Next Stop: Aomori, Japan

Just about the time I am really, really craving Mexican food, our chef puts out a buffet like this. Not quite Julie's but it will certainly hold me over until I get home. Thank you, Chef!

Fish to the right of my fork and chicken mole to the left.

A small portion of the welcoming committee in Aomori. They had people strung out all over the pier, inside the port terminal, forming a pathway to our bus like cheerleaders for the players on a football field, but the absolute topper were the two young men who ran along the street beside the bus each waving a giant hand. Aomori is a smaller port so not all of the ginormous ships can dock here, or perhaps just choose not to do so. Pity, they don't know what they are missing.

On this Day 160 of our journey I once again chose to see the countryside rather than the city, Even though the Japanese do a fantastic job preserving nature within their cities, I still prefer to view God's work over that of man. First on our agenda was approximately a two hour drive into the mountains which were mostly uninhabited to a ski-lift. I have no idea where the skiers who are fortunate enough to find this paradise stay because even from the summit station I saw no signs of a ski lodge. If you are a skier, this would seem to be the place to go. From Ropeway Summit one can take several different slopes ranging from 3.5 km to 5 km. From my viewpoint, any one of them would be a black level. The ride up to the summit via Hakkoda Ropeway checked off another first for me. Ride a cable car up a steep mountain. Repeat in a heartbeat! From Hakkoda we traveled even farther into the mountains through a densely wooded forest (sorry, didn't hear the species of trees) to that unseen resort for lunch. Lunch started with some delicious vegetables but then came the main course-Kobe steak cooked to perfection. However, they lost me with desert! Have no clue what it was. Don't want to know. What I shall remember from this day forward if ever offered a Japanese desert, politely decline! Leaving the lion's share of the desert on the plate I attempted to discretely leave the resort and desert behind. Another first - taste Japanese sweets. Check. Definitely DO NOT REPEAT!

From the resort we once again drove through serene forested mountains complete with babbling brook to view Lake Towada from another mountain top observatory. Remember my attempts to see Mount Fuji? Well Lake Towada was equally successful. Only difference is I did climb to the top of this observatory and took some pics that rival those my shipmates took atop that observation deck. Nothing but greyish-white clouds as far as the lens could see in any direction.

To compensate for the lack of a view of the lake, the 12th largest in area in Japan but the second deepest, we were given many, many photo ops of streams and falls on our return to the ship all the while regaling us with stories about how deep the snow gets and how big the deer are. It must truly be a winter wonderland. If it hasn't already been, the Olympic Committee would be missing a great venue if they never choose these mountains for a Winter Olympics. At least in my humble opinion.

Another beautifully serene day exploring the countryside of Japan. How fortunate I am!

Today Is Someday! Make It Count!