New places, new experiences, and a new name? Jan 2011 TR DxDP UPDATE 2/13

[DisneyDreamerMN]

Joining in! Great trip report so far. Love all the photos!

 

[frzndaqiri]

Can't wait to read more

Joining in! Great trip report so far. Love all the photos!

Thanks guys! I'll be posting some bonus content soon too. Crafts and tips that don't fit in to the flow of the report itself.

 

[frzndaqiri]

BONUS CONTENT

So you might be wondering - even with extensive photos - just how I remembered all my thoughts on every meal with such clarity. Well, I went prepared, that's how!

Before leaving - I typed up an extensive restaurant review booklet.

The front cover of course had the best gastronomic expert Disney has - Anton Ego. Each inside page had the name of the eatery (if it was scheduled) or an open title line if it was going to be decided while there. Then there were lines for writing down what we had, and our thoughts on it (one book per couple) and little mickey heads to color in for our "5 star" rating. Where possible I tried to add a cute image to coordinate with the location. Lastly as a quick glance help item - I put the type of meal as a letter designation. B for breakfast, etc.

The mickey heads were colored in either full or half (or left empty) depending on the review:

I didn't want the booklet getting too ragged and dragged around, so I pretty much filled it in each night after getting back to the room.

Lucky for me - hubby works at a print shop and we got them all printed and bound (it was set up as an 8.5 x 11 folded in half - and stapled) for a good price. Two weeks of meals means a 30 some page booklet! I also plan on cutting it apart though and scrapbooking some of the better reviews since it's already journaled.

 

[LisaKeys]

Isn't she wonderful? She made one for David and I, also!

 

[frzndaqiri]

Toured Morocco - the first time we were here (in 99) we didn't know there were shops and things in the back to go through... so we kind of just walked past everything going "Why is this interesting?" I didn't quite have my shutterbug addiction yet either. So we definitely enjoyed the showcase much more this trip.

A not-so-hidden mickey:

Japan was next. The taiko drums were going so I stopped for shots there.
The center drummer was really enthusiastic - his whole face and body was into the music and putting on a show.

Then into the Mitsukoshi Department Store to look around.

We went to the back and had some sake. Mine was a lighter mix of sake and lychee ramune (a carbonated sweet drink that I've had before). I am not a huge drinker though and this stuff (as sake tends to be) was strong.

Chris had Shirakawa Go - an unfiltered milky looking sake that can often have bits of rice in it. It is really STRONG stuff - but like any extremely fine alcohol he said it was incredibly smooth.

They have a special exhibit in the Bijutsu-kan Gallery that shows the connection between Japanese historical creatures, spirits and mythology and modern day characters in anime and manga.

We stopped to look at the koi - then moved on into Germany...

Next: Germany (kind of)...