Matsumoto

Osaka was .... interesting! We have just arrived in Matsumoto (it is 2pm Monday afternoon here) and are heading to our rooms, but couldn't pass by the opportunity to toss out a free update. In retrospect, it makes sense that the upscale hotels don't offer a laptop, but it is still highly annoying :-D

Mother has taken hours of film and Father has taken so many photos that his camera is out of service (top priority today: procure new camera). For my part, my photo count is somewhere north of 7000, but I am working hard to delete the flotsam and jetsam. Or at least the flotsam. Because when a very large sumo wrestler sits four seats away at a ballgame, what is one to do but take a per kilo quantity of photos?

Other recent excitement includes whale sharks and mola molas, drunken cherry blossom viewing (witnessed, not experienced personally), crescent moon over famous torii, pushy deer, steep mountain trail, creepy monkey, wild raccoons out for a moonlit jaunt, parental (shep-)herding, noisy Americans and ever so much more.

All feet are holding up well, walking shoes are performing fabulously. More soon! (Really!)