Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori for the day reliving the past!

We were up quite early this morning as it was very cold (for us) , having a two bar electric heater did wonders for  the room . I hadn't planned anything for today except going back to Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori which we had really enjoyed on our past two visits. I wanted to go on the boat ride and ferris wheel but Eric thought it would be too cold.

Just walking down the street, that we were calling home was a veritable treat. I loved how the locals made gardens everywhere.  Old items were upcycled (bicycle ) and covered with vines, flowers and herbs. I love how the bright red berries brightened up a freezing winters day. We walked along the street took a leftie then ended up at a subway station. We decided to take the subway rather than walk back to the train station, 200m away.

We were very proud as we winged getting the subway and finding our fav haunts. I was desperate to find Krispy Kreme but was unsuccesful we were both so hungry that we ended up in Lotteria a Japanese style chain like McDonalds. I can't believe i ordered a hot chocolate and a ghana bar at this time of the day as i wanted something savoury but they were actually pretty good rather like a rich hot dutch chocolate.

I think for Eric the highlight was finding the 551 hoarai gyosa chain, where he promptly ordered 15 of the best. He feels that is a mInimum order. I was in foodie heaven lining up (actually watching Eric line up) for takoyaki - octopus balls done in a roux batter over a bbq. Considering that Shinsaibashi is a shoppers mecca i was very well behaved. The only take home stuff i purchased were 2 shirts for little NJ and an earwarmer for myself.

As we were ambling along I saw a huge line of people and immediately joined the queue! I figured from Trip Advisor that if there's a line,  join it as the commotion means a treat is in store.  The line was for Pablo cheese cakes which we had watched the production of that morning . And yes, they were divine even the non sweet loving Eric devoured his. I was hoping that he wouldn't.

By now my ears were starting to ache as we walked down beside the windy river ; Dotonbori. I was desperate to buy earmuffs but Eric vetoed them. I ended up purchasing a tubular device which could be used as a headband or handwarming cuff. The idea was to cover the ears with this then pop my hood over the top. Post note - I am very pleased to announce that trout fishing jackets like mine are sported by very slender fashionable women here in Osako.

When we were eating our takoyaki in the morning we had observed hoards of people lining up for ramen, the exciting thing was not only the dragon that embellished the open seated  establishment but the fact that the fragrant tonkatsu broth was piled with pork, the glutton in me said "COME AND EAT HERE! " So ofcourse i obeyed my inner voice and after walking around for several hours we returned and were not disappointed.

Now i dont want you to think that we were starving by this point because we weren't.  We had spent hours admiring the lavishly wrapped foods in B2, the basement at Daimaru not succumbing to temptation  until after i had purchased a new Mac foundation. During this foray into the world of fashion  The girls took such great care to match the colour, (i had of course left my nearly empty compact back at our teeny cubby so was of no assistance with the number) . ( to my great delight when i checked later  - they were  both 43!) . Eric was dying for a coffee so i kindly obliged him by ordering two coffee and cake sets; a delicate strawberry tart for Eric and a profiterole for moi!

I have doubled checked with Eric but apart from looking for puffer jackets for my European adventure at Easter, all we did on our first full day in Japan was eat. We were too tired and cold to try out one of the six bars lining our picturesque street and after a soak in the tub we watched a trashy movie and zonked out ready for our trip the next day to Kyoto.