== Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 ==
+Seeing beautiful things at such a high rate might make one's head spin. In fact, this evening I've been
+angerously close to faint for real at an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen | Onsen]], which was really
+scary because I had never lost consciousness before. I had walked all day with very little food and drink,
+which might have been part of the problem, but diving in thermal water for a long time has certainly
+triggered it. I'm such a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaijin gaijin]] who can't even take some hot water!
+
+Photos for today:
+ * Will upload later -- gomen nasai
+
+=== April 15th - Roppongi ===
+
+Compared to Tokyo, every other city I had visited before would seem dirty, old, boring and disorganized.
+I can't find the words to describe my amazement walking around this amazing city full of wonders.
+
+Photos for today (upload in progress, please be patient):
+ * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Shinjuku|Shinju-ku]] -- The district of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metropolitan_Government_Building|Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building]].
+ * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Roppongi|Roppongi]] -- A rich district hosting modern art museums (Art Triangle) and night life ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roppongi|wikipedia]])
+ * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Pachinko|Pachinko]] -- Popular Japanese slot machines
+
+=== April 14th - Arrival in Tokyo ===
+
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/SensojiTemple/00081.jpg|The way to the Sensoji temple in Asakusa|maxwidth=800}}
+
+I couldn't resist grabbing a super-cheap round trip to japan, a place I've always wanted
+to visit. By "always", I mean: since when I was in kindergarten, watching great series
+like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Jeeg|SteelJeeg]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazinger_Z|MazingerZ]] on TV.
+My dad accepted to accompany me in this trip even though he wasn't particularly fond of Japan. Until now, that is!
+
+The first day was simply amazing, but I'm way to tired to tell a lot about it.
+The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo|many photos and videos]] that I'm still uploading will hopefully serve
+documenting this long day appropriately.
+
+NOTE: if you can't watch the videos embedded in the wiki, get yourself a recent browser featuring HTML5 or
+send me a patch adding support for old-style HTML video embedding.
+
=== Negligent ===
Yes, I've neglected to update this blog for a few months. This isn't because I had nothing
* 2009 Apr: Attended a meeting/miniconf in [[Pictures/conf/Bolzano2009|Bolzano]] with WalterBender
I am currently back in Florence, trying to find a way back in the US.
-
-
-=== Tue, April 14th - Tokyo ===
-
-I couldn't resist grabbing a super-cheap round trip to japan, a place I've always wanted
-to visit. By "always", I mean: since when I was in kindergarten, watching great series
-like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Jeeg|SteelJeeg]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazinger_Z|MazingerZ]] on TV.
-My dad accepted to accompany me in this trip even though he wasn't particularly fond of Japan. Until now, that is!
-
-The first day was simply amazing, but I'm way to tired to tell a lot about it.
-The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Tuesday_April_14|photos and videos]] I'm still uploading hopefully
-document it appropriately.
-
-NOTE: if you can't watch the videos in the wiki, get a recent browser featuring HTML5 or send me a patch
-to add support for old-style HTML video embedding.