Kobe/Himeji/Osaka

On Friday afternoon we took a long train ride to Kobe. The scenery was nice, as was my brush with death on a train platform in Kyoto. I will say here that if you yourself ever get stuck in a train door, don't panic, especially if there is a nice red headed samaritan to pull you out of harms way. Anywho, once we arrived, we grabbed dinner at a Mexican restaurant complete with seranading bartender. No joke, this guy busted out Spanish songs on the guit-fiddle while the waiter rocked some congas. Afterwards we met up with Will's friend Jerome who took us to a bar called Bombay. We ran into like five other JETs there and had some cheap drinks.
The next day we decided to go to Himeji and check out the stuff there. We went to an Art Museum which had a figurative show on display with some very impressive pieces, incuding a James Ensor and quite a few Picassos. We didn't go into the castle, but we walked around it and took pictures. It was really pretty. Saw a lot of foreigners. Went back to Kobe and I bought a shirt with a Campbell's soup can on it, how Warhol. After another trip, we ended up in Osaka in an Irish pub televising a rugby match from earlier that day. Who knew that a sport which most Americans know jack about is like some sort of religion in other countries? As far as I can tell rugby is violent, fastpaced and pretty awesome. The bartender had Rancid tattoo on her neck. After that we went to this insanely nice bar with a pool in it. It was like Studio 54 or something. Took a really early train home on Sunday.

Kobe by day.

Outside the art museum. Kids loving sprinklers must be a worldwide thing.

Outside the castle.

Himeji.

Himeji Castle.

This bar was way too nice for the likes of us. Jerome and the ladies.

Osaka at night.