Though a little sick I certainly felt well rested today. I woke up at eight in the morning after my 26 hour nap and played some computer games. Pete had to go out to a graduation ceremony for his college. So I was on my own for the morning. I have resolved to sample as many of the juices and teas in the vending machines outside Pete's apartment as possible while I am here. The only problem with this quest is that I cannot read what I am ordering. Today I ended up with a bubblegum soda that I would have been better off without. I went for a run, drawing stares from the people I passed. I am sure it was because I am a strapping young sex symbol and not some goofy foreigner in too small shorts. When I came back from my run I needed to take a shower. Each appliance here has its own small water heater. I spent 10 minutes trying to figure out how to get hot water before Pete called and talked me through the four step operation. When Pete returned we ate at the same restaurant as we did on Thursday. I had the same dish as I did on Thursday, zarusoba. It is a dish of noodles that you dip into a glass of sauce and then slurp down. A bowl of spices comes with the meal so that you can adjust the flavor to your taste. Tea is served with every meal.
Pete informs me that in Japan it is polite to pour the drink of your friend before you pour your own. It is the custom that you spilt one bottle and that you refill your friends glass when it gets low. This seems like a great way to get drunk with a friend but I find it overly cumbersome so after the initial pour we help ourselves to the beer. While there are reminders everywhere of how lost I would be without Pete's assistance, the menu at the restaurant is a particularly vivid one. Even the prices are in Japanese characters and the menu is totally incomprehensible to me.
After the meal we caught the subway for the neighboring city of Kyoto.