CL wrote:

> Tokyo isn't a great city.  It is a dumpy little military outpost that 
> grew.  Fortunately, some really great people started a lot of the little 
> village centers that later grew outward and merged in to the the big 
> pile that became modern Tokyo. 

We certainly agree on that.

I do enjoy the life I have craved out here but it's based on music. One 
of the big surprises that I discovered in Japan is the number of live 
houses and practice studios. But I would be happier in just about any 
other major city, unfortunately there isn't the work.


> 
> Kiyomizudera is nice, but Kyoto has a lot more temples that are 
> interesting.

Yes, but standing at the bottom looking up at the wooden poles soaring 
above you is aweinspiring.



> Sorry to hear that Starbucks pollution has reached the 
> neighborhood.
>

There is nothing wrong with Starbucks. You don't have to have a double 
caramel cappucino frappuncino, a simple expresso is fine. You get comfy 
seats and you don't catch cancer from passive smoking.