Random shots from Sweden

I have posted a few more pictures from our trip to Sweden last summer:


This is another angle of the historic windmill located among the apple orchards near Kivik in Skane Sweden. This was marked as a historic site or a museum.


This old building had a thatched roof, which was a bit unusual in Sweden and looked more like some you might see in England. It was located near Kivik and Skane. I believe this building was being used as a residence.


More shots of the amazing crystal from Kosta Boda factory in Smaland.

Superior, Colorado

I took a short walk during my lunch break this week to the next town and found these scenes from the historic old west in Superior Colorado.

This is the walk approaching Grasso Park.


Another view of Grasso Homestead


Also in the park was an old jail cell; from the nearby sign: "The cell was a back room in the Superior's original Town Hall and used to house those who ran afoul of the law, likely resulting from time spent in one of Superior's saloons."

LeTourneau University, Longview Texas

Here are some a few pictures from our recent visit to LeTourneau University.


Clock Tower


Student Center


Shady walkway to classes


Engineering Building


Avionics Laboratory


Aircraft engine lab


Stopping for breakfast at the Dairy Palace in Canton Texas


The cool convertible (Pontiac Solstice GPX) that my brother loaned us for the drive from Dallas at sunrise.

More pictures from Japan

Here are a few more scattered pictures from Japan


Another view of the Japanese Garden near the hotel, it shows how little fall color there was this time of year in Tokyo.


This is the baseball team mascot in front of the train station at Makuhari, Chiba.


The surprisingly neat and orderly rows of bikes parked at the train station.


Colonel Sanders inviting you to dine at KFC in Akihabara.


A baker caramelizing a sugar cake at Tokyo Station.


Don't you just love a SPAM sandwich? This billboard was on the window of the "Bad Ass Coffee" shop near the Makuhari train station.

Akihabara "Electric Town"

While all the prototypes and vapor-ware from the big electronics show were starting to get tiring, I extended my diversion to Tokyo for lunch two extra stops on the train and decided a reality check was in order. I stopped at the Akihabara "Electric Town" area where there is an electronics flea-market every day of the year. Here you can build a new computer from scratch, buy the latest cell phone, personal navigator, pocket TV, or build a robot of your own from recycled parts if you are ambitious.


The view from the train station is colorful but even better viewed at night. There is more neon and blinking lights than Las Vegas. I was there mid-day so you'll have to come on your own to see it at night. Those glass tubes you see in the building above are quite common in the department stores and have escalators inside to take you to the upper floors.


Here is a cheerful parts vendor quite ready to sell you all the blinking LEDs, knobs and switches for that robot you always wanted to build.


I'm not exactly sure what these girls in maid outfits were selling, but the fine print on the sign reads: "Animation Studio and Maid Cafe".


There was a big "Yen Shop" on the corner. I suppose that's like a "penny-store" since one yen is about equal to one penny.


Another colorful street corner in Akihabara featuring Sega.

Tokyo, Japan

I took a brief jaunt over to central Tokyo for lunch today.

I had to figure out this map and find the right subway fare and make sure I got on the right train.


Once I arrived in Tokyo, I had to try to find my way in the underground tunnels.

If you tend to follow the crowds, you'd never find this place.


Once I emerged, I was almost across the street from the Imperial Palace. Even though it has been 10 years since I was there, it seemed so familiar once again.

More from Makuhari area near Chiba Japan

Here are a few more scenes in daylight near the Makuhari messe area:


Those twin WBG Towers from another angle.


There was a Japanese Gardens called Mihama-en just behind my hotel so I walked over and had a look this morning before the convention opened. The tower behind is the Manhattan Hotel.

Evening in Chiba Japan

The storm clouds finally cleared just before sunset today in Tokyo. Here are a few snapshots from the Makuhari Messe area in the region of Chiba outside of Tokyo. This is a very modern part of town with baseball stadium, convention center and numerous sky-scrapers.


This is the New Otani Hotel, where I am staying, with the Makuhari Prince hotel just behind it.


Here is another view of the New Otani (on right) from the convention center.


These landmark 35 story twin towers are the World Business Garden (WBG) towers, as viewed from the convention center.


This is the sunset view over Tokyo Bay from the 35th floor of the West WBG tower. The arching roof below is the convention center and with just an edge of the round baseball stadium visible at the far left side is the Chiba Marine Stadium.