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Da Vinci in Milano

Milano was about 22 degrees as opposed to Modena’s 32 and Bologna’s 27. Hey, Americano, get out your metric calculator to know what these temps mean.

Cena is “supper” in Italian.
The Last Supper mural is in the former cafeteria in Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milano)
This is IT!
The opposite wall is the Crucifixion fresco by Giovanni Donato da Montorfano. Only these 2 walls of this room were saved from WWII areal bombing.
Another side of the chapel.
handsome guys including Leonardo. I am wearing my new Borsalino.
With our Japanese guide, Miho who knew where to have a great lunch, gelato and chocolate, salami and prosciutto to bring home.
Michelangelo’s last sculpture, unfinished.
Michelangelo’s face, most probably. I appologize to both these greats for putting them on the same page. They both would hate me for doing it.
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At the Umberto Panini Maserati museum in Maranello

They Made tractors
3 guys ready for classic racing
World war one military bike
World war one military bike
Panini made his money in South America in the oil business so his nickname was Hombre. He is also in the Parmesan cheese business along with wine and balsamic vinegar
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Helsinki – A beautiful day

The Kämp Hotel is pretty nice. Service is very good.
Akira and The Doctor were discussing politics in front of the hotel While smoking a cigar.
Do you want to rent a bike?
A kiosk with hotdogs Which you can almost never find anymore in US airports.
The oldest Christian Orthodox Church in Europe
Beautiful Helsinki church
Chinese tourists eating Mexican food
Our restaurant
Grilled salmon on goat milk rice
The wine was very good and the water is in vodka bottles
Many of the downtown buildings are big and long
These kids were very industrious, drawing on the Plane
Here is one of the drawings they did on the way to Milano
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Akita area – nice people

Start of the “white trip” (not White Album)

Due to the salt air and sea waves washing up on the roads cars last only about 5 years. 

At most of the stations yesterday, due to the severe weather, almost none of the station masters checked tickets. 

Only 2 people were on the train from Fukaura to NishiNoshiro. 

No fishing in the winter so expect frozen fish everywhere. Due to the warming seas the formerly plentiful fish near the surface have gone deeper so fishing is tougher and more expensive. Overfishing near shore means longer trips for fishermen. 

There are many natural hot springs along this oceanside. 

Young people leave to work in the cities, reducing the population and make it tougher to economically sustain these rural areas and provide services to the aging population. 

Rice fields by the sea in winter. Is the rice salty?
Aomori to the west coast, along the coast to Akita and then down to Niigata
Almost whited out
And if wind and snow cancel the trains JR takes you by bus and taxi. White out so from Kawabe the train can’t run. We boarded a bus and are going by road. It was very efficient. Good thing we switched to bus. We can see the snowy scenery. The train windows were so fogged up it was showing signs of disappointment. 
My Akita hot springs room
Evening snack with Sapporo beer
Morning Coffee
Everyone loves old steam locomotives
An immigration mistake

Arrived at Ajigasswa but no transport from there on due to high seaside winds so JR hired a taxi for two customers to go as far as Fukaura. There I went to Sailing to eat before the train to NishiNoshiro. Everyone is so happy to see everyone. Lots of happy energy here.