I've been ignoring Donald Trump and world events, so will start with the  latest poll showing Americans venting disappointment with The Donald on today, his 100th day in office .  Also showing no progress on those wars in the Ukraine and Gaza Strip.  About tariffs and China, here is a graphic from the   New York Times . This is Day 14 of our trip.  Some background about  Hakodate . Was originally populated by the Ainu. Founded in 1454 by Kono Masamichi, but the family was driven out of Hakodate during the Ainu rebellion in 1512. There was another uprising around 1670, led by Ainu warrior Shakushain.  Note that the Ainu look Eurasian. It was on 8July1853 that American Commodore Matthew Perry led his four warships into Tokyo Bay, seeking re-establish for the first time in 200 years, regular trade between Japan and the western world.  The first two ports to open were Hakodate and Shimoda (67 miles south of Tokyo).  Yokohama Port did not o...

  We left Osaka  by train for Kyoto, 36 miles away. Saw some fall colors. Passed the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery. Kyoto Station is impressive. A shuttle bus comes from the Kyoto Westin Miyako twice an hour.  All hotels have at least one large Christmas tree. Check in went well.  Nice room.  Went to the Club Lounge to do my blog. Lot's of stuff to drink, but the food was only appetizers. Nice breakfast buffet. We debated going to Kiyomizu, where the Fall colors were almost past the peak.  However, this is a Saturday, and the advice was that there would just be too many people there.  So we instead caught the subway to walk up and down Shijo-dori, or Gion.  The internet here is very fast.  The next 24 photos took less than a minute and a half to download.  On some cruise ships, that would have taken all day. Kyoto Minamiza Theater. To Yasaka Shrine. Yasaka Shrine. Certainly our best viewing of Fall colors on this trip. Supposedly, Maikos a...