Central Hokkaido is jam-packed with snow, and a lot of it is stuck to the trees. Here is Melissa grinding through a backcountry trail in deep pow.
A Cold View from Furano
This is the view across the central Hokkaido valley from the Furano ski resort, where we were skiing (mostly) in the trees. A very cold and windy day.
Not as Good as the Ice Sculpture Festival
We missed the Sapporo ice sculpture festival by one day, so this little sculpture was all we could find. Sigh.
Watching Over Sapporo
The Sapporo television tower contains an elevator that shoots you up to an observation deck with great views of the city - when it's not snowing.
Underground in Sapporo
Wandering around the shops underneath Sapporo is a great way to find oversized (and cute) product placements.
A very great deal of powder
Here are a few shots from a recent ski trip with Steamboat Powdercats. There was a massive amount of snow.
The Gingerbread Cadillac
The culinary crew at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs has pulled off another miracle, recreating a confectionary Cadillac. Note the list of ingredients (which is massive).
The Best Museum Entry in the World
The Air and Space Museum has the best entryway in the world. You walk in on the SR-71 Blackbird, and right behind it is… the Space Shuttle! Easy to geek out.
As If...
No, I have no intention of picking up a grounded bat. This sign was under one of the Austin bridges, where they like to hang out.
Even the Door Hinges? Seriously?
Yep, those are eight-pound door hinges on the Texas state capitol building. Always bigger in Texas. Sure is a pretty building, though.
The Bathroom Rosetta Stone
This instruction in an Italian bathroom was probably concerning bad plumbing.
The Villages of the Cinque Terre
Here are several photos of the tiny seaside villages of the Cinque Terre region in Italy. They are all connected by a hiking trail, as well as a train that runs through the hills behind them.
Ah, Cinque Terre...
This is the famous Cinque Terre coast in northwest Italy. There are five small villages tucked into this coastline - very pretty from a distance, and stuffed with tourists when you get right into them.
Levanto Sunset
This was sunset on the beach at Levanto, in the Cinque Terre coastal area in western Italy. Rather nice.
Where Carrara Marble Comes From
We took a Jeep tour up to the top of the Carrara marble mine for a view of the proceedings. It was a Sunday, so the miners had the day off. Pretty impressive place, if you’re into epic deconstruction.
The Manhattan of Italy
San Gimignano is incredibly picturesque, with a number of high towers. However, it looks better from a distance. Close up, it’s essentially an open-air shopping mall. Just needs some Barry Manilow music.
Siena Cathedral
The Siena cathedral is absolutely magnificent. The following photos also show parts of its floor, which are usually covered up. We stopped by when they were open for viewing.
Siena Lighting
The lighting fixtures in Siena, Italy vary by district within the city. Here is an example.
Eating on the Farm
Our hiking group had dinner at a farmer’s home one night in Gaiole, in the Chianti area in Italy. Notice the hooks in the ceiling, where grapes are hung.
It Was a Dark and Stormy Afternoon
… when we were walking the rain-soaked streets of Greve, and spotted this wine production facility. Great ambiance, but no free wine.
