Sankeien Garden

(Sankeien G)arden was built by Hara Sankei and opened to the public in 1904. Among the historic buildings exhibited in the park are an elegant daimyo (feudal lord) residence, several tea houses and the main hall and three storied pagoda of Kyoto's old Tomyoji Temple.

 - from Japan Travel Guide

Yesterday I wrote about Carol, Gina and my adventure on the 'Ptomaine' Expressway.  I had promised pictures of Sankeien Garden (Sankei-en Garden), a silk merchant's home and garden, our first, and most direct stop of our "day off".

This is the oldest pagoda in the Kanto Region.  It was moved to the garden from Kyoto

The turtles would pile up like... puppies...

Come on Yurtle!  You can make it!  Stretch that neck a bit farther...

Ume in bloom...

The blossom's were beautiful against the pine trees...

The Camellia's were in bloom...

 

Beautiful to see the trees in bloom against the textures of the tiles and wood

 

Many of the buildings are National Cultural Property (think Historical Registry...) were moved here from elsewhere in Japan.  Tea House, a Hida House (traditional home from the mountainous region, roof shaped like praying hands...), a Pagoda, statuary, coffins... (OK, so I have pics of these two years ago - missed them this time around).

The landscaping is beautiful, attracting many that come to the garden to paint...

for a stroll...

a break...

snacking on Dango (grilled mocha balls - this one has black sesame on it)...

photo ops...

PHOTO OPS...

Many soon-to-be brides and grooms come to get their engagement photos taken...

 

And some just come for personal betterment...

You Can't Get THERE from HERE

I have said, "You can't get there from here."  And I have meant it.

Today, we embodied it.

Gina, Carol and I put the kids in Seika for the day and went to Sankeien Garden (will post pics later - very beautiful) for the morning.  Then to Grandberry Mall for lunch at Garlic Jo's

and the afternoon that started our "unforgettable sensual journey".

  

Then to...

The Tomei Expressway to Nagoya...

Atsugi for sunset...

Fuji-San was beautiful,

Then to the drive through for dinner...

Back to Yokohama City Ward...

Back to Fujisawa...

Then to a gas station so we did not have to walk home...

Four hours later, we arrived in Yokosuka.  It should have been about an hour.  The Tomei Expressway always reminded me of "Ptomaine Poisoning".  Now I know why...

Big shout out too Eric who went and got all five kids out of hawk from Seika.  Big shout out to Yuko and Seika who allowed the kids to all be released to Eric (perhaps they preferred to go home at 18:00, not 20:30?!?).  I do not think we will be allowed to all drop our kids on the same day unless we are walking to our destination... Big shout out to Caroline who kept Stefan and totally took it in stride when I told her I was on the Tomei and perhaps was never getting off.

If you get on the Tomei Expressway or the Fujisawa Bypass and it mysteriously turns into the Tokai-do road, just remember: 

YOU REALLY CAN NOT GET THERE FROM HERE!