John W. <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote:
> mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net wrote in message news:<cliuuh$rrq$1@news.Stanford.EDU>...
>> BTW, where were you during the quake? We were up on the mountain.

> Do you know where Kansai Time Out is in Shin Kobe? I lived about
> twenty meters down the hill and across the street. If you're familiar
> with the area, there used to be a preschool right next to my building;
> now I think it's a geriatric facility.

> I don't remember the pub's name, but there was a place in Sannomiya
> north of the station that brought out a keg of Guiness that they had
> tapped right on the street; I think it was a hundred yen or so for a
> pint. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, and I drank a couple of stiff
> pints with my fellow stunned gaigin.

Yes, we had a nice view of you guys burning down there; the Hotel (see
below) was cut off, as was power, 'cept for a generator that they had
going. Since we couldn't get off the mountain, the hotel staff 
served everyone gratis for about a day-and-a-half. I can remember
looking out and seeing these little (from that distance) circles of
of fire spreading out ever so slowly...

> Where exactly were you? Did you live up on the mountain, or were you
> just visiting? I spent a great deal of time cycling and rock climbing
> up there.

I've only been in Kobe once in my life, for my sister-in-law's wedding
in the Rokkosan Hotel. 

Mike