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Road of Boston

　The population of the historic city of Boston on the American east coast is about 600,000. It is not a big city. The population of Boston is smaller than that of Kumamoto City where I live. However, why is Boston famous? Boston is famous for the Boston Tea Party, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Marathon, the Boston Red Sox, and so on. Moreover, Boston is a university town. There are about 60 universities in Boston, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Boston isn't a super-large city but it's one of the most famous cities in the world.
　A red line is drawn along some streets in Boston. If you walk along this line, you can see all of the sightseeing spots without losing your way. The person who thinks that line's color should be yellow must have seen "The Wizard of Oz" too often. There are the Red Sox in Boston. It should be a red line, shouldn't it?
　There is no special-place like World Heritage. Why did we visit Boston? First, I will explain the reasons for our visit to Boston.
　My wife had the experience of staying with Jane and Rufus Blanshard in Connecticut near Boston in 1979. Their correspondence had continued since then, and in December 2005, there was an invitation from Ms. Jane, "What are the chances of some travel to New England??"
　I wanted to make it possible for my wife to meet Jane again. And I felt it would be interesting to meet an overseas acquaintance. It must be different from mere sightseeing. What is more, I wanted to visit Boston at least once because there are a lot of things to see there, especially the Museum of Fine Arts.
　Ms. Jane's house cannot be visited on a package tour. Even if we chose a tour with free time, we would be wasting the hotel fee. So I decided to plan a personal tour to start the following August.
　I ordered the airline tickets from a travel agency in Fukuoka by mail. The PDF file was sent by E-mail as an airline ticket. It was an "E ticket". After I printed it and took it to the counter of the airline on the day of departure, I would be able to get my ticket. Because it wasn't an actual ticket, I felt uneasy about its effectiveness. So I asked the travel agency. Its answer was, "Don't worry! Almost everyone uses it." If I use the E ticket, I can have a spare ticket. Even if I lost the E ticket, no one could use it without my passport. And tickets are issued only if I show my passport. How convenient the E ticket is! So I ordered the E ticket.
　I could reserve hotels by using a Japanese web site.
　Getting to Ms.Jane's house in Connecticut presented a big problem. The distance between Boston and Ms. Jane's house is about 140km. If we took a bus, it would take four hours. On the other hand, if we used a rental car, it would take only two hours. So I decided to rent a car. To avoid the influence of jet lag, I decided not to rent a car until two days after our arrival. When driving in foreign countries, an international driver’s license is necessary. If you go to the license center, you can get the international driver’s license easily. It might be inconvenient for the person who travels frequently because it expires after only one year. I expected that when I got the license, the license center would give me some information about driving abroad. But there was no information. I couldn't get information from the Internet, either. I got the most valuable information from a pamphlet about travel to the US, which I obtained at the street corner.
　The preparation was going well. But in July 2006, my nephew became seriously ill. Leukemia recurred. His doctor said that he probably would not live more than a month. So we canceled our reservations, paying quite a few cancellation fees.
　He fought against leukemia, but he died July 18th. He was twenty-four years old. His doctor's diagnosis was correct. If we had carried out our travel plans, we would have come back to Japan on July 18th. I felt relieved that we had stayed in Kumamoto. Of course we could do nothing about his illness, but we helped his family as much as we could. The road to Boston was far away, I felt.
In March 2007, I received very sad news from Jane. Her husband had died after a long illness. If we had visited New England last year, we could have met him. I couldn't but feel the transience of human life.
　 　I started making arrangements for my tour in April 2007. This time, it was not a package tour. So I spent much time and effort preparing for our trip. I enjoyed it, although it wasn’t easy.
August 11
　We started from home for the Fukuoka airport by car at four o'clock in the morning. A few minutes later, I noticed that I had forgotten the photographs, which were taken during my wife’s homestay in America. But I went on anyway because I thought it wasn't a serious loss. But a few minutes later, I noticed that I had forgotten my jacket. Without a jacket, I couldn't endure the cold of the airplane. I hesitated, but then returned home and picked up my jacket and the photographs. The photographs that Ms. Jane had sent were to return home after 28 years!
　To my amazement, the difficulties of the "E ticket" had become reality in the Fukuoka airport. An attendant looked into "E ticket" and inputted something in the computer terminal. She repeated the input and then shook her head. And she said to me, "I cannot confirm your reservation. Wasn't the airline ticket sent to you?" I answered, "No, I have this E ticket only." She said, "Please tell me the emergency telephone number of the travel agency." But I didn't know it. It was 6:00 AM. There might be a few travel agencies that do business at this time. I recollected the e-mail, which had said "Keep this cell phone number in case of emergency." I couldn't have understood the meaning. But I understood it then. It was too late. She was still trying. What should we do when we couldn't get a ticket? Would everything come to nothing? Was the road to Boston closed in Fukuoka? I was attacked by the sense that all my efforts were collapsing.
　I felt that a long time had passed, but actually it was only ten minutes or so. At last, tickets were issued. I asked her why it took so much time. She answered that the response of the terminal seemed to have been bad. I had an unpleasant feeling. Anyway, tickets were issued. I was greatly relieved. Anyway, we could start our travels.
　The airplane was scheduled to fly to Boston via Narita and Dallas. There was no direct flight from Japan to Boston. The road to Boston is very long. We checked our baggage in Fukuoka airport. The baggage was supposed to be received not in Narita but in Dallas, and immigration procedures would be done in Dallas. I had gotten information from the Internet that during a trip to the US, we had better leave our suitcases unlocked. I confirmed this at the information desk of the airline just in case. The person in charge replied to me, "Lock your suitcases." I got confused. I asked a person in charge of baggage again. She told me, "Leave your suitcases unlocked if you go to the US." I noticed that no one on the staff of the airline company knew the answer. In the US, suitcases are inspected at random. If a suitcase is locked, an inspector will break the lock and open the suitcase. And the inspector doesn't take responsibility for breaking it. If you want to lock your suitcases, you should buy a suitcase or a suitcase belt with a key that can be opened with the inspector's master key. We left our suitcases unlocked because there were no expensive things in them.
　We made our connection for Dallas at Narita.　At the Narita airport it was very difficult to find our way to change planes. I asked the way twice.
Story of a cabin attendant who made light of guests in economy class.
　This story happened in the American airplane bound for Dallas. Our seats were in the front row of the economy class. There were business-class seats in front of our seats. Between the two classes there was a partition. I went to a rest room in front. In other words, I went to a rest room in business class. At that time, nothing happened. After a while, my son went to a rest room in front, too. As soon as he returned to his seat, a cabin attendant approached him and said he shouldn't use the rest room in front. The cabin attendant blocked off the aisle seats with white and black napkins. So the aisle was blocked and we couldn't go to the business-class area. I seemed troublesome but every time cabin attendants came down the aisle, they removed the napkins and fastened them again until the plane had landed.
　Day dawned over Seattle. Soon after breakfast, the plane arrived at Dallas Airport. We would change planes here for Boston. We stood in line for immigration procedures. We had very little time. I wanted to ask a person in charge, but someone said before I had a chance to speak, "We are in a great hurry!" The answer was, "Everyone is the same." I gave up and stood in line. At last my turn came. The big immigration inspector seemed severe, but he spoke to me gently in Japanese. So I wanted to reply with smile. However, the inspection was strict. He not only inspected my passport but also took fingerprints of my two forefingers and a photograph of my face. I understood why so much time was required for immigration procedures. The volume of data must be huge because they took all the data of everyone who entered the US.
　Next, we went through the boarding procedures. It was necessary to take off not only our bags but also our jackets and shoes, and to pass our baggage through the X-ray inspection device. I felt rather miserable walking on the floor in my socks in such a place. Finally we boarded the airplane for Boston. I felt completely relieved.

　I was able to see the buildings of Boston from the plane just before landing. We arrived at Boston at last. 　The Boston airport is called Logan International Airport, and it is a very convenient airport only about 5km away from the downtown area. We went to South Station on a bus, which was called a silver line. (I wanted to use public transportation.) And we went to the hotel by taxi. The check-in at the hotel could be done without any trouble. We ate lobsters, which were a Boston specialty, at a restaurant close to the hotel.
August 12
　We Japanese call the Museum of Fine Arts "Boston Museum". Almost every Japanese guidebook says "Boston Museum". Even though it is quite different from the original name, "Boston Museum" is easy to understand for us. We saw famous works but passed by other works without stopping. If we had seen every work, we would have had to spend all day there. Because I was in a great hurry, my elder son who didn't like museums, asked me, "Shouldn't we see this room?" I wished we had enough time. But I was satisfied to see all the works that I wanted to see and to take photographs.
"The Sower"
Millet
"Dance at Bougival"
Renoir
"Ra Japonaise"
Monet
"Where do we come from?
What are we?
Where are we going?"
Gauguin

Japanese Garden
(Garden at the Heart of Heaven)
commemoration of
Tenshin Okakura's distinguished services

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
　This museum exhibits Isabella Stewart Gardner’s art collection. The building was once her residence. What a rich woman she was! The exhibit was wonderful. The atmosphere of the exhibition rooms and the courtyard was wonderful, too. Sometimes, concerts are performed in this museum. We entered a large room. There were a lot of chairs and a piano at the center of the stage. Many people were sitting on chairs. We also sat on chairs while taking a rest. Perhaps this was the room where a concert would be held. After a while, a member of the museum staff showed up and began to talk. She was probably talking about the history of this museum. Even though I couldn't understand the English story, I could enjoy her expressive face and gestures. Such a museum is rare. I think it is more suitable to call this museum the "Isabella Stewart Gardner memorial hall". I felt regret that I couldn't take a photograph here.

Fenway Park
　It seemed that Boston reminded many Japanese of pitcher Matsuzaka belonging to the Boston Red Sox. Fenway Park is the Red Sox's home field. At first, I had no plan to visit Fenway Park. But my sons wanted to see it. So we visited there.

Harvard University
　The oldest and most prestigious university in the US. There is a tourist route through the campus. Some groups of tourists (not Japanese) were there. It is said that you will become happy if you touch the shoes of the bronze statue of John Harvard in Harvard Yard. Many tourists formed a line to take photographs of patting the shoes. John Harvard's bronze statue and a lot of travelers appear in the following "Harvard Yard" photograph, though they are small.
Johnston Gate
(University front gate)
Harvard Yard
Memorial Hall

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
　Super-excellent college noted for its engineering instruction. The campus buildings are like those of Europe in the Middle Ages. Spacious lawns spread between buildings. What an impressive scene! Some people were practicing juggling in one of the halls, and others were enjoying sports on the lawn. These scenes were quite different from those of Japan. The campus faces the Charles River, and buildings in downtown Boston can be seen across the river. This was a wonderful scene, too.
Rogers Building
Maclaurin Building
People juggling in
the Maclaurin Building

Henry Moore's
sculpture
Alexander Calder's
"The Big Sail"
Charles River
and downtown Boston

August 13
Whale watching
　Stellwagen Bank in the sea near Boston is famous for the splendid jumping of humpback whales. When we came to the ticket center, a staff member was speaking to people who had printed papers. I had a printed paper, too. It was a confirmation letter. I had ordered tickets on the Internet. I showed the staff member the letter. He asked me to show my ID. I showed my passport, and he gave me our tickets immediately.
　The ship sailed at amazing speed for about one hour. After it slowed down, I could see several other ships. Probably, those were whale-watching ships, too. And I could see a black object and spray. A whale might be jumping! Our hearts were filling with expectations. The ship moved slower. I looked around the surface of the sea, and could see whales' backs here and there. The ship was approaching one of them. Before long, the whale wagged its tailfin. I was surprised to see it. After a while, the whale moved its fin in a big way, and dived into the sea. After that, a large circular ripple was left. And then, the whale jumped up from the sea! What an exciting scene it was! A guidebook says that during a whale-watching tour, you can almost always watch a whale, and you can also see a jumping whale if you are lucky. We were very lucky. The whale wagged its tailfin again and again. Sometimes, it wagged its pectoral fin. Was the whale playing? It seemed as if it intended to please us. Whale-watching is so exciting that it is worth taking part in.
　My digital camera was old. It meant the shutter was slow to react. But I could take some photographs of the tailfin because the whale wagged its tailfin again and again. However, it was impossible to take a photograph of the whale jumping. If I want to take a photograph of a jumping whale, I must buy a new camera and go whale-watching again!
Whale's back
Tailfin (front)
Tailfin (back)
　You can see a pattern on the back of the tail fin. Each whale has its own pattern. It is just like man's fingerprint. About 2000 whales have been confirmed in this sea area. To my amazement, each whale has its own name!

New England Aquarium
My sons like aquariums. So we had made plans to go this aquarium. There was a giant cylindrical water tank in the center of the aquarium. Its structure was like that of the Kaiyukan aquarium in Osaka, because both aquariums were designed by the same architect. The scale of the Kaiyukan aquarium may be larger. After I returned from whale-watching, I was suffering from drowsiness. Was it because of the medicine to prevent seasickness? Was it because of jet lag? Was it both?

Quincy Market
We went to Quincy Market in the vicinity of the aquarium. It was said that it was the most crowded market in Boston. This photograph is of Faneuil Hall (conference place) and Samuel Adams' statue. Those were adjacent to the market. A lot of shops and restaurants were here, and there were a lot of people. Some street performers were doing performances. We came here about 16 o'clock. Because my family likes such a place, I thought we would spend considerable time here. But besides me, the rest of my family was suffering from drowsiness. So we came back to the hotel early and slept.

Shaw's
This was not a sightseeing spot but a supermarket. It was a very big shop. My wife and I got up at about 18 o'clock. We waked our sons, but they couldn't get up. My wife and I went to Shaw's to buy some food. We bought sushi, salad, fried chicken, cup noodles, cornflakes, milk, juice, fruit, beer, and so on. And we came back to the hotel and ate them. When our family eats out again and again, salad is popular. This photograph of Shaw's was taken from the Skywalk observatory the next day.
August 14
Skywalk
The Skywalk observatory is located on the 50th floor of the Prudential Center. which is the second tallest building in Boston. I didn't expect too much here. But actually the view was wonderful! We could see streets where we were scheduled to go, and places which we had already visited, such as MIT and Fenway Park. I was very happy to visit here.

A tall building in the center is the John Hancock Tower, which is the tallest building in Boston. Beyond the building, the downtown can be seen.

Red brick houses and the Charles River

MIT on the other side of the Charles River.

Fenway Park. And an expressway can be seen. Later we would go through it in a rent-a-car.

Newbury Street
Many shops with a nice display were here.
Newbury Street
beautiful shrubbery
Waiting while my wife was shopping
Trinity Church
　A magnificent church. Trinity Church was reflected in the glass windows of the nearby John Hancock tower, and it was beautiful.
Trinity Church and the John
Hancock tower(right)
Boston Public Library and
an amphibious sightseeing
vehicle

　After that, I rented a car. This was my first experience of driving in a foreign country. Moreover, I had to drive on the right. This was my first experience of doing that, too. (In Japan, we have to drive on the left. ) I chose an intermediate-class car, because it was the smallest car that could be attached to a car navigation system. I went to the parking lot imagining a car of the 1800cc class because I had received a reservation confirmation which said a typical type of car was the Toyota Corolla. But there was a big car! I got into it and looked about the dashboard. I was surprised again to see the logo "Lincoln"! I should have confirmed the price. But at that time, I couldn't think about anything but driving. After I returned the car, I confirmed the receipt. The rental fee of the car was 79 dollars/day (about 9000 yen), excluding insurance etc. The price was Corolla class. What happened? Wasn't there an intermediate class? Was I just lucky?
　I would be driving a left-hand-drive car on the right side of the road for the first time. I noticed that this was a mirror-image world. In a word, I had entered a backwards world like the surface of an engraved seal. I realized that I could drive in the same way as I would make a seal engraving. That had to be easy for me. Let's go!
　It felt hard to drive in an unknown city. In Boston, there were a lot of one-way streets. Boston was a very difficult city to drive in. However, the car navigation system taught me the way, including the information about one-way traffic. The car navigation system's display was in English, but I could select its voice as Japanese.
　After that we returned to the hotel and picked up our baggage. As soon as we started from the hotel, we said goodbye to the complicated streets of Boston and went along an interstate highway.
　At first, I wasn't used to the highway. I was driving in the rightmost lane. Suddenly, the right lane guided me to an exit from the highway. At that time, I was so uneasy that I couldn't change lanes. All my efforts to get on the highway came to nothing. How could I find my way back to the highway? I felt relieved to recall the car navigation system. I returned to the highway, and went forward. But I made the same mistake again! The rightmost lane guided our car to an exit from the highway! I was depressed over my failures. I returned to the highway. When I went from the narrow road to the wide road, I made a worse mistake. I drove on the left side of road! Before my eyes, a car was approaching! I pulled up my car to the shoulder of the road. An accident was avoided. What a relief!
　Keep left was the same rule as in seal engraving, I thought. But it was a big mistake. I do seal engravings after due consideration. And I can do them through trial and error. On the other hand, I have to drive with immediate decisions. If I drive through trial and error, my life is in danger. I realized the limitations of thinking this was like seal engraving.
　Following the car navigation system, I returned to the highway again. I was firmly determined not to make another mistake, and I drove in the middle lane. After that we arrived at the town where Ms. Jane lives. I was not familiar with the car navigation system. So I asked a person the way to Ms. Jane's house. And I found the road that led to Ms. Jane's house.
　We went along a green residential street. We were looking for street signs. Finally, we found a house with a metal rooster by the door. It had to be her house. When we reached the front of her house, a human figure was coming from the other side of the screen door. Oh! Jane! Ms. Jane and my wife met again after an interval of 28 years. The way to Boston was very far and difficult in various meanings. But we reached here at last safely.
Touching commemorative
photograph
Commemorative photo
with all my family
A metal rooster by the door

　A cylinder which contained liquid was hung by the side of the veranda. The liquid was sugar water. Some hummingbirds came to suck it. We had never seen wild hummingbirds. Moreover, we saw them up close. Various kinds of bird food were prepared around the house, and various kinds of birds came to play. The dinner table was prepared on the veranda. Eating a delicious dinner, we had a wonderful time talking about the past and this trip. Of course, we showed her the photograph of the homestay in 1979.
　I wanted to show Ms. Jane the photographs taken in Boston by the digital camera. So I brought a card reader and a code which connected the digital camera and the television. I knew that the scan mode of television in the US is the same as that in Japan. But I worried whether the photographs could be seen on television. However, it went well. We showed her not only the photographs of the trip to Boston but also some of our house in Japan. The screen really came alive.
　There were some photographs of squirrels. Those were taken in Harvard University and MIT. We told Ms. Jane that we had enjoyed watching squirrels. Ms. Jane said that she and her husband didn't cherish them, and sometimes caught them; they were the same as rats. [After I show this website, Ms Jane said,"Eiji, this isn't quite fair! I like them much better than rats, and we only caught them because they ate too much expensive bird food! And we caught them alive and moved them somewhere else!"] Well, there was no one who took photographs of squirrels except us. I thought Chip and Dale in Disney animation were lovely squirrels. After thinking it over, I noticed that a mouse (Mickey Mouse) and a duck (Donald Duck) aren't the only lovely animals.
August 15
　I had known Ms. Jane's personal computer was IMAC. I brought a card reader and USB wire. The IMAC had a USB connector, but I didn't know how to use the IMAC. And Ms. Jane didn't know IMAC thoroughly. So we couldn't see photographs on her personal computer.
　After breakfast, we had a pleasant chat. And then it was departure time. When could we visit here again? I didn't know. But we said goodbye as if we could visit here next year.
　The drive went well. I got used to driving, and could see other cars. I noticed that almost all the other cars were smaller than our car. Of course, big trucks were running. But the sedans were small cars that were the same size as in Japan.
　After we entered Boston, I had a rather hard time searching for the office of rent-a-car. Driving in Boston, the car navigation system indicated a slightly different point. So I missed the turn at a crossing again and again. I looked around at the surrounding buildings, and I finally reached the rent-a-car office. When I rent a car again, I might be able to drive more calmly. But I don't want to drive in a city.

Freedom Trail

 Red line in Freedom Trail. This is the starting point. We walked along this line.

Boston Common is a splendid park covered with grass.

After we had passed through Boston Common, we caught sight of the Massachusetts State House with a golden dome. J.F.Kennedy was born in Brookline, a Boston suburb. Before he became president, he played an active part as a member of the upper and lower houses of government.
We couldn't get in here because the gate was closed.

Park Street Church is a symbol of Boston. Before this trip, when I thought of Boston, the spire of this church occurred to me. Unfortunately, it was under construction. The commemorative photograph didn't quite succeed.

 Granary Burying Ground. Some of the founding fathers of the US, such as John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams, are buried here. However, I didn't have strong feelings, because I didn't know much about the history.

Benjamin Franklin's Statue in front of Old City Hall. He was from Boston.

Old State House. The Declaration of Independence was read out here. There is a balcony where George Washington waved to the parade. This is the oldest building in Boston, and it is now a museum. This photograph is of a model of the Old State House in the museum.

The circle in front of the Old State House is the site of the Boston Massacre. Bostonians who suffered from heavy taxes faced British soldiers here. Bostonians threw stones and beat the British soldiers. The soldiers couldn't stand it any more, and fired. Five Bostonians died. It happened in 1770. This incident led to the Boston Tea Party and the War of Independence.
　The Freedom Trail continued, but we stopped strolling along it, because I wanted to see another place.

Beacon Hill
　I wanted to see this at any cost. This neighborhood was a rich residential street. The houses didn't show off their gorgeousness but maintained a quiet and private atmosphere with red brick walls. What a beautiful and historical town! There was a Seven-Eleven (Japanese store) in this area. The store usually has garish signboards, but here, the signboard was subdued. (See following photographs)
　We wanted to find a restaurant for supper. But we couldn't find a suitable restaurant although we were in the downtown area. Should we go to a supermarket and buy some food? But that day was our last day in Boston. I wanted to go to a restaurant even though it would cost a lot. We went to Legal Seafood, which was a little far. When we arrived at the restaurant, many people were waiting. We watched a baseball game on TV while we waited for more than 30 minutes in the waiting corner. The pitcher was Matsuzaka. That day, he was the losing pitcher. It was a very delicious supper though it was not a gorgeous menu like a lobster. (This year, the Red Sox won the championship in the World Series)
August 16
　Today was the last day of our trip. During our trip, it had been nice and cool. I didn't want to leave Boston.
　We arrived at Logan International Airport. I remembered how much time it had taken for them to issue our tickets in Japan. At the airport counter, an attendant asked us to show our passports. We showed our passports, and our tickets were issued immediately without our showing the E-tickets. It was very smooth, unlike Japan.
　We would change at Chicago for Narita. After we crossed Lake Michigan, as wide as the sea, the airplane got ready for landing. Before landing, I saw a scene which I had never seen before. Have you ever seen a flying airplane while you are flying in an airplane? I had only seen other airplanes from a distance. At this time, I saw an airplane at close range; it was flying parallel to our airplane. Of course, it wasn't dangerous. Two airplanes were descending, and they landed at the Chicago airport at the same time. I realized the hugeness of the Chicago airport.
　We didn't have to pick up our luggage at the Chicago airport, but the transfer time was only 50 minutes. We managed to get to the boarding gate. The departure time had passed but the airplane hadn't left. We heard an announcement that a damaged part had been found and was being repaired. After an hour, the airplane took off. Even with an hour's delay, we would still have an hour and a quarter for transfer time at Narita airport. So we would manage to get on the airplane for Fukuoka, I thought.
Story of cabin attendant who made light of guests of economy AGAIN
　In the return airplane, we were in the front row of the economy class again. My son went to a rear rest room, but it was occupied. So he came back to his seat. Then a cabin attendant told him that a forward rest room (business class) was vacant. What a kind cabin attendant, although we were using the same airline! However, an incident happened when the airplane was flying over Alaska. It was painful for me to sit for a long time. So I sometimes walked around inside the airplane. From a small window in the door, I saw snow-covered mountains and glaciers. What a superb view this was! I wanted to show this view to my family, and returned to my seat. My wife and elder son were sleeping. So I came back to the window with my younger son. At that time, two cabin attendants were talking in front of the window. I said to them, "Please let us look out the window. " One attendant stepped aside from the window, but the other cabin attendant said, "You can see the same view from a rear window. " This window was located between first class and business class. However, I couldn't understand why she refused my request. I looked back. A cabin attendant was serving drinks from a wagon in the aisle. I said to her, "We can't pass through the aisle. Please let us look out this window. " She said, "Where is your seat?" I thought she wanted to say to me that economy-class passengers shouldn't come here. I didn't answer this question, and asked her to let my son look out of the window for a moment. After that, my son could see out of the window. But the place where a glacier could be seen had already been passed. This incident left a bad taste in our mouths.
Uppermost scene of glacier
Junction of glaciers
Glacier that flows to sea

August 17
　When we got off at Narita airport, there were attendants from the airline. They were looking for passengers who would transfer here. We told them that we intended to go to Fukuoka. They said, "Because this airplane was delayed, you had better hurry; you may not be in time for the airplane for Fukuoka. We have arranged a reservation for the next plane in case you missed the prearranged airplane. What do you want to do?" If we took the next flight, we didn't need to hurry. But we would arrive at Fukuoka at 22 o'clock and at Kumamoto at 24 o'clock. So I decided we’d hurry up and get on the prearranged airplane. The attendants also said, "Even if you miss the airplane, you can take the next one. " I was deeply impressed by the consideration of the airline. (Even if we were guests in the economy seats.)
　Anyway, we hurried to the terminal for Fukuoka. We were at a loss and took a roundabout way. I asked two people the way. Somehow we were in time for the airplane. In Narita airport, the transfer was very difficult. In the US, we used three big airports, Dallas, Boston, and Chicago, and never lost our way.
　On this trip, there were various roads. The roads to realize this trip. The roads to Boston. The roads to Ms. Jane's house. The roads with a red line drawn on them, that is, the Freedom Trail. This was my first personal overseas tour. I felt that every road was long and easy to lose. However, it wasn't hard. That was why I felt so impressed. From now on, I want to walk on impressive roads, too.
Nov. 2007
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