Jazz

Last Days in Tokyo

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We’re slowing down a little…… left the hotel around 10 and went for brunch at the February Kitchen a rather hip type of cafe that wouldn’t be out of place in Byron Bay.

It was opposite a fun park!

Steve felt like eggs.

Feeling full we went walking. I had found a place that offered a place of peace in a big city. You could go to the cafe and sit and write a letter which would be posted to you in a year’s time. You could reflect on aspects of your life. You could sit & read and write poem. You can write postcards to friends. It sounded charming. So we walked the streets of Asakusa through to the next suburb. Kuramae

This area seems to be handbag area. There were so many beautiful handbag shops. The leather smelled beautiful and the cost was reflected in the quality. I resisted.

We found Jiyucho. And it was closed! So we took a train back to our area and sat in the grounds of Senoji. This is probably my favourite shrine. It wasn’t when we first went there at the start of our trip. That day it was raining and super crowded. But today is more peaceful and a great people watching place.

It’s the weekend so all the young girls are dressed in traditional kimonos. They walk with little steps. I think to keep the thong footwear on. though some wear sneakers.

We also spotted a strange looking character dressed in what appeared to be an army uniform. Steve did a quick research and found he was not a serving army member or perhaps had never been. He had a flask and he kept sipping out of it. definitely odd. Mmmm

By now it was time for my jewellery making course. What started out as a ring turned into 2 fine rings and a bracelet. The lovely owners Gayani and her husband were so helpful. They offered to make one ring and the bracelet to save me time. But I had time and said I’d like to do it all. Would I be sorry? Would they have to fix things?

I started with a ring. The design was poco poco. I held the cylinder and hammered away. Quite therapeutic.

Then the next design. Cutter cutter a different technique. A slower heavy hammering.

The the bangle. Also in cutter cutter.

The face of concentration

I really enjoyed it. A great activity for a holiday – to take home something personal – hand made !

I left the store without the jewellery. They are going to do the polishing later so I opted to collect it tomorrow.

Back to the hotel – about 10 minutes which is great. Everything is close in this area !

We went to the rooftop, but as I said it’s the no alcohol bar. So we took our own….. don’t judge please!

The rain was getting heavy so we decided to eat very locally. We also had a cultural show on at 9pm. Free for guests – with geishas dancing.

We thought we’d try the Kazoo club for some jazz and it was close the hotel. But first a drink. Steve spotted Black and White bar and we went in. Probably only an 18 seater with a charming Japanese owner. He’s only been open 2 months so is building clientele. It’s a great bar. He made me a pear Shochu martini. Quite delicious.

Shochu is a distilled Japanese spirit made with fermented ingredients like sweet potato or rice and it’s known for it low alcohol. Sounds good to me. Cheers !!!!Delicious

Peeling the pear for my martini !

After we’d finished we walked a little further dodging puddles sbccernt down into Jazoo. Why are jazz club always down stairs?? We looked in and there weren’t many people. Well there was 1 but it was early. And it was open mic night. So we decided to give it a miss. And headed for food.

We tried one. Full. Another had a very limited menu. The third had a few full tables. So in we went. It was another one with the bbq at your table. It was just right. Lovely meat.

I just love how you can choose the grade of meat. Steve had best tenderloin. Not just tenderloin. I had superior rips. Not just ribs. ( not a typo. That’s how it was written. ! Tips. )

We ordered a big salad and beer. Simple and tasty. And when you leave they give you a spray bottle to spray your clothes so you don’t smell smoky.

I love Japan. So many great thoughtful ideas.

After dinner we splashed back to the hotel about 3 minutes away, and went to the restaurant at our hotel for the cultural show.

Well what a n experience. Hosted by a man who had a very loud expressive voice he introduced the two geisha and the women playing the rather tuneless Japanese style mandolin.

The singer musician and the host
Our two geisha girls.

It was good but funny and fairly typical of the show they think tourists want. We don’t. We want something traditional.

Half an hour of dancing and we headed to our room to pack.

Last day tomorrow.

And our knife making course.

Chicago City of Architecture

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Every city has its personality and coming to Chicago I can’t help but feel the love of building here.

Our expert guide on the Architecture cruise yesterday talked passionately about the buildings in this city. It doesn’t want to be the poor relation to NYC so has developed its own ‘thing ’

And the thing is architecture. The buildings are breathtaking and many are very environmentally conscious. I’ll include a few photos from our cruise down the river. The river adjoins into the giant Lake Michigan & is shaped like a Y. It’s divided and each arm has its own style. And there are many bridges.

The names of the types of architecture : there is contemporary , art deco, mid century modernism, beaux arts, and trump style. Big !

Willis Tower and next door a pink / blue building with a crown!
A car park like a children’s toy with a boat garage underneath
Making a statement Mr Trump
Reflection

It goes on and on.

I also did the Skywalk. I visited what was the tallest building in the world. I zoomed up 103 levels and was greeted by views. In every direction.

It was a grey day so it would have been more stunning yesterday but it was still amazing. I skirted around all sides of the building. Trying to capture the height. I’m not at the selfie. Steve didn’t come up. He’d been before so saved the $US 44 !

I took the plunge and went out onto the skywalk. The clear perspex overhanging walk. First step felt eerie but then ….

Then I loved it. All 103 floors up
See the river below.

Whilst I was dancing in the clouds Steve was walking and checking out the street art, the buildings and an Aussie pie shop

Chicago your style is great. From Frank Lloyd Wright to modernism.

To finish our day we had what should have been a 4-5 hour drive to Winona, as we start our route 90 drive. We hit the most incredible rain storm. I was terrified.

But we made it ……..to our BnB called Alexander Mansions. Just wait for my report on this place !

Perfect last day in New Orleans

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I thought we would get a little rest in NOLA after the wedding last week. I was wrong. It’s been all go. There is so much to see and do and we didn’t want to miss anything.

Today started with packing up our lovely air bnb as we move to a hotel in the French Quarter. Our travelling companions (if they’d come!) were to leave today so we had decided we’d pack up and move to a hotel for our very early start today Saturday 5th.

One last walk along Magazine St with a little shopping before lunch at Shaya. I’d been wanting to visit here as all the reviews and recommendations were so good. It’s an Israeli restaurant and it didn’t disappoint.

It’s modern in decor and the food is delicious. Fresh flavours and great ingredients. I loved it.

After we swapped to our new hotel we headed off on a walking tour with local Andrew and just one other walker. It was the music and art tour of the French Quarter. Andrew grew up in a tiny place a few hours from here. He was fun and knowledgeable and kept us interested for well over two hours.

The walk started in the Louis Armstrong park which has dedicated statues and sculptures to its musical residents.

We heard about the famous Satchmo and other musicians as well as the masks of the Mardi Gras and even about the voodoo religion and it’s symbols

We went on through the quarter across Bourbon St and into the artsy Royal St. there are so many galleries here with great examples of southern art styles including folk art and embroidery art.

We met the lovely Isobel from one gallery and her headpiece was itself a work of art.

Reluctantly we finished walking with Andrew and took an Uber to NOMA – the New Orleans Museum of Art. We could have spent ages here – including the Alexander McQueen exhibition but we came to walk through the Sculpture garden.

There are over 60 sculptures all donated by a couple from NOLA. It’s a beautiful garden with several bridges crossing a lake with the sculptures out in the open and hidden in gardens.

I loved this one which shows a stack of people balancing on each other’s shoulders reaching skywards.

And the big blue safety pin.

The ladder to the window ……..

And Barbara Hepworth, whom we had an ADFAS lecture on last year, had a piece on show.

All interesting.

We dashed back to Preservation Hall for another Jazz show. This was in a very old building has traditional jazz players entertaining a small crowd – and to get a seat you book early which I did. Otherwise it’s standing at the back!

The line up outside before each show made me pleased I’d booked online. No photos allowed inside.

Our last stop for the night was to meet two young friends. Logan, who is Jordan’s cousin, is a chef in NOLA. He and his wife couldn’t get to the wedding but was able to meet us for a drink.

We’ve met him once in Brisbane when he was working in Melbourne.

Then Rae arrived. She and her whole family are great friends of Peter. She got a green card in the lottery and now works in NOLA. She’s into vintage fashion and lots of fun.

We gave Logan and Rae our spare tickets to Jazz Fest. One each! Hope they have fun.

So one Rose too many we made our way through Bourbon St. It was really going off and is like a tacky sideshow alley. You certainly see some sights. Not all of them tasteful!

But the police are there to guard.

Our time is Nuawlins is up. It’s been fun and a great place to visit especially during a rather busy Jazz fest or Mardi Gras time.

Jazz Fest Time

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I’ve always wanted to ride on a Yellow school bus. Every since I was a little girl and saw them in tv series and movies. Today it happened. And it took me to Jazz fest.

Come along for the ride.

We pulled up just as music got started around 11. The breeze was blowing, the sun was out and the local jazz lovers were out in force with their chairs, umbrellas, hats, rugs, and coloured beads.

I feel like I did the first time I went to Woodford. Slightly too mainstream!

First stop Gentilly stage with the Alex McMurray big band. Good foot tapping music and a few solo dancers warmed up for the day ahead with a variety of dance moves.

Next stop a change of pace with The Tangiers Combo. A very sexy looking violinist, double bass, clarinet & guitar.

Then on to the biggest arena for the bad boys the Stooges big band. Big attitude. Big sound.

Then it was the Jazz tent and

Jeremy Davenport. A cool dude with a hot trumpet.

Smoking time at the jazz club. Economy’s tent girl singing “Take your time in the sun”

The crowd are mostly over 30. Well actually probably more like over 40. Depends which tent you’re in.

It warm – so the skin is on show and there’s lots of tats and lots hats, sunburn skin, umbrellas and iced drinks and ponytails ( men! )

I’ll try and capture some of the better outfits – some are a treat.

The food stalls are southern style. Plenty of Po boy, catfish, crawfish, gumbo, iced tea, beer, frozen alcoholic cocktails like pina colada’s and Bloody Mary’s. The crowd were getting into it – though I don’t think the Americans drink quite as much as the Aussies.

Lunch for me was a huge bbq turkey wing with….. beans! Steve had a shrimp Po boy.

Next up the kids street band

and back into the tent for the Preservation Band. With a warm up Congo line. I had to resist the temptation to dance along along. Though I did ambush one of the ‘dancers’ –  though he was very sad looking and unimpressed by my request for a photo.

Then back to the Jazz tent for Banu Gibson and her band with special guest Vince Giordano from NY. Apparently they are all really well known trad jazz players. They actually looked more like Doctors! They played a favourite song ‘Baby won’t you please come home.’

Steve got distracted between shows and ended up with a Jazz fest Tshirt before sliding into the Gospel tent for some meaningful music.

Then in the Blues tent the well received ‘The Blind Men of Alabama’.

They may be blind but they can sing and even had someone signing the words to their songs. That was interesting to watch!

But our final two concerts were Lyle Lovett the more country style jazz man ………

Then the big name – Lionel Ritchie. Yes I came all the way to NOLA to see him when he came to the Byron Blues fest.

But there he was singing up a storm with everyone on their feet dancing. It was great.

So that was my day at Jazz Fest. It was so much fun. They love their music here. The crowds were so well behaved and the people here are so friendly.

We made it back to the yellow bus line before Lionel hit the last note.

So it was back to Magazine St to Mahoney’s for a beer and hot dog for Steve and something lighter for me!

Tomorrow’s our last day 😩. But it will be a big one. Lots planned.

Today we have ‘Gone with the Wind’

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Plantations are big here – both in size and reputation. We decided on a Plantation tour and not an alligator tour.

But which house do we visit? I read reviews and decided on Houmas House or the ‘Sugar House’ because it has a big reputation as a great example of a grand home.

I didn’t want to visit one with the slavery story. That is too sad.

We weren’t disappointed. Houmas House is grand and Southern style and the gardens were amazing.

We had an hour bus ride out along the swampy flat land in the direction of Baton Rouge. The driver was a super speedy guy – definitely the stunt driver from the movie Speed!

Arriving at the house was underwhelming at first as there is now an aluminium plant nearby with chimney stacks and smoke!

But pulling into the drive was like stepping back in time. All the attendants wear period costumes and the grounds are heavenly.

There were many sculptures in the garden both playful and decorative. So much money!

We heard the story of the building of the plantation. It’s named after the local Indian tribe. It was mainly a sugar plantation with 1,000 slaves working there. It made a fortune for its owner. It sold after the civil war for $1.5 million. That’s a lot of money for back then.

Our guide Susan took us through the house and had lots of stories. It’s a pity she spoke so fast ! Hard to follow her.

The present owner lives there in two rooms and is up and out each morning before the house opens. He’s not married but loves his dogs. Apart from close friends people don’t know who the owner of the house is or what he looks like.

Another heart thumping trip back to NOLA for a short rest before we went off to dinner. Now that’s a whole other story.