spots.

There are a ton of books that list things to do. I like Paris Pocket Guide (affiliate) because it is easy to handle. You will see a lot of these type of books in my posts because they are small, yet handy.

Eating and what to know

There are so many cafes and little restaurants that it is fun just to walk around. Many people sit outside so you can just walk by and see what people are eating. Here is another thing to consider. If you sit at a cafe, especially outside, service will be slow. Take your time – you are sitting at a table in Paris! That is the experience. If you don’t know what to expect, here is an extreme, but realistic timeline of what you can expect. (Of course not all places are like this but you need to know this so you don’t get frustrated).

Here we go:

You see a cafe that looks good. You look around to have someone seat you. No one is around. Just sit. If you sit in the wrong spot, they will tell you. Once you start to sit, magically a waiter will probably appear. Or not. You might wait 5 minutes.

Sometimes they visit each table in order of the table. Not when you are ready. Watch for this as it will save you frustration.

They ask you what you want. You do not yet have a menu. ORDER YOUR DRINK NOW. Most likely these are your choices: water (tap is fine.. do not pay for water unless you want gas in it), beer, wine, latte, espresso… you see, generic. I have seen people say “I think I want a beer, what kind of beer do you have”.. uh oh. Now you will wait for the menu.

Wait.

Menu arrives. You pick, you order you wait. Wait. Now, had you ordered the beverage when the server came first, you will be waiting with a nice beer that you have no idea of the name (but it will be good).

Anyway, you get my point. Waiting in Paris is the past time.

Where to Eat

There are so many good places. Read here for my favorites.

There are so many things to experience in Paris that you can make each trip very different. Take your time, slow down and enjoy the city.

What did I miss? What are your favorite places?

Reflection – Put down your phones

February 21, 2018 by Notourguideneeded Leave a Comment

Last night I went to see Rob Bell (with Peter Rollins) perform the “Holy Shift” tour. It was fabulous. I think I beamed joy the entire time. Was I star struck? No. (well maybe a little). But it was more than that. It was being able to hear the stories live. Seeing him and not listening to a podcast, while doing other things really. Immersed in the experience. No phones, no conversations, no distractions. Just sitting there listening to him talk.

So, it is Lent and one of the things that our priest suggested was to put down our phones and have a conversation. Become more engaging is how I took it. I started to reflect on this as I realized that I was totally in awe of listening to Rob Bell talk. This is what it is to be mindful, to be ‘in the moment’.

It was beautiful. To have an experience where you don’t care if someone is texting you or what your email says. And then it dawned on me that THIS is what our priest has been suggesting. Not to put down our phones, but to be in the moment. To live just a little bit more. To connect and engage. The guy in front of me was having a blast and every time he laughed it made me want to laugh more.

We have become a society obsessed by false connections. (Do you really know the people you are friends with on social media?) But to sit down with people without your phone or ipad or whatever and really ask them how their day was and sit back and listen, has become such a unique situation. What was once fundamental, many of us have lost.

So if you went to see Rob Bell last night, whatever your experience was, I hope you also had the awesome experience of being complete and whole in a room full of strangers.

Mardi Gras, Carnival, Easter and Lent

February 13, 2018 by Notourguideneeded 1 Comment

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is celebrated around the world by Catholics (and non-Catholics who just like to enjoy themselves). The day is actually more than just one day as the festivities begin sometimes weeks ahead with glorious cakes and indulgence. Some parts of the world refer to it as Carnival, and they make a carnival of the time leading up to Fat Tuesday.

So what is this really all about?

Easter.

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection occurred around the time of the Jewish Passover, which was celebrated on the first full moon following the vernal equinox.

The Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) set the date of Easter as the Sunday following the paschal full moon, which is the full moon that falls on or after the vernal (spring) equinox. But here is the problem with that: the paschal full moon can fall on different days in different parts of the world, which would mean that the date of Easter would be different depending on where you lived. So, for the purpose of calculating Easter, the ‘full moon’ is always set on the 14th day of the lunar month (a lunar month begins with the new moon). The Church also set the date of the vernal equinox at March 21, even though it can occur on March 20.

Okay, so knowing that, in 2018 the first “full moon” by this calculation would be March 31 (March 17 is the new moon, add 14 days, gives you March 31, which is after March 21). The next Sunday is April 1.

Now that you know when Easter is, you can calculate LENT.

Count backwards 46 days. What?? You thought Lent was 40 days huh? Nope. It is 6 Sundays plus 40 other days. Technically the Sundays are not part of Lent and there is much controversy on if you can “cheat” on Sunday. Here is a link that might help you, which basically says to examine your conscience.

So, you count backwards and you get to a Wednesday, aka Ash Wednesday. This is the beginning of Lent. And because it is the beginning, you gotta get it all out of your system on Tuesday, aka Fat Tuesday. As I said above though, different cultures have different ways of expressing Fat Tuesday, some starting weeks ahead. It can begin as early as Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day).

Carnival

The word carnival derives from Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh’ + levare ‘put away.’ So to put the meat away as Lent is a time of fasting.

Among the places that celebrate Carnival are:

The Caribbean
Venice
Rio – the largest in the world!

Mardi Gras

While Mardi Gras and Carnival are the same thing, in New Orleans, and most of the American celebrations we refer to as Mardi Gras. Technically Mardi Gras is just Tuesday but no one is counting.

Some interesting things you may not know about Mardi Gras are here on the History Channel.

Music NOLA New Orleans — You will see tons of performances like this. See the guys in the back? Do that – get a drink, stand against the wall and just enjoy! And don’t forget to tip!

Japan – A place of Contradictions

Things to Remember: