Landmark Tower

We recently took a trip to Yokohama to visit the Minato Mirai 21 (MM21) waterfront area. This means port of the future and the city has renovated this old port area with high tech earthquake proof buildings and piers. The major attraction to this area is the Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Japan. When the building was completed it featured the world's fastest elevator at 750m/hr, but recently became only the second fastest elevator in the world. It was incredible as the elevator was a perfectly smooth and quiet ride to the 69th floor viewing area.

There are many other interesting buildings and styles of architecture to see from the top of the tower. The ones shown here are the convention center, the Minato Mirai Towers, the restored red brick warehouse, and the Yokohama Bay Bridge. This area is also the location of the world's tallest ferris wheel which happened to be closed the day we visited.

Our last stop was a tour of the sailing trainer ship, the Nippon Maru, also known as the Swan of the Pacific. The white sails are hoisted twice a year and this ship is part of the Maritime Museum of Yokohama.

Thanksgiving and Decorating for Christmas!

We spent Thanksgiving with our new friends Sherri and Austin at their house in Negishi, the Military Family Housing development in Yokohama. They prepared a feast for 18 people! Ed helped deep fry the turkey and I baked some desserts (turkey shaped sugar cookies and pumpkin cookies with cream cheese icing...yum!). It was great to spend the holiday with friends since we are all so far away from home.

We decorated our little apartment for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. We have our three foot tall tree, Santa, stockings, icicle lights, and Christmas scented candles! We hope everyone has a great holiday season and a happy new year (on which we will be watching the Hokies in the Orange Bowl!)!!