2024 Review in Photos

Welcome to our 2024 Year in Photos. If you are here, you've successfully navigated here via the QR code embedded in this year's Holiday Card! During the process of composing the yearly Family Holiday card, I go through photos from the past year to use in the card. It is hard to cull the photos that will be printed in the card, so this year I decided to add some "technology" to the card in the form of a QR Code to access this post with many more photos and stories from our year. Enjoy!

 

 
Christmas and holiday greetings from our family to yours.

 

 
We enjoyed relative stability over the past year (that’s our way of saying not much has changed) - Scott and Shirley are still in Illinois, mostly retired (Scott took on contract work as a Project Manager). Erica is still in Madison with her dog (Charlie) and horse (Cookie). Brian is still in St Louis. We all traveled to Charlotte NC in the summer for an extended family gathering on Lake Norman. Scott, Shirley and Erica road tripped there allowing us to take Charlie. We enjoyed being with cousins, grandparents, aunties and uncles, taking in the “Lake Life”.

 

 
Brian also traveled to the UK and Europe. Erica took a trip to Seattle. Shirley had the privilege to travel to Japan and Germany with her sister Teresa, who ran the Tokyo and Berlin marathons. Shirley also attended her 35th college reunion in Cambridge MA, reconnecting with so many friends.

 

 
Scott and Shirley also road tripped to Tulsa, OK to visit old friends from their Indiana / GE days, the Bowlins. Jeff and Janine were such gracious hosts, showing us the unique sights in Tulsa, taking us to the Pioneer Woman Ranch and Tallgrass Prairie where we encountered the herd of Bison.

 

 
While we are incredibly grateful for these “big trips / experiences”, we take joy in our daily and local lives - walks to see the sunset, the birds that visit the feeder, our golfing friends, our longtime friends and neighbors, visits to local parks, local college athletics and the myriad of activities available within a couple hours.

 

 
We are so lucky to have friends and family to share with these big and the small things with. We hope your holidays are filled with light and peace, may you take moments of joy with you into the New Year.

 

 
Now for the photos!

 
January brought freezing temperatures which enabled Shirley and her photography friends to take photos and video of freezing bubbles.

 

 

 
In February, Shirley traveled with sister Teresa to Japan. First stop - Kyoto, where we took in massive bamboo forests and temples with their impressive Tori gates and lanterns.

 

 

 

 
Then it was off to Toyko for the Toyko marathon. Teresa's husband, Ray, flew in for this portion of the trip. Teresa and I made friends in Kyoto - Ed and Karen Hsu from Seattle. Ed also ran the marathon so we met up with them during and after the event.

 

 

 

 
We did a lot of sightseeing in Toyko, and of course the food (ramen counter here) was amazing.

 

 
In April, Teresa flew out to Illinois to experience totality of the solar eclipse. We drove south to the small town of Olney and spent the day hanging out in the town's park with friends, white squirrels and other groups of people all present for the almost four minutes of total darkness as the moon crossed over the sun. It was an amazing experience.

 

 
In Spring, Bluebells carpet the forest and woodlands. We are lucky to have access to numerous forest preserves to enjoy the sea of flowers. Shirley frequents the nature preserves with with friends My and Brenda

 

 
Erica riding Cookie in a clinic in May.

 

 
Photos from Shirley's 35th college reunion at MIT. Taken at the top of Baker House, the dorm we lived in while in school. We all miss this million dollar view of the Boston skyline. With friends Robin and Henry:

 

 
Shirley and her favorite group of guys, known as "The Quint" as all five shared a room their freshman year:

 

 
While Erica traveled to Seattle, Shirley took care of Charlie in Madison.

 

 
Shirley and her girlfriends on their annual Fine Lake weekend in Michigan. This year we visited Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

 

 
Matty, Shirley and Erica saw Cage the Elephant in concert in Charlotte as part of our NC Family vacation.

 

 
Tubing on Lake Norman. You can see Winnie and Brian out on the water in the inner tube!

 

 
Another group photo on Lake Norman, with Charlie!

 

 
Rocking out at a Royel Otis concert - with Jill and Mary

 

 
In late September, I flew to Germany with my sister and brother in law. Teresa ran the Berlin Marathon, earning her 6th Star in the World major marathon series. We enjoyed great weather on marathon day.

 

 
At the top of the Reichstag in Berlin, the day after the Berlin Marathon with Teresa and Ray:

 

 
The Berlin Wall:

 

 
Then we took the train to Munich - to attend Oktoberfest!

 

 
Our October trip to Oklahoma included taking in sights in Tusla, along Route 66 and Pawhuska, OK. Can you see Scott in this first photo?

 

 

 

 

 
Shirley continues to take photos with her Nikon in challenging situations, including these flying egrets, full moon shots and ones of the comet. She missed photographing the Aurora borealis but hopes there will be opportunities in 2025.

 

 

 

 
Finally, enjoy this outtake from this year's Christmas Card Family photo. It's never a dull moment around here!

 

 
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a wonderful 2025!

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Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple - Away from Crowds

On Tuesday we had planned to visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove but chose a quieter option, the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. This temple was recommended to us by the chef at Teppan Tavern Tenamonya. The grounds feature unusual stone statues, erected to commemorate those who died without kin. Off the beaten path, the grounds were serene and befitting a solemn place of worship and reflection. There is a smallish bamboo grove heading uphill - probably not as extensive as the popular Arashiyama but we had it all to ourselves and took our time enjoying the beauty and serenity without tourist crowds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The cost to enter is 500¥, less than $4 (which is the same entrance fee to Arashiyama). From our hotel in Kyoto, the journey took us less than an hour for less than $4 USD and we avoided the crowded Arashiyama station.

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Visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine - Kyoto

On Monday we visited the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine with its famous red tori gates. It is recommended to visit early in the morning, but we weren’t that organized so we arrived mid morning. We traveled by subway and the journey took 35 minutes and 180 yen one way (that's less than 2 USD). The weather is cool with occasional rain. The cascade of tori gates makes for a unique walk.

 

 
Many people were visiting but we got away from the crowds at one junction, heading uphill towards the shrine area vs following the tori gates down. Another strategy is to wait for the groups of people to pass (like traffic, the crowd ebbs and flows) in order to get your photo of the gates alone.

 

 

 
You can hike all the way to the top but with my back issue knew I couldn’t/ shouldn’t do so. In this area away from the crowds we encountered a bamboo grove with giant tall stalks reaching to the heavens. It was an amazing sight. Strong winds shifted and swayed the thick bamboo trunks emitting groans, creaks like an old person’s bones. With sparse crowds here we took in serenity and calm.

 

 
Most people follow the red gates up and down, then leave. The park has so much more to offer - a small Japanese garden, a shrine part of the way up, the bamboo grove and a hike all the way up to the top then a descent down the same way or another way. A friend also recommended this site at sunset although it will turn dark on the return down and is a little spooky.

 

 
There are little stores and various food vendors in the streets leading up to the Shrine. We enjoyed matcha lattes in a cafe, overlooking the beautiful gardens.

 
Some travel guides may classify this site a "tourist trap unworthy of your time", but I really enjoyed it even with the crowds. I suspect during high season (cherry blossom, summer time, fall) the throngs of crowds would detract from the experience and I feel the best strategy would be to visit either very early or around sunset.

 

 
Japan Travel tip - Google Maps is crucial to navigate the myriad of transport options available. By choosing public transport mode of travel, the app will display several options complete with total travel time, walking distance, subway station details (train departure platforms, train departure times, entry and exit routes). During our first days in the country, it was stressful getting our bearings and getting accustomed to learning the public transport system but by the end of our trip in Japan, we were very comfortable navigating public transport trains and buses, even in Tokyo.

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Japan Trip Summary

I just returned from a 12 day trip to Japan with my sister who ran the Tokyo Marathon. Here is the summary. I plan to post day by day details in the coming weeks.

 

Even though we were away for 12 days, I have to note that flying from the US, we lost a day for travel each way. So we really had 10 full days to explore Japan. I was also dealing with a back / piriformis issue that hampered my walking so we didn't see as much as I had planned, but that's ok, it just means we have to return to see and experience more!

 
Here is the day by day summary:  

• Friday, February 23 - travel day, flying to Haneda airport. 
• Saturday, February 24 - continued travel day, arrival into Haneda airport. We stay overnight at the airport hotel, the Royal Park Hotel, conveniently located in Terminal 3 (International Terminal)
• Sunday, February 25 - we travel to Kyoto via Shinkansen Bullet train. We have accommodations reserved at the Kyoto Miyako Westin. It is raining so we opt to explore the hotel with its numerous amenities including the relaxing Onsen Spa. 
• Monday, February 26 - sightseeing at Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine. Explore the GION area including the Yasaka Shrine in Marurama park. Dinner at Teppan Tavern Tenamonya 
• Tuesday, February 27 - sightseeing at Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. In addition to the unusual temple grounds, the site includes a quiet version of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. No throngs of tourists. Back in GION area we enjoyed a 90 minute massage at Hiyoshi Massage. Dinner at Gion-SUI, a wonderful 10 course chef’s tasting menu. 
• Wednesday, February 28 - we travel back to Tokyo via Shinkansen Bullet train, settle into our accommodation, the MONday Apart Premium Nihonbashi. Close to the Tokyo Metro, the room includes a kitchenette and laundry, perfect for our stay in Tokyo. 
• Thursday, February 29 - We’re here for the Tokyo Marathon and the event Expo opens today. Located in the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, we take the scenic Yurikamome Line around the Tokyo Bay Waterfront. Dinner at Dante Teppanyaki 
• Friday, March 1 - We make our way to the Tokyo Marathon start line, near Shinjuku Chuo Park. Then to Ginza shopping area to experience the flagship Muji and Uniqlo stores. 
• Saturday, March 2 - Explored the Jinbocho bookstore area of Tokyo and came back with unique art prints from Hara Shobo, a wonderful print shop. 
•  Sunday, March 3 - Tokyo Marathon day. My sister is running the marathon and we spectate. The course runs a block from the hotel so we are able to see the elites sprint by before catching the others. We walk to Ginza area to catch runners at the 32 km mark (around 20 miles in) and then again towards the finish line at 42km mark. 
• Monday, March 4 - Knife shopping on Kappabashi street and the recommended Tsubaya store. Ramen counter lunch at Himuro Asakusa Shop (cash only). Then to Tokyo Sky Tree observatory. Dinner in Ginza at Sushi No Midori 
• Tuesday, March 5 - TeamLabs Planets interactive Art exhibit. Didn’t know what to expect, but the experience was unique and enjoyable. Also visited Tsukiji temple in the Ginza area. Cat cafe MoCHA Akihabara visit. Dinner at a Shabu-Shabu (hot pot) restaurant near our hotel 
• Wednesday March 6 - travel day back to the US

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