I felt  a renewed sense of motivation yesterday after last week's paltry diary entry. This week I made sure to take lots of pictures. September 24 was a special day because it was the day that Andrea's international driving permit came in the mail.
You can see her ecstatic face in the title photo. Keiko Kudo and I ran into Andrea at Hidenoya during lunch and Keiko gave her the envelope with her license inside.

After lunch, Andrea showed us around her studio a bit. She has set up in one of the rooms at Shimobun Atelier.

Next, we went up to the Kamiyama Skiland Hotel to explore the mysterious corners of the property. We made sure Andrea got to see the three-cornered torii gate as well as the famed time machine.

We crept up behind the Skiland Hotel and found a pathway leading to the waterfall there. There is an irrigation canal leading from the waterfall to the trout ponds and it's got mossy concrete slabs laid on top of it so it's possible to walk to the waterfall. Halfway along a tiny shrine is nestled in the rocks.

Keiko and I went back to the Kaizen Center and I finally got to meet Keiko and David, who are visiting now from Berkeley, California. They'll be participating in Saturday's cooking day.

Sofie and I will be at the international cooking party too, and we're bringing Sofie's Japanese grandparents along as well. I'm looking forward to cooking (and eating!) with everyone!