japan - train nightmare to kyoto

this is a late post - we got into kyoto on sunday, 8/5.  here is the story of how the nightmare started.

the plan was to take a train (1-1/2 hours) to tokyo, then from there take a bullet train (2 hours) to kyoto. plans don't always work out.  instead of getting off on tokyo exit, we got off one exit before and didn't know where we were.  on top of that, we had like a zillion bags and there's only 4 of us to carry.  i should have taken a picture of all of us standing in the subway with the bags.  the locals were staring at us like we were moving into their country.  we finally figured out where we were and got on another train, but since there were so many bags and we couldn't get everything in, stephanie couldn't make it and got left behind with two strollers and 3 bags.  so glad that i rented a phone at narita airport.  we got off on the next station and stephanie met us there.  locals are still pointing and staring.  before we got on the bullet train to kyoto, we had to come up with a plan on how to get all the bags on the train so it doesn't take off again. we had to do an assembly line and figured out who would take which bags and it worked. after 19-1/2 hours of travelling, we finally got to our destination - kyoto.

first class to kyoto - this was before the nightmare started.  we were all smiles.

love this pic of lianne - see her reflection?