Yes, we live!

In fact, beyond not having internet access at our past few hotels, we have been so busy living that we haven't had time to stop into an internet cafe either. Everyone is having a wonderful time (really!)

Following Beppu, we spent a lovely day at Mt. Aso (nothing like a live volcano with sulferous gases to emphasize our "place" on the planet) (L&G, Father misread it as "sulfurious," which was just as hilarious as you might expect :-D ).

Then we headed to Kumamoto where we were dazzled by the local castle and the former residence of the highest ranking shogun ... I am so building a house like that one, one of these days, if only out of toothpicks.

We took a ferry to "somewhere on the coast on the way to" Unzen, enjoyed the pungent aromas of the onsen there, and took lots of pictures as we zipped through OBAMA (hooray!) on the way to Nagasaki.

Yesterday (Saturday) we arrived in Kitakyushu-shi, Kokura to be exact. We visited all day today with family - Chizuko, Tsurue, Mr. Ilie (Shichan's son), his wife, Michiko, Miyoko, her husband, Masaharu, and more cousins. [will respectfully add names later!]

It is now Sunday evening and we are headed off to dinner. Itadakimasu (sp?) !

Out of computer time - much more to come! xoxo to all!