Last week marked the end of my irregular work schedule of weekends off and weekday early starts, so to celebrate I went to Enoshima. I was hoping to find a secluded place to swim, but my was plan was foiled by the thousand plus people who were also there on a Thursday afternoon. Nonetheless, it was good enough just to go to a beach as I’m from a beach town (Venice) and enjoy the scenery.

今年の3月に毛虫ちゃんのYou Tubeチャンネルを見つけた。彼女は黒人のアメリカ人だけど、本当に日本語を上手にしゃ べります。先週、彼女の最近のビデオを見たら、東京に来たと言ってた。毛虫ちゃんに会いたいと思っていたら、「会いましょう」と誘ってくれた。彼女にメールをして、数日後返事をもらって計画を立てた。今週の月曜日は原宿のフルーツ専門店に初めて行った。昼食後、原宿の有名な道散を歩した。本当に彼女の日本語はうまいですね～！彼女を尊敬します。

For the first and probably only time, I braved the Sumida River Fireworks Festival. Did you fight the crowds, too? I made the mistake of getting off at Asakusa Station – never do that! Get off at Tokyo Sky Tree Station instead. Then, I inched along for an hour, moving slowly with the sea of people, until I met a friend who had staked out a place by the river since early that morning. From there we ate and watched the fireworks. The view was wonderful, each of the performances was lovely, and after spending so much time just getting to the location I’m glad the fireworks lasted for an hour and a half.

If you’ve never been, it’s worth going once. But next year I think I’ll catch it on TV.