If you have lived or currently live in a big city perhaps you will agree: the only convenience to a big city is the city itself.

In the grand geographical spectrum I suppose there is convenience of a sort about being in the middle of lower Japan- Kyoto in one direction, Tokyo in another, and the mountains in another, all within 1-4 hours depending on where you want to go. I think of my Uncle Eddie's description of why he thinks Midland, TX, is an OK place. When I told him it seemed pretty out of the way and desolate and asked him why he liked it there he said, "Shawn, what are you talking about? This is the best place place in the country. It's at least four hours in any direction to anyplace you would want to go."

Next week it is off to Takayama, in the foothills of the Japanese Alps, for a day or two. I hope to have some photos to share with you then.