tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39009996057468072352024-03-06T01:10:16.857-08:00dude, where's my keys?ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-77897175135006835282009-01-01T01:32:00.000-08:002009-01-02T01:46:56.981-08:00New Year's EveFor New Year's Eve, we went to the all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink yakiniku (焼肉), or really, Korean BBQ. And then afterwards, we headed to Chion-in to see the giant bell ring in the New Year. Chionin's <strong style="font-weight: normal;">temple bell</strong> (cast in 1633) is the heaviest in Japan, at 74 tons. It takes 17 monks to ring it at the New Year ceremony.<br /><br />The entrance to Chionin is through the two-story <em>San-mon</em><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> (main gate) and then up a steep flight of stairs. Standing at 79 feet (24 meters) tall, this is Japan's largest temple gate. It was built in 1619 and has been designated a Japanese National Treasure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kqj59Obg64TF9x0-Val5aym3pIQcAYU3wYJ15qewkX0LYJGs4ZpgYiIsTMzEdVXdTKn2am_OYDSUf9s4lE6jq9l7dONS_nEfIRBoN5vVY9gmduQNm0ZW5-8mouN7_BN_WNFeuwyTYVo/s1600-h/IMG_5984.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kqj59Obg64TF9x0-Val5aym3pIQcAYU3wYJ15qewkX0LYJGs4ZpgYiIsTMzEdVXdTKn2am_OYDSUf9s4lE6jq9l7dONS_nEfIRBoN5vVY9gmduQNm0ZW5-8mouN7_BN_WNFeuwyTYVo/s320/IMG_5984.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286627382197873954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_TWm52oP0lZ4wpRsTwKIrOXICNxICwwiNnhmUQ4dlgVDYuuNFNVAKgp4PuNpN9Wcl6L57HU9zdr0uJy_NGVDQb6br26Dybuf5XgtyWYg36Ame7AMQ1n1_sELmx2x5XX_IMV3-5MzpaM/s1600-h/IMG_5986.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_TWm52oP0lZ4wpRsTwKIrOXICNxICwwiNnhmUQ4dlgVDYuuNFNVAKgp4PuNpN9Wcl6L57HU9zdr0uJy_NGVDQb6br26Dybuf5XgtyWYg36Ame7AMQ1n1_sELmx2x5XX_IMV3-5MzpaM/s320/IMG_5986.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286627384161008514" border="0" /></a><br />16 monks plus the one leader on the far right, almost cut out of the picture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ3Oot-St3HNM1_uInwKR_39fxDS3O4bBypvX7KGI0EwQ8knyhSjAd-eCMiuYPA-WbZNYexlZCOkc98tAHuW96x6ynJyuSYUJAoaV5PQ7oxfVvNvIgr2FhRW8uYxpW1wUxig1YsEJepc/s1600-h/IMG_5991.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ3Oot-St3HNM1_uInwKR_39fxDS3O4bBypvX7KGI0EwQ8knyhSjAd-eCMiuYPA-WbZNYexlZCOkc98tAHuW96x6ynJyuSYUJAoaV5PQ7oxfVvNvIgr2FhRW8uYxpW1wUxig1YsEJepc/s320/IMG_5991.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286627377898569330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0isCgewWhvAQBjLCYkG0zOelI0glw7N7XcyKnWXTJ-BbIn5FXmRaacU_Q8_bw1SA_5VHKk1ZQev3CS-6vSo3hSTkjv7m336_fRRrzq48zU9lNIG3-t9xY3azkIR2RP_vs_1v2S8MnC1s/s1600-h/IMG_5994.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0isCgewWhvAQBjLCYkG0zOelI0glw7N7XcyKnWXTJ-BbIn5FXmRaacU_Q8_bw1SA_5VHKk1ZQev3CS-6vSo3hSTkjv7m336_fRRrzq48zU9lNIG3-t9xY3azkIR2RP_vs_1v2S8MnC1s/s320/IMG_5994.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286627373412708914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87jgnHRt-D62nG9T0xCco7EiSNUnUt7Niez_fpP9VaN4jjJnuWaQiFg9XFETFMwQDjaK6VBzKUe0-URs91JX87MKcKgz3kT6Hds9U-lH5Pk7hpjuciDAOVmYg0eICi1rhviHWTZQA6lc/s1600-h/IMG_5998.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87jgnHRt-D62nG9T0xCco7EiSNUnUt7Niez_fpP9VaN4jjJnuWaQiFg9XFETFMwQDjaK6VBzKUe0-URs91JX87MKcKgz3kT6Hds9U-lH5Pk7hpjuciDAOVmYg0eICi1rhviHWTZQA6lc/s320/IMG_5998.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286627371308113746" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-72846749307638257952008-12-26T01:22:00.000-08:002009-01-02T01:31:40.910-08:00First SnowfallWe had our first snow fall last night, Christmas night. It was basically a light flurry and did not really stick. The next morning there were still a few flakes coming down. If you look really, really, really, really closely, you can see them (or not . . .).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIfTx67qcu9aAnXpvNUm5bNtJEBWjKKHSx5hPeJWfJnpNjNPW6OokmA4W4FgOvFRLMiR4HViSjaxXia4oGJw4VMUusYp13qdKREkjOqVCNPp8bhKwHg7GlKzjKSHC0UylvmRc4KAoymg/s1600-h/IMG_5982.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIfTx67qcu9aAnXpvNUm5bNtJEBWjKKHSx5hPeJWfJnpNjNPW6OokmA4W4FgOvFRLMiR4HViSjaxXia4oGJw4VMUusYp13qdKREkjOqVCNPp8bhKwHg7GlKzjKSHC0UylvmRc4KAoymg/s400/IMG_5982.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286625453715004882" border="0" /></a><br />But, up in the hills in the distance, the snow did stick at least for a little while.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaHSNys6Fk9bUEyt3u1Vwwq0oHV2kpWU4T4So1ZyNDpGWxTtC1pweV48ctJbjjf-UCjjCZh9XUB8XvqpH2ybXNB4wlHGMutIZWAFbaI2mcpkBqfx3iWleqNA1KtLpKCsn4h0c-nFNhnc/s1600-h/IMG_5983.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaHSNys6Fk9bUEyt3u1Vwwq0oHV2kpWU4T4So1ZyNDpGWxTtC1pweV48ctJbjjf-UCjjCZh9XUB8XvqpH2ybXNB4wlHGMutIZWAFbaI2mcpkBqfx3iWleqNA1KtLpKCsn4h0c-nFNhnc/s400/IMG_5983.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286625462668729762" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone keeps saying how January and February will be quite cold. The weather here in Kyoto is accentuated because the city sits in a basin (盆地) and the humidity is quite high. Winter is just starting, I am wishing it over already. ;-) Where is the California sun?ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-58557797177438825152008-12-13T06:25:00.000-08:002008-12-13T06:41:55.820-08:00Nijo CastleWe've had really good weather all week, so with the sun out I decided to go visit Nijo Castle this afternoon. Pictures below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCbQxwyAQ6l00SoGj61D4igmGugD2_P3YFwf5y5_fJgLAcSD1sEhPW8A415kfwCuXkY7S-qRg-biE9jtIwCKTkrTCB1MUwg2ghv5ybc-L6XeIhK3mOlxw0qpmWXU4VaIMUplRXnS1A2M/s1600-h/IMG_5936.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCbQxwyAQ6l00SoGj61D4igmGugD2_P3YFwf5y5_fJgLAcSD1sEhPW8A415kfwCuXkY7S-qRg-biE9jtIwCKTkrTCB1MUwg2ghv5ybc-L6XeIhK3mOlxw0qpmWXU4VaIMUplRXnS1A2M/s400/IMG_5936.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279282709191672530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fSdGyLQmdmNsscoIX5PHnP8CbIS-IE5Je3NylSfjYVnwim7Z7AfEFFl4k1y3X_bZ6PFUH27yKoBERN2X8bX_E7S_WgPX8ubVlt-I7aLteL91D0tlJMMqq1dQDTlNbtzUMrg7qOAEmkc/s1600-h/IMG_5938.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fSdGyLQmdmNsscoIX5PHnP8CbIS-IE5Je3NylSfjYVnwim7Z7AfEFFl4k1y3X_bZ6PFUH27yKoBERN2X8bX_E7S_WgPX8ubVlt-I7aLteL91D0tlJMMqq1dQDTlNbtzUMrg7qOAEmkc/s400/IMG_5938.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279282704428106386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8LBdEM0EuuJDkXY9g1AxttI4cWhWt5C41gda3bPxnHvPjTKUovYMMI6xw7r-LZNNqlRNKQOjHagtiRTM4WxLLv3fOfUlUV1CqfILlRXSyR7tRXY67lPjRVTBOhhk4LVYmHnTtaqsk14/s1600-h/IMG_5942.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8LBdEM0EuuJDkXY9g1AxttI4cWhWt5C41gda3bPxnHvPjTKUovYMMI6xw7r-LZNNqlRNKQOjHagtiRTM4WxLLv3fOfUlUV1CqfILlRXSyR7tRXY67lPjRVTBOhhk4LVYmHnTtaqsk14/s400/IMG_5942.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279282529110648786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBHFfs7zubMRsY7SQ3Y3j9uKkfX5UGFsEvJRkrnEvNiIS6xoF0XGSuOE2fLmDVgQ8UmI-zkR1UsAlxeUIGG7FeFklLWwXAiB4qpKSzKBugdXDWCKyCOjnTMT7BNnZ345V6WMkJ4pIjgI/s1600-h/IMG_5945.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBHFfs7zubMRsY7SQ3Y3j9uKkfX5UGFsEvJRkrnEvNiIS6xoF0XGSuOE2fLmDVgQ8UmI-zkR1UsAlxeUIGG7FeFklLWwXAiB4qpKSzKBugdXDWCKyCOjnTMT7BNnZ345V6WMkJ4pIjgI/s400/IMG_5945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279282523618918786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ah7riZOTvItFUuqPna8lYiKbqFcnUw5rvN0m0JdxshtLjcAKYOZsyhChqhns91DpL-Mizuv0YVqyIn96WFurPDLQnOVkCzU79P_GAVQagYxE5fM-aopAlvIipC91jnmr9ZP3OpN1SMA/s1600-h/IMG_5947.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ah7riZOTvItFUuqPna8lYiKbqFcnUw5rvN0m0JdxshtLjcAKYOZsyhChqhns91DpL-Mizuv0YVqyIn96WFurPDLQnOVkCzU79P_GAVQagYxE5fM-aopAlvIipC91jnmr9ZP3OpN1SMA/s400/IMG_5947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279282522460070194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYkU69ffulKwh5ovkkpZ7f0kfiITSdgIJUDr2jpwl1jPghFtE-fYXFPhcCdt_VP6Q5xiz-s5TrsfWGogMRjr2cVNHFipHvqI8ebeSo0q3jhKF1GNHlyjJwBX-ZlOj6dHZs26gGJMROfo/s1600-h/IMG_5949.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYkU69ffulKwh5ovkkpZ7f0kfiITSdgIJUDr2jpwl1jPghFtE-fYXFPhcCdt_VP6Q5xiz-s5TrsfWGogMRjr2cVNHFipHvqI8ebeSo0q3jhKF1GNHlyjJwBX-ZlOj6dHZs26gGJMROfo/s400/IMG_5949.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279282508573065730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipADfB08QikW7fkSlMk1fkpLRicGTa7L0EkAwJVyQMyeL-6VAwtAJuwX0qMDUx2QnAMlMzjDjEYZMJBo7goV2HZVKcqgfQZikM4eEtY93XYs_JLNU6TKvLV-trYzhGnp79mqncdH2hu8c/s1600-h/IMG_5950.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipADfB08QikW7fkSlMk1fkpLRicGTa7L0EkAwJVyQMyeL-6VAwtAJuwX0qMDUx2QnAMlMzjDjEYZMJBo7goV2HZVKcqgfQZikM4eEtY93XYs_JLNU6TKvLV-trYzhGnp79mqncdH2hu8c/s400/IMG_5950.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279282500598081858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifao7ewtr0x-zTAKgJ9YXROIscpBsCQ221V1NyTOfJAWYR-93IcftaIPDoUxt0BQw_Vs086d1qKKdyy3OMF3sUVaExr0D4SUJ5RLwagq_qoCPEucxBHZXfJKNbdFOZJJ22XdxIaguZPTk/s1600-h/IMG_5954.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIfxJZRCeN0mLtfSuWXl_jyvfT8mW66kx7e1Cfo7UI8Sx5Vvg6SPEEph-AajzBVbtdiXwJ42326au40107tHo1t4lUvSrph5gTBhsmyMUyrb5yVfYXBwXvcbq9RY2Y-IzRi08H7meSEk/s400/IMG_5957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281970352922802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yFWOj5l-NluMv12dTN0Y0fpsvGDiyiiaGdal8XHOwpFWlbligJP__d6j6M-h0pXMhSec-v_1MxBUqOJ5tdTTFPH7QimkPi4JmMeuMLa4EyTissKvt2wWdO3VeVIiU4wTIam1Rl3NOW4/s1600-h/IMG_5962.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yFWOj5l-NluMv12dTN0Y0fpsvGDiyiiaGdal8XHOwpFWlbligJP__d6j6M-h0pXMhSec-v_1MxBUqOJ5tdTTFPH7QimkPi4JmMeuMLa4EyTissKvt2wWdO3VeVIiU4wTIam1Rl3NOW4/s400/IMG_5962.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281963217200306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eN2kxBqzRvxuME3lKJNKNzVakbGYpoKBFBj5XfqQny2TTS2T8DUpFm3J7j_BPk44T6PonHYD_ZJJrqS5cr3Lq1MPNwlzoS5YDFkx4phSSeWdEeI5On4-s4Dil8cifbSZ6GvekOon43I/s1600-h/IMG_5963.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eN2kxBqzRvxuME3lKJNKNzVakbGYpoKBFBj5XfqQny2TTS2T8DUpFm3J7j_BPk44T6PonHYD_ZJJrqS5cr3Lq1MPNwlzoS5YDFkx4phSSeWdEeI5On4-s4Dil8cifbSZ6GvekOon43I/s400/IMG_5963.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281943800607266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjeTgnDIF7w34WkFyloc1e8bh0FvV6LfKOOq__I4rUTfPo7xMD8m5sYFpep90xYH1W4gvANBTaKa80V7jR6yz0tgvKzXhRANPe10zJ352o8f0kW5FZEhqj0b9uBNKsQPaKc3HU4FdSy8/s1600-h/IMG_5965.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjeTgnDIF7w34WkFyloc1e8bh0FvV6LfKOOq__I4rUTfPo7xMD8m5sYFpep90xYH1W4gvANBTaKa80V7jR6yz0tgvKzXhRANPe10zJ352o8f0kW5FZEhqj0b9uBNKsQPaKc3HU4FdSy8/s400/IMG_5965.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281551035061538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5wiY4Y0KGX7b4LQagNy_JKM5NviR0vXDz3nZBJOGPbGua7HHqXynn6i2MQ5OQJ7QuPGqiuG2ILodhlSbmb4-9x9gFSXqwjhjeuep8O7PHetZrymWG6usMSUcU5yuIS_7J99kcfivtfs/s1600-h/IMG_5969.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5wiY4Y0KGX7b4LQagNy_JKM5NviR0vXDz3nZBJOGPbGua7HHqXynn6i2MQ5OQJ7QuPGqiuG2ILodhlSbmb4-9x9gFSXqwjhjeuep8O7PHetZrymWG6usMSUcU5yuIS_7J99kcfivtfs/s400/IMG_5969.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281548847652674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBMM-Ss4g1bC9rlyljWZOMXEXyDUrKiuYalbxTC46Wu_qr_36dtBlE5LJdtccbWlbWWLInKGghPosbKxlzO1nPb3svmWbe6cuk0bEPydmPpY11zLOCRnltOvmF-f8qliGLPu3XkpC8JM/s1600-h/IMG_5975.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBMM-Ss4g1bC9rlyljWZOMXEXyDUrKiuYalbxTC46Wu_qr_36dtBlE5LJdtccbWlbWWLInKGghPosbKxlzO1nPb3svmWbe6cuk0bEPydmPpY11zLOCRnltOvmF-f8qliGLPu3XkpC8JM/s400/IMG_5975.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281550080040370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GjabOqY7qxDKzSZWqsrAwBVca2V_5-qySWjcE2IvRRkaLSbr3ZRsYLhkLFpOUOpNgUKH-K51Ig9bIkUbMw1hmyLVMTWOeLI-Ax9ON1PQJVn6-uYYF9JU1zGQEqak0zGJD5IxZiZ_ztU/s1600-h/IMG_5976.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GjabOqY7qxDKzSZWqsrAwBVca2V_5-qySWjcE2IvRRkaLSbr3ZRsYLhkLFpOUOpNgUKH-K51Ig9bIkUbMw1hmyLVMTWOeLI-Ax9ON1PQJVn6-uYYF9JU1zGQEqak0zGJD5IxZiZ_ztU/s400/IMG_5976.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281547579735970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6hX5KUTwSmyJZwJw-xdjWuTn1EaZ5ZHQaw_inek1gNJ0DHyfpYAklp2OSnCJ9bupiKFl9Bv56Aq-gVKEPU8JH7yovxr9dmYgnXepbKo4Qpnth5dblbiboS2pfQtSkLJeug9_e49B5nU/s1600-h/IMG_5977.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6hX5KUTwSmyJZwJw-xdjWuTn1EaZ5ZHQaw_inek1gNJ0DHyfpYAklp2OSnCJ9bupiKFl9Bv56Aq-gVKEPU8JH7yovxr9dmYgnXepbKo4Qpnth5dblbiboS2pfQtSkLJeug9_e49B5nU/s400/IMG_5977.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279281543260612274" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-71292182214839766152008-12-06T18:16:00.000-08:002008-12-13T06:23:38.822-08:00ChishakuinToday I just went for a short walk to Chishakuin Temple. It is really close to my apartment. In fact, there are a bunch of temples really close to my apartment. I'll get around to exploring all of them at some point. In fact, Kyoto is known for its numerous temples and shrines.<br /><br />It was quite cold today, so I was not out long. A few pictures below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksKKTlsSP-T_CVU7ITKrfNSEIANEw2xvTxEdWaw03zJMMZw7Y7nTnDjWSYjuhVtYKhUjgTQ4X0JXEsQbfToooAuQdPkRk1s-LS5BfcZm0qssIgWhZImP0iy7HbXZrLepMPnMmFvuk1TA/s1600-h/IMG_5924.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksKKTlsSP-T_CVU7ITKrfNSEIANEw2xvTxEdWaw03zJMMZw7Y7nTnDjWSYjuhVtYKhUjgTQ4X0JXEsQbfToooAuQdPkRk1s-LS5BfcZm0qssIgWhZImP0iy7HbXZrLepMPnMmFvuk1TA/s400/IMG_5924.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279182334684978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1GaFVhotyHkVgeeIb6u3dJT-YNHx9_HZeAkbbX2zzhR_JyU1qgFVVqgxzMufb_mk6Z3CXYcdgA4-HaVejQnoDjnonBT5yOHvoU2thSYPwKTBT5G2qQJpwp2pGhVPxuTlLpZvxOrdPqk/s1600-h/IMG_5925.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1GaFVhotyHkVgeeIb6u3dJT-YNHx9_HZeAkbbX2zzhR_JyU1qgFVVqgxzMufb_mk6Z3CXYcdgA4-HaVejQnoDjnonBT5yOHvoU2thSYPwKTBT5G2qQJpwp2pGhVPxuTlLpZvxOrdPqk/s400/IMG_5925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279179341467698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKjh-lTV7vFDULNgRStmJK0o277fy_T-BUUIyWYv3SM9GwtJjdZeeJsX1FV6Xn913YxSGlRvJB_ToD8AlkRBEY1hDkqdKLmWBAliWr1Q6Jz6DZ6GJ3qQRofWaag0KhY-FIWy2oRaL-1w/s1600-h/IMG_5926.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKjh-lTV7vFDULNgRStmJK0o277fy_T-BUUIyWYv3SM9GwtJjdZeeJsX1FV6Xn913YxSGlRvJB_ToD8AlkRBEY1hDkqdKLmWBAliWr1Q6Jz6DZ6GJ3qQRofWaag0KhY-FIWy2oRaL-1w/s400/IMG_5926.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279081570271298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMkIPbS7FBi5q_Dmxro273uFSqwzQBUtEYchPhL5_WV5mUuTqJyUSxHT4ZSs14cbEcXPsvFQ-vtuHoHdNnmDZSzQQOgJtGRIEthr5w1uViW0TY0-fHom01HOG8BfuJ2VDFpyut5qTMfg/s1600-h/IMG_5927.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMkIPbS7FBi5q_Dmxro273uFSqwzQBUtEYchPhL5_WV5mUuTqJyUSxHT4ZSs14cbEcXPsvFQ-vtuHoHdNnmDZSzQQOgJtGRIEthr5w1uViW0TY0-fHom01HOG8BfuJ2VDFpyut5qTMfg/s400/IMG_5927.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279079989590018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc1geXMKW7keHAzpaA0hu7YBjIp9A27E6o2JxTClW2nfpqpLObnJajLHgFVV6Fuy6EePgSouN9vDffx6jxLKTKkulhq2xpwNs4HG25eQh6Vua8gvLUiwicrOZOsPT9bm2C-6_WXAi7po/s1600-h/IMG_5928.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc1geXMKW7keHAzpaA0hu7YBjIp9A27E6o2JxTClW2nfpqpLObnJajLHgFVV6Fuy6EePgSouN9vDffx6jxLKTKkulhq2xpwNs4HG25eQh6Vua8gvLUiwicrOZOsPT9bm2C-6_WXAi7po/s400/IMG_5928.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279077098357938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqX99jcdeJ19D9gY4zHg65uq7JBQ6AY5GF3fjYyf3dI48JrgjA6Sq4nQKkysiai1WjhDvA2O6KLRzgn_ll8IHtb0lVN1_FQLPRZpRIitpVeItRa8tLaOscfwWmkZU7aHHa7n4Pn8x16c/s1600-h/IMG_5929.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqX99jcdeJ19D9gY4zHg65uq7JBQ6AY5GF3fjYyf3dI48JrgjA6Sq4nQKkysiai1WjhDvA2O6KLRzgn_ll8IHtb0lVN1_FQLPRZpRIitpVeItRa8tLaOscfwWmkZU7aHHa7n4Pn8x16c/s400/IMG_5929.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279073329933762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbUfK-LbT-gQlSzwa8l-FiIDExtUuq2djtVc-CMuZxw3twWKPSwpkwAg4Zd0OavhW6M4ccOLBiSzxk4A5N6p8H7ifyhncIIAegVF5d3M9ivn9FLuMvr4FJF9Z3OxstGezMMMDUfRLYxA/s1600-h/IMG_5934.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbUfK-LbT-gQlSzwa8l-FiIDExtUuq2djtVc-CMuZxw3twWKPSwpkwAg4Zd0OavhW6M4ccOLBiSzxk4A5N6p8H7ifyhncIIAegVF5d3M9ivn9FLuMvr4FJF9Z3OxstGezMMMDUfRLYxA/s400/IMG_5934.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279063159560194" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-20143380341415637902008-12-04T17:52:00.000-08:002008-12-13T06:14:54.991-08:00TofukujiUp to this point, I thought the momiji was interesting and kind of cool, but I was not overly excited about it. But Kayo-san had showed me her pictures from Tofukuji and recommened that I go. I am really glad that I did. It was by far the best momiji I have seen this season, and now I am excited about next year exploring for more momiji. We were also very lucky with the weather as there was no rain for 3-4 days straight.<br /><br />In this photo it looks as if the building is on fire, but it is only the harmless colorful leaves.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HRPuXouBBqDOfPO0am5I27vc2kzm78ly7a7_J7kEDt06AJhqdNliro5dJ0jqlusaOP1hKCzLyxQTH1q6Ng2ve4167RtCcop5ukvizmksO-EILEOhIptFbBy7vkrMKK7m4nDRc-DKwa4/s1600-h/IMG_5894.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HRPuXouBBqDOfPO0am5I27vc2kzm78ly7a7_J7kEDt06AJhqdNliro5dJ0jqlusaOP1hKCzLyxQTH1q6Ng2ve4167RtCcop5ukvizmksO-EILEOhIptFbBy7vkrMKK7m4nDRc-DKwa4/s400/IMG_5894.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279276024168630066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I47pSOcwOkBC-dbX9mIY58S3Xcyn4gDUwtIeiJJim31AELUGMEx_5Y-J7Fw1ptIIYORC22pJBVAotY6uDtuyR4Z9oMvDxTxZsaGY6_TX8a6vfzXVM_RBHcsLSjeewd-BlLrZkBYKKes/s1600-h/momiji.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I47pSOcwOkBC-dbX9mIY58S3Xcyn4gDUwtIeiJJim31AELUGMEx_5Y-J7Fw1ptIIYORC22pJBVAotY6uDtuyR4Z9oMvDxTxZsaGY6_TX8a6vfzXVM_RBHcsLSjeewd-BlLrZkBYKKes/s400/momiji.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279276020432321778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnsShcRYxKHAu0Y8KffBhpkIYrMZ-9L9AXZJM2uznVNAlnC-WjDsHeCgC1eSASFesUNAbSY14uLIXBKJQbQtrEW2a2vqInR1Y0HlxqKvj9ffgUwebTyC4yLnRxr7env6tRh8BtTdNBfc/s1600-h/IMG_5892.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnsShcRYxKHAu0Y8KffBhpkIYrMZ-9L9AXZJM2uznVNAlnC-WjDsHeCgC1eSASFesUNAbSY14uLIXBKJQbQtrEW2a2vqInR1Y0HlxqKvj9ffgUwebTyC4yLnRxr7env6tRh8BtTdNBfc/s400/IMG_5892.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279276020876090146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsxdeuXNSLUWkqGjcjTwOtwyY4XGQpj-fPUQ5pwHUV-ZveLw5O-PNO4YGBZ1IP7mN-HdlvqIvR6UIIvhl6V08vsizXQ0sDDIzCWVHCNKbnhJfzCfnq1uhZa9wb92NkAREgzo3ptUmmjU/s1600-h/IMG_5895.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsxdeuXNSLUWkqGjcjTwOtwyY4XGQpj-fPUQ5pwHUV-ZveLw5O-PNO4YGBZ1IP7mN-HdlvqIvR6UIIvhl6V08vsizXQ0sDDIzCWVHCNKbnhJfzCfnq1uhZa9wb92NkAREgzo3ptUmmjU/s400/IMG_5895.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279276011902214258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjy8j9BCWSCgFzE8VhTWFrm0sSxAoxy8fY_OGuUl4gc-T1QGwuujskxWQkVUCHvGBJZZQRPl-9LdDMe9Qe66A2hK2us5XkgRUJRaIJMzr3_Xkp0QMHw23y23at20Vo0QPt5HfoE_VU2Q/s1600-h/IMG_5896.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjy8j9BCWSCgFzE8VhTWFrm0sSxAoxy8fY_OGuUl4gc-T1QGwuujskxWQkVUCHvGBJZZQRPl-9LdDMe9Qe66A2hK2us5XkgRUJRaIJMzr3_Xkp0QMHw23y23at20Vo0QPt5HfoE_VU2Q/s400/IMG_5896.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279276003967071650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcU0xjsh1OuWWNfmVoGunQ2fWy0EoIngBJ9cix7139A2IIPS3N7uveZTprsegHICVEMhP319akadUWYu-AdF3T8WQaL8_ifbovi-pGARAW8h6OgCrPOc3qhXqbtwIxa6Oi4cpUTQVkbY/s1600-h/IMG_5898.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcU0xjsh1OuWWNfmVoGunQ2fWy0EoIngBJ9cix7139A2IIPS3N7uveZTprsegHICVEMhP319akadUWYu-AdF3T8WQaL8_ifbovi-pGARAW8h6OgCrPOc3qhXqbtwIxa6Oi4cpUTQVkbY/s400/IMG_5898.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279275101081889330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk2-4p_KEGDnWGs7VCUKN9u9tDVjm1jCpRMGJHQK3V7ke-_vb5pk6F1Wt4DBNZAUlemCx9qU9jkOZ5dlaF02xhK0IiqYhDBKPOWSCxBiYBjaSQ8DgljLJHaBsdV2D5MnnHUChXejtQ6A/s1600-h/IMG_5903.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk2-4p_KEGDnWGs7VCUKN9u9tDVjm1jCpRMGJHQK3V7ke-_vb5pk6F1Wt4DBNZAUlemCx9qU9jkOZ5dlaF02xhK0IiqYhDBKPOWSCxBiYBjaSQ8DgljLJHaBsdV2D5MnnHUChXejtQ6A/s400/IMG_5903.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279275094810735538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9BtS5dBxijoS68d3KFKJRi_RsYU8Z40-DkxUw0Ubq3WY2BJc4CqIOH-YcYa0LNbxO9SZWZ-OIs8yqcQwyePtNyYWM8yAvRqFwWzPDOkH9KBF-6n0VD2rmc25mP5I6AmbhqrAYCscO-Q/s1600-h/IMG_5904.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9BtS5dBxijoS68d3KFKJRi_RsYU8Z40-DkxUw0Ubq3WY2BJc4CqIOH-YcYa0LNbxO9SZWZ-OIs8yqcQwyePtNyYWM8yAvRqFwWzPDOkH9KBF-6n0VD2rmc25mP5I6AmbhqrAYCscO-Q/s400/IMG_5904.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279275095231408290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDiuF74Jih73fEnyW69XfnmhSRp7qswK6LhLNBqI1DaRwX1J73nhKwSYNrsFl7GThOrL7cvnkG34ubx9XyF4ULnzYZusX7RCkLSV3xbAnWyG9Cer073eVajGOAYJDEsix9T5gI4UpPCI/s1600-h/IMG_5905.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDiuF74Jih73fEnyW69XfnmhSRp7qswK6LhLNBqI1DaRwX1J73nhKwSYNrsFl7GThOrL7cvnkG34ubx9XyF4ULnzYZusX7RCkLSV3xbAnWyG9Cer073eVajGOAYJDEsix9T5gI4UpPCI/s400/IMG_5905.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279275093125265858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GO4m2wvrPU90FjACWWwpBa0_mvvFdCe9RhNUidNlh_hyphenhyphenNPbgvTeZ5uUOaSnzm8Jnnu-8TfCtaHm5Os3nBxeibBt7u0M8Ipj2VfWTuEpWSCefr-nvd0ZhuQ_Kk-6Ox6pob6Gutvjjr5g/s1600-h/IMG_5909.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GO4m2wvrPU90FjACWWwpBa0_mvvFdCe9RhNUidNlh_hyphenhyphenNPbgvTeZ5uUOaSnzm8Jnnu-8TfCtaHm5Os3nBxeibBt7u0M8Ipj2VfWTuEpWSCefr-nvd0ZhuQ_Kk-6Ox6pob6Gutvjjr5g/s400/IMG_5909.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279275085572994770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYgyMpgIlDoMCO1dMFvhT1iuQ10Cgs8lsh9t9ucE7lZOWYCQoZ1i2E0XK_QeBV63N4DuagvAWKa0NCqeRrPZEEE1P2iHahjOldcM3_O9I5vlOA2-A1Ud_XHjL-YCU6GSy86B5_TVvDbc/s1600-h/IMG_5913.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYgyMpgIlDoMCO1dMFvhT1iuQ10Cgs8lsh9t9ucE7lZOWYCQoZ1i2E0XK_QeBV63N4DuagvAWKa0NCqeRrPZEEE1P2iHahjOldcM3_O9I5vlOA2-A1Ud_XHjL-YCU6GSy86B5_TVvDbc/s400/IMG_5913.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279273425316173138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0lYm_Z37HBC2a9ZSQvAJUAq76A2FQ6MSNhHcZKpIWM14DyDfgwQ2EKpff6ow2z3vQEmlJebjs8NcE7FwsAEbsGwW5-68BmLTM4YuwIiB79D4u9kmMTK0yoL-hYqwr-0oq6DhCSQCrA0/s1600-h/IMG_5914.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0lYm_Z37HBC2a9ZSQvAJUAq76A2FQ6MSNhHcZKpIWM14DyDfgwQ2EKpff6ow2z3vQEmlJebjs8NcE7FwsAEbsGwW5-68BmLTM4YuwIiB79D4u9kmMTK0yoL-hYqwr-0oq6DhCSQCrA0/s400/IMG_5914.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279273422746930786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2C8g9PPyN-Vc9eAzf9yBYawzAfHhCz8Sc3tqlwfZ283lRGRcKVGgoREWvPH7USm2NP53WY1LZOC4rSPJMGzEaT2hkL6D9B5ygkX2qhd0pihRCjFIZX5Om_YOWnrs6Ei13Agqpxj7N0LU/s1600-h/IMG_5915.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2C8g9PPyN-Vc9eAzf9yBYawzAfHhCz8Sc3tqlwfZ283lRGRcKVGgoREWvPH7USm2NP53WY1LZOC4rSPJMGzEaT2hkL6D9B5ygkX2qhd0pihRCjFIZX5Om_YOWnrs6Ei13Agqpxj7N0LU/s400/IMG_5915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279273420402131314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fvmI_HnWaFdNRayBoe9RfFLRZE2eleBPjux_z5pk-HAE3Atd_7M8ojYwngBgXJWEac-lzUzQDDu0yagEBcOinSuLTPDqnp2sY79cF16DBmeh_UiLbxhagxOXLSWsAjxbHhms3xGCGLM/s1600-h/IMG_5919.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fvmI_HnWaFdNRayBoe9RfFLRZE2eleBPjux_z5pk-HAE3Atd_7M8ojYwngBgXJWEac-lzUzQDDu0yagEBcOinSuLTPDqnp2sY79cF16DBmeh_UiLbxhagxOXLSWsAjxbHhms3xGCGLM/s400/IMG_5919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279273415615952050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hzF4o0sOHjlyOhJbR-s9wCMdUooVTN3_76mC3j5e8QOHdr3Eozj8ygnJ8uRqESZ2c00jxY7Epuki2J3CmdcGY32phRIORWTh8q43iBEQJcev7-e3D23_UBsUQ1-ejMaTGOqdua54iXI/s1600-h/IMG_5923.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hzF4o0sOHjlyOhJbR-s9wCMdUooVTN3_76mC3j5e8QOHdr3Eozj8ygnJ8uRqESZ2c00jxY7Epuki2J3CmdcGY32phRIORWTh8q43iBEQJcev7-e3D23_UBsUQ1-ejMaTGOqdua54iXI/s400/IMG_5923.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279273412110187874" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-11865560429674759752008-12-02T17:31:00.000-08:002008-12-13T05:54:40.294-08:00Arashiyama Light UpTonight I met up with one of my UCLA friends, Kayo-san. She came down from Tokyo for a couple of days to see the momiji. I took the train to nearby Arashiyama to meet her and see the light of the momiji. (The previous weekend I had ridden my bike almost all the way to Arashiyama.)<br /><br />Here are some photos from the light-up. With the low light the photos only came out so-so. It will be time for a new camera soon. Mine is around 5 years old, and I am sure the newer cameras must do better in lower light situations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHkP-MlURaaUtRdPFPnJg6kvrJdH-Pp6rfORhTwenHhOqAWvQHHi-p_H_gpObjZYptsY3w_nvCixpBDep6ceAUUY2TUkExFNtY2qfXTAEbxL5fU9LmgqzmXlVH6EQEVm0tKEyPdWdl-U/s1600-h/IMG_5860.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHkP-MlURaaUtRdPFPnJg6kvrJdH-Pp6rfORhTwenHhOqAWvQHHi-p_H_gpObjZYptsY3w_nvCixpBDep6ceAUUY2TUkExFNtY2qfXTAEbxL5fU9LmgqzmXlVH6EQEVm0tKEyPdWdl-U/s400/IMG_5860.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270918761215442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIKXF8_hXH0xt4ObOnTc_GXR1zS3frqmA-wSgZgiMaoOwogIKP5nHxIaFGkmpyymIBSgrGiEnZQbHnrahYGYvN-H9Qzyzl98dYrXRNiqBRIUMZueCgj188GaW_88mbsUOgdDsF_NsWYE/s1600-h/IMG_5862.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIKXF8_hXH0xt4ObOnTc_GXR1zS3frqmA-wSgZgiMaoOwogIKP5nHxIaFGkmpyymIBSgrGiEnZQbHnrahYGYvN-H9Qzyzl98dYrXRNiqBRIUMZueCgj188GaW_88mbsUOgdDsF_NsWYE/s400/IMG_5862.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270915715475122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJgovBxdUuNRUrUAvhCUX-Un3rjcRBXhfm6GPb09Gu97qPFQlZ6jS0iURiv7c56OIbx0THjYUf-Fhu3DDo-5iY8ccOs1tPtM0AeQMcStJZCrt4_cQbk4UyyiGNJ9H1tGnKVHCQCgal6A/s1600-h/IMG_5863.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJgovBxdUuNRUrUAvhCUX-Un3rjcRBXhfm6GPb09Gu97qPFQlZ6jS0iURiv7c56OIbx0THjYUf-Fhu3DDo-5iY8ccOs1tPtM0AeQMcStJZCrt4_cQbk4UyyiGNJ9H1tGnKVHCQCgal6A/s400/IMG_5863.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270918316652642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqk7fDg5VOOW0nLlfIVNyRP30ZGeY6p-mz4ale2ajXQrXCKpolPhl1iD9S6OIyoe6QGBNw4sgmLD4dPI-W2F5agOlnIyjG526LB2UDVHl4Ok8yS0Krvv0DV0y2zLz8lPpY7SoA6MFZmU/s1600-h/IMG_5864.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqk7fDg5VOOW0nLlfIVNyRP30ZGeY6p-mz4ale2ajXQrXCKpolPhl1iD9S6OIyoe6QGBNw4sgmLD4dPI-W2F5agOlnIyjG526LB2UDVHl4Ok8yS0Krvv0DV0y2zLz8lPpY7SoA6MFZmU/s400/IMG_5864.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270907846737730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaqe16lF6Jj4LKtfAN5FFbHhsdu1yA3Ne-4K01lok5a8GKdx7WuQDLflwlv4yKGhYdiGV9tg_94euEc2RmoRmUffVM3zoIoQfO5YtgP1qhtPlgBKIZ8X2JxVL7inzL5s8uZesQvs1HNo/s1600-h/IMG_5868.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaqe16lF6Jj4LKtfAN5FFbHhsdu1yA3Ne-4K01lok5a8GKdx7WuQDLflwlv4yKGhYdiGV9tg_94euEc2RmoRmUffVM3zoIoQfO5YtgP1qhtPlgBKIZ8X2JxVL7inzL5s8uZesQvs1HNo/s400/IMG_5868.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270904900647506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH_b_V6u6bjN2PfsUGcYOgnAh27k3CR6ouHg8R-O0UQ1JYk_-CPkbde3HGMQXZ7B_f9IzdF0-7J6esHhlGSJsE7N29kkduztWViyZmZXZdF0uUPk_Jm6HjbYBuQAdsDcKkGcc9l-SVOA/s1600-h/IMG_5871.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH_b_V6u6bjN2PfsUGcYOgnAh27k3CR6ouHg8R-O0UQ1JYk_-CPkbde3HGMQXZ7B_f9IzdF0-7J6esHhlGSJsE7N29kkduztWViyZmZXZdF0uUPk_Jm6HjbYBuQAdsDcKkGcc9l-SVOA/s400/IMG_5871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270557160574274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApBsin62RFnKymPaZKeLSgSLSLvTJjg8dBl3UAAE7ojgilP0OaiegTpNij6LTb4WiQFx1kwADoATk2_P6RM7bZ-hz-7McJEJ6skEGah_TDQ2kOv4Rduh88Y5OVtIIg1nf0OyW4Q85Zo4/s1600-h/IMG_5873.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApBsin62RFnKymPaZKeLSgSLSLvTJjg8dBl3UAAE7ojgilP0OaiegTpNij6LTb4WiQFx1kwADoATk2_P6RM7bZ-hz-7McJEJ6skEGah_TDQ2kOv4Rduh88Y5OVtIIg1nf0OyW4Q85Zo4/s400/IMG_5873.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270547434714866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvX41pp4Xks-XUdieqCymotdKMa7eYglZ7dLVPXXh1d87pqS2gkQtGO4RGw4cFxdR2BgkJmrmXaviF1ehMdkQrlkAOXTHjD9anvTQHMUAqhZveUjHRH9UOKIfTUP_6qiEmTNgMWZ3kM0/s1600-h/ArashiyamaLightUp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvX41pp4Xks-XUdieqCymotdKMa7eYglZ7dLVPXXh1d87pqS2gkQtGO4RGw4cFxdR2BgkJmrmXaviF1ehMdkQrlkAOXTHjD9anvTQHMUAqhZveUjHRH9UOKIfTUP_6qiEmTNgMWZ3kM0/s400/ArashiyamaLightUp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270547291841058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mozQhQFkQUpbEShiPNRPtOG2ISDv_VExYVdSAnrrjTvbHLR0606ZUp-GtHvQIGMeLUmbCLgDzEfBGRhpCY0iSmoT0vUDqoJpwOVbiXbeo7LLNEVeUvuGyd6rvMREsw_7DR4HMaOKu3s/s1600-h/IMG_5875.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mozQhQFkQUpbEShiPNRPtOG2ISDv_VExYVdSAnrrjTvbHLR0606ZUp-GtHvQIGMeLUmbCLgDzEfBGRhpCY0iSmoT0vUDqoJpwOVbiXbeo7LLNEVeUvuGyd6rvMREsw_7DR4HMaOKu3s/s400/IMG_5875.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270543090137506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRy9ifcV99dsSL50azbzYCuIXvOFGEFrLpAmajp5lhquJHSAcouINWlX2s1j3eY4dHkzsyKrrNVloGXyxZIIAMNxeekImMHi6VI_kyQ1LFm-99M5hsN2vTSmIqoUgqmDBi0uwlMT1EC8Q/s1600-h/IMG_5877.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRy9ifcV99dsSL50azbzYCuIXvOFGEFrLpAmajp5lhquJHSAcouINWlX2s1j3eY4dHkzsyKrrNVloGXyxZIIAMNxeekImMHi6VI_kyQ1LFm-99M5hsN2vTSmIqoUgqmDBi0uwlMT1EC8Q/s400/IMG_5877.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279270532972178050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJtfSRBFwIwDyR71xV_4KyOKYM8NOePWDIurMbbnfneNMNmRPSDFQrPN4iWoNBejSl-55founAH6s-_ZBYmafnDO2VgFr6HhUwA1EGFz0VAPWe7L7otkbpM1W6VTltS9ymeg1BhtK0Yc/s1600-h/IMG_5877.JPG"><br /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-53035910848913731362008-11-22T05:06:00.000-08:002008-12-13T05:24:04.173-08:00Ginkaku-jiToday I rode my bike up to the Ginkaku-ji. I passed Kyoto University along the way. It was quite busy as many people are coming to view the fall foliage.<br /><br />Here is just past the entrance to the temple.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEwGSbROD7kwXjcNzMU4jPuXVQFkxuv1WqqF3PJ_OTjEjDluwFzTTPnZ0LoBnGd6cNxAtXuQN87dVISmsuFiTL7m6C5cnIEVCPzynItW5nDnQ_D6EZHBsFDcaX_Rh9knTbsgYiEIW3J0/s1600-h/IMG_5812.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEwGSbROD7kwXjcNzMU4jPuXVQFkxuv1WqqF3PJ_OTjEjDluwFzTTPnZ0LoBnGd6cNxAtXuQN87dVISmsuFiTL7m6C5cnIEVCPzynItW5nDnQ_D6EZHBsFDcaX_Rh9knTbsgYiEIW3J0/s400/IMG_5812.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262783285148354" border="0" /></a><br />Sand garden.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlHe1fgyQbkvaHqBGKUcFzedWgzBiiOmhIpVYguwok2Z-xKsvuqSMHr4ozLnQF1elc-9u52-nd3jf94FVISxDmlQxUbtbPzwMHUZguJIhxzbhN7Qf6myU8bmQc5RK9_WEneTC9mnWnTk/s1600-h/IMG_5813.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlHe1fgyQbkvaHqBGKUcFzedWgzBiiOmhIpVYguwok2Z-xKsvuqSMHr4ozLnQF1elc-9u52-nd3jf94FVISxDmlQxUbtbPzwMHUZguJIhxzbhN7Qf6myU8bmQc5RK9_WEneTC9mnWnTk/s400/IMG_5813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262771641246162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQt2u-OmMKiT0umQh7GfT-RYeVlpbQjN2HQlTAHyiXRbD6TbLbyKAfCnXKxa_9FiZELQAdaJ9MigpBmhrz8-zyj81l2KWodbY_GItzm6HhbGng_ySaVLkYWNxiUc3GA4S0aHfrlBGRpM/s1600-h/IMG_5815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQt2u-OmMKiT0umQh7GfT-RYeVlpbQjN2HQlTAHyiXRbD6TbLbyKAfCnXKxa_9FiZELQAdaJ9MigpBmhrz8-zyj81l2KWodbY_GItzm6HhbGng_ySaVLkYWNxiUc3GA4S0aHfrlBGRpM/s400/IMG_5815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262771299077970" border="0" /></a><br />There is a short walk up into the hillside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEx_b__87Vm-ADYIFKAk6Q6G353VH2pgHVizTXRSWMUr1VP-2tyB-Jk__FonuGdbfuWLp8oz83ZuUYS8XvKrfPdKiL0M9S9SsXYHl3MsObqcfms9sJAI0EQ1v3RB7_cYrtNR-c2PTFec/s1600-h/IMG_5817.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEx_b__87Vm-ADYIFKAk6Q6G353VH2pgHVizTXRSWMUr1VP-2tyB-Jk__FonuGdbfuWLp8oz83ZuUYS8XvKrfPdKiL0M9S9SsXYHl3MsObqcfms9sJAI0EQ1v3RB7_cYrtNR-c2PTFec/s400/IMG_5817.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262519463515426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISUsDwUuxuvUkDjjd8KI5I0_Tg3-3_szVmF4RTIWrT4rw9EPnxp-s2y4l1Du3-IPIfnMMjtRrH3b4Wknqu7XR0glY6kgFbuIbcTwopq3Ad_S3aNWpJbku1wiAXQnqKKgIF6e1FjS94x0/s1600-h/IMG_5819.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISUsDwUuxuvUkDjjd8KI5I0_Tg3-3_szVmF4RTIWrT4rw9EPnxp-s2y4l1Du3-IPIfnMMjtRrH3b4Wknqu7XR0glY6kgFbuIbcTwopq3Ad_S3aNWpJbku1wiAXQnqKKgIF6e1FjS94x0/s400/IMG_5819.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262511575549202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHmbgqgEdb8ukIX_DwsLKWq2j7INk3tmoOuoVEEnn0OmmeCJdBjKzcaFqzcmT7GmMQFfvBFaijRAtYE-19-Z8a33Si9R9X333morAF4F0Y7xdXHZDxoNwQXxvsyVWKfugTQpubcugAR0/s1600-h/IMG_5820.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHmbgqgEdb8ukIX_DwsLKWq2j7INk3tmoOuoVEEnn0OmmeCJdBjKzcaFqzcmT7GmMQFfvBFaijRAtYE-19-Z8a33Si9R9X333morAF4F0Y7xdXHZDxoNwQXxvsyVWKfugTQpubcugAR0/s400/IMG_5820.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262510952599010" border="0" /></a><br />I forgot that the actual temple itself is under construction. Our teacher had mentioned it previously, but I was not thinking and just wanted to get out and see some sights.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcmVHFcVacbJKAKBN_YGCcKzL7jLeAfQaCuLI9akbuoK7jmFL8hzt0eBb6jzKmCMz_ow-yOvoBONNLNO-qI5j8NUewOHCwUBtiVPZe8TY6rAkUSeUVCR9QtD0NKTi5ihRoYrRN6OOQtQ/s1600-h/IMG_5821.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcmVHFcVacbJKAKBN_YGCcKzL7jLeAfQaCuLI9akbuoK7jmFL8hzt0eBb6jzKmCMz_ow-yOvoBONNLNO-qI5j8NUewOHCwUBtiVPZe8TY6rAkUSeUVCR9QtD0NKTi5ihRoYrRN6OOQtQ/s400/IMG_5821.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262504686171922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3qxAL7wMcvxnyY2uEDN0Pkwj-xf410mbbs-9ZC4FMxiIhaUDSAQdZFA4SrKz9RqcrFEv0GvvFY_daFp6_7fvqNjE0EFApBmqhY269s7dl-rrlac67feiYJg2eNnWSncWxs-X88wOUbg/s1600-h/IMG_5822.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3qxAL7wMcvxnyY2uEDN0Pkwj-xf410mbbs-9ZC4FMxiIhaUDSAQdZFA4SrKz9RqcrFEv0GvvFY_daFp6_7fvqNjE0EFApBmqhY269s7dl-rrlac67feiYJg2eNnWSncWxs-X88wOUbg/s400/IMG_5822.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279262502158385106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnABiDoDC1cVpg_e-nRObuVwcR0PdoBVSNK7jPNOF07xhCfUy7pJsXe8aObwjFGpp2cgcRYwFIRM_KbDNWSJEccGd4F-X5NipJJBM8xqKMKO-GI4ho335yEwgooE-r1zKGmac_1whE_c/s1600-h/IMG_5825.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnABiDoDC1cVpg_e-nRObuVwcR0PdoBVSNK7jPNOF07xhCfUy7pJsXe8aObwjFGpp2cgcRYwFIRM_KbDNWSJEccGd4F-X5NipJJBM8xqKMKO-GI4ho335yEwgooE-r1zKGmac_1whE_c/s400/IMG_5825.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279261808166333138" border="0" /></a><br />After Ginkaku-ji, I went along the Philosopher's Walk (哲学の道). I would like to come back after a snowfall to see how it looks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGJaYlOIesZPtGjuAwoOr2v6A0UKitnADmiKqA_BT2P88pbHs4enoKnAPMuosjVi3XMRyf-WM8g25gJaJAQHl3KIWN0JKsThRJXL0dOclSa12465fshdXYTAK_SVKxJNxS9lkbY0c5SA/s1600-h/IMG_5827.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGJaYlOIesZPtGjuAwoOr2v6A0UKitnADmiKqA_BT2P88pbHs4enoKnAPMuosjVi3XMRyf-WM8g25gJaJAQHl3KIWN0JKsThRJXL0dOclSa12465fshdXYTAK_SVKxJNxS9lkbY0c5SA/s400/IMG_5827.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279261797767808354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEL66PUdLkjTLrAGqqYQSJuR103A-lRlLsEV6kOmFKgmVLgAn5gE9optx_hrtDOQW1GV9_hdbqBBTGv0rkOXrauFkEuveCyEghA_SUsQcPX1hyYSzgkMvU7KgHzR3Ae59eMPd9rrnvbo/s1600-h/IMG_5826.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEL66PUdLkjTLrAGqqYQSJuR103A-lRlLsEV6kOmFKgmVLgAn5gE9optx_hrtDOQW1GV9_hdbqBBTGv0rkOXrauFkEuveCyEghA_SUsQcPX1hyYSzgkMvU7KgHzR3Ae59eMPd9rrnvbo/s400/IMG_5826.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279261803359132514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYLNYTMfc6aJGw_8sqog4_6QtL9brgSC2Z9FIU_5eCTZlGx4Aid042mvhOiE8KtpVrUxFfQDcJYGw06tULsjMxP3fGj8bRyUx81D1oiKhsa8Mp3p_wV4m4w6MgwEKw3eZo_9SAAKMGlA/s1600-h/IMG_5832.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYLNYTMfc6aJGw_8sqog4_6QtL9brgSC2Z9FIU_5eCTZlGx4Aid042mvhOiE8KtpVrUxFfQDcJYGw06tULsjMxP3fGj8bRyUx81D1oiKhsa8Mp3p_wV4m4w6MgwEKw3eZo_9SAAKMGlA/s400/IMG_5832.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279261794364594818" border="0" /></a><br />Lastly, a striking yellow tree just outside the zoo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDnzq4rTl5yHKURQ2HzG98qqYEeXTE9zV8NdiYEgVoh5usJ4T1B2KcE6stpV7CFqqcXvfT2hsx8QuIpqXqS-cMs6D7EWWwgFjEl7CRu4Db9rit_7C1wE__VxweVhOIl30AL0_jwYZ83Y/s1600-h/IMG_5836.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDnzq4rTl5yHKURQ2HzG98qqYEeXTE9zV8NdiYEgVoh5usJ4T1B2KcE6stpV7CFqqcXvfT2hsx8QuIpqXqS-cMs6D7EWWwgFjEl7CRu4Db9rit_7C1wE__VxweVhOIl30AL0_jwYZ83Y/s400/IMG_5836.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279261789633996194" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-73651798219982650762008-11-19T22:25:00.000-08:002008-11-22T22:57:34.237-08:00Korean BBQFirst a random evening photo with Kyoto Tower.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVTGfHj772pTn5fowhCTosDKJxYkHHyoa5JEym33l9NbcFA_A0rXI7_ibsATcLRZTsTKOA53vTsZozdV4abmkzlUzg4rhZEFvLaNws7e3aA1ME6y-ti-dAx7dm1UhvM3aD_GCbfzjxIM/s1600-h/IMG_5749.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVTGfHj772pTn5fowhCTosDKJxYkHHyoa5JEym33l9NbcFA_A0rXI7_ibsATcLRZTsTKOA53vTsZozdV4abmkzlUzg4rhZEFvLaNws7e3aA1ME6y-ti-dAx7dm1UhvM3aD_GCbfzjxIM/s400/IMG_5749.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271740479485693410" border="0" /></a><br />Today was Erik's birthday so we decided to go to a 90 minute all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink (alcohol included) Korean BBQ. I think it is one of best deals we have found so far. The total cost was around 2500 Yen per person, and the quality of food was good. I was not hungry for a couple of days! ;-) We'll most likely be going once a month from now on.<br /><br />Since arriving in Japan, I have actually lost weight and find myself almost always hungry. I think it is due to the combination of more exercise (getting around by foot and bike) and having a slightly poorer diet - rice and noodles are filling, but maybe not so much nutrition in them.<br /><br />In fact, in general, I am not a big fan of MacDonalds and would eat there only a few times a year in the US. But here, I now go there once/twice a week just to get their Mega Mac (4 patties) so I can get some protein. Also, I'm trying to eat more fruits and vegetables.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54XdNLouGjvYbRqGbtpIyLjDycxNSr-9B0l-w6ITfK6Do5wYm-22wqnlG9tUb9s_TJWSBYzXEAlm7TennsH0kLgB5i28I2xwPelWyTOzDjxeGOFmpagL06WYO4CCaZAVAMKVWcrjyzCI/s1600-h/blogg2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54XdNLouGjvYbRqGbtpIyLjDycxNSr-9B0l-w6ITfK6Do5wYm-22wqnlG9tUb9s_TJWSBYzXEAlm7TennsH0kLgB5i28I2xwPelWyTOzDjxeGOFmpagL06WYO4CCaZAVAMKVWcrjyzCI/s400/blogg2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271740476797193378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3R5dWb9agQjDVtGtUhNp_Y10OmnZt4fyfKXJszOYuJAQ-wv_K9DEBlM5qOmuFIgo3DwxTg3W12IgtsBJE6wCjN7Q_DYE3iWEO4x2yFD3s6dQQ5pULgHnYHtuSNWnsdbHNzbX7iO9Npdg/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3R5dWb9agQjDVtGtUhNp_Y10OmnZt4fyfKXJszOYuJAQ-wv_K9DEBlM5qOmuFIgo3DwxTg3W12IgtsBJE6wCjN7Q_DYE3iWEO4x2yFD3s6dQQ5pULgHnYHtuSNWnsdbHNzbX7iO9Npdg/s400/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271740475707872002" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-44750345246404576112008-11-16T21:36:00.000-08:002008-11-22T22:24:04.627-08:00Kyoto Imperial PalaceOn Sunday, the Swedes and I headed to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto Gosho. The Kyoto Imperial Palace is an imperial palace of Japan, though the Emperor of Japan is not in residence. The Emperor has resided at the Tokyo Imperial Palace since 1869 (Meiji Restoration) and ordered the preservation of the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1877.<br /><br />Normally, one can only view the palace by signing up for a guided tour before hand, but once (or twice) a year, they open it up to the general public. So we took advantage of the general opening and went for a look.<br /><br /><br />Walking across the Kamo River on the way to the Palace. The fall colors are really coming out now and should last for a couple of more weeks. I had heard that people plant the trees knowing what colors the leaves will be and when they will change. So it is like a slow motion fireworks display, lasting a few weeks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2gHLKWUgVphcYdilhHRdW8ReXUJXFtpONTNE7FUmZd8JqG4eD_XVo1v9sbGwIqJp-oGOpGJIDaBZ46mOOFsNdDbmz8yDah6QO5prC0gW5VvXOKf-hHnoJr1JP0DNlt40kuOuivkdwVI/s1600-h/IMG_5754.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2gHLKWUgVphcYdilhHRdW8ReXUJXFtpONTNE7FUmZd8JqG4eD_XVo1v9sbGwIqJp-oGOpGJIDaBZ46mOOFsNdDbmz8yDah6QO5prC0gW5VvXOKf-hHnoJr1JP0DNlt40kuOuivkdwVI/s400/IMG_5754.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271727908864444226" border="0" /></a><br />Outside the wall surrounding the Imperial Palace.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwCyYf6l1ysgYIdv8IampF0kAL__k9bpZ8e02ecRBGrSsbLvYMSroCDoBUtby5hGWXT17KG7EVGdh0KmJ3QzYRRVk1m7w-TOM5omYrnLZsdPNmFwfCJhNX9vSEW2YhUWUTSDBnrO87_I/s1600-h/IMG_5757.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwCyYf6l1ysgYIdv8IampF0kAL__k9bpZ8e02ecRBGrSsbLvYMSroCDoBUtby5hGWXT17KG7EVGdh0KmJ3QzYRRVk1m7w-TOM5omYrnLZsdPNmFwfCJhNX9vSEW2YhUWUTSDBnrO87_I/s400/IMG_5757.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271727828425199970" border="0" /></a><br />Just inside now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRl3bHZ-1uyYlWDQDTvliVaOz8cftnB87fyqoUJAsKqx6lUH-vMebxZQiDTurn0qk7ySc3GcWOz2nZYfZmXsi8GecccnvrE2wabjNiODu2TT_YSvCiG5JkOxFoupS5RUfb54KaAKnV2Y/s1600-h/IMG_5760.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRl3bHZ-1uyYlWDQDTvliVaOz8cftnB87fyqoUJAsKqx6lUH-vMebxZQiDTurn0qk7ySc3GcWOz2nZYfZmXsi8GecccnvrE2wabjNiODu2TT_YSvCiG5JkOxFoupS5RUfb54KaAKnV2Y/s400/IMG_5760.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271727825743769138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlnCs9-CPxAXUzmtjyczbp9UJA9hrTkwypTpZDnSxAZrjS4tV6oJgf149D9i5FTCitYKC6eIP8s260c6T44Sd0DmfTHGtAm86OkePO4tu722TuDKgRBYeQnQDdRFSz43lG7k0zOkqvl0/s1600-h/IMG_5762.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlnCs9-CPxAXUzmtjyczbp9UJA9hrTkwypTpZDnSxAZrjS4tV6oJgf149D9i5FTCitYKC6eIP8s260c6T44Sd0DmfTHGtAm86OkePO4tu722TuDKgRBYeQnQDdRFSz43lG7k0zOkqvl0/s400/IMG_5762.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271727825516873810" border="0" /></a><br />Can anyone spot Alissa and Anders?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2sbo4zRFs3daGhJA3ieFEf8eGGWlBD328Zp-dIILa6xLu0H7_VoHBdyR32rDMLFg0esKzCQaNPl1RbFA69f4JlH-AXszRGRV2WgUBcMBtCinRtVjE4Sk6O13AxPBYcXVp9hb0afyYA8/s1600-h/IMG_5766.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2sbo4zRFs3daGhJA3ieFEf8eGGWlBD328Zp-dIILa6xLu0H7_VoHBdyR32rDMLFg0esKzCQaNPl1RbFA69f4JlH-AXszRGRV2WgUBcMBtCinRtVjE4Sk6O13AxPBYcXVp9hb0afyYA8/s400/IMG_5766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271727820135226402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREAR84IpwkP_ctxKFf43xHf51O0axEeCsA9lM0YIzIqSsz1oDSp8HaUiEmb1fOtcIMLB1x28z0n6M5w21LEvIyUt-uK4qxZOiikUoTO51SevTAsmDtRQU-fZhcgyxOPzI6pY28gCnXzE/s1600-h/IMG_5770_en.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREAR84IpwkP_ctxKFf43xHf51O0axEeCsA9lM0YIzIqSsz1oDSp8HaUiEmb1fOtcIMLB1x28z0n6M5w21LEvIyUt-uK4qxZOiikUoTO51SevTAsmDtRQU-fZhcgyxOPzI6pY28gCnXzE/s400/IMG_5770_en.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271727814110665378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMcmPu9SmmGvmUmRhY_qXyjOnuk3ZSdlskEQZzfdZIWsWsKS8XohCVPfjhAsdQYK8XWSF5l2MntRlFOj_iQxQNud1p-CPUG928UKgDynVmO8mDyhxruQnmPf6j3gSW-r3UEjAnD27KsU/s1600-h/IMG_5780.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMcmPu9SmmGvmUmRhY_qXyjOnuk3ZSdlskEQZzfdZIWsWsKS8XohCVPfjhAsdQYK8XWSF5l2MntRlFOj_iQxQNud1p-CPUG928UKgDynVmO8mDyhxruQnmPf6j3gSW-r3UEjAnD27KsU/s400/IMG_5780.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271726646976743362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIhPr4bJrb9NCiccitsfGxH_INq6yg4awvlXkY6gh9SNfrvkvth7pFObW6pUxoVpXX19oWQu32_CeslYWy0A5HvRJiTCi-XG5KpYuflS9HgMeGtSrC5WlPuehk3r9K0airndqb130vWk/s1600-h/IMG_5781.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIhPr4bJrb9NCiccitsfGxH_INq6yg4awvlXkY6gh9SNfrvkvth7pFObW6pUxoVpXX19oWQu32_CeslYWy0A5HvRJiTCi-XG5KpYuflS9HgMeGtSrC5WlPuehk3r9K0airndqb130vWk/s400/IMG_5781.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271726642788154370" border="0" /></a><br />Pond and garden (oike and niwa). We all agreed this spot was the best and wished we could have just stayed here a while.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuixaf1RS0nuvBAvUO1YyQvD1-zfuLJaoschro2sK6tZ24fOZ8YWlBH7AH4g6dh_WdeU_Kuo4gzScjYectnNXfzcoxtS5K60hZtdEsRQfkLajmzpt7Pn_8OefADA3BkttF-8cBWiIHa4/s1600-h/KyotoGosho.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuixaf1RS0nuvBAvUO1YyQvD1-zfuLJaoschro2sK6tZ24fOZ8YWlBH7AH4g6dh_WdeU_Kuo4gzScjYectnNXfzcoxtS5K60hZtdEsRQfkLajmzpt7Pn_8OefADA3BkttF-8cBWiIHa4/s400/KyotoGosho.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271726640300834034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-AbAPALzQx-iRgxiCthXFkH1xWYjp9AGIFOilTa-k-VavY8yRaU1cs0pUDbkHQS8LKn85XW5Tf_d5VmGPOY9NClxsxxnp6TrgWDl_DvaEtp9LLKYSgUiFttez_um-_DwYsLfJ0TMSqY/s1600-h/IMG_5791.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-AbAPALzQx-iRgxiCthXFkH1xWYjp9AGIFOilTa-k-VavY8yRaU1cs0pUDbkHQS8LKn85XW5Tf_d5VmGPOY9NClxsxxnp6TrgWDl_DvaEtp9LLKYSgUiFttez_um-_DwYsLfJ0TMSqY/s400/IMG_5791.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271726635769842882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SC6VsByZD5biEuPW66KJ39Xj4SE9QMRDt1VSLuL6Q7CxNl6_CLL9kF4pabjRDy3kF-POvtVcYL4AgJpf8m6oXiFe-c3JLSKTtBxdTSNoB1Oc4aHNw2U10AF6UATVF9Hopiegiki6_fg/s1600-h/IMG_5792.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SC6VsByZD5biEuPW66KJ39Xj4SE9QMRDt1VSLuL6Q7CxNl6_CLL9kF4pabjRDy3kF-POvtVcYL4AgJpf8m6oXiFe-c3JLSKTtBxdTSNoB1Oc4aHNw2U10AF6UATVF9Hopiegiki6_fg/s400/IMG_5792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271726629895941826" border="0" /></a><br />Walking on the way back, we stumbled upon a store selling these melons for 6000 Yen each (roughly $60 USD). I believe this type of expensive fruit is meant to be given as a gift. It is the thought that counts, right? Each piece of fruit is supposed to be perfect without any deformities, blemishes, etc. I wonder if one of them is ever rotten on the inside?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSyaAP27kb30mz0DdJVhmtCotydvRjoRJW_klvvTV54K7GX-TlqFOrCo8mm-vymFOePm2od-2a7VZVLZPBIGMDqePaeWFHcl0U3XDp7BogB4XnK7MS90qTavxz3IRlrI4Lg49ZATtm-s/s1600-h/IMG_5802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSyaAP27kb30mz0DdJVhmtCotydvRjoRJW_klvvTV54K7GX-TlqFOrCo8mm-vymFOePm2od-2a7VZVLZPBIGMDqePaeWFHcl0U3XDp7BogB4XnK7MS90qTavxz3IRlrI4Lg49ZATtm-s/s400/IMG_5802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271732411684950514" border="0" /></a><br />The melons were too expensive so I settled on the 2500 YEN watermelons . . . NOT!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqFYEBua9sGX8rYmwAfcpB4q1oA-v5NhyWDBvRpZ56PFX2X7Cc9nA2B8hJ2skYoeZm9jCIRK7KhjUw0DjkgqTpK6zpAy3USyuLgdUDRP2Xkdqn4sJxiWsDiAXUoi46_KEC7Y57Qihjv0/s1600-h/IMG_5803.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqFYEBua9sGX8rYmwAfcpB4q1oA-v5NhyWDBvRpZ56PFX2X7Cc9nA2B8hJ2skYoeZm9jCIRK7KhjUw0DjkgqTpK6zpAy3USyuLgdUDRP2Xkdqn4sJxiWsDiAXUoi46_KEC7Y57Qihjv0/s400/IMG_5803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271732415455929522" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-80054942263475769362008-11-09T07:23:00.000-08:002008-11-09T07:27:09.867-08:00Bowling and Keitei (携帯)This weekend we decided to go bowling. It is one of those things that is fun to do once or twice a year. And we were curious to see what it is like in Japan. We wanted to "break down the pins and get hot communication." ;-) I love Engrish: http://www.engrish.com/<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qxjvkhArtqVOJkU1v3Sm_sh7yqlH9-3fV9LsdmPQieM5yTG-t1DqkA3PBpsPDHaGN0SY7xvayauorym13whFvHGTz2SsVbOBTTQhPRvgvZ2mrxVdMe9-Kmna0TyGdxnaXxs_xtf8xFQ/s1600-h/IMG_5742.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qxjvkhArtqVOJkU1v3Sm_sh7yqlH9-3fV9LsdmPQieM5yTG-t1DqkA3PBpsPDHaGN0SY7xvayauorym13whFvHGTz2SsVbOBTTQhPRvgvZ2mrxVdMe9-Kmna0TyGdxnaXxs_xtf8xFQ/s400/IMG_5742.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266670863058692034" border="0" /></a><br />All in all, about the same as the US, except the atmosphere felt a bit different. The only thing that came to mind for me was that the entire area was lit up. I think in the US normally only the lanes themselves are quite bright, and everything in the back is kept at a lower lighting level. At the end of the game(s), one gets a print-out with a mark-up of each frame bowled showing what pins were knocked down. On my first game I bowled a 141, with 2 strikes and 4 spares. The second game was not as good . . .<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNce-OuxT1pqr_hpoiRNHCLZFnqvwvzN0IQHALxB640sU8T68gU2fyKjXKL-9ReQoHSuuhyphenhyphenvjBK6qKgL9wYiE0NMMR-1sE9X0wK4TfDBYZdwhwcVMrbWVtOecokrdS-kmEJKQXzg2-nC0/s1600-h/IMG_5739.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNce-OuxT1pqr_hpoiRNHCLZFnqvwvzN0IQHALxB640sU8T68gU2fyKjXKL-9ReQoHSuuhyphenhyphenvjBK6qKgL9wYiE0NMMR-1sE9X0wK4TfDBYZdwhwcVMrbWVtOecokrdS-kmEJKQXzg2-nC0/s400/IMG_5739.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266670205165033138" border="0" /></a><br />Afterward, the girls played a little taiko drumming.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntoRDGicR8lvGG1p7BK4Gx9zfkRQ2vZYlk81gl2kWFw-lDJbNTxmprdltj2BoyvSKAhBBGJcZGzRoFpJrYfx9LgELU0jQwN0qacK1sfAPnTBC-aVTGEtozGCZes1Kt0fuYQBAW9CiExg/s1600-h/IMG_5744.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntoRDGicR8lvGG1p7BK4Gx9zfkRQ2vZYlk81gl2kWFw-lDJbNTxmprdltj2BoyvSKAhBBGJcZGzRoFpJrYfx9LgELU0jQwN0qacK1sfAPnTBC-aVTGEtozGCZes1Kt0fuYQBAW9CiExg/s400/IMG_5744.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266670199522460754" border="0" /></a><br />This weekend I finally got a Japanese mobile phone, or keitei (携帯). I received my foreign registration card so I was able to get a phone with a contract. I think in the long run it will be cheaper than going the pre-paid route.<br /><br />But, if you think the cell phone plans in the US are confusing, then watch out for Japan. I am sure the lack of language ability complicated things, but even with an English brochure, I found the plans confusing. There seems to be quite a number of different options, combinations, discounts, limits, etc.<br /><br />And, on top of that, even if one decides on a specific company, e.g. Docomo or AU, then the offers vary depending on the store one visits. Apparently, the store owner has some discretion as to what he can offer. In fact, I went to three different AU stores before getting the phone. The second store did not have the phone I wanted on sale, so I walked across the street (literally) to another AU store which had it on sale. And their overall price was cheaper than the first store I visited . . .<br /><br />But, the phone I got is a really cool Sony Ericsson. I am sure it will take me forever to figure out all the options. And they were able to let me pick the last 4 digits of the 8 digit phone number. Once I chose the last 4 numbers, I was presented with what was available for the first 4. So for my last 4 digits, I picked the street address number of my childhood home in New Orleans.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjjnIUV41WEw58Afhqznzr8W26lWOG913tMSKQegll1h9PE5MaGz6cOwtYQB4uu2BdkhlQggPfCjTemGGfwhZhnlb-uva4gARKMRQuYV2XzjvECe_y58LwCoSoekcIljLEAEtCs7nIKA/s1600-h/IMG_5746.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjjnIUV41WEw58Afhqznzr8W26lWOG913tMSKQegll1h9PE5MaGz6cOwtYQB4uu2BdkhlQggPfCjTemGGfwhZhnlb-uva4gARKMRQuYV2XzjvECe_y58LwCoSoekcIljLEAEtCs7nIKA/s400/IMG_5746.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266670196066852578" border="0" /></a><br />And I also get an email address associated with the phone. So that is really cool too. Apparently, here SMS, or text messages, are not so popular. It is only allowed between people using the same mobile company. Instead, everyone uses email to send text message and pictures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWAgiIh5KQSXJavftbb8lkAIy2aZFwQGWti77DFgVr1vvfxmLtTnJZwSXnOap-XkIM1PMyaAzuMObzyFYkW10Op-P9WBiJ08YktgFyI-OL6YyQE8t7LvCqSAfeS2XjevZZJlLAKlaarI/s1600-h/IMG_5747.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWAgiIh5KQSXJavftbb8lkAIy2aZFwQGWti77DFgVr1vvfxmLtTnJZwSXnOap-XkIM1PMyaAzuMObzyFYkW10Op-P9WBiJ08YktgFyI-OL6YyQE8t7LvCqSAfeS2XjevZZJlLAKlaarI/s400/IMG_5747.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266670194322998050" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-65960201752290061932008-11-03T19:06:00.000-08:002008-11-09T06:29:00.897-08:00Mount KuramaToday, Monday, was a school holiday in Japan. Our school, Nihongo Center (日本語センター), organized a hike up nearby Mount Kurama. We all met at the school and then took the subway out of Kyoto and then switched to a train to take us to the base of the mountain.<br /><br />Mount Kurama is a mountain to the north-west of the city of Kyoto. It is the birthplace of the Reiki practice, and is said to be the home of Sōjōbō, king of the tengu, who taught swordsmanship to Minamoto no Yoshitsune.<br /><br />Below are some photos taken along the way. In case you have noticed (if anyone is still reading this blog), I am more into photos and less into commentary . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq4JzgLljp-7riPXrzeQ9L9hzyEW1nqlutycJQxFsTQCNQ3gHfgOsbd9EjG3ddjpI9LWZVHSzEhBKSQgqG6lrfGhyqpJ6mRimYS1WIXcnfqCvC3qzLBChELsKF3DeeJbuPo-1vgJ5TEY/s1600-h/IMG_5704.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq4JzgLljp-7riPXrzeQ9L9hzyEW1nqlutycJQxFsTQCNQ3gHfgOsbd9EjG3ddjpI9LWZVHSzEhBKSQgqG6lrfGhyqpJ6mRimYS1WIXcnfqCvC3qzLBChELsKF3DeeJbuPo-1vgJ5TEY/s400/IMG_5704.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266661333782306674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3l4FOC6ONSSBabkd0fhsleYm0PeMntfA42CKyDydOONeArHQDCfiJ7chSE3WLu8CLNfQDhTg4-27LaIcnbjrKHh8BZRTXUdxI0BidxgaP5VMFJyA90P0IbC6WR_jMP7D6FvCUp5ui-o/s1600-h/IMG_5706.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3l4FOC6ONSSBabkd0fhsleYm0PeMntfA42CKyDydOONeArHQDCfiJ7chSE3WLu8CLNfQDhTg4-27LaIcnbjrKHh8BZRTXUdxI0BidxgaP5VMFJyA90P0IbC6WR_jMP7D6FvCUp5ui-o/s400/IMG_5706.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266661332362736930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MFF4PCFHkBiT0_yRPc017FEN6fugyJdbUalE1oBpJK4bLGHK0O78pItexySfF0MEUA8Jr7sVhnJMp_nluG4K1XktntW8jWvMt_3TQKLjgOtQHVSANRjDnVIHBodpiIu-I-Ngg3Zz6Rk/s1600-h/IMG_5707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MFF4PCFHkBiT0_yRPc017FEN6fugyJdbUalE1oBpJK4bLGHK0O78pItexySfF0MEUA8Jr7sVhnJMp_nluG4K1XktntW8jWvMt_3TQKLjgOtQHVSANRjDnVIHBodpiIu-I-Ngg3Zz6Rk/s400/IMG_5707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266661161630522722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYMX_jJTeLESLsj23O9tSOXXgWfzX55_N1xa2uov_zS_cYux20-_GggdVmeeFYS_nPnySbmRR1f-NRIq-7UdASoEpOXmz55wgrDsPzV_2oFcjHyTnSjjzbZ5ZvBDbZCYYn1jaR-bJQjk/s1600-h/IMG_5709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYMX_jJTeLESLsj23O9tSOXXgWfzX55_N1xa2uov_zS_cYux20-_GggdVmeeFYS_nPnySbmRR1f-NRIq-7UdASoEpOXmz55wgrDsPzV_2oFcjHyTnSjjzbZ5ZvBDbZCYYn1jaR-bJQjk/s400/IMG_5709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266661164196156162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7e9HeZSJMuPvGB9DdtgOQnr-zUup_vQm5LUebsHhh5vqPalK1UqQEA9EUPDNWOgNX_T8EXUiq9E89pkJZ2yOyTSBTnULWvumynAXSN4oQkuLiGLj3kH6OaGgYOUP7WRvJKYvZXf7mio/s1600-h/IMG_5710.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7e9HeZSJMuPvGB9DdtgOQnr-zUup_vQm5LUebsHhh5vqPalK1UqQEA9EUPDNWOgNX_T8EXUiq9E89pkJZ2yOyTSBTnULWvumynAXSN4oQkuLiGLj3kH6OaGgYOUP7WRvJKYvZXf7mio/s400/IMG_5710.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266661154308127202" border="0" /></a><br />The leaves are just starting to change, and in a couple of weeks fall should be brilliantly showing. It might be a good time to return. Also, I think it would be nice to return after some snowfall in the winter to view the scenery.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_zewGcyt-NwRLHKFO4vCauimm5z84U86-NrU4CabgcEpWrh3P2PuCtoCBMqFfapuFVDhu165jb0x85mypQ6IiV5rOMzi8TLsBsdJTln-m-0oYRMq3e8miu0uVmrCIyDjMN-8IRLluhU/s1600-h/IMG_5712.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_zewGcyt-NwRLHKFO4vCauimm5z84U86-NrU4CabgcEpWrh3P2PuCtoCBMqFfapuFVDhu165jb0x85mypQ6IiV5rOMzi8TLsBsdJTln-m-0oYRMq3e8miu0uVmrCIyDjMN-8IRLluhU/s400/IMG_5712.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266661144608187490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Oz8ZqwR-dFyf07hlCOGos0DzdcPILMDx9PoO31M007XiBTKPCXaUwak-9eu-lodvHkVac_vmYJG8lXC18SfVrfX3ygUM9j1gMO1xR4_l0slRqP-o96lJPN1KHWwIOtl-9b-vSm7wo7o/s1600-h/IMG_5713.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Oz8ZqwR-dFyf07hlCOGos0DzdcPILMDx9PoO31M007XiBTKPCXaUwak-9eu-lodvHkVac_vmYJG8lXC18SfVrfX3ygUM9j1gMO1xR4_l0slRqP-o96lJPN1KHWwIOtl-9b-vSm7wo7o/s400/IMG_5713.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266660445462353186" border="0" /></a><br />Just getting going.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOfHb8kTXnm5fQkLoUzopWF-80s8cuC7ZXZkWjxAkZ6DrNj9H_b56tog58NX9B7bc0v9vFy4KHzFn5YZyxtL_DBQ1bETJX4hAEsj8nmCoNi-xYhz8jbKyIbj8BQyUMCWYriE6AfrXkeg/s1600-h/DSC03662.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOfHb8kTXnm5fQkLoUzopWF-80s8cuC7ZXZkWjxAkZ6DrNj9H_b56tog58NX9B7bc0v9vFy4KHzFn5YZyxtL_DBQ1bETJX4hAEsj8nmCoNi-xYhz8jbKyIbj8BQyUMCWYriE6AfrXkeg/s400/DSC03662.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266661339528175650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV71Hkucj1-U8gbv5rqOptja_93usYQtQiZqnMqLh7MT66_enamJV6Smvybv3tgeYZd210nmYRAQjH26li3qsZyJXOv8HLdnwknpMDQDjn-me7YrcwvYsnr9pcd5-qle3gKp1HUiq7T8s/s1600-h/IMG_5714.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV71Hkucj1-U8gbv5rqOptja_93usYQtQiZqnMqLh7MT66_enamJV6Smvybv3tgeYZd210nmYRAQjH26li3qsZyJXOv8HLdnwknpMDQDjn-me7YrcwvYsnr9pcd5-qle3gKp1HUiq7T8s/s400/IMG_5714.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266660439953412994" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the trees we saw were 600 & 700 years old. One was even 1000 years old!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzVB05GVbNeMDM_NdPUBg8kD3fs72Ro6r8YgKP8fOPbhZmrOpj9yZWjf9g_Mr-ekIKizNrl5o9K-J6jXLsQMWML3-f7FlDR0YoqIq8_pHtfdYR6ZVBL7F9J3HowspfLaQi_iypshy9G0/s1600-h/IMG_5719.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzVB05GVbNeMDM_NdPUBg8kD3fs72Ro6r8YgKP8fOPbhZmrOpj9yZWjf9g_Mr-ekIKizNrl5o9K-J6jXLsQMWML3-f7FlDR0YoqIq8_pHtfdYR6ZVBL7F9J3HowspfLaQi_iypshy9G0/s400/IMG_5719.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266660442393840930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUJpDr8rJMyD7EkbX4FDv6Kfis7ObP_iy18koqti99llMg2mL98Z6V6C-hWXoEvRh5lQOWVe4akiFbC3UQLmBPTT4jYIzaF5Sql94x5Uw3zcjMb4PUo2BsQ8aBe67YtYRY8o3rS2V9JU/s1600-h/IMG_5723.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUJpDr8rJMyD7EkbX4FDv6Kfis7ObP_iy18koqti99llMg2mL98Z6V6C-hWXoEvRh5lQOWVe4akiFbC3UQLmBPTT4jYIzaF5Sql94x5Uw3zcjMb4PUo2BsQ8aBe67YtYRY8o3rS2V9JU/s400/IMG_5723.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266660437918590370" border="0" /></a><br />Here we have reached our destination. All-in-all the hike was not too bad. Some good spirited exercise.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnlptTOvPxk-jKB_ifyjpdHChOl1GQTXFfPCulvEmcAzyA3L8erDhj5972Dxy0C-2y9zzNjLl3qEV0KenAND2vLEnjEyQ1pK1IkEMAZ64GKWNJYvbDjoM9C6w7I2_Dp_LQccWAKDLqHM/s1600-h/IMG_5726.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnlptTOvPxk-jKB_ifyjpdHChOl1GQTXFfPCulvEmcAzyA3L8erDhj5972Dxy0C-2y9zzNjLl3qEV0KenAND2vLEnjEyQ1pK1IkEMAZ64GKWNJYvbDjoM9C6w7I2_Dp_LQccWAKDLqHM/s400/IMG_5726.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266660433193265282" border="0" /></a><br />Erik, the crazy Swede, adjusts to the mountain air.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HALf-hyXzJjIkq0lTJsTxaHRLaInGkryzJrgWpXP2yZOM0OQ8C7bGtsT4uqrNpBj9-VOd3XceYe0r2uzLqZBzE1ZeVTKCHUsIh8tb4jmBQ1NVoRg2zrNS1mXOn-pfuAZ1r0VetCwJJg/s1600-h/IMG_5730.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HALf-hyXzJjIkq0lTJsTxaHRLaInGkryzJrgWpXP2yZOM0OQ8C7bGtsT4uqrNpBj9-VOd3XceYe0r2uzLqZBzE1ZeVTKCHUsIh8tb4jmBQ1NVoRg2zrNS1mXOn-pfuAZ1r0VetCwJJg/s400/IMG_5730.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266659968933959858" border="0" /></a><br />Another Swede climbs trees.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwcSUebRoVAUi8iPjawhrYkJjPWk87b57I9KfCOSrQbRz7DD7pCga3eB4SbKLiiivG1g3zjnK1khu5YnWxmfVf9FtYXgAvYiKm6qzvZlAPPIsf96wUeyJbv06YDpuoEnWfCj8daEot0s/s1600-h/IMG_5731.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwcSUebRoVAUi8iPjawhrYkJjPWk87b57I9KfCOSrQbRz7DD7pCga3eB4SbKLiiivG1g3zjnK1khu5YnWxmfVf9FtYXgAvYiKm6qzvZlAPPIsf96wUeyJbv06YDpuoEnWfCj8daEot0s/s400/IMG_5731.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266659963359568354" border="0" /></a><br />Heading back down.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZjhcbfJbl486qfyzxt_snCUehjy4Q4jiJT-S9U77mkIrMuA-0z8pu5pvb6VZLWg74P1p8RtMlC13bM5vu1cowBYZ6urip1Y63CkNiRzhRiy1HlrjT-_ilR5XpvxwPlENZRpV4LtCh0k/s1600-h/IMG_5732.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZjhcbfJbl486qfyzxt_snCUehjy4Q4jiJT-S9U77mkIrMuA-0z8pu5pvb6VZLWg74P1p8RtMlC13bM5vu1cowBYZ6urip1Y63CkNiRzhRiy1HlrjT-_ilR5XpvxwPlENZRpV4LtCh0k/s400/IMG_5732.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266659963526057010" border="0" /></a><br />Not sure what these flowers are, but I know their name in Japanese, NOT. I'm not too good with flower names in English (or Japanese). I also saw blue and yellow versions of the same flower. I'll get a close-up next time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3VQclmU3g_VZjhRYjB98ubVZIAlADy2G6Y9OtK97z0dEfJmi9Y_2H_dwmJZk6jtvZZaL84t-elxpz_17KrMjiOShIDs25rPimaSnPVtONCjD_DMfmEBgwhIFi9d5NJksclAiHB9uiJA/s1600-h/IMG_5733.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3VQclmU3g_VZjhRYjB98ubVZIAlADy2G6Y9OtK97z0dEfJmi9Y_2H_dwmJZk6jtvZZaL84t-elxpz_17KrMjiOShIDs25rPimaSnPVtONCjD_DMfmEBgwhIFi9d5NJksclAiHB9uiJA/s400/IMG_5733.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266659960579544978" border="0" /></a><br />More ema (絵馬).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmJ7zz1ouRAJ0lrmdGpf6hcUqba3wO8R45hw2RAWFgRLY7Jgxtgu7rtzMayT0_D97aOblBopN2Su1Y2TyNFJSb3tcJdwf3K7Rl2rJKteU4PJFSfyHoR-0V0xeD4XGgZd9uS9Ng0awJbU/s1600-h/IMG_5734.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmJ7zz1ouRAJ0lrmdGpf6hcUqba3wO8R45hw2RAWFgRLY7Jgxtgu7rtzMayT0_D97aOblBopN2Su1Y2TyNFJSb3tcJdwf3K7Rl2rJKteU4PJFSfyHoR-0V0xeD4XGgZd9uS9Ng0awJbU/s400/IMG_5734.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266659955383974962" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-64828087237380258442008-11-02T18:02:00.000-08:002008-11-03T18:29:03.313-08:00KiyomizuderaToday I decided to go to Kiyomizudera (清水寺), a Tendai Buddhist temple in Eastern Kyoto. Not one nail is used in the whole temple. It rests up in the hills, and it is about a 10 minute walk to the base of the hill from my apartment (or an even shorter bike ride). I left my bike at the bottom and walked another 10 minutes up the hill. Along the way, there was a cemetary on the side.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskaXXNMtDrE236S2a7DBwRQwIKuN2JCA09aMiaUnRhu2ZigbXm0Xp7Rw8pJ7oPMueymxv51E2HP6nXvXaOtOzY2TVHzlaKlEg-Pbt4T2oUF_rT9ejDYNIJVwQ17ceX-o3cCnH3KBkbMo/s1600-h/IMG_5693.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskaXXNMtDrE236S2a7DBwRQwIKuN2JCA09aMiaUnRhu2ZigbXm0Xp7Rw8pJ7oPMueymxv51E2HP6nXvXaOtOzY2TVHzlaKlEg-Pbt4T2oUF_rT9ejDYNIJVwQ17ceX-o3cCnH3KBkbMo/s320/IMG_5693.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617728099885298" border="0" /></a><br />Throughout Kyoto one will run into Geisha somewhat frequently.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpW9TgPacGV3qa_1A7XNJ-8iwDQcBow-kgUqveIHax3T-IuVK-KwIsh9mKgA956sXRBktlqkkvp8DDZEBorSGsT2CqI6d5bsdS6XFaiUG-tVCjtCFnnAwMOr0C3J8dn8M9ofgSnSB5ck/s1600-h/IMG_5694.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpW9TgPacGV3qa_1A7XNJ-8iwDQcBow-kgUqveIHax3T-IuVK-KwIsh9mKgA956sXRBktlqkkvp8DDZEBorSGsT2CqI6d5bsdS6XFaiUG-tVCjtCFnnAwMOr0C3J8dn8M9ofgSnSB5ck/s320/IMG_5694.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617726749604850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMWKzntD4D7bgRZZ34uW_d_9xpjC2glW06Kdt8VVuL9SITYViUG_07YvOU3a7JxQCLoEc8aw-etBhkiMZc23RF__JX7lhwv6V3_TJHRi6IWOMYOfi0j_06BTLqpD4FiaHwd3IZdSns9I/s1600-h/IMG_5695.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMWKzntD4D7bgRZZ34uW_d_9xpjC2glW06Kdt8VVuL9SITYViUG_07YvOU3a7JxQCLoEc8aw-etBhkiMZc23RF__JX7lhwv6V3_TJHRi6IWOMYOfi0j_06BTLqpD4FiaHwd3IZdSns9I/s320/IMG_5695.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617722747137218" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the main gate to the temple.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BR3dYKzGKbena2VrwkuQL50VaNkiVXxv9WXQH4SUqSQtq3OA7vnVi2JrJRmkdZmdynKxHvGd-Oxi6eoX7KlEW_ru4N87d9l8IAls3-B_ePQqOkkCdnrDlKKMWKNLHXMAgXvO19zGL-Y/s1600-h/IMG_5696.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BR3dYKzGKbena2VrwkuQL50VaNkiVXxv9WXQH4SUqSQtq3OA7vnVi2JrJRmkdZmdynKxHvGd-Oxi6eoX7KlEW_ru4N87d9l8IAls3-B_ePQqOkkCdnrDlKKMWKNLHXMAgXvO19zGL-Y/s320/IMG_5696.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617717886249522" border="0" /></a><br />Three story pagoda.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQI1xdBmUlFxxwFguUvMXxfY-IkjSrvm-BoJiLvgg8KV8z1KsSKA4QRk96a2vwzyUdZ0YqTJbsOOc-jL_yusFTf65wsGa3wozZeAOOrFYxvLzEPfpepH-Ob0W3miPOHvZjr1mbc-bEuFg/s1600-h/IMG_5697.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQI1xdBmUlFxxwFguUvMXxfY-IkjSrvm-BoJiLvgg8KV8z1KsSKA4QRk96a2vwzyUdZ0YqTJbsOOc-jL_yusFTf65wsGa3wozZeAOOrFYxvLzEPfpepH-Ob0W3miPOHvZjr1mbc-bEuFg/s320/IMG_5697.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617713723155170" border="0" /></a><br />Ema (絵馬) are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshipers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) can read them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTalTE1xh3TtuR9ckKIT3FAjSCRW0Pmqg22I18d0jW-iTPmknfP7E2xbFMugO8iXoVgVCK7KBWSqoc4FIuY822W4dcLau3FUco_gmkJk55TcXK5Er4zJSkWkXvEiA1iXlx5bC5yVEg0n8/s1600-h/IMG_5698.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTalTE1xh3TtuR9ckKIT3FAjSCRW0Pmqg22I18d0jW-iTPmknfP7E2xbFMugO8iXoVgVCK7KBWSqoc4FIuY822W4dcLau3FUco_gmkJk55TcXK5Er4zJSkWkXvEiA1iXlx5bC5yVEg0n8/s320/IMG_5698.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617400569167762" border="0" /></a><br />Let's look closer and see what some people are wishing for. ;-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9s2yl0SUKLhajiyj6eoBZQlClkCcGktw42UwM4PAojyMbQN9UhFWoI0khvsNxzV9NTTmOsKq_0UqSx3RtI51cy2HAzawgWE4jGMtMXwHawujcUVzG2aIH3QBqqVjs62_Igoededgdc/s1600-h/IMG_5699.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9s2yl0SUKLhajiyj6eoBZQlClkCcGktw42UwM4PAojyMbQN9UhFWoI0khvsNxzV9NTTmOsKq_0UqSx3RtI51cy2HAzawgWE4jGMtMXwHawujcUVzG2aIH3QBqqVjs62_Igoededgdc/s320/IMG_5699.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617394410944450" border="0" /></a><br />The main building. For some reason it was very crowded today with a long line to get in. I will have to come back another day to enter the main building. A fellow Swedish student had gone the week before and mentioned that it was not so crowded.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s0DmDk3lN1HqKbxWFAGfLbdS0jVQyRv6J8ZrH766trre6k_hlhEHMyx-a46lFTHKRPtHDUaZVwiC9W6WIZi7mcvTQHx3fdeSboaCSAbf2pKyPCI24ZxHHqommD_CRn49P0wgYzgs6lY/s1600-h/IMG_5700.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s0DmDk3lN1HqKbxWFAGfLbdS0jVQyRv6J8ZrH766trre6k_hlhEHMyx-a46lFTHKRPtHDUaZVwiC9W6WIZi7mcvTQHx3fdeSboaCSAbf2pKyPCI24ZxHHqommD_CRn49P0wgYzgs6lY/s320/IMG_5700.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617389743757698" border="0" /></a><br />In Japan, Kitigarbha, known as Jizō, or Ojizō-sama as he is respectfully known, is one of the most loved of all Japanese divinities. His statues are a common sight, especially by roadsides and in graveyards. Traditionally, he is seen as the guardian of children, particularly children who died before their parents. Since the 1980s, the tendency developed in which he was worshipped as the guardian of the souls of mizuko, the souls of stillborn, miscarried or aborted fetuses. In Japanese mythology, it is said that the souls of children who die before their parents are unable to cross the mythical Sanzu River on their way to the afterlife because they have not had the chance to accumulate enough good deeds and because they have made the parents suffer. It is believed that Jizō saves these souls from having to pile stones eternally on the bank of the river as penance, by hiding them from demons in his robe, and letting them hear mantras.[citation needed]<br /><br />Jizō statues are sometimes accompanied by a little pile of stones and pebbles, put there by people in the hope that it would shorten the time children have to suffer in the underworld (the act is derived from the tradition of building stupas as an act of merit-making). The statues can sometimes be seen wearing tiny children's clothing or bibs, or with toys, put there by grieving parents to help their lost ones and hoping that Jizō would specially protect them. Sometimes the offerings are put there by parents to thank Jizō for saving their children from a serious illness. Jizō's features are also commonly made more babylike in order to resemble the children he protects.<br /><br />As he is seen as the saviour of souls who have to suffer in the underworld, his statues are common in cemeteries. He is also believed to be the protective deity of travellers, and roadside statues of Jizō are a common sight in Japan. Firefighters are also believed to be under the protection of Jizō.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPDhb7X7EQZaX2L27-6Dkuypyn0baR_lRoUoQw9cwXjjIaM53TjP5icaGFUgE7JO-wFk8CVW4meJ4jRAmTz_HbS0ZdhTMQbkLNQFJVx4bBWFeKPRTGWOMJ5ijXZeX5QZPmtNNQWHWisQ/s1600-h/IMG_5701.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPDhb7X7EQZaX2L27-6Dkuypyn0baR_lRoUoQw9cwXjjIaM53TjP5icaGFUgE7JO-wFk8CVW4meJ4jRAmTz_HbS0ZdhTMQbkLNQFJVx4bBWFeKPRTGWOMJ5ijXZeX5QZPmtNNQWHWisQ/s320/IMG_5701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617381823080386" border="0" /></a><br />A view looking back on Kyoto with the main gate in the foreground.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXf9ZPzcQrfcF_E6oLALlus-iujFC2HREYyIWt7Vbt-kf1veUVOpySTMjlTjgVfN9L_DomxfFf7I4JCpSR9Di5bsYeoQ9U2gYBkHbxHFXjE2k0DK3jCXR-4yqSX38XrXclr_tUrKrZdY/s1600-h/IMG_5703.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXf9ZPzcQrfcF_E6oLALlus-iujFC2HREYyIWt7Vbt-kf1veUVOpySTMjlTjgVfN9L_DomxfFf7I4JCpSR9Di5bsYeoQ9U2gYBkHbxHFXjE2k0DK3jCXR-4yqSX38XrXclr_tUrKrZdY/s320/IMG_5703.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617373258843394" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-52633752116912564492008-11-01T18:44:00.000-07:002008-11-02T07:11:48.662-08:00Japanese EmperorI bought a used bike (中古の自転車) a week ago, and now I can speed around Kyoto. I think I can pretty much cover all of Kyoto by bike. Here is the path along the Kamo River (賀茂川) which I take to get to school. It is really nice to ride along it, so I took off for a ride north this Saturday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJl68SVU9TJuByLVc_A9snkDbFLoLlNkBgcVSp4bCM3k6hHU0w_YlskhxGlyGls7SVhjaQVBvG4Hj60v-SzT1Kh7vR3NX0zKEh2METVmbeX9xVIIlOR3Sm1LqjGW616xVM1pyW-3Vq7ZQ/s1600-h/IMG_5677.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJl68SVU9TJuByLVc_A9snkDbFLoLlNkBgcVSp4bCM3k6hHU0w_YlskhxGlyGls7SVhjaQVBvG4Hj60v-SzT1Kh7vR3NX0zKEh2METVmbeX9xVIIlOR3Sm1LqjGW616xVM1pyW-3Vq7ZQ/s320/IMG_5677.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073573154722098" border="0" /></a><br />There is lots of wildlife in the river.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskXVFeZzoX44TKq8j02KPq2BUq5yt1gJutg3Jk2E0FTQnvbSF1pflkk_ChzCB_L1DNWW-TJFSsL53vQQ9pVR9B8PzSbKmJao71xbc9SpM0lNWixP9umEGzj6fpUpSyCqMQsh10jzP4lM/s1600-h/IMG_5678.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskXVFeZzoX44TKq8j02KPq2BUq5yt1gJutg3Jk2E0FTQnvbSF1pflkk_ChzCB_L1DNWW-TJFSsL53vQQ9pVR9B8PzSbKmJao71xbc9SpM0lNWixP9umEGzj6fpUpSyCqMQsh10jzP4lM/s320/IMG_5678.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073566046436130" border="0" /></a><br />Some fish too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRWWD7B5Pb5hEhSxkF_R0rU5-IpIhStYFrbBVbjanm26n8dNAubbzsxWQR1Glkjk2DX5saWcLqJAiBsJVK7c3W_q3ceb0a3ImHDu6geobpfGRSl6hnW3SkS2iEtFs0HhfyJRiFWZsc4I/s1600-h/IMG_5679.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRWWD7B5Pb5hEhSxkF_R0rU5-IpIhStYFrbBVbjanm26n8dNAubbzsxWQR1Glkjk2DX5saWcLqJAiBsJVK7c3W_q3ceb0a3ImHDu6geobpfGRSl6hnW3SkS2iEtFs0HhfyJRiFWZsc4I/s320/IMG_5679.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073566227114402" border="0" /></a><br />Around Sanjodori (三条通り) a man is throwing bread to the ducks, but hawks are sweeping down for first dibs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpi7gA1x_ztH2g2_ViBIF6mHCU6eZgIeW6vOUkJdxUdDvzbNA8FCf8sOv708WH48hZUFwJNuGdrpH1qlQQebUXx4r2AcJsNRCwXqwbqGjJ8dnYK0R8vJLgUPwfOE6Seq3C0rwO0Zy7dE/s1600-h/IMG_5680.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpi7gA1x_ztH2g2_ViBIF6mHCU6eZgIeW6vOUkJdxUdDvzbNA8FCf8sOv708WH48hZUFwJNuGdrpH1qlQQebUXx4r2AcJsNRCwXqwbqGjJ8dnYK0R8vJLgUPwfOE6Seq3C0rwO0Zy7dE/s320/IMG_5680.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073559981410834" border="0" /></a><br />Here lots of people were set up with large telephoto lenses. It looked like there were some special birds of which they were trying to get pictures - or maybe they just spotted a gaijin on the other side of the river. ;-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbM-y4qg8i5lB9k4DGfVBfFPesFxhXamcK91fNG6m61HQqgHH_2ot6UHX0260K-7u7qvGSWSH6JzZtXWlmDd4bMqDAJQTt8K57lDAM24GCDW5yem52rW10gSUm6xb2XaCNgw89sA-szg/s1600-h/IMG_5682.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbM-y4qg8i5lB9k4DGfVBfFPesFxhXamcK91fNG6m61HQqgHH_2ot6UHX0260K-7u7qvGSWSH6JzZtXWlmDd4bMqDAJQTt8K57lDAM24GCDW5yem52rW10gSUm6xb2XaCNgw89sA-szg/s320/IMG_5682.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073553169067106" border="0" /></a><br />More activities along the river. Some older people are playing what looks to be some version of tennis - really low net with paddles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JsNvRmAT-WIOKyXn9ShYmpx4I0sn88HcNdOGqWRrNbtIsaNe83w0T_QQP7E9NlurVfEAhKOrQ3nL1PV11m6HAOeFnqAh_YbvqQO_p0YTa7cIyYaiHCyjWmeVNLEXZFR0swMiw_xfRug/s1600-h/IMG_5689.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JsNvRmAT-WIOKyXn9ShYmpx4I0sn88HcNdOGqWRrNbtIsaNe83w0T_QQP7E9NlurVfEAhKOrQ3nL1PV11m6HAOeFnqAh_YbvqQO_p0YTa7cIyYaiHCyjWmeVNLEXZFR0swMiw_xfRug/s320/IMG_5689.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073354991102882" border="0" /></a><br />People practicing American football.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEzbMip-jBewkvg0Uvaka8XWQ5CIpY5SBWu2HxJMTl8U6zzSRAufWN2wzH1aTEHKRUqQNpkSiKHOP5bEDY_PDSv_wq41HBpC7ZwRTTcvq62alQADM_Q3Ao3kK4ouV9FBfDNUt7moCQY/s1600-h/IMG_5690.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUEzbMip-jBewkvg0Uvaka8XWQ5CIpY5SBWu2HxJMTl8U6zzSRAufWN2wzH1aTEHKRUqQNpkSiKHOP5bEDY_PDSv_wq41HBpC7ZwRTTcvq62alQADM_Q3Ao3kK4ouV9FBfDNUt7moCQY/s320/IMG_5690.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073352129485778" border="0" /></a><br />And then I was suddenly stopped by the police. Well, they were stopping everyone. I was wearing sunglasses, and the officer starting going on in Japanese. But when I lifted my sunnies, I think the round eyes (円い目) gave me away. So I received a few short commands in English. Apparently the Emperor (天皇) was going to be passing by shortly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H9lpIvANYPPeCAVLxnZTZzSlbvpExrKr8MwoKNXfZJpsRsmB3AS5cLHRJMZLRpC4U-EX5Im5JktQejSgwYU2zmFvAqwqnkIxJ3RhcNoP3rv_D0v2Y4UZKpfYjg6BfY6mJJNv20yp3Zk/s1600-h/IMG_5684.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H9lpIvANYPPeCAVLxnZTZzSlbvpExrKr8MwoKNXfZJpsRsmB3AS5cLHRJMZLRpC4U-EX5Im5JktQejSgwYU2zmFvAqwqnkIxJ3RhcNoP3rv_D0v2Y4UZKpfYjg6BfY6mJJNv20yp3Zk/s320/IMG_5684.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073341081014594" border="0" /></a><br />So I waited a few minutes to catch a glimpse.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-iiV3r5jQcj3pHKoc-lmopAXsZj2zUW7IDqDKvvxGeQUyRFuGEAqiPqqGqSRZgqfP6sX8qpBQ17yzq5Q-4JYcX9K_hCjoDroVMvTf74Ky9_lIBaDjX2BeF8HZQMDKiymAunLgUx7WVg/s1600-h/IMG_5685.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-iiV3r5jQcj3pHKoc-lmopAXsZj2zUW7IDqDKvvxGeQUyRFuGEAqiPqqGqSRZgqfP6sX8qpBQ17yzq5Q-4JYcX9K_hCjoDroVMvTf74Ky9_lIBaDjX2BeF8HZQMDKiymAunLgUx7WVg/s320/IMG_5685.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073336582386098" border="0" /></a><br />And finally . . . it looks to be the Empress Michiko on the near side waving.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUiVdRk6N2fRPysLyIjN4BjhucrLulN0LZZZ_jLoy5WwOvyhqEnMXCAd2Zsczu11hjR3-s5WustcL0BzNUKsWUO-k0sKiG_T2iJAU2Di0MO0XGCT2CZVQHqPEMw1lZxVaiW6PTEVLzNU/s1600-h/IMG_5688_zoom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUiVdRk6N2fRPysLyIjN4BjhucrLulN0LZZZ_jLoy5WwOvyhqEnMXCAd2Zsczu11hjR3-s5WustcL0BzNUKsWUO-k0sKiG_T2iJAU2Di0MO0XGCT2CZVQHqPEMw1lZxVaiW6PTEVLzNU/s320/IMG_5688_zoom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264073328295239218" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-28801398218228327942008-10-31T23:59:00.000-07:002008-11-07T23:34:22.072-08:00Japanese Swedish HalloweenHalloween does not seem to be as big here as in the US, but some people do dress up and there are some parties around town. I went out with the Swedes tonight. At the language school I attend, I think Swedes are the second most numerous after the Chinese. So far I only know one other American attending the school. In my class, there are 9 Chinese, 2 Swedes, 1 Spanish, 1 Russian, and myself. A few other nationalities I have run across are Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Venezuelan, and Korean.<br /><br />Here are Anders in his Panda suit and Erik in red tights and mask.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZg5Q59HbgxXDMSLohALDNUjR5leKggxanQHgUMv7ROHQZo5lBbYdYNoYOz9W3D5_eNN8CRfHuvH-wPiDMD28oajG6m0Yb0SOVt3s1HYfefXalX1fQU_W410gCsdjCowb0EciAKQwFmA/s1600-h/IMG_5672.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZg5Q59HbgxXDMSLohALDNUjR5leKggxanQHgUMv7ROHQZo5lBbYdYNoYOz9W3D5_eNN8CRfHuvH-wPiDMD28oajG6m0Yb0SOVt3s1HYfefXalX1fQU_W410gCsdjCowb0EciAKQwFmA/s320/IMG_5672.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264068001497111490" border="0" /></a>And the girls all dressed up as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gn8_Cr-uddjQ_zQI52zOQbRPWpkQxHzAtVFft7fkkTB4KBSqUQ73k0ny99mx7Gu-81s4eTiU5q4al4BCj_ICiirCwjYAi6MPU2RwiPxC2IuxbdKrH9U27YX3HKOi2UHKvZGfvpdvH0M/s1600-h/IMG_5671.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gn8_Cr-uddjQ_zQI52zOQbRPWpkQxHzAtVFft7fkkTB4KBSqUQ73k0ny99mx7Gu-81s4eTiU5q4al4BCj_ICiirCwjYAi6MPU2RwiPxC2IuxbdKrH9U27YX3HKOi2UHKvZGfvpdvH0M/s320/IMG_5671.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264068005849278594" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-57863984882654840192008-10-13T05:58:00.000-07:002008-11-02T06:30:47.372-08:00Escape to ShigaFor my first weekend here, Ryoka-san came down from Tokyo for a visit. We went by train to his parents' house in Hyogo, and then from there by car to their country house in Yogo-cho, Shiga Prefecture. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of this prefecture. It occupies one-sixth the total area of Shiga.<br /><br />Their home overlooks the small but scenic lake Lake Yogo. Thanks to Ryoka-san and his parents' generous hospitality, I had a wonderful time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8ZVGCw5xp2wUvVHcIXk6E7T4MsqjD2JOOgX2VmQU3ij7OD6sb4xjTFAVHkkxoiwMgXuC3IiXE5Rit4fYdvxswRtmQzPHfWSszYiJTLUDiQHYOy45hFQldwAVsszaRh5MWbaVETxQwLs/s1600-h/IMG_5654.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8ZVGCw5xp2wUvVHcIXk6E7T4MsqjD2JOOgX2VmQU3ij7OD6sb4xjTFAVHkkxoiwMgXuC3IiXE5Rit4fYdvxswRtmQzPHfWSszYiJTLUDiQHYOy45hFQldwAVsszaRh5MWbaVETxQwLs/s320/IMG_5654.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264060769833794594" border="0" /></a><br />We did a short hike up one of the hills surrounding the lake. Watch out for the spiders!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Gk8o4K2HD2TddkGzRyIpcuxMDW4OhG2-yMOBI2W1MLU6ntCj0kB6KFQEy2ICcSEAHdqQhNLke89qZiZCAyICPBXAyylJqTmHEoAAanDJAwMD6rFasnJmvB2cmQFYYfOOL0tnRd1aH8w/s1600-h/IMG_5655.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Gk8o4K2HD2TddkGzRyIpcuxMDW4OhG2-yMOBI2W1MLU6ntCj0kB6KFQEy2ICcSEAHdqQhNLke89qZiZCAyICPBXAyylJqTmHEoAAanDJAwMD6rFasnJmvB2cmQFYYfOOL0tnRd1aH8w/s320/IMG_5655.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264060767725332466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvBGGuncZxSR-JL3MqHZWPslQhJXeJciaMWcTtewTKOdC2Q5OThEnALXqvZR5NI_R7QciwRrzqpPS2v0XTn_5pyxQ9RJX4Gh5PmGGnCvnnNuXI0r3xDSmt1lQ9cFSxrFnyTiUk50LoQE/s1600-h/IMG_5656.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvBGGuncZxSR-JL3MqHZWPslQhJXeJciaMWcTtewTKOdC2Q5OThEnALXqvZR5NI_R7QciwRrzqpPS2v0XTn_5pyxQ9RJX4Gh5PmGGnCvnnNuXI0r3xDSmt1lQ9cFSxrFnyTiUk50LoQE/s320/IMG_5656.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264060680295741186" border="0" /></a>Here is a view looking down the other side of the hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IQ6PskeSE7pfMUhguaUmGIzJcoTcNJxoQLl8sN-vJL4PFUODpIxgvy7NusGC1xPz_j85ZJmBW94XxX9f-MdX4Bhdagrq7cxpu6B4zh8VxUcvpwqotOKKGG10lo5_y1E1lCiQNsjNIv4/s1600-h/IMG_5660.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IQ6PskeSE7pfMUhguaUmGIzJcoTcNJxoQLl8sN-vJL4PFUODpIxgvy7NusGC1xPz_j85ZJmBW94XxX9f-MdX4Bhdagrq7cxpu6B4zh8VxUcvpwqotOKKGG10lo5_y1E1lCiQNsjNIv4/s320/IMG_5660.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264060675388529026" border="0" /></a>Here is the view looking back on Lake Yogo. Lake Yogo is also the site of Japan's oldest Swan Maiden (Hagoromo Densetsu 羽衣伝説) folktale. A white swan lands on the lake and transforms into a beautiful heavenly maiden. A man sees her and falls in love. He hides her clothes, preventing her from returning to heaven. She ends up marrying the man with whom she has children. But she later finds her clothes and returns to heaven. There are various versions of this tale for Lake Yogo (and all over Japan).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZtQrXo_jWG9J8TxRCUqE-5K1nZUTNrPAADg867IMQdnUQV8WTMFK895h_aQnmXVYsjTqygN4r_j9XGaZKkLyv8cVVPKyMlt5Cs2JT53D26jr1ReaalXZzCAIVH28B-xG57hNpYmmoQE/s1600-h/IMG_5662.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZtQrXo_jWG9J8TxRCUqE-5K1nZUTNrPAADg867IMQdnUQV8WTMFK895h_aQnmXVYsjTqygN4r_j9XGaZKkLyv8cVVPKyMlt5Cs2JT53D26jr1ReaalXZzCAIVH28B-xG57hNpYmmoQE/s320/IMG_5662.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264060671358690450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNQC4ErbRmQo7hkTJRD4nW26Iy_hw6Qfq6b1miBPyKqOWUC4LDB2jrTWo6aeDYoxJaw-hAiE8_gbs3kkEk83t93WWYmPO4HuSU72REvgHAafQ-XBkXdNLBpMc7w71cs2Osez1cK1Q_yw/s1600-h/IMG_5663.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNQC4ErbRmQo7hkTJRD4nW26Iy_hw6Qfq6b1miBPyKqOWUC4LDB2jrTWo6aeDYoxJaw-hAiE8_gbs3kkEk83t93WWYmPO4HuSU72REvgHAafQ-XBkXdNLBpMc7w71cs2Osez1cK1Q_yw/s320/IMG_5663.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264060664661435458" border="0" /></a><br />We had really nice weather, but this area is known for getting heavy snowfall during the winter due to the geography of the area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Kw6Ms_qnAboPH8MvX6zxpjBxrTjATLLoWes8LWuqUdC3lqGokFrWc5GWd2HCl3lCCm-RcyGMIDBCllj-Ga8kaJQQ8fDbC5vsPSL7rYDbYt3fd1Gl_wf2b9POAdhTaBN3lskeHPXBz9M/s1600-h/IMG_5666.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Kw6Ms_qnAboPH8MvX6zxpjBxrTjATLLoWes8LWuqUdC3lqGokFrWc5GWd2HCl3lCCm-RcyGMIDBCllj-Ga8kaJQQ8fDbC5vsPSL7rYDbYt3fd1Gl_wf2b9POAdhTaBN3lskeHPXBz9M/s320/IMG_5666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264060655388336370" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-55843409636126014292008-10-11T07:37:00.000-07:002008-11-02T05:57:50.845-08:00Kyoto ArrivalWell, I left Destin, FL early on the morning of the 7th and via Atlanta and Detroit find myself here in Japan on the evening of the 8th. A 1 hour ride on the Haruka express train brought me from Kansai International Airport (KIX) to Kyoto Station (京都駅). And a short taxi ride later landed me at the tiny studio apartment which will be my home for the next so many months in Kyoto (population around 1.5 million). I'll have to take some pictures of just how small the apartment is; but for now, here is a night time view from it. In the distance is the lit-up Kyoto Tower (京都タワー), which sits just in front of Kyoto Station.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2TBRARYIWxboeRJVa5fHmUU0zWpSwGRRNPHnK0E3ls2hDdG0S4ecOiqhpcCMdIGjmmgwaI82W2gzvOqT9ImCvJA9A1Nro7EqjJK5keKagWhvNCC-HYr-9GoxokMt_v2HCavlM67t-eU/s1600-h/IMG_5667.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2TBRARYIWxboeRJVa5fHmUU0zWpSwGRRNPHnK0E3ls2hDdG0S4ecOiqhpcCMdIGjmmgwaI82W2gzvOqT9ImCvJA9A1Nro7EqjJK5keKagWhvNCC-HYr-9GoxokMt_v2HCavlM67t-eU/s400/IMG_5667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264054255332903218" border="0" /></a><br />Kyoto Tower is an observation tower located in Kyoto, Japan. The steel tower is the tallest structure in Kyoto with its observation deck at 100 meters (328 ft) and its spire at 131 meters (430 ft). The 800-ton tower stands atop a 9-story building, which houses a 3-star hotel and several stores.<br /><br />Kyoto Tower was proposed in the early 1960's, and it was planned to be constructed and completed in time to correspond with the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Construction began in 1963 on the former site of Kyoto's central post office and was completed near the end of 1964. Unlike many other towers, such as Tokyo Tower that are constructed using metal lattice frames, Kyoto Tower's interior structure consists of many steel rings stacked on top of each other. The structure was then covered with lightweight steel sheets with a thickness between 12–22 mm (0.47–0.87 in). The sheets were then welded together and painted white. The intended overall effect was for the tower to resemble a Japanese candle.<br /><br />Designed by Makoto Tanahashi, a doctor of engineering at Kyoto University, Kyoto Tower was built to withstand the forces of both earthquakes and typhoons. The head of the tower's business division, Tsuyoshi Tamura, claims it can withstand winds of up to 201 mph (90 m/s) and survive an earthquake of far greater magnitude than that of the Kobe or Tokyo earthquakes.ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-61355987740344542242008-09-22T22:59:00.000-07:002008-11-08T01:19:09.080-08:00St. Petersburg, FLThis past weekend I drove with my mom from Destin to St. Peterburg to visit my sister (Jennifer), her husband (Mike), and their many rabbits (plus one cat). Unfortunately, I was all photo'ed out after Europe/UK so I didn't take many pictures. But I did have a great time. The neighboorhood in which they live is really nice, very picturesque.<br /><br />We went out one day on the boat in the Bay. At one point we stopped, and everyone (except me) went for a dip as the water was only about 3-4 feet deep. Afterwards, we did a little fishing in the same spot, and Jennifer caught a 3-4 foot shark. Hmmmm. The power of even such a small shark was amazing as I held the rod while Mike bravely freed the shark from the line.<br /><br />I do have one photo. I caught Oliver by surprise! I think he was just coming back from one of his many visits with many neighboors.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdaN80gwah0i2mH8E_8mDpuKRV5XlAll6o9hZCNGa2IT_6DPGKjCX6wsvGnXZq45H_qDFldosAVRs_Q5Bd17qRY05QX7I4V5Oi23UqgPWZquwszIJbVX9usf5vQsoie_GqyDWX0plF5M/s1600-h/IMG_5647_r.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdaN80gwah0i2mH8E_8mDpuKRV5XlAll6o9hZCNGa2IT_6DPGKjCX6wsvGnXZq45H_qDFldosAVRs_Q5Bd17qRY05QX7I4V5Oi23UqgPWZquwszIJbVX9usf5vQsoie_GqyDWX0plF5M/s400/IMG_5647_r.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266209516463074034" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-90901287958299783932008-08-31T11:50:00.000-07:002008-11-23T06:50:34.390-08:00Dubrovnik<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbSM6oUmRekxL-fNCD2JAK6SZ3ltgu_kAVQEY64qFOkG5HD78bXnYLiUqYA-HqVP82OOUev5G7QvKG_Rmx6r7nAzKXanEwMHY6Y9s6Avs__Zbcbufc4Syyc-Ni75xi_XTDPCprIMD0Rg/s1600-h/IMG_5523.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbSM6oUmRekxL-fNCD2JAK6SZ3ltgu_kAVQEY64qFOkG5HD78bXnYLiUqYA-HqVP82OOUev5G7QvKG_Rmx6r7nAzKXanEwMHY6Y9s6Avs__Zbcbufc4Syyc-Ni75xi_XTDPCprIMD0Rg/s400/IMG_5523.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271865336966226626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yzEp4zlY_J8YCHGxF4h-HC1kRI_-jqr1qxQXv9zKoDwj5l5NtIyG8b2R755rwtgeZhFgBZi8NLGRgwNGVWSATOZkCfwepJVPThRMJav6379gfiUwSSvw2KZ_73TRqGKFjKkEs8ia5u8/s1600-h/IMG_5524.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yzEp4zlY_J8YCHGxF4h-HC1kRI_-jqr1qxQXv9zKoDwj5l5NtIyG8b2R755rwtgeZhFgBZi8NLGRgwNGVWSATOZkCfwepJVPThRMJav6379gfiUwSSvw2KZ_73TRqGKFjKkEs8ia5u8/s400/IMG_5524.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271865332728686098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y5_acTQl-zA3650TjjTAwD-Yxzh61aIln1LTAIEaha9sFwUNEJzzLL02KdnkV0KvfnMVPrxWUinU0JLDgSOIoicOKG_h1q4BTJM6iOkApBmmsSXDLhK9D0rp8x7Ne6Z6ft1qZG0DI-U/s1600-h/IMG_5529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y5_acTQl-zA3650TjjTAwD-Yxzh61aIln1LTAIEaha9sFwUNEJzzLL02KdnkV0KvfnMVPrxWUinU0JLDgSOIoicOKG_h1q4BTJM6iOkApBmmsSXDLhK9D0rp8x7Ne6Z6ft1qZG0DI-U/s400/IMG_5529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271865332392001826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvDVjfwBWEUky5OysWiVCfwedso5uMrwO4LBe67oMcdF_qYyzY5zLtBFyq3ms2xlHmxCb4Fy0SURzBgMO5PKMYRn5YcVdtDKiv0RTCKdySCcYyPweVgOU-EtPQXvUN8Z-adsmpCPOzZA/s1600-h/IMG_5533.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvDVjfwBWEUky5OysWiVCfwedso5uMrwO4LBe67oMcdF_qYyzY5zLtBFyq3ms2xlHmxCb4Fy0SURzBgMO5PKMYRn5YcVdtDKiv0RTCKdySCcYyPweVgOU-EtPQXvUN8Z-adsmpCPOzZA/s400/IMG_5533.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271865326853105234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI5EWT8iqdLkcCnwl71MeKf8LNtrp_eKVw0Sp4_Rz78gp76zB10MjNDZjwttbzFawN_6r1YXQMRjLxBn2qbZxw1x9kSE7lvjZSwrGbOrkphC6NtoJlAU2OYTpmvWrW2M46XxlRv1wzvY/s1600-h/IMG_5535.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI5EWT8iqdLkcCnwl71MeKf8LNtrp_eKVw0Sp4_Rz78gp76zB10MjNDZjwttbzFawN_6r1YXQMRjLxBn2qbZxw1x9kSE7lvjZSwrGbOrkphC6NtoJlAU2OYTpmvWrW2M46XxlRv1wzvY/s400/IMG_5535.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271865327574721026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9DNYBAvMF-xgI9L92H_A5ZweTpi98RLZv67mQBUvpCrKiQtCM1_KdZw0kx4oNPf96P6RAYQ7xeqefpY8UFbCwzcVUDAeaFfwboJzBH32T7TYnwBsdPfJersc8fbjLDhdJf6wgKlVflY/s1600-h/IMG_5536.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9DNYBAvMF-xgI9L92H_A5ZweTpi98RLZv67mQBUvpCrKiQtCM1_KdZw0kx4oNPf96P6RAYQ7xeqefpY8UFbCwzcVUDAeaFfwboJzBH32T7TYnwBsdPfJersc8fbjLDhdJf6wgKlVflY/s400/IMG_5536.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271864563105614930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1HbWap4yJmiHZ7hT-0E2IpTj43plrCXmB1LqBCDQ9yk3VDBiJ6lcHe46lTxXeXJGi0ziBiRMjAwThI15qtgq2kFjON50n4wHBIjB_jR2702utnsI1MiYsdspBDdoFJtf6u-X2QSh3CU/s1600-h/IMG_5537.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1HbWap4yJmiHZ7hT-0E2IpTj43plrCXmB1LqBCDQ9yk3VDBiJ6lcHe46lTxXeXJGi0ziBiRMjAwThI15qtgq2kFjON50n4wHBIjB_jR2702utnsI1MiYsdspBDdoFJtf6u-X2QSh3CU/s400/IMG_5537.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271864553411446962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qrd5KdLc0_5q1et6Bv8YTWVcPU25DdlVsoaNeusoO82At1k7fIuP1zvB4UjKxuZKjun9jagQCZ0E-BL51m5uEN4jg_D1eclpqz_TSs33J4uGNblqkUfa0arpxbaY8O3-Qa6LKeYhMq8/s1600-h/IMG_5544.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qrd5KdLc0_5q1et6Bv8YTWVcPU25DdlVsoaNeusoO82At1k7fIuP1zvB4UjKxuZKjun9jagQCZ0E-BL51m5uEN4jg_D1eclpqz_TSs33J4uGNblqkUfa0arpxbaY8O3-Qa6LKeYhMq8/s400/IMG_5544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271864556051969618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5gxsjgpE0AuijmsSF7cwIhALDC2TvqA_bC4XGoBksarnB5E-RQP9uOzE6KGCsH08gjzCQHy2aU-JVgQvBpPg5Nzl_VnV8m38JarHfX1CSoscFPzEOOXoYR-t6sh3mn0lKH1Ml4F4zkE/s1600-h/IMG_5550.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5gxsjgpE0AuijmsSF7cwIhALDC2TvqA_bC4XGoBksarnB5E-RQP9uOzE6KGCsH08gjzCQHy2aU-JVgQvBpPg5Nzl_VnV8m38JarHfX1CSoscFPzEOOXoYR-t6sh3mn0lKH1Ml4F4zkE/s400/IMG_5550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271864544094220498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqPOfZJma_s3hQCFV8UPgjYHE8_QRP6m7P_KnJLR2UjMDGsPXWeIhBtv8pNsugvt_rrbave64osMk3Gw9P1R0FkTljg0SBxO1bJ7fpCU7dI8GX6kQcW4UntFHpYYipBdBW4YE1xd2Xd4/s1600-h/IMG_5558.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqPOfZJma_s3hQCFV8UPgjYHE8_QRP6m7P_KnJLR2UjMDGsPXWeIhBtv8pNsugvt_rrbave64osMk3Gw9P1R0FkTljg0SBxO1bJ7fpCU7dI8GX6kQcW4UntFHpYYipBdBW4YE1xd2Xd4/s400/IMG_5558.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271864535115281490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUIOpKcjjPFDTBy3qT98DCfpe29a_LHFVOmgd4z5Nth46HxiSA8_Za_AjXoh_YaBANu1lCQNGbVbslun7-NQhf1arFRXGYENjzr1hAZBMKQnwXwPoKiQ9VT7GN9aHjIgv6qvt9i96LnU/s1600-h/IMG_5564.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUIOpKcjjPFDTBy3qT98DCfpe29a_LHFVOmgd4z5Nth46HxiSA8_Za_AjXoh_YaBANu1lCQNGbVbslun7-NQhf1arFRXGYENjzr1hAZBMKQnwXwPoKiQ9VT7GN9aHjIgv6qvt9i96LnU/s400/IMG_5564.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271863578852256546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAYcMT5PiIait9xGsUYj8c4ooZ0AcfBxrtN-DLcpSrbq2KvtJ8OMIsiYa19_nk2MxM5sdHJnmxiQdHWiuxMepJNz3vCL-jL_R8L7yJGQoJOQ2dwEsk_DOJDaeunv8RDJBmSDdRnGF02Q/s1600-h/IMG_5569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAYcMT5PiIait9xGsUYj8c4ooZ0AcfBxrtN-DLcpSrbq2KvtJ8OMIsiYa19_nk2MxM5sdHJnmxiQdHWiuxMepJNz3vCL-jL_R8L7yJGQoJOQ2dwEsk_DOJDaeunv8RDJBmSDdRnGF02Q/s400/IMG_5569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271863577075666786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVAC-npUHWIJuFCTgJl12ozDs9WuO_qDTmVUXtI9TxeJY2OJtCzUB8S9nXv7GhUyJMEyGIlmwS93JQ9p3S6lvV8_bp9oEKdAxlH5H8mfb5BInICsM4NF0zogaZ4Lho8KzwzMV0oGvwYI/s1600-h/IMG_5573.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVAC-npUHWIJuFCTgJl12ozDs9WuO_qDTmVUXtI9TxeJY2OJtCzUB8S9nXv7GhUyJMEyGIlmwS93JQ9p3S6lvV8_bp9oEKdAxlH5H8mfb5BInICsM4NF0zogaZ4Lho8KzwzMV0oGvwYI/s400/IMG_5573.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271863573094726626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJiQ9IxAiDmRJC3zVKV5f4HkX4bKSo-NrOon5bRMOCpXzCuosr2sflYFESBo8LCvu3rgdmTWGlI_M0jeA25GiKOyOI7cWwiyrY_toaeIglhlSqwA8uhh5gjhOy_OoY2b_ZmbSSrsPUKk/s1600-h/IMG_5594.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJiQ9IxAiDmRJC3zVKV5f4HkX4bKSo-NrOon5bRMOCpXzCuosr2sflYFESBo8LCvu3rgdmTWGlI_M0jeA25GiKOyOI7cWwiyrY_toaeIglhlSqwA8uhh5gjhOy_OoY2b_ZmbSSrsPUKk/s400/IMG_5594.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271863565995885570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPzEa4L6lfrPC12u_CJDzWGu9jP6yAAZXF09y4KDh5_vVwtLJkzzDb8Iuqmz9JaXJpKXXBK1vxCKN0fxsZz6qxobvLgPc2E3JkQvHbk6WaFfxn2wUQEimfgsLiMDjGS9d-VDTz-Pr-AM/s1600-h/IMG_5621.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPzEa4L6lfrPC12u_CJDzWGu9jP6yAAZXF09y4KDh5_vVwtLJkzzDb8Iuqmz9JaXJpKXXBK1vxCKN0fxsZz6qxobvLgPc2E3JkQvHbk6WaFfxn2wUQEimfgsLiMDjGS9d-VDTz-Pr-AM/s400/IMG_5621.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271863560720080642" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-46808303241367567842008-08-29T21:24:00.000-07:002008-11-23T06:40:17.805-08:00MontenegroOn the right is the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks in the Bay of Kotor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpas5WTJFIF-OlqKqGcoMt_n2yYlspV0YID2Dg9qjggKwzcwzb74s5yqKKxfFyopSxh301I1oDB8xr42gFUc-gwMbED5gkbdWqlgJwAAIP9G1RuZDHHQwhaGIz0RssZFmY8Lt6FDCb1g/s1600-h/IMG_5597.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpas5WTJFIF-OlqKqGcoMt_n2yYlspV0YID2Dg9qjggKwzcwzb74s5yqKKxfFyopSxh301I1oDB8xr42gFUc-gwMbED5gkbdWqlgJwAAIP9G1RuZDHHQwhaGIz0RssZFmY8Lt6FDCb1g/s400/IMG_5597.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859881035904370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbOypBSxaUrCpKs1H6w4n9l9h67KtRm4_i5nyJOgYW0TK1t7lo4HRLmdL4u9zv5Wr-lnK9QcYswTuokCMNoFSPF_sbva6tlXmiBCaxjBO5HcJjZyBZXcnUbHfvo7uGcCbfJiNog-hNqs/s1600-h/IMG_5598.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbOypBSxaUrCpKs1H6w4n9l9h67KtRm4_i5nyJOgYW0TK1t7lo4HRLmdL4u9zv5Wr-lnK9QcYswTuokCMNoFSPF_sbva6tlXmiBCaxjBO5HcJjZyBZXcnUbHfvo7uGcCbfJiNog-hNqs/s400/IMG_5598.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859868267485458" border="0" /></a><br />Just outside the Old Town.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFpVC1zZhq-u0XJevTSQL2dawaDLf7bsbCufniM3150FfqONKOS31ACTYfLGLIZ8dyjQS7ZBpn4jxoGOsB4nAfC2k9b5GjF4O6OkampOubHYf48hA3JEJRn0Awy2yt7aaDx5gO8LFK7M/s1600-h/IMG_5601.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFpVC1zZhq-u0XJevTSQL2dawaDLf7bsbCufniM3150FfqONKOS31ACTYfLGLIZ8dyjQS7ZBpn4jxoGOsB4nAfC2k9b5GjF4O6OkampOubHYf48hA3JEJRn0Awy2yt7aaDx5gO8LFK7M/s400/IMG_5601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859867146740338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijR_4cR2rFJQq5CEz6VP74aJta0mSN__Td54xKixGRQyP9Ge3QJeEbpeSJgX32go1eH5KW5jiJrOT4qNlXzV7lel19_-QY_mqZOwAghBWM3I2Dv6uc_Qnx2wEzA7qKtNf7RrRNPnRwOjQ/s1600-h/IMG_5599.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijR_4cR2rFJQq5CEz6VP74aJta0mSN__Td54xKixGRQyP9Ge3QJeEbpeSJgX32go1eH5KW5jiJrOT4qNlXzV7lel19_-QY_mqZOwAghBWM3I2Dv6uc_Qnx2wEzA7qKtNf7RrRNPnRwOjQ/s400/IMG_5599.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859602670921522" border="0" /></a><br />The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor is one of two Catholic cathedrals in Montenegro. It is the seat of the Kotor Bishopric currently led by Bishop Ilija Janjić.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK5VMobVEKmHcHCP5RJLXaX9pJwqo0aRicTtxcm6nukss4pvzRBKaXUvF8Ysbs8LkJLVhVRX1JLvFbkPnQzRFIFyyQkrp9sQHbE8VuObIGOiEEKKbtSTJiDtxMRv8xYC74FRYSM9kOPI/s1600-h/IMG_5604.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK5VMobVEKmHcHCP5RJLXaX9pJwqo0aRicTtxcm6nukss4pvzRBKaXUvF8Ysbs8LkJLVhVRX1JLvFbkPnQzRFIFyyQkrp9sQHbE8VuObIGOiEEKKbtSTJiDtxMRv8xYC74FRYSM9kOPI/s400/IMG_5604.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859599726765794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBrCBHOc5K674_1-9odcsloJOJUKqmZIteHJlGRe9y7BzQ5pt9RAYLmznAPfI2duB_wYqLiWw2pRlQdspSSpDX95VYbIeRsEQVxqIWbjqZKFo8owPxPcl7CUYkUXaP10oAxCtqThfivM/s1600-h/IMG_5608.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBrCBHOc5K674_1-9odcsloJOJUKqmZIteHJlGRe9y7BzQ5pt9RAYLmznAPfI2duB_wYqLiWw2pRlQdspSSpDX95VYbIeRsEQVxqIWbjqZKFo8owPxPcl7CUYkUXaP10oAxCtqThfivM/s400/IMG_5608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859595463455922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit24fkB5s2fq8li79DYtBHASOp4dOQGAtAs5b1n5fJzM5jN6YEq5S4mcP3Y8exrTliDffZga5OokcdFcp8VqNNIiAaGbKtfnEmEq486BcMzstRauHUkbXvLpIEE4xjwOkjW1KjEi8gOdo/s1600-h/IMG_5609.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit24fkB5s2fq8li79DYtBHASOp4dOQGAtAs5b1n5fJzM5jN6YEq5S4mcP3Y8exrTliDffZga5OokcdFcp8VqNNIiAaGbKtfnEmEq486BcMzstRauHUkbXvLpIEE4xjwOkjW1KjEi8gOdo/s400/IMG_5609.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859588161932018" border="0" /></a><br />Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and is a centre of Budva municipality. The coastal area around Budva, called the Budvanska rivijera, is the centre of Montenegro's tourism, and is well known for its sandy beaches, diverse nightlife, and beautiful examples of Mediterranean architecture. Budva is 2,500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic sea coast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7YJp9F_mJ7X_0LX9lZThVMnV9aJjz1hHiqb_W7gqz8dFQBnMf4PONKsgkJr6u93mYliAbL8sm3wMbLrBgcqZOIoRBaMeOo0ypakDlyuf0bzgh1JtBjXWVcm8YYsVvtA1olleUPWiNt4/s1600-h/IMG_5614.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7YJp9F_mJ7X_0LX9lZThVMnV9aJjz1hHiqb_W7gqz8dFQBnMf4PONKsgkJr6u93mYliAbL8sm3wMbLrBgcqZOIoRBaMeOo0ypakDlyuf0bzgh1JtBjXWVcm8YYsVvtA1olleUPWiNt4/s400/IMG_5614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271859584755454386" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-32900501358667667412008-08-28T18:00:00.000-07:002008-11-23T06:24:34.284-08:00Mostar, Bosnia-HerzegovinaFrom Dubrovnik, we took a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On the way, we stopped at a tiny town. Bosnia-Herzegovina is noticeably poorer than Croatia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_lBK_BM2_ExS6Q4CjI-26pYbsTnwIkYV86sdfntBUiug-8BLrxBxSoLtcD-HYzNfMj95PQaDNRX3ZNN_qIZ7WPa57Ftzp4yxNH3j-Nxj3j-7DQPKEAoHJ5dGZRGCTtZf5U1Srk8Rbgs/s1600-h/IMG_5578.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_lBK_BM2_ExS6Q4CjI-26pYbsTnwIkYV86sdfntBUiug-8BLrxBxSoLtcD-HYzNfMj95PQaDNRX3ZNN_qIZ7WPa57Ftzp4yxNH3j-Nxj3j-7DQPKEAoHJ5dGZRGCTtZf5U1Srk8Rbgs/s400/IMG_5578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853668834500178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWumy3OT63a_K49OzQzpU10u-VSzMZtAn209bt1ZJ2x3MNZQmrEPEdBSAEIowGukMb6Cf_tVhwK1MoxofgejjiWSaRkaUlV5WTGprcMPZ75cWVmU9gwNF8160jhaUs2GLqvg98wRKLfo0/s1600-h/IMG_5584.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWumy3OT63a_K49OzQzpU10u-VSzMZtAn209bt1ZJ2x3MNZQmrEPEdBSAEIowGukMb6Cf_tVhwK1MoxofgejjiWSaRkaUlV5WTGprcMPZ75cWVmU9gwNF8160jhaUs2GLqvg98wRKLfo0/s400/IMG_5584.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853664373046882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVKOKCSddq3mphq6zKJqGn1OmRPZlbdTl5uIVIf93cZik_muUHOsUXAhLuqNsu_Wt0dTWk__ipl3dR2yA5SS_ZRkO6pvZOccg4wzBzCX4ibm5IblgvaLXy21A-PGKbpsIBfsNRhaWrxY/s1600-h/IMG_5585.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVKOKCSddq3mphq6zKJqGn1OmRPZlbdTl5uIVIf93cZik_muUHOsUXAhLuqNsu_Wt0dTWk__ipl3dR2yA5SS_ZRkO6pvZOccg4wzBzCX4ibm5IblgvaLXy21A-PGKbpsIBfsNRhaWrxY/s400/IMG_5585.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853656867169906" border="0" /></a><br />Stari Most (English translation: "The Old Bridge") is a 16th century Turkish bridge in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. The bridge was destroyed by Croatian Defence Council units during the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina, at 10:15 a.m. on November 9, 1993. Consequently, a project was set in motion to rebuild it, and the new bridge opened on July 23, 2004.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxybbGCD4QNmVTeJSdypDATPwaW-SMTF0S081Aopimzj83BS7KcsXzYitTMxsTJZkkBuVycbPbQeoMm0ueGo5yc_whyphenhyphenYrufBS4qvZxtE1P6UjdPhXg1MWy8neqxZJGe7ov5a0DTDxc0k/s1600-h/IMG_5586.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxybbGCD4QNmVTeJSdypDATPwaW-SMTF0S081Aopimzj83BS7KcsXzYitTMxsTJZkkBuVycbPbQeoMm0ueGo5yc_whyphenhyphenYrufBS4qvZxtE1P6UjdPhXg1MWy8neqxZJGe7ov5a0DTDxc0k/s400/IMG_5586.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853651938427298" border="0" /></a><br />At its peak, the bridge is roughly 20 meters above the water.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5eym_cW0ielSCzqgTOt5P-SU1k9sTejCuhNFX-gBQ_L9df8iypDRzukhasUpWYZewNT2wb0in4nFxYVlUWjAioiMvgIs7hGK92JYxmwGPFetCB-URDS-bGU-sTZzFMZiTclN5HR6A5U/s1600-h/IMG_5589.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5eym_cW0ielSCzqgTOt5P-SU1k9sTejCuhNFX-gBQ_L9df8iypDRzukhasUpWYZewNT2wb0in4nFxYVlUWjAioiMvgIs7hGK92JYxmwGPFetCB-URDS-bGU-sTZzFMZiTclN5HR6A5U/s400/IMG_5589.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853339533081442" border="0" /></a><br />It is a tradition for young men to jump from it as a right of passage. While we were there, a couple of local fellows would wait until 20 people had put in 1 Euro each. Then he would jump. It is a difficult jump, not only because of the height, but also because of the frigid water.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1sfrFLrvkOFcgkDHtHLxepZ13-IrNwefzsPxFoGZeXrYud3_91L8venxNEGfY8dguw9-h9oChEh9KWaMGnYF1eXqhF_hlSolaNL506aE0aftL7HLLUTKq3ykfH1BtuVDAmxhISxRj7Q/s1600-h/IMG_5590.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1sfrFLrvkOFcgkDHtHLxepZ13-IrNwefzsPxFoGZeXrYud3_91L8venxNEGfY8dguw9-h9oChEh9KWaMGnYF1eXqhF_hlSolaNL506aE0aftL7HLLUTKq3ykfH1BtuVDAmxhISxRj7Q/s400/IMG_5590.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853338285133490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXETI0maeSbqXbNYPugU0kEsVoWZb8_jgo0lPpyBlauUmJX4ytY_x5kNEQF2MFw3GsKsswJW6UwXDVw7qEAHVfbTqxNzkvbdW3vPrm6eHQPOxc7j0WcFOvtSbXwwmVKSpneqUqyKRnqM/s1600-h/IMG_5591.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXETI0maeSbqXbNYPugU0kEsVoWZb8_jgo0lPpyBlauUmJX4ytY_x5kNEQF2MFw3GsKsswJW6UwXDVw7qEAHVfbTqxNzkvbdW3vPrm6eHQPOxc7j0WcFOvtSbXwwmVKSpneqUqyKRnqM/s400/IMG_5591.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853339798003602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQveIDcmRaze5MSR4Y65T-383VGFbmpthWZiWNT_pVbLdyzOgn6Dm5RqoZbw8RkCYuRoSATfMsH_NEHvXoHpjiGbdT30qlkusPMvUElW6ZS0squUF2hR61XYQwISguGVEArDictsFFic/s1600-h/IMG_5587.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQveIDcmRaze5MSR4Y65T-383VGFbmpthWZiWNT_pVbLdyzOgn6Dm5RqoZbw8RkCYuRoSATfMsH_NEHvXoHpjiGbdT30qlkusPMvUElW6ZS0squUF2hR61XYQwISguGVEArDictsFFic/s400/IMG_5587.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853330502461858" border="0" /></a><br />The history of the Catholic Church St. Peter and Paul dates back to the Ottoman era. It was built in 1866, but totally destroyed during the war in the early 1990's. The new church, with a much higher tower was erected on the foundations of the old church in 2000. A Franciscan monastery can be found just next to the Catholic Church.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MG40N6f9-YqELeFIawox45L0p9BNZ-wSC_720kOFAe-BTVC7nrfAC1XZEu60zTqp05QYqnQl61uhNNiUBg6vl1_4baDHdn-JdOCam8ik_SzCSNVsP8Hqz8xG0VSAMkklWPl3hSst8kE/s1600-h/IMG_5593.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MG40N6f9-YqELeFIawox45L0p9BNZ-wSC_720kOFAe-BTVC7nrfAC1XZEu60zTqp05QYqnQl61uhNNiUBg6vl1_4baDHdn-JdOCam8ik_SzCSNVsP8Hqz8xG0VSAMkklWPl3hSst8kE/s400/IMG_5593.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271853326893753042" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-51560313956231328402008-08-25T19:41:00.000-07:002008-11-23T05:56:00.091-08:00Islands of Hvar and KorculaThe next morning Reza flew in and we set off to the Island of Hvar, along with another 2 of Anatole's friends.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CAvAnSuT6IK0F4ZtVv-mzJWqB-jeoc2ASOIcC55GK1qWgrwjPAIlaZzZf5Xo-wZ7x5cXwoA5iEdd4tO3Qj0QjFsotAkWhJ1DkerEP1QlO7fhCaDKtZnHKqYlKOrgNzsmSX-PvX8d7F0/s1600-h/IMG_5466.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CAvAnSuT6IK0F4ZtVv-mzJWqB-jeoc2ASOIcC55GK1qWgrwjPAIlaZzZf5Xo-wZ7x5cXwoA5iEdd4tO3Qj0QjFsotAkWhJ1DkerEP1QlO7fhCaDKtZnHKqYlKOrgNzsmSX-PvX8d7F0/s400/IMG_5466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271849782419686946" border="0" /></a><br />One afternoon we rented a tiny boat and headed out to sea for a 3 hour tour, 3 hour tour.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w1tbpd_ZhLt9MeoYjbGYLEyR1BtPQgPd3VE8ImgnUJcyTKZD9bo5Pmq2lH2v8KD1fD2gbhhujTlGaEpQxqifA5uOScx2JUN_LCxJLGIpaI-kIicrrXOfY4w8ESBnpiCGhbyUAS2qygE/s1600-h/IMG_5474.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w1tbpd_ZhLt9MeoYjbGYLEyR1BtPQgPd3VE8ImgnUJcyTKZD9bo5Pmq2lH2v8KD1fD2gbhhujTlGaEpQxqifA5uOScx2JUN_LCxJLGIpaI-kIicrrXOfY4w8ESBnpiCGhbyUAS2qygE/s400/IMG_5474.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271849629130596178" border="0" /></a><br />Looking back on the Island of Hvar. The Castle sits atop the hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt_PjiDCq9n0P99xKFiEEg7yMbLs93fH49pJ5NpbVYkFF1aXwOLH8tuWUUImTAJi7m0DqkQ-hJEWpTsKFyOLTLCWY2-C8VpB9MyFbahx_zYl0RoGrRxOBRAfX9W8hXPTw_o0GkgdAL1g/s1600-h/IMG_5471.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt_PjiDCq9n0P99xKFiEEg7yMbLs93fH49pJ5NpbVYkFF1aXwOLH8tuWUUImTAJi7m0DqkQ-hJEWpTsKFyOLTLCWY2-C8VpB9MyFbahx_zYl0RoGrRxOBRAfX9W8hXPTw_o0GkgdAL1g/s400/IMG_5471.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271849784173810658" border="0" /></a><br />We docked our boat at another small island and had a great dinner. Nearby was an interesting table.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0j_QJZ-eBeRlsFPYlkvlhJ6rOy6VGwhIh3nKi3krtqKYsK0GMxUm6g9YiUI5mJd58twQQxOXXcd4Av1hCWZjN_QOrbSw29VFkE6WZ-fzSt8kfyMBrG3IRbNo7BAJ8nSpi2ViYJFs6vw/s1600-h/IMG_5476.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0j_QJZ-eBeRlsFPYlkvlhJ6rOy6VGwhIh3nKi3krtqKYsK0GMxUm6g9YiUI5mJd58twQQxOXXcd4Av1hCWZjN_QOrbSw29VFkE6WZ-fzSt8kfyMBrG3IRbNo7BAJ8nSpi2ViYJFs6vw/s400/IMG_5476.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271849624852982450" border="0" /></a><br />Some beautiful flowers near our rented apartment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-UV9FH3nOshb5wywqIFY7qnG_cj5m6Fq1U6yfn8cOujlzYmUkjh4f4Qj96oFKnjHENtn9mES8Aihnqnv8iojyEj8r6mlVFvWA43hXbqA1HNYYZcXai3IebXmFZkvMZc59YF9HzA8O9o/s1600-h/IMG_5479.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-UV9FH3nOshb5wywqIFY7qnG_cj5m6Fq1U6yfn8cOujlzYmUkjh4f4Qj96oFKnjHENtn9mES8Aihnqnv8iojyEj8r6mlVFvWA43hXbqA1HNYYZcXai3IebXmFZkvMZc59YF9HzA8O9o/s400/IMG_5479.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271849620574832754" border="0" /></a><br />A view looking down from the Castle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW6uqU-WkErNMuSkmDzXMLaTbeHI0kDExlLjpKKS804lu9OXxxfGhNsWu1dBwxkbmsjImKWM7wnJeh_rRgFl5KzkXbfTvrfBGGTeffrbS9p4uO5iDaiAxazRFA1PPtpolJz1NHSw_jAk/s1600-h/IMG_5487.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW6uqU-WkErNMuSkmDzXMLaTbeHI0kDExlLjpKKS804lu9OXxxfGhNsWu1dBwxkbmsjImKWM7wnJeh_rRgFl5KzkXbfTvrfBGGTeffrbS9p4uO5iDaiAxazRFA1PPtpolJz1NHSw_jAk/s400/IMG_5487.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271849619661492914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7gADSf9P8igOTe0KS9qTYl74DF-BkjVrgNzpPGndj3DvRLs1WETiizDwGzWhJIRltGdhXcIYlkf_dNqyZ9hkI51LaLAXMLuC5A4Zhv77CXlUlfYRLDM1_MF-3mxqynmpSbM2Fla-rgM/s1600-h/IMG_5494.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7gADSf9P8igOTe0KS9qTYl74DF-BkjVrgNzpPGndj3DvRLs1WETiizDwGzWhJIRltGdhXcIYlkf_dNqyZ9hkI51LaLAXMLuC5A4Zhv77CXlUlfYRLDM1_MF-3mxqynmpSbM2Fla-rgM/s400/IMG_5494.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271849617604326898" border="0" /></a><br />We spent 2 days on Hvar, and then left to spend a night on Korcula. Here is a traditional performance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqBiWCt4JV7PxjDZ8SSp1vp4JFXUZtrAWyqvMa9oIdJomBWECpUaktn8hhpY1UGggLRPvJ99gRxlDrZ2e8VsWN7iExq2DCTaGtuj0AYhxX_hw2YEHQVTBwnOmTT4MiVD2CDMYOov0jWQ/s1600-h/IMG_5503.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqBiWCt4JV7PxjDZ8SSp1vp4JFXUZtrAWyqvMa9oIdJomBWECpUaktn8hhpY1UGggLRPvJ99gRxlDrZ2e8VsWN7iExq2DCTaGtuj0AYhxX_hw2YEHQVTBwnOmTT4MiVD2CDMYOov0jWQ/s400/IMG_5503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271848758746769362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h8xys58NDQqly4OFYNGtwmrFl3MFH9_f2Rc3jwaSwOFD42A4l_HlI95vLPYdB-NMuNKF61Fm3gl5CBJWQAgrgEiypDvg5GRYS2Sew3ek-_AU3rnoCNComJ11rJ7JwR4E4GI9Wn0KWbE/s1600-h/IMG_5510.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h8xys58NDQqly4OFYNGtwmrFl3MFH9_f2Rc3jwaSwOFD42A4l_HlI95vLPYdB-NMuNKF61Fm3gl5CBJWQAgrgEiypDvg5GRYS2Sew3ek-_AU3rnoCNComJ11rJ7JwR4E4GI9Wn0KWbE/s400/IMG_5510.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271848757786794162" border="0" /></a><br />Korcula is a smaller, quieter island.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6xj9FblfNkg6cGvRnpbviAmSwbDa95d0hIlYdA6wniRnJ5yHmPebrmaljZtxmXfLii0CAKJ1MS9MSw2TsvEotKo6KYMZLqgB6TB8IKY4g2Ol4mUu5eEyOPBZbeedvxo8oXs9mNoh8aM/s1600-h/IMG_5514.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6xj9FblfNkg6cGvRnpbviAmSwbDa95d0hIlYdA6wniRnJ5yHmPebrmaljZtxmXfLii0CAKJ1MS9MSw2TsvEotKo6KYMZLqgB6TB8IKY4g2Ol4mUu5eEyOPBZbeedvxo8oXs9mNoh8aM/s400/IMG_5514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271848753612524242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYoiXl0wwNSmGhy06hVFPXgnZnJrlJnlyfMyn58ISOL4yJhaKh1j686HvoCMDYAxrbKZlvWbdbCVzLCWPIGLMGIy7D_MiH-Kwm63X7O54E-99YCJUCqVcHWOIgHSa6HKDwDy19eZU7gw/s1600-h/IMG_5516.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYoiXl0wwNSmGhy06hVFPXgnZnJrlJnlyfMyn58ISOL4yJhaKh1j686HvoCMDYAxrbKZlvWbdbCVzLCWPIGLMGIy7D_MiH-Kwm63X7O54E-99YCJUCqVcHWOIgHSa6HKDwDy19eZU7gw/s400/IMG_5516.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271848754951415474" border="0" /></a><br />Off again the next day for Dubrovnik.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LqS_8voRkYgzeDWrI2yub8Li9O5m-3eLDvCd9vuWvb2XU8yYG_a7ciw-a8Jb5nnApqlW0qi0Q0lYAzJLeKh_L6k2H8eCH1hyphenhyphenxKrsLYWyA9cc_4PD6giOdjp05IKT9BLdo4PCOLDza6Q/s1600-h/IMG_5518.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LqS_8voRkYgzeDWrI2yub8Li9O5m-3eLDvCd9vuWvb2XU8yYG_a7ciw-a8Jb5nnApqlW0qi0Q0lYAzJLeKh_L6k2H8eCH1hyphenhyphenxKrsLYWyA9cc_4PD6giOdjp05IKT9BLdo4PCOLDza6Q/s400/IMG_5518.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271848745711995122" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-77589977572399176032008-08-22T17:08:00.000-07:002008-11-23T05:57:26.141-08:00Plitvice Lakes National ParkIn riding through Croatia, there are still signs of the war.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F8qJ-UD64dZXGy4FtZqbvDawmNroHDeFWN2sMnJXJUJE1ykcxB7kxUoT5Hd4TwLXq5hgKM8srdwo46JaCO7zv1QmE7lpQgjNFcuNrby0yL5614pLBaOmnFalWZ1noKyXTXpX6RHL2Ts/s1600-h/IMG_5377.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F8qJ-UD64dZXGy4FtZqbvDawmNroHDeFWN2sMnJXJUJE1ykcxB7kxUoT5Hd4TwLXq5hgKM8srdwo46JaCO7zv1QmE7lpQgjNFcuNrby0yL5614pLBaOmnFalWZ1noKyXTXpX6RHL2Ts/s400/IMG_5377.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271845018071164530" border="0" /></a><br />We stopped at a memorial in a small town, where the villagers had stopped "The Great Serbia."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ0Tj949Bmef3gCWtZqEJ6nnDkNIb7VZZKn4ldKAEvwUGASUFnMOcgCIRI9gcLhiBGMCZTeu4j3T8ubhtriDM7fGnSnuDfXP0L1EGL6slaCt_79PCNhYvOYy64mLVueUXYCkqCkGehJs/s1600-h/IMG_5391.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ0Tj949Bmef3gCWtZqEJ6nnDkNIb7VZZKn4ldKAEvwUGASUFnMOcgCIRI9gcLhiBGMCZTeu4j3T8ubhtriDM7fGnSnuDfXP0L1EGL6slaCt_79PCNhYvOYy64mLVueUXYCkqCkGehJs/s400/IMG_5391.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271845015772285986" border="0" /></a><br />Carlos has his turn at driving.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8hfj1hh2ft1szo-CnTJ0x1dokNWVU53rH7LdIH1xMkngXseV_z0dsy2QFwQiawU2LGUCstNS0iPMsJ4ahb31zbEWpqkrx_sScsKW4Wo_Qop2mlJAYjHai_N5BnCI-qJgYtujluHElRQ/s1600-h/IMG_5393.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8hfj1hh2ft1szo-CnTJ0x1dokNWVU53rH7LdIH1xMkngXseV_z0dsy2QFwQiawU2LGUCstNS0iPMsJ4ahb31zbEWpqkrx_sScsKW4Wo_Qop2mlJAYjHai_N5BnCI-qJgYtujluHElRQ/s400/IMG_5393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271845013176283570" border="0" /></a><br />A brief stop to view some streams running under homes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oJok-cah71tuvlFBvqLcevl0brBp-iIZjOZgLH9P31zp-LmQjEGttsfdTXgcBnKWgT3zC5uvAO1vF-kdT4qBWY4HH4ieIyWND0ycacGqjhYV7Jl7sVYoPyoTyK9UBdtR8xLcDm9WiZQ/s1600-h/IMG_5394.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oJok-cah71tuvlFBvqLcevl0brBp-iIZjOZgLH9P31zp-LmQjEGttsfdTXgcBnKWgT3zC5uvAO1vF-kdT4qBWY4HH4ieIyWND0ycacGqjhYV7Jl7sVYoPyoTyK9UBdtR8xLcDm9WiZQ/s400/IMG_5394.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271844613976705922" border="0" /></a><br />Some camping that night. Dinner is BBQ, South African Style. The fire had been lit first, only to later figure out how to attach the legs to the burning hot pit . . . Locals in background look on in wonder.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjfdMkos_nmWzxH6Kn948QASp1z-ihTdUChVqI0M1EDVB00dzYEIczoaN-4YYAy7qk1ueKmDUYIRNYV3IWfQM3OciBwp5fJLttWwPk2fGglKhrILyLe55FriHst_uhu9poo2mVPXV5kg/s1600-h/IMG_5403.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjfdMkos_nmWzxH6Kn948QASp1z-ihTdUChVqI0M1EDVB00dzYEIczoaN-4YYAy7qk1ueKmDUYIRNYV3IWfQM3OciBwp5fJLttWwPk2fGglKhrILyLe55FriHst_uhu9poo2mVPXV5kg/s400/IMG_5403.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271844612099779890" border="0" /></a><br />David shows us his dance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWIjpWOsNWnasDnam3fbOjYtkgmYcmPMdzbBC7BJ_gmwooSmz_u2gdfUvkyJk5p-DO3cddbHbSXt7gIxX4S52tsqyyw5_VPcVqzKmjeGBOvFA3nALOlM75In6-hhrhmNzl9HgvPujfmo/s1600-h/IMG_5405.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWIjpWOsNWnasDnam3fbOjYtkgmYcmPMdzbBC7BJ_gmwooSmz_u2gdfUvkyJk5p-DO3cddbHbSXt7gIxX4S52tsqyyw5_VPcVqzKmjeGBOvFA3nALOlM75In6-hhrhmNzl9HgvPujfmo/s400/IMG_5405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271844609365712002" border="0" /></a><br />Now everyone is doing it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxkzUo6EcWg4RDxNjK0wi8pyu8Fcicts_7zLXyRrwT_Gm-A-LhfQJB8QkySorOequLAgnnVs9FjUBlKz51dp0aPaQOzv5KFXMRV1wfR9ApnEHddR8yNx8CRtHXi5JOfDwbMNk1VwtJt8/s1600-h/IMG_5407.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxkzUo6EcWg4RDxNjK0wi8pyu8Fcicts_7zLXyRrwT_Gm-A-LhfQJB8QkySorOequLAgnnVs9FjUBlKz51dp0aPaQOzv5KFXMRV1wfR9ApnEHddR8yNx8CRtHXi5JOfDwbMNk1VwtJt8/s400/IMG_5407.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271844609922286930" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning we went to Plitvice Lakes National Park. It was simply amazing! The best way I could describe it is as a cross of Hawaii and Yellowstone National Park. If anyone is going to Croatia, I would highly recommend a visit to this park. I wish I had had more time to spend there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCRTSwTQQYh8ZZkE8WXBKZlTfOsu3nvmPyR17YzsO7mQyonavQACiezx2cr2hfqvY7jptHyyOwmfz7CoR29Pem1lAhK88KEGgphDpvzbZSH-hcKcCKFNMfzN5-St2PtTpBeuug0ePGw4/s1600-h/IMG_5412.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCRTSwTQQYh8ZZkE8WXBKZlTfOsu3nvmPyR17YzsO7mQyonavQACiezx2cr2hfqvY7jptHyyOwmfz7CoR29Pem1lAhK88KEGgphDpvzbZSH-hcKcCKFNMfzN5-St2PtTpBeuug0ePGw4/s400/IMG_5412.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271844608402745026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbjoWHvIC7TvNvtFvRp6iz2FMTzU8KJaYVsCoY4ynvdWrxvucG12OSccKc-IcaBkrE4qydI5vo472XigTpUt09JzP9IkHQM27aUZcHmA6Y0OacW8DCFp7lGDESwJU9LysxFpqu9B7QHE/s1600-h/IMG_5420.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbjoWHvIC7TvNvtFvRp6iz2FMTzU8KJaYVsCoY4ynvdWrxvucG12OSccKc-IcaBkrE4qydI5vo472XigTpUt09JzP9IkHQM27aUZcHmA6Y0OacW8DCFp7lGDESwJU9LysxFpqu9B7QHE/s400/IMG_5420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843960697236370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uK3GWLhePcoR3NP9pWhbRGKxLiqeuVqGtYnzeW-DLN4RswoRO0xeellvNQo49LTjI40BSPV3f0BviSDzamTHP9leT4L53IkC1JKkwCX3Ko9jHBcVNLAZrxJcYxf9xphrqlX_XL4-rpo/s1600-h/IMG_5422.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uK3GWLhePcoR3NP9pWhbRGKxLiqeuVqGtYnzeW-DLN4RswoRO0xeellvNQo49LTjI40BSPV3f0BviSDzamTHP9leT4L53IkC1JKkwCX3Ko9jHBcVNLAZrxJcYxf9xphrqlX_XL4-rpo/s400/IMG_5422.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843960108776962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxUEOA0RXXkP694iw7t6SnSoZwHWA-4lODxiUXH9GZr-g6Ts3Qvoo0WVVBr3l9LdumdcNDQ-OWkYSx99JKHaDp2BBRbujuEchn8uN6zZqu2CZ_VZCZjwpmDY8RODPAoXeFX_6rXbiZ2s/s1600-h/IMG_5423.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxUEOA0RXXkP694iw7t6SnSoZwHWA-4lODxiUXH9GZr-g6Ts3Qvoo0WVVBr3l9LdumdcNDQ-OWkYSx99JKHaDp2BBRbujuEchn8uN6zZqu2CZ_VZCZjwpmDY8RODPAoXeFX_6rXbiZ2s/s400/IMG_5423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843952709735938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi950y7ZdL3uS42bUViCi51vHBGDifxjz1b62O72MzqyhWkwMmZJJt2991vyypNHAjdjMu1hsm0qciRlpYbl3g5ISpogICjplc4HHRvKOZuQMllUIGxNuB3DfEvj9jQDC56I8hiwuJinPA/s1600-h/IMG_5427.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi950y7ZdL3uS42bUViCi51vHBGDifxjz1b62O72MzqyhWkwMmZJJt2991vyypNHAjdjMu1hsm0qciRlpYbl3g5ISpogICjplc4HHRvKOZuQMllUIGxNuB3DfEvj9jQDC56I8hiwuJinPA/s400/IMG_5427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843950083256562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EUvPnTQZMb5PQ2F0RnGmKO0GnkNwAJUyw3N3QSR-OXMDnG143-ZjHDeHJJzjq2NGEuIVmvAjOFLW_WMq0cexipiHL4P59e-FlYmXzUIEt7F-jNZYplC51vKIYQn-rq4rZrltuOKaqlI/s1600-h/IMG_5433.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EUvPnTQZMb5PQ2F0RnGmKO0GnkNwAJUyw3N3QSR-OXMDnG143-ZjHDeHJJzjq2NGEuIVmvAjOFLW_WMq0cexipiHL4P59e-FlYmXzUIEt7F-jNZYplC51vKIYQn-rq4rZrltuOKaqlI/s400/IMG_5433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843946090861330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75-nt5ir63TyYWfCLAOq0WI15ztRyxSQzZa2DOCFmKCvf15ZXuHBdshS6lUsNnGo95TXFbqAuS5WQzzihyphenhyphenIZN9n8KZv7OJ-m-3pUVYnAF4G_c4BW3rKntsFo92eK2AS9XOlwxpwDgza8/s1600-h/IMG_5436.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75-nt5ir63TyYWfCLAOq0WI15ztRyxSQzZa2DOCFmKCvf15ZXuHBdshS6lUsNnGo95TXFbqAuS5WQzzihyphenhyphenIZN9n8KZv7OJ-m-3pUVYnAF4G_c4BW3rKntsFo92eK2AS9XOlwxpwDgza8/s400/IMG_5436.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843234298877410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5cbW2nyaCgyE6qnB0pkiAnCdfvkOL37tFvMsjJsdhcKBmHCZnyvVK7cZIyCUhHzwCPpJjGffjUBYY9fEtd5I_QoMfUrQzCWlkSDxWp6Zy8xVZUztjNI5TcJgo-MejWqKc5lXCaNPExI/s1600-h/IMG_5438.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5cbW2nyaCgyE6qnB0pkiAnCdfvkOL37tFvMsjJsdhcKBmHCZnyvVK7cZIyCUhHzwCPpJjGffjUBYY9fEtd5I_QoMfUrQzCWlkSDxWp6Zy8xVZUztjNI5TcJgo-MejWqKc5lXCaNPExI/s400/IMG_5438.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843233196551586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AjN3xRFpW4Yfosuuoo_57EFtuj_CX1NAKWodty7Tz6rLuOGNBPU0WtkKueyx030VMUlnlPlkWSW-fVVDMr-QCA6GhUT6bscKdfRio5yXpbJfRY6F2BZph9TCsHTBvwdg1iJbo_jImok/s1600-h/IMG_5440.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AjN3xRFpW4Yfosuuoo_57EFtuj_CX1NAKWodty7Tz6rLuOGNBPU0WtkKueyx030VMUlnlPlkWSW-fVVDMr-QCA6GhUT6bscKdfRio5yXpbJfRY6F2BZph9TCsHTBvwdg1iJbo_jImok/s400/IMG_5440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843228971217842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVw3HR3OaQAIb4i5I_E-FUEo0xeBXdUb_3YfCe50VKB1sqxMveKNNJFESseefTUWyHPx_yiXbFAT9tMmuwOdF8B2_kaZ59MnH2A-N95GkN-rz1PQztie7nXOL0uAOY33ebpxoo543u9U0/s1600-h/IMG_5441.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVw3HR3OaQAIb4i5I_E-FUEo0xeBXdUb_3YfCe50VKB1sqxMveKNNJFESseefTUWyHPx_yiXbFAT9tMmuwOdF8B2_kaZ59MnH2A-N95GkN-rz1PQztie7nXOL0uAOY33ebpxoo543u9U0/s400/IMG_5441.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843219794331890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5tFb56HE2PPHp_WILhGHmn5QT_7lauPMX4WwePOmBnWzHz5K_ux5zktGcqZW567W-NEOtH5knOWsLL4M0_lee5GAHcWle_7wyWoxCdIIV6OmIdzXUpu8V04xzdXDWIUgXgjIgx7HS7M/s1600-h/IMG_5448.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5tFb56HE2PPHp_WILhGHmn5QT_7lauPMX4WwePOmBnWzHz5K_ux5zktGcqZW567W-NEOtH5knOWsLL4M0_lee5GAHcWle_7wyWoxCdIIV6OmIdzXUpu8V04xzdXDWIUgXgjIgx7HS7M/s400/IMG_5448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271843206704848290" border="0" /></a><br />After Plitvice, we headed south to Split. It is a dramatic landscape change from a colder climate with more vegetation to a hotter, more desert like environment. There was one mountain tunnel we went through, upon which exiting it looked like a different world.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8dWfjQVCt58TJl_w95QCp_imXV-iKx0RmLUmpFPv1__CjGBt6Cqk0_uUSRDofNraO6ZpjDACwNAnxa6zf0H_kyoDAnpTFHM2Nv4WbSGqcnDi0uUXQEu900lKaGqt78INHOxbpYufhYI/s1600-h/IMG_5452.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8dWfjQVCt58TJl_w95QCp_imXV-iKx0RmLUmpFPv1__CjGBt6Cqk0_uUSRDofNraO6ZpjDACwNAnxa6zf0H_kyoDAnpTFHM2Nv4WbSGqcnDi0uUXQEu900lKaGqt78INHOxbpYufhYI/s400/IMG_5452.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271841679290664786" border="0" /></a><br />I spent Friday night here in Split and met up with Anatole and his sister.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUqOcqs45dbFMtdinEeXPbqgXyLpLtFv3FNg5Na_hQGrOe9_28K-VFrcSS22lA2iI-C9YPr5Gl55nuPV1sccBDs2MJiy-kO6vZ5yFR1Ku_O8C12Kg_ySDB5fem_oA36jovGe9dgiypxI/s1600-h/IMG_5454.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUqOcqs45dbFMtdinEeXPbqgXyLpLtFv3FNg5Na_hQGrOe9_28K-VFrcSS22lA2iI-C9YPr5Gl55nuPV1sccBDs2MJiy-kO6vZ5yFR1Ku_O8C12Kg_ySDB5fem_oA36jovGe9dgiypxI/s400/IMG_5454.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271841678043649026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuzL_aGURlw2Nx1cq58qCa3S-KEQwL1yzqV9DjKa-xdeLdbYqtDbCbi9NOKRA2YX3kKW3F3l0Y0uIpjXIaIKoms2liouJnw1ksp5xx_1UWiqTky-8O8b-l5lS5MWUFGiJbJc5dLewR2s/s1600-h/IMG_5457.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuzL_aGURlw2Nx1cq58qCa3S-KEQwL1yzqV9DjKa-xdeLdbYqtDbCbi9NOKRA2YX3kKW3F3l0Y0uIpjXIaIKoms2liouJnw1ksp5xx_1UWiqTky-8O8b-l5lS5MWUFGiJbJc5dLewR2s/s400/IMG_5457.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271841676044999970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmajpuR7Hs5RSUFlVfi7simTy-ijoko4KuJl7ZKOAB4oW15fK_uQgj6-LiFg1RquoX1ZKU0pUjHLo0Za5A3QQ-5sdHu6dtYrbWn6-p1z45LK4yBoUfGpDlMdFN9ARmUVtd5NLgu6uzbE/s1600-h/IMG_5459.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmajpuR7Hs5RSUFlVfi7simTy-ijoko4KuJl7ZKOAB4oW15fK_uQgj6-LiFg1RquoX1ZKU0pUjHLo0Za5A3QQ-5sdHu6dtYrbWn6-p1z45LK4yBoUfGpDlMdFN9ARmUVtd5NLgu6uzbE/s400/IMG_5459.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271841674083302002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmUHSiD7IIu1cotiNlg50xtnUXhOj_8cPEOhDmmkW1Xjp0-7itckkffGTGySMu9rQNt7qtcPKZ5im8P7j5mXhXA7KzIe1DpTP7ckbEQJRF76Mp1BgnoR6LhyN9zzRftXPA2JdivYABl4/s1600-h/IMG_5461.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmUHSiD7IIu1cotiNlg50xtnUXhOj_8cPEOhDmmkW1Xjp0-7itckkffGTGySMu9rQNt7qtcPKZ5im8P7j5mXhXA7KzIe1DpTP7ckbEQJRF76Mp1BgnoR6LhyN9zzRftXPA2JdivYABl4/s400/IMG_5461.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271841671720864466" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-50137666997715625902008-08-20T23:06:00.000-07:002008-11-23T00:32:23.170-08:00BudapestNext stop Budapest. Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation center and is considered an important hub in Central Europe. In 2008, Budapest had 1,702,297 inhabitants. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with the unification on 17 November 1873, of right-bank (west) Buda and Óbuda (Old Buda) together with Pest on the left (east) bank.<br /><br />Nighttime view of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-EfLLQOPIvWJMzJpXK5pckw3ic4Df86DCmQzAjAlvxGysCDwDz9pY04YjqQw9c29UopVm9PYrOWVZJJoIpIPCkPr7YgW-LKy2ECE8ub3FjCdF9EEpftrZra3uHrvjYOM3UFTB80t8sU/s1600-h/IMG_5230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-EfLLQOPIvWJMzJpXK5pckw3ic4Df86DCmQzAjAlvxGysCDwDz9pY04YjqQw9c29UopVm9PYrOWVZJJoIpIPCkPr7YgW-LKy2ECE8ub3FjCdF9EEpftrZra3uHrvjYOM3UFTB80t8sU/s400/IMG_5230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271750125009678658" border="0" /></a><br />Dohány Street Synagogue.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10hXdrwn9Ej-TylXjhVL9nIi4_ww5LAA0z625XR0XAjXUwND-_OxZrFqN2WKOViZrbo-h6RCJlAQ-BFOzfnmYjX2N2FhZs-eTHuq3ZwkeOq7VXwnbsVbvgtgIrVLOYw9I6RjdeGUk7xc/s1600-h/IMG_5243.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10hXdrwn9Ej-TylXjhVL9nIi4_ww5LAA0z625XR0XAjXUwND-_OxZrFqN2WKOViZrbo-h6RCJlAQ-BFOzfnmYjX2N2FhZs-eTHuq3ZwkeOq7VXwnbsVbvgtgIrVLOYw9I6RjdeGUk7xc/s400/IMG_5243.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271750122663177746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis68FZMHvyeMmvz2rAq8Vh20DGz1b5fDjXCfUu5RAwoBNMJ0BlBBrY70jwzDUJjz63cJ-FfRPIESYdDFCz5e02YCQPzVVkxJkqIXVyDmjdLx6H0nYDiF2aHDvXRg3ssYQczjr8FhMCois/s1600-h/IMG_5256.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis68FZMHvyeMmvz2rAq8Vh20DGz1b5fDjXCfUu5RAwoBNMJ0BlBBrY70jwzDUJjz63cJ-FfRPIESYdDFCz5e02YCQPzVVkxJkqIXVyDmjdLx6H0nYDiF2aHDvXRg3ssYQczjr8FhMCois/s400/IMG_5256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271750125873749666" border="0" /></a><br />I believe it is Fisherman's Bastion with Matthias Church in the background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3FlrUyr3jjA2E6PJImXzeWq0KKtuJ2kYW42mtQcjvNaY5xPm5PYtt9rMYx3lzGKUbOK9DxmfgXmsR9EjTGruhroBm7kgRb8KvODz728tH5LvJSSZqbP_gVcp5G8Agm9OwlPeb6rTyE8/s1600-h/IMG_5264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3FlrUyr3jjA2E6PJImXzeWq0KKtuJ2kYW42mtQcjvNaY5xPm5PYtt9rMYx3lzGKUbOK9DxmfgXmsR9EjTGruhroBm7kgRb8KvODz728tH5LvJSSZqbP_gVcp5G8Agm9OwlPeb6rTyE8/s400/IMG_5264.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271750114100719314" border="0" /></a><br />Pest on the right side of the river, Buda on the left.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqe-_jXQyCsE4SazKuonr-6Y9CTju36lrxnCEED0iShshI1Flt1JgVf6sXYixx5HzPMVJT7rK9ulqf-VC1QBU6SUE9HQWU12zBljsdkClygJRVXk8ONLDp6hLeb0dF7Pk7MCZeOHCGsY/s1600-h/IMG_5271.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqe-_jXQyCsE4SazKuonr-6Y9CTju36lrxnCEED0iShshI1Flt1JgVf6sXYixx5HzPMVJT7rK9ulqf-VC1QBU6SUE9HQWU12zBljsdkClygJRVXk8ONLDp6hLeb0dF7Pk7MCZeOHCGsY/s400/IMG_5271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271750105375911330" border="0" /></a><br />The Red Bull airshow was going on while we were there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji19gcgjbPbOQJO0DbJlydlFwtpqe5LVZFkUBH-NMTGwR6bN0-6J3Ujoo4yUwYTAPoP2bbePMyPULTJqbN_YjOjgCDK1DxNtoOUnSFB4f5qoCwsG-nOUhHU0sJZIGB0jxv3iy-2BF-OkQ/s1600-h/IMG_5272.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji19gcgjbPbOQJO0DbJlydlFwtpqe5LVZFkUBH-NMTGwR6bN0-6J3Ujoo4yUwYTAPoP2bbePMyPULTJqbN_YjOjgCDK1DxNtoOUnSFB4f5qoCwsG-nOUhHU0sJZIGB0jxv3iy-2BF-OkQ/s400/IMG_5272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271749128619128242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU16DEMTvb9xoQn72B6Dp4KbwZgV9Ur2ysWygKrFH1hwRdfft4QQ4fJUmpQ7b-zTgkeRcXJDf321v0b-2-FluySb566FV_09aLVV__vrKAdDbN35nENg1teJ39qMNzEiuzWndlCV_hTCE/s1600-h/IMG_5277.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU16DEMTvb9xoQn72B6Dp4KbwZgV9Ur2ysWygKrFH1hwRdfft4QQ4fJUmpQ7b-zTgkeRcXJDf321v0b-2-FluySb566FV_09aLVV__vrKAdDbN35nENg1teJ39qMNzEiuzWndlCV_hTCE/s400/IMG_5277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271749128213240466" border="0" /></a><br />Statue of Saint Gerard on Gellért Hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEann54fS3s1yJJw2aLw0oF8zcebSrzCyCY3lDP0Q1G1EvZp9cZ-HUdphtSmmebjSSvFOzKIHhjW_5-8S_M4zSyfefpeeyD92fdvoqqbRmODbXb0mYfzWsFpCUVppbEs2qwRaOXPffwM/s1600-h/IMG_5297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEann54fS3s1yJJw2aLw0oF8zcebSrzCyCY3lDP0Q1G1EvZp9cZ-HUdphtSmmebjSSvFOzKIHhjW_5-8S_M4zSyfefpeeyD92fdvoqqbRmODbXb0mYfzWsFpCUVppbEs2qwRaOXPffwM/s400/IMG_5297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271749124734267394" border="0" /></a><br />Erzsébet Bridge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT0jXpkrAbE9UlzIi9hn9HzXVrMM9NqkAvL15p2ZaCXhxWL7zkTr1-qpEcOWBqUDeVyw4w8bNr80jeKa9G_RLliUopGGihhIRreJW-56qTTi4fuldbIAuJcS4BlfTugpixYTO1x3j_D4/s1600-h/IMG_5298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT0jXpkrAbE9UlzIi9hn9HzXVrMM9NqkAvL15p2ZaCXhxWL7zkTr1-qpEcOWBqUDeVyw4w8bNr80jeKa9G_RLliUopGGihhIRreJW-56qTTi4fuldbIAuJcS4BlfTugpixYTO1x3j_D4/s400/IMG_5298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271749120600712322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RjXPKjCeUkevS_trKH5gCAEph7w1OscpNDxFfu1G6WPCB0yVsXc7tl9ecIW-ncnjcZscX_5_zR3AeLwY4N3XOPOqnuKqXFDaLKz3TU4N7qYVEJW3bZ4-vxg7OAIz9h7_Uc-uxseP8CM/s1600-h/IMG_5300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RjXPKjCeUkevS_trKH5gCAEph7w1OscpNDxFfu1G6WPCB0yVsXc7tl9ecIW-ncnjcZscX_5_zR3AeLwY4N3XOPOqnuKqXFDaLKz3TU4N7qYVEJW3bZ4-vxg7OAIz9h7_Uc-uxseP8CM/s400/IMG_5300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271749109197723442" border="0" /></a><br />Buda Castle is the historical castle of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, Hungary.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygfB7ul0_k_uM8Hi1SnL2qk_fDoerFVAjyeUuLlOxcDgJ8zHMMZL6LxUDx9do_6nowM_Af9cGXj3_UqrNGRl-WKEuxUj54JSZzuFS9EiUzkb4BJeP65Obr-6dJL4BaYvkKbmRtzC4h_I/s1600-h/IMG_5312.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygfB7ul0_k_uM8Hi1SnL2qk_fDoerFVAjyeUuLlOxcDgJ8zHMMZL6LxUDx9do_6nowM_Af9cGXj3_UqrNGRl-WKEuxUj54JSZzuFS9EiUzkb4BJeP65Obr-6dJL4BaYvkKbmRtzC4h_I/s400/IMG_5312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271748391916170546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-gLgJ3f4Z9LRCwQsg6fl5t0qEtLGWRy0qswxCfUSll0IPLZV0Omcm_vGNbGhbVvZFu713EFxb2nVIYa3hyphenhyphenkOEc9ukhjnZ3gJA12O4FIyGQpczwGjgXhGhjohYTUnzVIBj-IuwUmJSoc/s1600-h/IMG_5313.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-gLgJ3f4Z9LRCwQsg6fl5t0qEtLGWRy0qswxCfUSll0IPLZV0Omcm_vGNbGhbVvZFu713EFxb2nVIYa3hyphenhyphenkOEc9ukhjnZ3gJA12O4FIyGQpczwGjgXhGhjohYTUnzVIBj-IuwUmJSoc/s400/IMG_5313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271748391248769234" border="0" /></a><br />Heroes' Square. The central site of the hero's square, as well as a landmark of Budapest, is the <i>Millennium Memorial</i> (also known as <i>Millennium Monument</i> or <i>Millenary Monument</i>) with statues of the leaders of the seven tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century and other outstanding figures of Hungarian history.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuuJX3b0W3fFr4b9AiTEay7f5JKEXonNVRv-lm28Z6UfLimR9Ta_JJCVoIss3B1pLyfCLvzIV7sFLKCLf1c9WlXxF7mEF4FeDdpBO63S5IlBQ-h3ZyjA8Ii4M9JyLefd2nrqZ26WJCNs/s1600-h/IMG_5315.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuuJX3b0W3fFr4b9AiTEay7f5JKEXonNVRv-lm28Z6UfLimR9Ta_JJCVoIss3B1pLyfCLvzIV7sFLKCLf1c9WlXxF7mEF4FeDdpBO63S5IlBQ-h3ZyjA8Ii4M9JyLefd2nrqZ26WJCNs/s400/IMG_5315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271748389496678690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTEfRVAdyO2_8gF_ZfpFiLUgtQ3QQXF5zZF_iZkERZ3fa0ZNuW0-WMJG-3AzokRYeVEFGVRYxkccTC13FmKYXOq9pu7PAa9hub_yajDs8ZFzmczwpp-dCyPOJWNS_Kt4Q0twM7-9hz3k/s1600-h/IMG_5318.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTEfRVAdyO2_8gF_ZfpFiLUgtQ3QQXF5zZF_iZkERZ3fa0ZNuW0-WMJG-3AzokRYeVEFGVRYxkccTC13FmKYXOq9pu7PAa9hub_yajDs8ZFzmczwpp-dCyPOJWNS_Kt4Q0twM7-9hz3k/s400/IMG_5318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271748386238911538" border="0" /></a><br />A family taking a "Flintstones" ride around the City Park.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qXed3Z8-vtbads8HaojwRsHIROjmDoSK1kJlMBdcx5ycr3ccMMEdoFCGjCs4EIWjkrEzpB-945ixoqnxWEhM9LbyFgLkfarhzQ4YANT1FBGiA03jBZij3f5hhjtZgdsoXnfYo14lCA8/s1600-h/IMG_5321.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qXed3Z8-vtbads8HaojwRsHIROjmDoSK1kJlMBdcx5ycr3ccMMEdoFCGjCs4EIWjkrEzpB-945ixoqnxWEhM9LbyFgLkfarhzQ4YANT1FBGiA03jBZij3f5hhjtZgdsoXnfYo14lCA8/s400/IMG_5321.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271748383764760946" border="0" /></a><br />The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs, their temperature is 74°F/23°C and 77°F/25°C, respectively.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvAMYrRdUcjY20V0i1B8RX9-WqJvEnIve9fVMP_XiRwId50b452mJHens-c0j_ngbPOWvfRtxtnvz_8aItjW_3do4Q4lKtEbfuB24Br6XuOV8WuxztW_FGjjIXWUmBqYlMnQF4SmgOL0/s1600-h/IMG_5324.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvAMYrRdUcjY20V0i1B8RX9-WqJvEnIve9fVMP_XiRwId50b452mJHens-c0j_ngbPOWvfRtxtnvz_8aItjW_3do4Q4lKtEbfuB24Br6XuOV8WuxztW_FGjjIXWUmBqYlMnQF4SmgOL0/s400/IMG_5324.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271747858443199490" border="0" /></a><br />Vajdahunyad Castle, or Vajdahunyad vára, is a castle in City Park, Budapest, Hungary, that was built between 1896 and 1908, designed by Ignác Alpár. It is a copy in part of a castle in Transylvania, Romania, that is also called Vajdahunyad, though it is also a display of different architectural styles: Romanic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Originally it was made from cardboard and wood for the millennial exhibition in 1896 but it became so popular that it was rebuilt from stone and brick.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoZ8rFHQuINflJ9NDI9Le158Zi8FLjkaGO3frqL2iCfoEmxwVcV-HNaB1bku9Mbj_fYJH6mPwf3fzWuojypccmT0W_feamYGudySnWPS2MdwJHTN-nU09GTzwHXeXLNnm2H99CYnKKnk/s1600-h/IMG_5326.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoZ8rFHQuINflJ9NDI9Le158Zi8FLjkaGO3frqL2iCfoEmxwVcV-HNaB1bku9Mbj_fYJH6mPwf3fzWuojypccmT0W_feamYGudySnWPS2MdwJHTN-nU09GTzwHXeXLNnm2H99CYnKKnk/s400/IMG_5326.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271747855639854562" border="0" /></a><br />A memorial to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. It was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the Stalinist government of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvc-o91PcrKl9uXStk4b4pOgLqLIHDNfTmn6BbdBNOnzX-1u3M92767LEGFKLGzI-URAvgOhpiQjbTNa8DMSrwyaMlzab5eEjLnnLiZ_u4kIkhNELHd5pXaS9KIcZi9Jy6iKLInVVDJ0/s1600-h/IMG_5335.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvc-o91PcrKl9uXStk4b4pOgLqLIHDNfTmn6BbdBNOnzX-1u3M92767LEGFKLGzI-URAvgOhpiQjbTNa8DMSrwyaMlzab5eEjLnnLiZ_u4kIkhNELHd5pXaS9KIcZi9Jy6iKLInVVDJ0/s400/IMG_5335.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271747850684179410" border="0" /></a><br />There was a fireworks display that night in celebration of St. Stephen's Day. It is the celebration of two things: the custom of welcoming the new bread and more importantly Saint Stephen, the Hungarian king who turned a bunch of pagan nomadic tribes into a strong independent nation, by embracing Western culture and Christianity. Stephen died in 1038, after ruling the country for almost forty years, and was declared a saint on the 20th of August 1083; when he was removed from his original grave at Székesfehérvár, the right hand of the leader was found intact - to this day it's kept as a valued relic by the Catholic church and each year a festive procession follows it around on the streets of Budapest. After World War I. the communist regime prohibited official ceremonies from honoring the memory of Saint Stephen because of their religious nature, and the public holiday became a tribute to Stalin and the constitution the Soviets envisioned. The parliament that resulted form the first democratic election in 1990, gave the decision back to its rightful owner: the people was once again free to make a choice on whom to dedicate the day to, and a tradition that had been alive for many centuries returned to the streets of Hungary.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XpxIwfZyWbmSQQ1AM56Hq9zgjejPlmoR6bVpjHDtzrQbdEyPqAWvsPXIVYkfKMDlDPcMhfWoquBe13wooZ55lOCv7v2vprkvGWjfL9oCKNoHzeO0QvzdCp1MAOTqr9ZRkBxJH-eT9fQ/s1600-h/IMG_5362.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XpxIwfZyWbmSQQ1AM56Hq9zgjejPlmoR6bVpjHDtzrQbdEyPqAWvsPXIVYkfKMDlDPcMhfWoquBe13wooZ55lOCv7v2vprkvGWjfL9oCKNoHzeO0QvzdCp1MAOTqr9ZRkBxJH-eT9fQ/s400/IMG_5362.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271747842634636786" border="0" /></a><br />A quick stop at Lake Balaton on the way to Croatia. Lake Balaton, located in Hungary, is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the foremost regional tourist destinations. Due to Hungary being landlocked, it is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea".<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIf0uCcmGgW3THYauV8Kemy3wpoDkzmhP9nvlF3MznsWMFLgZq81ai6g7bLw87CkFitkqcfWckeAjPhv7nG3e8SKtq3vIXsLnYlUXNZ0TbbMkFs2WWNSuKbZcPu9D-OTwKIwcHgQQuXM/s1600-h/IMG_5373.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIf0uCcmGgW3THYauV8Kemy3wpoDkzmhP9nvlF3MznsWMFLgZq81ai6g7bLw87CkFitkqcfWckeAjPhv7nG3e8SKtq3vIXsLnYlUXNZ0TbbMkFs2WWNSuKbZcPu9D-OTwKIwcHgQQuXM/s400/IMG_5373.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271747841401712258" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-40955861438361546412008-08-19T03:14:00.000-07:002008-11-17T03:30:54.918-08:00SlovakiaThe next day we headed out to cross Slovakia on our way to Hungary. Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million and an area of about 49,000 square kilometres (almost 19,000 square miles). The Slovak Republic borders the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is its capital, Bratislava.<br /><br />Here are some pictures of houses we passed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yadFkV-3-AN11bXzSXaAcB_TgXh5h_ciM6pFMxMvy5QCZRpYX4evszBVY7ABEFzw7pbGEFKZ-rBAzvoBo0DvNWgQ6BKLiQKmJQk61vma-sqfkeW6yzkLovNKVMjoDSJKlhqjdN0MT3w/s1600-h/IMG_5213.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yadFkV-3-AN11bXzSXaAcB_TgXh5h_ciM6pFMxMvy5QCZRpYX4evszBVY7ABEFzw7pbGEFKZ-rBAzvoBo0DvNWgQ6BKLiQKmJQk61vma-sqfkeW6yzkLovNKVMjoDSJKlhqjdN0MT3w/s400/IMG_5213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585556389026002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH62ZCBXUSPCxow8nvNbso5ZF3vEZNlkLBIAc2JEzUoyn4DaI7BpiaKw6yGkjRPoTSUp5pu2QDNzft8pXxE3UU-6QBLc1p71Wrc5lPQvcGA9QUVZlP10QgSj7S-jtWlUlMOGD-jmzBBg/s1600-h/IMG_5211.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH62ZCBXUSPCxow8nvNbso5ZF3vEZNlkLBIAc2JEzUoyn4DaI7BpiaKw6yGkjRPoTSUp5pu2QDNzft8pXxE3UU-6QBLc1p71Wrc5lPQvcGA9QUVZlP10QgSj7S-jtWlUlMOGD-jmzBBg/s400/IMG_5211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585557300291554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSDT3R5raZ_v2Rl0ap-g60BYrsQmWC97XVUaCZynBM046USAlNsQrwIujKA0wRBWILv3xUgo9L1DfnMs79DF_lLFlvblh-4i-SHDv69h-OdjyMGeyCkBuAo9EGYcNeo6K6TAsw-E8a8Y/s1600-h/IMG_5212.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSDT3R5raZ_v2Rl0ap-g60BYrsQmWC97XVUaCZynBM046USAlNsQrwIujKA0wRBWILv3xUgo9L1DfnMs79DF_lLFlvblh-4i-SHDv69h-OdjyMGeyCkBuAo9EGYcNeo6K6TAsw-E8a8Y/s400/IMG_5212.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585552970559522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSZ9GvFoxzcdn_nP_yT2TRHzcbmrGfRH-e5GjXgqriUEJJyXLK3CW-x5ZPegk8kLI-UmyySv6uuoIAhB30Gh05P54SI7X-zGbMFLC2_pcAnC05cmrZWTV1YWilBqdQYWNZQMQYn6Oz8M/s1600-h/IMG_5215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSZ9GvFoxzcdn_nP_yT2TRHzcbmrGfRH-e5GjXgqriUEJJyXLK3CW-x5ZPegk8kLI-UmyySv6uuoIAhB30Gh05P54SI7X-zGbMFLC2_pcAnC05cmrZWTV1YWilBqdQYWNZQMQYn6Oz8M/s400/IMG_5215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585391085570354" border="0" /></a><br />For lunch, we stopped and had a picnic outside a Church.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdeu_TfxfIm35GZq0OnkFRXDUOqic-JZLR4MspdkeZQEvKV8eGavjnrfuN4rFmVXsBY49GDKCq0wj72yAw3bvkjc0zNbMJtFjCZTmPEbzsA2e9vH2aB3w5hS3dMWAqD6Hikaunl5A0Fg/s1600-h/IMG_5216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdeu_TfxfIm35GZq0OnkFRXDUOqic-JZLR4MspdkeZQEvKV8eGavjnrfuN4rFmVXsBY49GDKCq0wj72yAw3bvkjc0zNbMJtFjCZTmPEbzsA2e9vH2aB3w5hS3dMWAqD6Hikaunl5A0Fg/s400/IMG_5216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585390600176690" border="0" /></a><br />Then back on the road.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAgIbqncheAOMzBofyzruMYmUHdVHxNN2Iyci3u9cycofQNXe-cNTo6UW8c_kp8qK6iJI3XSQn_RI3M9jk4AZRSAx3ZSe9NDqu9pU2TLrB_mZq58USFqX_5jUQHBtjcyZ3R5VWmI2AlA/s1600-h/IMG_5218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAgIbqncheAOMzBofyzruMYmUHdVHxNN2Iyci3u9cycofQNXe-cNTo6UW8c_kp8qK6iJI3XSQn_RI3M9jk4AZRSAx3ZSe9NDqu9pU2TLrB_mZq58USFqX_5jUQHBtjcyZ3R5VWmI2AlA/s400/IMG_5218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585385343538162" border="0" /></a><br />At some point, we realized we were lost and had missed our turn-off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrO-ehU-AJekEBEYChf5WvXTl92OLaVBwleP-JdMdMUm-_SiHbqOu-XW8wdC3sXM8tbcRvNLLMuiIeFOCcxzJAjt4QP_wpAhWKhR2NbkmnqvYOrKIAawqxUbF7HZu4zZusZQrkcA7NV8/s1600-h/IMG_5219.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrO-ehU-AJekEBEYChf5WvXTl92OLaVBwleP-JdMdMUm-_SiHbqOu-XW8wdC3sXM8tbcRvNLLMuiIeFOCcxzJAjt4QP_wpAhWKhR2NbkmnqvYOrKIAawqxUbF7HZu4zZusZQrkcA7NV8/s400/IMG_5219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585382968038146" border="0" /></a><br />Oh well, the detour wound up bringing us through Bratislava.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzzV0FaS2JRakEFj6t0plTA3siRmLUXTP3cAv1YeRUzzt5MIRwUPUC9ArNpLDtropgsKO8hRyJj4nfLpcvKhMUYYRNVoD4ltfZAGFkx6mfDrhUZ-MME2UUcxrKQAbDEhhk1lCJbNr_ko/s1600-h/IMG_5220.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzzV0FaS2JRakEFj6t0plTA3siRmLUXTP3cAv1YeRUzzt5MIRwUPUC9ArNpLDtropgsKO8hRyJj4nfLpcvKhMUYYRNVoD4ltfZAGFkx6mfDrhUZ-MME2UUcxrKQAbDEhhk1lCJbNr_ko/s400/IMG_5220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269585379268132578" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived later that night in Budapest OK, just a few hours delayed. ;-)ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900999605746807235.post-759318989574235542008-08-18T14:54:00.000-07:002008-11-17T03:12:53.325-08:00ZakopaneThe next day we headed off to Zakopane, Poland. Zakopane is a town in southern Poland with some 28,000 inhabitants. It lies in a large valley between the Tatra Mountains and Gubałówka Hill. It is the most important Polish center of mountaineering and skiing, and is visited annually by some three million tourists. It has the highest elevation (800-1,000m) of any town in Poland.<br /><br />Here are the Tatra Mountains (I believe).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jU8zJYJBKCY6kFe6vP6mG0H2rV-2fi2gF0qAonaMDROH0eJOYCC44r0YnjYKYOcKGSQW3AL4K7CnFh1Sz7XE76-c0T9oDCcHsSdf_aUInVAQpfo8gTV1-GFxrPWbafxDSoFMie3-QVE/s1600-h/IMG_5172.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jU8zJYJBKCY6kFe6vP6mG0H2rV-2fi2gF0qAonaMDROH0eJOYCC44r0YnjYKYOcKGSQW3AL4K7CnFh1Sz7XE76-c0T9oDCcHsSdf_aUInVAQpfo8gTV1-GFxrPWbafxDSoFMie3-QVE/s400/IMG_5172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269579679892555554" border="0" /></a><br />A fellow building a fine house in Zakopane.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewvA1PnbMhP0GrB4ZYqJpOIGmCE3yc4k7-EkPMbhCyr3TWfII6S7beDOQsNYHPulutnAxrAW5X_ttqqEfIP8HQcaEL75D4G_Tg-XgmaIyzQ69cCnqaDBRfl1KC4nYsqRFmchqDr_28Ag/s1600-h/IMG_5173.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewvA1PnbMhP0GrB4ZYqJpOIGmCE3yc4k7-EkPMbhCyr3TWfII6S7beDOQsNYHPulutnAxrAW5X_ttqqEfIP8HQcaEL75D4G_Tg-XgmaIyzQ69cCnqaDBRfl1KC4nYsqRFmchqDr_28Ag/s400/IMG_5173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269579674957647298" border="0" /></a><br />And in Zakopane, in addition to adults crossing the street, one must watch out for little girls with giant lollipops!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6ByczOOYHB5FD0Vj26gEV3fBqeBUHTaReh6sO3zxlfLcqtA_Y5s2XYhdONRAHpuLGdaUQKT_IWuDIVggvkwhNlkpnppjRcULoC5kVCPgw8WPaS4jQFOgpojvcCEWwp8IpCUxG3X8ZVc/s1600-h/IMG_5174.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6ByczOOYHB5FD0Vj26gEV3fBqeBUHTaReh6sO3zxlfLcqtA_Y5s2XYhdONRAHpuLGdaUQKT_IWuDIVggvkwhNlkpnppjRcULoC5kVCPgw8WPaS4jQFOgpojvcCEWwp8IpCUxG3X8ZVc/s400/IMG_5174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269579558252994098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-zMDC1FtwBr8Opx5z-482reJAhQJSMwYQxglqVsZjEbrGwsMaAKE4ZuuEEgkM88J1L80nFrA6XcrK3yJmhy6JgLGYzC6e1HMeDJRP1z9RiJhGUi5Ew5DLc-B1dMQAfwKVySxOpKU8Ak/s1600-h/IMG_5206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-zMDC1FtwBr8Opx5z-482reJAhQJSMwYQxglqVsZjEbrGwsMaAKE4ZuuEEgkM88J1L80nFrA6XcrK3yJmhy6JgLGYzC6e1HMeDJRP1z9RiJhGUi5Ew5DLc-B1dMQAfwKVySxOpKU8Ak/s400/IMG_5206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269578672493683058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That afternoon, we went for a hike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUKGLprhY-0DsIs__3JnOWKI2guXDosaHiCxelutwtm213zC3tGnc5MRx9ToC0EotuzQCHksCLlnBZxYwkhYbJkteZVxF8KN-w-VLm863kaICY_ZTNWNiWzQEXlohkRBKqr5lwu8kg9I/s1600-h/IMG_5192.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUKGLprhY-0DsIs__3JnOWKI2guXDosaHiCxelutwtm213zC3tGnc5MRx9ToC0EotuzQCHksCLlnBZxYwkhYbJkteZVxF8KN-w-VLm863kaICY_ZTNWNiWzQEXlohkRBKqr5lwu8kg9I/s400/IMG_5192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269579543185521426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvBg413wmYxhwXk0Wz4DngLvr387vCKoQxUO7NpLdzh5UutCURzq3IFebCyAPqBceiRWvEc8ijtob6M3KQpqVsuNrBb4R3DDklUQblfvTcKgoDKcVAv_CsbDgw7NLx9UpgeytpOLq5e4/s1600-h/IMG_5190.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvBg413wmYxhwXk0Wz4DngLvr387vCKoQxUO7NpLdzh5UutCURzq3IFebCyAPqBceiRWvEc8ijtob6M3KQpqVsuNrBb4R3DDklUQblfvTcKgoDKcVAv_CsbDgw7NLx9UpgeytpOLq5e4/s400/IMG_5190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269579552095499202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJzC0VXa1_elvgWtMSP1XxOE00CmZO1MFRXphESKqSB9n86dzncvJSuBUSQsR7sEDqeY5B2luIsQrIDtqnxcOP87GHS1F3fNwMIEKPgfcgaNWtq5-u5nM-kbPW4w3s0WW6b6EzPLr7jY/s1600-h/IMG_5194.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJzC0VXa1_elvgWtMSP1XxOE00CmZO1MFRXphESKqSB9n86dzncvJSuBUSQsR7sEDqeY5B2luIsQrIDtqnxcOP87GHS1F3fNwMIEKPgfcgaNWtq5-u5nM-kbPW4w3s0WW6b6EzPLr7jY/s400/IMG_5194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269579538208353554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19QNKtx6K-ODwHIp1wUxbz4ReU8Fa46POEHz2GAiRDfQbEV-Yw48YVX9lYX5xtR8LHRsGL-w7_PVo7a-0CSu-rlmd4sGzH-LWNk101DgmQMkKIoRy9CJV4qQHQXjvNuDZ3wVvM_ODbJk/s1600-h/IMG_5195.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19QNKtx6K-ODwHIp1wUxbz4ReU8Fa46POEHz2GAiRDfQbEV-Yw48YVX9lYX5xtR8LHRsGL-w7_PVo7a-0CSu-rlmd4sGzH-LWNk101DgmQMkKIoRy9CJV4qQHQXjvNuDZ3wVvM_ODbJk/s400/IMG_5195.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269579538691905346" border="0" /></a><br />And then later that night, we had a grand feast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWtTMm7dgxW5cBp1hZyLhoxw8i7KJXg7OpUiKiTUbmiKQLfMF_fjBE1KhNBs4urr1nvZw1N1GCAp35NHrA8ZlYEnh4J97S9S2ki7AHC0GFewssWZqw-ucB_Un_UWRiHpJ7LTPDZpm5SE/s1600-h/IMG_5201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWtTMm7dgxW5cBp1hZyLhoxw8i7KJXg7OpUiKiTUbmiKQLfMF_fjBE1KhNBs4urr1nvZw1N1GCAp35NHrA8ZlYEnh4J97S9S2ki7AHC0GFewssWZqw-ucB_Un_UWRiHpJ7LTPDZpm5SE/s400/IMG_5201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269578681504139234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclnO28W6fm-jWWr3LwURU2N2YMbR2i60zwLdjz0pCSfgmBnJ1ErSwyC2O2pBvHiGhNE6tojUwG4Iw34qwwAhcbmbRnkBWaObJqm6a66DeSuVL4xZdDy6i74v2HH_umVYFv8_I2UvKbtQ/s1600-h/IMG_5198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclnO28W6fm-jWWr3LwURU2N2YMbR2i60zwLdjz0pCSfgmBnJ1ErSwyC2O2pBvHiGhNE6tojUwG4Iw34qwwAhcbmbRnkBWaObJqm6a66DeSuVL4xZdDy6i74v2HH_umVYFv8_I2UvKbtQ/s400/IMG_5198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269578685231423026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwdEpsw6ZZjQrase5q6Kdlm-X88tXx9TJ2hFPc8nAfsItiqX3AEVc5LNsqjyL9BxJVgiwAeELrW0tiZ7-C9RUVUr6pdT0zrt0GbojXZ7dp8WAERgUjeZOWaBt9rD9_kJ_PWMd2VMQ8CY/s1600-h/IMG_5200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwdEpsw6ZZjQrase5q6Kdlm-X88tXx9TJ2hFPc8nAfsItiqX3AEVc5LNsqjyL9BxJVgiwAeELrW0tiZ7-C9RUVUr6pdT0zrt0GbojXZ7dp8WAERgUjeZOWaBt9rD9_kJ_PWMd2VMQ8CY/s400/IMG_5200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269578686383454178" border="0" /></a><br />Eastern Europe has its own version of Hooters; it is called "Rooster." There was also one in Krakow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI48Y0eMBzNrXoiSuhKBqw6D9HxKhkv4JkcchSoEeWchyx0kg17HdH4HDytMZM4eYraPjoSQBMo-6Mi7DUw3AnyfnOUI_bu3DT9XFADZhyphenhyphensiWbFlVqWpylBXBzYMaEo_VUSHSTQ761uM/s1600-h/IMG_5202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI48Y0eMBzNrXoiSuhKBqw6D9HxKhkv4JkcchSoEeWchyx0kg17HdH4HDytMZM4eYraPjoSQBMo-6Mi7DUw3AnyfnOUI_bu3DT9XFADZhyphenhyphensiWbFlVqWpylBXBzYMaEo_VUSHSTQ761uM/s400/IMG_5202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269578678150178562" border="0" /></a>ddrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10035406433792125155noreply@blogger.com0