Today, I am staying overnight at the pool house at Michael’s home.
I had seen it several times while it was under construction, but now that I am staying here, I am amazed at how luxurious it is. The Palace Hotel in San Francisco and the Sonoma Mission Inn are apparently famous for their “luxury,” but they do not compare.
Dinner was filet mignon barbecue. But this was not at all like using an ordinary barbecue set. There is a separate building, without white walls, specifically for barbecuing, and that is where the cooking is done. The meat was tender and easy to eat. What is more, it was easy to digest and did not sit heavily on the stomach. The quality of the ingredients is important.
After we had finished eating, Michael’s Persian friend and his wife, along with her sister and her husband, joined us. The sister’s husband is an artist based in New York. He specializes mainly in classical-style painting and teaches as well. From September, he is also going to start a school in a new style.
When I returned to the pool house after 12, there was no hot water. Michael and I checked, and the boiler flame had gone out. And unbelievably, we had to light it with a match!!! Even after lighting it, the stored water had to be heated, so there was no hot water right away. In this respect, Japan is far more advanced.
So, while waiting for the water to heat up, we played billiards.