mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net wrote in message news:<c0774j$9t2$1@news.Stanford.EDU>...
> Declan Murphy <declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net wrote in message news:<c0083q$r3e$1@news.Stanford.EDU>...
>  
> >> > for at least 1 of them. Has anyone been there? Does it suck? If it
> >> > does, any recommended alternatives?
> >> 
> >> Haven't been to that place, but almost anyplace in Sapporo this time
> >> of year will be pretty drinking: that seems to be all these guys
> >> do in the winter. One really nice thing about Sapporo (other than
> >> Sapporans being friendly drunks) is that all the buildings, izakaya,
> >> etc., are built for WARMTH. Indoors in a Sapporo winter is much warmer
> >> than in Tokyo. 
>  
> > So (to some extent) is Hakodate. Problem is that at least some of the
> > time I have to get outdoors, and most universities and Japanese
> 
> Hence, the copious amounts of anti-freeze.
> 
> > language schools can't afford premises that are located in places I
> > can get to through lovely warm underground shopping malls etc. The
> > rest of the time I'll spending drinking though. My Hakodate hotel is
> > nice - heated swimming pool below, not-too-shabby cocktail lounge on
> > the top floor with a cool (as in nice) setting and views.
> 
> Well, if you like white, Sapporo in the winter has awesome views. If
> not, well, apply more anti-freeze.

To be honest, Sapporo's views this year have somewhat sucked. And as
for the festival itself, while it was fun as always it wasn't at its
best this time round. On the anti-freeze side of the ledger though,
things have picked up a bit. The "Ezo Beer" place was cool - but how
long does it take to drink your way through a 300 beer menu?

The one thing that has been bothering me a little is the number of
Austrians per square inch - the infestation is reaching practically
everywhere corner of town. A bloke got on the train tonight carrying
what looked suspiciously like a cricket bag, complete with ACB logo.
"Off ta trainin' are ya mate?" I asked. And he actually was! His
(paid!) gig involves teaching freaken "Kanga  Cricket" - I refused to
believe it until examining the contents of the kit. I still don't
believe it.

I'm off to the pub. One more night up here, then to Nagano.