The hotel for the last 2 nights was a treat and we were even on the premium 30th floor of Prince Park Tower Tokyo hotel or something like this. This is when I finally got the chance to use my tripod which I carried all the way to Japan and never really used. But the balcony on the 30th floor is a perfect location for a tripod (haha).
The check-it took forever, but our luggage was already here and a bell boy took all the backs and suitcases up to the hotel room.
We went for a drink on the top floor of the hotel.. holy crap! Hosts didn’t speak really English, it had a nice view but the prices were cutting the edge!
Next day again some sightseeing but actually, we were already aware of the volcano ash and the cancelation of the flights… We went to see Meiji castle, where 4 young Japanese students approached us and suggested to show us around, talk about Japanese culture and history and practice their English. It was fun!
In the evening, we went to a pub to have last drinks after we got an email that we can web check-in… but while we were having our drinks, a SMS arrived and the news that our flight got cancelled arrived… Which is when our work in Japan adventure started.. So, first we had to re-schedule our flight and it took forever, don’t know how many calls until, I was able to talk to anyone (actually Miles and More representative) and we were told that the first option is on Sat (we were Sat Apr 17 and we were supposed to fly on the 18th and the suggestion was for Apr 24).. and this was the option!
Next stop – sending emails, calling bosses and finding a way to deal with work in Japan. Fortunately, Novartis is an international company with offices around the world so, I was given a few contacts, I knew someone and I succeeded to get in touch with a few colleagues from the Tokyo office.
Oh course hotels had to be arrange as well – stayed Sun night in the Prince but Monday morning we moved to a hotel in Shinjuku which was cheaper and had better location. After moving, we headed to the office… My name was at the reception desk and one admin assistant came, too us to another and then to a room arrange for us thanks to our colleague who is French and on rotation in Tokyo! Merci Beaucoup Sandra!!! The admin assistant arranged a laptop for me in half an hour – something that is not possible in the Basel office!
So Mon-Thu we were going to the office and it felt weird… People are different, environment and all so we dealt with it.
Fri we went to Kamakura – great place but the weather sucked big time!
I should mention that we also went shopping – difficult task! The shoes in Japan rock!!! For clothes, if you are 38+ - you are in trouble but you can find shirts. CDs are in Japanese so you don’t really know what the music on it is.
After all those additional days, we were ready to leave.. we visited a few restaurants during the week, a great fire grill place where we had great time.. Packed Fri night and Sat – taxi to train station, train to airport, plane Tokyo – Zurich, train Zurich – Basel, taxi from the train station to home and…. Home sweet home! About this – later :)
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