Oh Paris… You liar!

April of 2008, Boot Size 9

My dear readers,

About two months ago I had posted my travel bucketlist, and a commenter (Yay! Someone actually commented!) had found it amusing that I intend to give Paris a second chance…

You’re sneaky Paris… Very very sneaky!

Oh Paris. You’re so famous for your fashion, your food, and you picturesque city shots. What most people don’t know it is it a lie! A lie I tell you!

For my April vacation I decided to visit my sister who was studying abroad in London, England. In addition to exploring what England had to offer, my father had bought my sister and I train tickets to Paris, France for one day. We’d get up, train in early in the morning, explore Paris (mainly explore the Louvre, our dream museum), and then train back. My sister and I were thrilled. Both of us spoke French (she knew more than I did though), and we planned ahead. Paris? Oh yeah we wanted to go in style! Dressing fancy, but with sensible shoes – ho!!!

Well… It didn’t turn out as fantastic as we’d planned. Here is some very important information you should know if you’re planning to go to Paris for the day.

#1: Remember to actually check the weather

Okay, yeah, this one was our bad. We forgot the check the weather before we left to make sure it wasn’t going to be a constant shift between gray and drizzly to heavy rains. Nevertheless, we arrived in Paris and we were immediately freezing; I in my adorable Italian three-quarter shirt, and my sister in her unbelievably beautiful, one-hundred euro, silk, hand-embroidered jacket. Thankfully I had the sense to bring my ratty sweatshirt so I gallantly sacrificed my warm to protect my sister’s one-hundred percent silk jacket. With that we made our way to the Eiffel Tower.

Don’t be deceived by the clear looking skies. It was cold and damp and gross and…. cold.

#2: Avoid purchasing from the street vendors

This one we didn’t have much of a choice. It was raining and I was freezing. Due to the time zone differences, and our extreme poor-ness, we waited for hours for our father to wake up and put money on my card so we could afford to buy and umbrella…

… Or something. I was freezing, thus didn’t really care.

With a smidgen of money on my card we made our way to our first destination: the Eiffel Tower. Teeth chattering, we saw a vendor selling Paris sweatshirts. Suffice to say we made a beeline for it. Thirty euros later (essentially sixty bucks American back then), and I was encased on a fluffy, warm sweatshirt. While yes, I love the sweatshirt, the price still makes me want to sob uncontrollably.

No longer dying from hypothermia, the skies cleared longer enough to take the required pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower. It seems that fate wanted to let us to experience at least one aspect of visiting France. Shortly after we got our pictures in, it began to rain again. So we took shelter in a little café and ate some quiche and drank coffee; one of the few good things that happened that day… the food. It was then that my sister and I learned the worst thing about Paris.

Steph in the ratty sweatshirt that saved her fancy jacket.

Why…. WHY did I decided on the belly showing, three quarter sleeve shirt?!

Said super expensive silk jacket

#3: Paris is closed on Tuesdays

I shit you not.

All museums and other attractions that one goes to Paris for (at least for the first visit), are closed. Why Tuesday? I have no freaking clue. But our hopes fell one by one as we flipped through a local book checking the hours for anything we could go and visit. There wasn’t much to see. We trotted over to Notre Dame Cathedral, and yet again the weather shifted long enough to allow up a few pictures before opening up and drenching up once more. Of course, we couldn’t explore because it was closed to visitors.

No Louvre, no Orsay Museum… The two museums we went to Paris for, and we got zilch.

#4: When you’re strapped for cash… Don’t lose your train ticket

Yep. That happened. Paris train tickets are teeny weeny. No joke. I was I’d gotten a picture of the thing before it fell out of my pocket somewhere around the Jean D’Arc church. We thought there would have been some cool architecture there, or some statues to honor Joan of Arc… Yeah it was rather boring and we only spent a few minutes there. But making our way back to the train station I discovered that my train ticket was missing. And we only had a few Euros left. In the end a helpful train station worker helped us get the cheapest possible ticket to let us return to the train station, where we then found an internet cafe and just… stayed inside and out of the train.

There were a few pros. The food we got was delicious, and the weather liked to give up a few moments every time we reached what few sites we got to see. Other than that… we were rather cold, rather wet, and rather miserable.

So take heed fellow travelers! If you intend to take a daytrip from the UK to another country on a Tuesday, don’t go to Paris. You will not have much to do if you want to see the classic sites.

Would I go to Paris again? Of course. Unfortunately it was bad luck on our side that caused our misery, and a second visit would be better planned and probably more fulfilling. I still desperately wish to see the Louvre, and not have to shelter myself from the rain to appreciate the architecture of Paris.

But, overall thoughts on the trip my sister and I had taken to Paris? I believe this picture summarizes it well…

With finals over, I’m diving headlong into summer. With this there are adventures to go on, conventions to attend, and a webshow to begin with my best friend, Panda! Expect more posts now that hopefully the stress will be dying down and I will have a chance to write all about my experiences.

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

So…. I’m on CNN

April of 2012, Boot Size 10 (I’ve kinda shrunk and equaled out to regularity!)

I exploded when I found out. Not long after my weekend of heaven in Boston, my best friend (known as Panda) texted me and then then called screaming that I was on CNN.

Now granted, it’s not from saving a child from a burning building, but apparently a CNN photographer had been at Anime Boston taking pictures. And out of the potential hundreds he took, he posted ten. AND I AM IN THE SECOND PICTURE!!!!

I couldn’t believe it. I screamed, cried, and tittered that my first ever cosplay ended up on a significant website. Someone I don’t even know loved my outfit and put it on the CNN website. I have calmed down since then, but suffice to say that little fifteen minutes of fame has made my life. I’m thrilled and super excited to return to Boston next year.

Without further ado, the link! As I said, I’m in picture number two.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-773468?ref=feeds%2Foncnn

As a note, I’m currently nearing finals week, hence my long absence. With finals and work, I do not have the time to write a good post, and I want to give you guys quality. Please have patience for the poor crippled college girl, I promise you a quality post.

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

Destination Mountains!

April of 2012, Boot Size 10/11

My Dear Readers,

As my school year starts winding to a close I took the time to notice that June is approaching. June of course, being Tomas’s and I’s one year anniversary in our budding relationship. This said, I wanted to be able to have a nice weekend seeing that our actual anniversary falls on a Saturday.

:)

That in mind I thought a simple adventure would be the best course. And that is why we are going to be heading to the mountains. And that is why a new countdown is beginning, keeping track of the days until we can make it up.

I plan to make this as cheap a trip as possible, though I haven’t decided whether to camp in a tent or rent a cabin. Nevertheless, I will show you in the days leading up to the trip how you can go on a cheap but gorgeous trip to the scenic White Mountains.

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

Anime Boston 2012 ~ How We Survived

April of 2012, Boot Size 10/11

My dear readers,

Wow. Despite trying to get you guys some posts during Anime Boston, I found myself mobbed by the fantastic-ness of it all. I managed to list to you one pro and one con of the… well, con. But now it is only fair that I tell you about the entire experience and include some tips.

Tomas and I were ready to leave at nine in the morning, eagerly taking off in order to make it to Panda’s dorm in time. One huge advantage is that Panda lives right now the road from the convention, eliminating the cost of hotels, and including a bit of exercise! After driving around the confusing one-way roads we managed to get to her dorm, and she helped us cart up our suitcases and bag of food.

Tip #1: Bring as much of your own food as possible. Con food is often way over priced and not all the healthy. Bring non-perishable fruits, breakfast bars, and if you have a mini fridge bring some things like lunch meats and cheese for sandwiches. So instead of paying twenty dollars for one meal, you can pay twenty dollars and have food for the entire weekend. Being a starving college student, I prefer this method.

Once Tomas and I had gotten settled, we garbed up in our first cosplay of the day: Team Rocket. With my newly cut hair (the day before I had cut my hair for the first time since the third grade) I decked out in my black dress and my snazzy, pin-laden hat, accessorized with Team Rocket paraphernalia. Panda had donned a black dress and sexy fedora and similar accessories. Tomas went with the mob boss look, with a fancy hat, impressive black coat, and cane (he loves that cane). Overall, we looked pretty damn awesome.

Panda and I, posing for the first pic of the day!

I did not take this picture. With permission I borrowed this from Panda's friend, Cassandra, who is dressed as Ash. That said, we were so going to get Pikachu that day!

Our first panel was how to have a safe cosplay fight. Our panel leader was a professional stage fight since he was thirteen, and he and his partner were amazing. In learning certain moves, you also learned how wrestlers do their little tricks. Panda and I were a little to giggly to look like we were really fighting, but we knew the basics, and with that we know we’ll be able to practice when Tomas isn’t pointing a camera at us the entire time.

How to choke without choking

After that panel we decided exploration was necessary. We spent a lot of time in the vendors area looking at all the wonderful nerdy items. That said, we never got to many other panels, other than a very boring fabrics panel that we left after about ten minutes. Panda is a fashion design major, she knew all this stuff; we has thought the panel was going to have advice on how to find fabrics for those tricky cosplays. It… didn’t. SO instead we wandered the halls, met friends, and took pictures.

Saturday is the main day for the convention, so I went all out to showcase my first official, complex-ish cosplay: Suki from Avatar the last Airbender. I now leave it in your hands, how well do you think I pulled it off?

So this is Suki from the TV Show...

How do I match up?

I found a fellow Suki!

I had a few choice words with Miss Azula after she knocked me out and threw me into a prison...

I won’t lie, I was super proud. This cosplay was the reason for my drastic haircut, and I think it came out great (still, opinions would be loved!). I was tickled pink at the number of times people stopped to ask for pictures. Last year I was stopping people to get pictures, this year it was my turn. J

We managed to get to Artist’s Alley, which is where I lost most of my money. Honestly artist’s alley is the best place to spend one’s money, because it helps support local people and they often have great little deals, and sexy art. I got little tags, Tomas bought me a poster of Gaara (which he still has so I am currently Gaara-less), we bought buttons galore, and I couldn’t help getting a sexy Christmas shot for Sakura, Hinata, and Ino from Naruto (it was only a dollar, I mean… how could I not?!).

Best. Zombie. EVER!!!

I will state that the best part of Anime Boston is meeting new people. In Artist’s Alley we met a bunch of amazing artists who were super friendly and always willing to give advice to the lovely Panda. We also met a ton of old friends, made new ones, and overall had a blast.

Tip #2: Don’t be afraid of meeting new people. Most Anime Boston con go-ers are super friendly! I for one went around and hugged all my favorite characters like Iron Man and Kenshin.

Tip #3: Please follow the 5-2-1 rule! Five hours of sleep, two meals, and one shower every day! I personally eat more, but if you’re going around a lot and don’t have blood sugar issues, then two meals is better than one. And please… shower. As I mention, thankfully this year con-stench was down, but we cannot give up the fight for basic human cleanliness!

Sunday is the best day to make your purchases. Most vendors have an end-of-con sale as they try and sell as much merchandise as possibly. With this in mind I finally completed my Black Bird and Spice and Wolfe collecting! I am now current and have no need to find an old issues! Now if only I could get my hands on the three-in-ones for Kenshin and InuYasha… That’ll take some doing. Decked out as Misty I spent every dollar I had.

Tip #4: BRING CASH! One, it can help stop you from going over your budget Two, you can avoid Mass taxes. Credit cards get charged tax while when going with cash it’s “included!” This can save you a lot of money and tears when you realize you put yourself in debt from buying too many awesome thing.

By the end of the con, all three of us were tired, but very happy. We have already begun plotting for Anime Boston 2013, May twenty fourth through the twenty sixth. Needless to say, we are super excited and have tons of cosplay and skit ideas. Plus with over a year of time, I think we’ll be a lot more organized.

Tip #5: Have fun. Honestly because if you’re getting stressed out by a convention, you’re doing it wrong.

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

P.S. Please check out Panda’s work, she’s aspiring to be able to make cosplays for people. Plus her art is amazing! http://velvetsoulpanda.deviantart.com/

Anime Boston 2012 ~ Saturday

April of 2012, Boot Size 12

So as Panda, Tomas and I await for a plushie workshop to begin, I felt I needed to describe the past two days.

Saturday was by far the best despite a slow beginning, since my cosplay took three hours to get ready. So by noon, Tomas and I set out for the convention center. And let’s just say, my legs are rather sore from sinking into battle poses because I looked exactly like Suki. I was surprised and amazed, and I was super happy every time someone asked for a picture. Heck, I even had kids asking to pose with me. With that cosplay over (and makeup still sticking to my neck), I have tons of ideas for my next con AAC in Nashua to further perfect Suki. Tomorrow pictures will be posted of my full Suki cosplay, once I’m not stuck on an iPhone. for now I will do one one pro and one con of the… Con.

I was highly surprised by the lack of con-stench. Those who have been to conventions will know of what I speak of. Con-stench is created by those select men and women who do not believe in showers, and thus nearly kill those around them with a sweat soaked aroma that makes flowers wilt. This is amplified by small halls packed with many people; some that are dressed in fur cosplays.

On the downside we missed out on Masquerade which is one of the best parts of AB, but overall I had a blast. Panda and I have plans for a web comic and making buttons, and a million new cosplays for new conventions.

For now I must flee for plushies await!

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

It’s Here!!!!

April of 2012, Boot size 10/11

My dear readers,

Well, it is time for the fun to begin! Anime Boston is here and I’m currently driving down (no, I am not the one driving) to Boston ready to have the time of our lives! This is also my first time posting on here with my phone, so if the formatting is off, I apologize and I’ll fix it when I have access to my computer.

That said, I will regularly post pictures and con tips on here along with nightly updates as to our trouble making! Panda, Tomas (my love), and I are all getting ready for the insanity and geekdom!

Until next time my lovelies!

Viviana Ayre

Getting Ready for Anime Boston 2012

March of 2012, Boot Size 10/11

My dear readers,

You may have noticed the little countdown that I have thrown up on the side of my little blog. To those not versed in the geeky ways, this is a countdown to the famous convention Anime Boston, which I am attending this year. And oh my goodness IT’S IN EIGHT DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

I guess the first aspect to attend to is my love for anime in manga. Of course my interest in Japanese culture manifested before I even knew about the craze that now, in our modern day, is much more common (though not necessarily socially popular). I did not pick up my first manga until middle school. And my first ever manga was the infamous InuYasha.

Despite it's faults, I still love this series. <3

InuYasha is not the best manga, and yes it holds the same flaw that many shounen manga have; it could have been a little less drawn out. But I was hooked to the series as a child, and I will always love it. Feudal Japan, school girls, demons, and a sexy white-haired and dog-eared half demon (known as a hanyou)? Yes please, and make it a double! I’m slowly working on owning it and other manga series for myself, seeing as I am a recovering addict of free scanlations of manga (I have much more respect for authors now, and try my best to buy their work). Once InuYasha was in my life, I was hooked to anime and manga. I obssessed over it. Thankfully after abstaining for about six months when I decided to stop reading and watching for a while in high school, I am finally able to control my rampant need to read and I now allow myself to be nerdy in other ways. But I still love manga, Japan, and (almost) everything involved! And this includes cosplay.

This is my best friend in the entire world, Panda, who has graciously allowed me to use this picture to show off how gorgeous she is in this partial shot of her as Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender. She is a fashion design student, and also an amazing artist! Check out her DA if you like. http://velvetsoulpanda.deviantart.com/

These complete strangers I snapped a pic of are cosplaying (starting from the left) the Kazekage Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke, and Ino. All from Naruto.

Yes, cosplay. The hobby and/or lifestyle of dressing up as your favorite character from an anime, manga, sci fi show/book/film, movies, and more. I am a novice, this year being my first official cosplay as real characters from a show. I’ve spent a lot of time planning this with my best friend in the entire world and soul sister, Panda (if you didn’t realize, I’ve changed names including my own in order to protect certain privacy’s). This girl is my Brazilian twin and partner in crime, having been crafted from perfection. She is also known as Leila, though in anime/nerdy situations I will be calling her Panda since this will involve her work AS Panda. I absolutely love her to pieces, and we are attending Anime Boston together!

She is also the most amazing person in that, as a fashion design student, she is making my cosplay for the main convention day! With that said, I have to give her some credits here, so please check out her work as she slowly works her way into a great cosplay creator and artist: http://velvetsoulpanda.deviantart.com/

Anyways. So we have planned each of our days as far as our cosplays. Friday we are going as members of the nefariously useless Team Rocket! Each with our own little Pokemon to keep up company. Saturday is our big day in which I will be showing off Panda’s work; she will cosplay Katara and I will cosplay Suki from Avatar: the Last Airbender (this is an amazing show and you should watch it if you haven’t). Sunday, while I am not 100% sure about Panda, I know that I will be cosplaying post-epic-battle Misty from Pokemon. Why post-epic battle? Well the theme of the con this year is the apocalypse of course! So instead of a neat and clean Misty, I’ll be messed up and abused Misty! Rips in the tee-shirt and I especially look forward to throwing myself into the dirt for that authentic “roughed-up” look. I’m pretty sure Panda intends to be the Togepi to my Misty, but that isn’t confirmed since she has enough on her hands trying to get two cosplays done in a month when this is her first two big projects. If she actually gets a Togepi cosplay… I’ll worship her.

Now my last year my adventures at Anime Boston were rather tame. I made the mistake of not going in a group, and I didn’t have any real cosplays. Instead I trolled around in my steampunk-wear, which did get me stopped for pictures a few time (^////^). I went to a lot of panels, including one really LAME one in which I teamed up with my friend That Guy to troll the speaker (normally I do not condone trolling the speakers of a panel, but this guy was being a ridiculous whiner). Overall I enjoyed my stay, but I knew there was room for improvement.

1. Go with a group. In this case it is Panda, my partner, and I.
2. Have some cosplays ready. I’ve already listed them, I won’t repeat.
3. Be pickier about panels. I don’t want to deal with another whiner. Honestly, it’s the 18+ panels that are the funniest, though I have a rather dirty mind, so…. Nah they’re still funnier half the time.
4. Actually know what manga I need to get for the big Sunday sale.
5. Actually buy an art piece to support local handy work! I think I’ll search for a Gaara or a Hinata one. <3
6. Photographs. Let myself out from behind the lens and capture my costumes and have some awesome poses prepared.
7. Get in character and REMAIN in character!

This was my outfit last year, made by my awesome mom because I can't sew... at all. I am dressed as myself, Viviana Ayre of the H.S. Chronos Aetherium.

With these goals and changes in mind, I think this will be an awesome weekend and I fully look forward to the crazy stories that I will be able to share with you. I will also take many pictures. While I intend to post some pictures, I will have even more on my Facebook page for Bootprints: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boot-Prints-in-the-Sand/316217361729366 (Yes, this is an obvious plea for people to like my Facebook page. It helps my poor, college-abused ego).

With eight days until this epic adventure begins, I’m being buried in school work as the semester is already coming towards the end (how the hell is this possible? I’m so used to school being done in June!!!!) and I’m also working and trying to get my cosplays ready as well as planning transport and such. I’ve gotten a ride down to the train station, so as to not pay for parking. I intend to stop at grocery store ahead of time and have healthy, cheaper snack and lunches to take along. There are confirmed plans of taking over a ramen shop . I have to pack. Oh goodness packing will be an adventure (*ahem* torturous act of doom) I am going to attempt another adventure report before Anime Boston, but I doubt that I will have the time to fit it in. But I will do my best!

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

The Train Station in London

March of 2012, Boot size 10/11

My dear readers,

You would think that with an entire week of spring break that I would have been able to get a lot of writing done. I would too, and I was looking forward to getting stuff done. Then of course the reality of not having to do anything smacked me in the face and I melted into a puddle of oh-my-goodness-I-don’t-have-to-do-ANYTHING!!!! Suffice to say I curled around my cat a lot and watch X-Men Evolution and spent as much time as possible with my partner. I enjoy the schmooze… though I wish I had worked more on my research paper. Or my precalc homework…

That is my poorly formulated excuse as to my lack of the tale I had promised in my last post… And thus I dive into actually sharing with you another adventure from my life.

Okay I lied; first I have to spill one little piece of news for the future. My cosplay for AB is going great! I just got draped by my best friend and we had a blast doing it. I cannot wait to see the final result. With that little tidbit over with, I can continue.

This story has no particular moral or point; it is more of an experience I never expected. This story begins in a train station in London, England, in April of 2008 (Boot Size 9 at this point). I was on a week-long excursion visiting my older sister who was studying abroad there. Seeing that she could not drive, and I was not legally allowed, we walking and took trains… a lot. Not complaining of course, I am more afraid of driving in London than I am of public transportation (which I am proud to say that I am getting better at).

One quirk I learned in traveling around to many different countries is that in many places, especially Europe, you have to pay to use a public restroom (such as the ones found in train stations). To two very poor girls this meant no sticking together when my sister suddenly had to use the restroom. Determined not to pay the ten cent fee, I leaned back against a pole facing the restrooms and began to wait for my sister.

It was during this time of loitering that one of my… creepier tales really got going.

It was about two minutes into allowing my mind to wander while music blasted into my ears that I noticed something odd happening at the mens room. There were an awful lot of cops and security guards gathering and heading in. Curious, I paused my music and stood up (I am lazy at heart and sat after about thirty seconds of waiting) to try and get a better look. What I saw surprised me.

Being lead out by many policemen was one man. No weapon or gun or anything threatening. Although I won’t lie he kinda freaked me out. Please try and keep in mind I was much younger (especially mentally, I really bloomed into myself when in Japan). So When I saw this guy I was kinda terrified.

It was apparent the poor gentleman was homeless, and possibly mentally touched in some way. His clothes were ripped and dirty, and his hair was salt-and-pepper colored, unkempt, and stringy. I won’t lie he looked like the stereotypical bum you see in the musicals, except he wasn’t smiling. And once I noticed his arms, he didn’t look like a singing bum anymore. Down his forearms were deep gouges, freshly scabbed over. At that point I was counting the milliseconds for my sister to come out, despite the fact that I knew I was safe (he was safely under the control of the officers). Nevertheless I was rather shaken.

I have lived in a small town my whole life. Therefore seeing odd occurrences like that is very rare. Yes I have traveled to more countries in my first eighteen years of life than many have been to their entire lives, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a fish out of water sensation when in the city. While something like what I saw in London is not impossible to happen in a small town, let’s face it’s not as likely as it happening in a public restroom in a train station in London. There are physically more people in the city that in small towns, giving a higher chance of there being people that can spawn an event similar to this. It was odd, it was bizarre, but it provides a good story of the crazy things that can happen during an adventure, especially when you’re getting out of your element.

If stuff like this can freak you out? Relax! Learn to go with the flow. Think about the stories you’ll have to tell your kids! I for one will always keep this little vignette on the brain.

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

An Update…

So recently I informed you guys that my exciting plans to go to Disney had fallen through. Over the past month or so I’ve tried to get the plans back online, but alas, it is obvious that a journey like that at this point in my life is mildly inconceivable.

To give people an idea of that life, I am currently a biology orientated college student. My days of exploring the world are currently on hold as I pursue my dream to become a large animal veterinarian or a farmer of sorts. I’m also rather financially poor with very little support from my family. Granted my mother helps me immensely by allowing me to live with her without requiring rent and she helps me in life emergencies. Alas I cannot ask her for college help so I am relying on FAFSA and other such college loans to bring my dreams to life. As such I work in order to at least mildly support myself and to pay things such as insurance and my car.

But I do not intend to let my inability to go on extravagant adventures to bring me down. Instead I intend to take smaller and cheaper ones. My first goal is to purchase a new bicycle. For one, it will be much healthier, cheaper, and greener for getting around my smaller town. Two, I intend to take biking trips around my state and around New England to just enjoy the outdoors again. Three, I have very poor knees and riding a bicycle is much less abusive on them than walking or running.

As of late, I have not been able to go on many trips. But I am going to be able to accomplish my second goal which is spending a weekend in Boston for their annual anime convention, which I count as a traveling experience simply because I’ll be meeting nerds from across the country, and I’ll even be meeting famous voice actors and performers from Japan. And I’ll be doing all this with my best friend in the entire world. Needless to say, I am beyond excited.

Other than that I have no solid plans or goals aside from surviving college, though I am willing to take adventure suggestions, provided they are feasible and cheap.

Until my next adventure,

Viviana Ayre

P.S. I do intend to have a real post, considering it’s is now spring break, but I probably won’t post it until tomorrow or Monday.

Battling Mount Fuji

August of 2009, Boot Size 10

Greetings my readers,

There are many once in a lifetime opportunities, and going to Japan with People to People was one of them. And during that trip there were many occurrences I doubt I’ll be able to repeat. Meeting government officials, picking tea on the mountain next to Mount Fuji (though I am determined to find a way to do this again), and celebrating my birthday in Tokyo. But there is one event that occurred while exploring my favorite foreign country that I do not wish to reenact.

This event was the time I found Mount Fuji.

Please note that I do not own this photo. Due to weather issues, I could not get a good photo. This a stock photo from Microsoft, they own it!

Our group was not taking the usual trail one hikes up Mount Fuji. Hiking to the top generally takes all day and our group was always determined to cram as many activities into our day as possible. Luckily there is a second path, though not as “popular” (I’m sure it is well known, but probably not the most commonly thought of path).

You see, Mount Fuji has two major eruption sites, not one. Halfway down the mountain is the eruption site called Hōei-zan, named for its eruption in the- fancy that- Hōei period. This was our hiking destination. It’s a much shorter trip, but a steeper and a touch more strenuous. Since we weren’t going to spend the whole day hiking, this was our group’s path.

Our bus trundled up the mountain until road transportation was no longer available (the fifth station) and all forty of us tumbled off. After being holed up in a bus, our legs were happy to get a bit of stretching in. They had no idea what they were in for.

Gathering all together we met up with our guide for Mount Fuji. In passing I noticed Japanese school groups, including one group all dressed in orange rain coats with walking sticks.

The walking sticks they held are a particular souvenir available when climbing to the main summit of Mount Fuji. At the first station of the mountain you buy a simple look walking stick with a stamp on it. Then at every station you can get another stamp until the final stamp at the top of Mount Fuji. Overall it is an awesome souvenir to think about getting, but keep in mind that the higher one climbs, the more expensive each stamp gets.

Nevertheless we were on our way. At first we were eager to trek up, but of course over time in got steeper and more difficult to climb. If you aren’t an experienced climber or at least exercised then this can actually be a chore. Considering I love biking and hiking mountains, I was used to my calves straining to take the next step.

To give you idea of how rocky it was, yet there was greenery poking out at every possible point. This is very similar to how our path was.

The next huge part was that it was very foggy. And by foggy I mean you can’t see five people ahead of you foggy. This dense fog made the entire trek up seem that much more mysterious and adventurous. Exploring an area where you can only see a tiny piece at a time. On the downside it also made it impossible to decide if one was hot from all the hiking or cold from the brisk mountain air and cooling fog. I myself must have yanked my sleeves up and down countless times trying to keep my body at an even and comfortable temperature.

The fooooooog!!!!! Seriously it was so thick.

Nevertheless, we made it up to Hōei-zan and despite the lingering fog the view was gorgeous.

This is the top of the crater. Absolutely gorgeous

The guide offered to take anyone willing to go further into the crater. I was more than willing to volunteer for venturing into the crater of a volcano. It would be lame if I did not! I mean if you’re going on a potential once in a lifetime adventure, go all the way!

This is where my battle began. It was a true struggle and we both exchanged blows. Mount Fuji started by attempting to trip me up and get me off my game. I responded with a full body slam, which probably threw off ol’ Fuji. But it recovered quickly and turned the fight into a dirty cat fight. Attacking with rocks and pebbles it resorted to cat fight tactics of scratching and clawing. It was at this point that I realized this fight was pointless even as I skidded down the mountain’s surface, trying to find a weak point in my enemy’s defense. I held my hands up in surrender, and slowly stood up to admit my defeat.

Fighting Mount Fuji is not an adventure I intend to repeat again, but aside from my skirmish the hike was a beautiful and freshening experience.

Thankfully only one hand was injured, and most of it could be covered by a bandage

My legs on the other hand.....

Those were a little more beat up. Thankfully no serious injuries, but they burned like a mo'fo'

Lesson of the story? Don’t try to descend a mountain too fast. If you do there’s a high chance of encountering a battle like you’ve never experienced before. And you would not want to try it ever again.