In the middle of Sasebo sits a small European city (tourist trap) called Huis Ten Bosch. It's funny to see on my daily drive to work and shocking to see the full parking lots on the weekends. It hosts a bunch of European architecture and gardens. We were able to go for free on a "military day" and ended up really enjoying ourselves. Of course the beautiful autumn weather helped as we strolled through the town and took pictures. It was a bit like Disney or Epcot center with attractions located inside various buildings (but everything being in Japanese, so a bit limiting to us) and hotels and many restaurants on site. We enjoyed a lunch of cheese fondue and gelato and were THRILLED to find some European beers and fine cheeses to buy and bring home!
beautiful dahlia garden - these flowers were bigger than an adult head, for perspective.
windmills, flowers and European architecture, right in the middle of Sasebo, Japan!
posing with Miffy, the adorable bunny who got her start here in Japan...
REALLY?? I wonder if Cora would notice a difference!?!
Cheese fondue with what else to dip but hotdogs and corndogs -- how Japanese!!
Mrs. Mia Wallace, piglet, blue and red power rangers
NO halloween party is complete without a brain pannacotta!
another favorite treat!
our little chicken with Cleopatra (auntie Janet....)
Cora takes a nap on daddy... Greg was SO happy to be able to wear one of his fedoras again!
Our Japanese family -- YEP, we dressed like typical Japanese and Reid did, too (he's our surrogate teenage son). Notice the "ENGRISH" shirts we wear. (Some thought Greg was trying to be Howard Stern...) Please notice that I'm also sporting my new UGG boots that Greg got me in Australia. The funny thing is, we could dress like this everyday here and totally fit in.... not really a costume!
