Prisoner of Hopes

Category: Uncategorized

  • Castles and Cherry Blossoms, Festival Season In Japan: Travel Goals Japan

    Castles and Cherry Blossoms, Festival Season In Japan: Travel Goals Japan

    It is Cherry Blossom Season in Japan. So we aren’t surprised to see large crowds at the entrance to Nagoya Castle. What is surprising, however, is the many different food stalls that line the side of the castle. Today is a full blown Japanese Sakura Festival and it seems like all of Nagoya is here…

  • Skagway, Gateway To The Klondike: Travel Goals Alaska

    Skagway, Gateway To The Klondike: Travel Goals Alaska

    I was a big fan of “Northern Exposure”. In fact, I just watched the series again recently. New York City Doctor in the wilds of Alaska makes for some fun television, mostly due to the quirky locals. It seems wild and unsettled. Walking the streets of Skagway after the cruise ships leave port, I can…

  • Yokohama Adventure: Travel Goals Japan

    Yokohama Adventure: Travel Goals Japan

    Yokohama. When I hear the word, I see images in my head of ancient streets and trading ships. I see GI’s sending products home after WWII and wandering dark alleys. I don’t know what put those images there, probably a book I read or a movie I watched. All I really know is that it…

  • Matsumoto Afternoon: Travel Goals Japan

    Matsumoto Afternoon: Travel Goals Japan

    Matsumoto, Japan is the kind of town that I quickly come to love. It is quirky. And boy do I love quirky. It has history and culture and food. Apparently, the town mascot is a frog. I love that we keep running into frog statues in all shapes and sizes. We have spent the morning…

  • Klondike Gateway Independence Day: Travel Goals Alaska

    The ship docks in Skagway before I awake. It is in port all day, but we are disembarking here to head overland to the Klondike and Yukon country. I head upstairs for breakfast, but I am confused. We got a letter before bed that doesn’t make a lot of sense about the plans for the…

  • The Black Crow of Matsumoto: Travel Goals Japan

    The Black Crow of Matsumoto: Travel Goals Japan

    After almost two weeks exploring Tokyo and surrounding areas, we decide to travel farther afield. The bullet train will take us to Nagano province (about a three hour trip one way). Our destination is the mountain town of Matsumoto. I am excited to see the “Black Crow”, also known as Matsumoto Castle. Built in the…

  • Mendenhall Madness: Travel Goals Alaska

    Mendenhall Madness: Travel Goals Alaska

    Our first stop in Alaska is Juneau. The ship docked around 3pm and will leave port around 9 pm. We decide to skip the crowded city streets (and they are ridiculously crowded) and head to the Tongass National Forest to see the Mendenhall Glacier. Sounds easy enough but I don’t want a tour group experience.…

  • Sakura Season: Travel Goals Japan

    Sakura Season: Travel Goals Japan

    All of Japan is awash in blossoms. We thought when we arrived in early March that we would miss the “sakura” season. I was pleasantly surprised to see blossoms immediately. Our first days in Tokyo included multiple cherry blossom encounters in a cemetery, a park, and even on a pedestrian overpass along the highway. As…

  • Zaandam: Travel Goals Canada

    Zaandam: Travel Goals Canada

    We arrive on the Zaandam excited to begin our journey to the Yukon. It will be our temporary home for the next four days, until we reach Skagway, Alaska. We are overjoyed to see that we have been upgraded to a balcony suite, complete with a deep whirlpool tub. What was meant to be a…

  • Food Frenzy: Travel Goals Japan

    Food Frenzy: Travel Goals Japan

    One of the unknowns when we venture into another culture is what we will eat. We have never starved. But sometimes, the cultural norm is outside our Midwest American foodscape. I tend to be a more adventurous eater, but I don’t like meat. My husband is a meat and potatoes guy, but is easier to…