Thanks Flamey for the video link, that was fun to watch and I will be sure to look for Furoshiki shops while in the Kyoto area. There was never a moment (this trip) when I didn't consider travel insurance. The last time I was scheduled to go to Japan (without travel insurance, I might add), I seriously broke my ankle (requiring surgery for pins and wire) an hour after I bought the tickets for my son and I. That was 6.5 weeks before the trip. If you've ever broken a bone you will know that 6.5 weeks is not enough time to fully recoup from a break that bad. I was totally bedridden the entire time with my broken ankle elevated to speed healing. A week after surgery, I broke my "good" foot on my crutches (yeah, yeah, I know...). I couldn't shop for our month-long visit to Japan until two days before departure and that was via wheelchair. Three days before departure I got a removeable cast up to my knee for my ankle that I had to wear another 4-5 weeks. My broken foot was fine by then but hurt alot. Trying to manuever around Japan was torture and two days into the trip I removed my cast, wrapped my ankle tightly, put on a pair of hightop hiking shoes and proceeded to see Japan. We stayed with friends in Tokyo and joined them on vacation to a small fishing village a day's trip away. By the time we got home a month later, my physical therapist said there was nothing more he could do for me that I hadn't already done by walking on the ankle while in Japan. The next year our son (then age 13) was to go back to our friends in Japan and spend another month. Again, no travel insurance. Five days before leaving, he frqactured his wrist rollerblading and we had to cancel his trip. Our travel agent and friends in Japan just couldn't believe it! DS went to Japan the following year without trauma to himself but our agent and host family were a little apprehensive. :-). I don't recall getting insurance for our trip to Antarctica and Bueno Aires two years ago because we went on even shorter notice than this trip and we were much younger then. LOL FYI Flamey, I bought the the Buenos Aires book you recommended when we talked a couple months ago and will read it while on the cruise. Jodi-

This is perfect! I love anything Japanese and I used to collect frogs. Had lots and lots of them. Love that Lucky Frog charm Nodakgal ... it's a frog, my daughter's name is Amber ... I just might have to get it. Jodi Toadi (my nickname growing up ... do not tell a soul!)

Way back before marriage and kids I took a month long vacation to Hawaii with a friend. I spent a week on Maui camping at beach parks and exploring the hiking trails. That was one of the best vacations ever!!! Now, I dream of doing a solo week long backpacking trip to the Cloud Peak Wilderness area of the Bighorns in Wyoming. If I'm going to pull that off it needs to be soon, before I can't hack it physically. Ron

Jodi - Thank you so much for posting all these wonderful photographs. I haven't posted my thanks yet so today I decided I'd better do it before I forgot. I've really enjoyed looking at all of them. You have a great eye for composition and the colors are stunning. Thanks again for sharing them with us.