Flat Snow

I should have packed my boots! Flying into Niigata afforded a beautiful view of the flat, what appears to be, farmland covered in snow...an unusual sight for this southern California girl where all the snow is high on a mountain.

Here a a couple pics of the bus trip to our very pink hotel, the Niigata Grand Hotel. Since snow is not self-leveling, it created beautiful patterns on the roof tiles, looking like waffles and such from a distance.



The majority of us headed of out for a late lunch at the restaurant of the local department store. The food was varied, beautifully presented as usual, and delicious!

 Sunghee enjoyed a taste of her Korean home, with two extra bowls of hot sauce, of course!

I enjoyed a favorite of mine, shrimp tempura, which came with (clockwise) the tempura of course, dipping sauce, miso soup, pickle and ginger garnish, rice bowl, mushroom seafood custard (in the little covered pot), and a spot of potato salad (which is MUCH better than the US's commercial potato salad!).

Hoping to venture out into town for a little shopping this morning, but baby, it's cold outside!