Tokyo is amazing. When I arrived, though, it was also hot and humid enough that there were no cosplayers in evidence in Akihabara on Saturday (maybe they were all at San Diego Comic Con) and very few in Harajuku on Sunday. I did a lot of browsing, but my suitcase and daypack were already quite full, so I turned down the chance to buy any ninja gear ( Read more... )

When last we left the Swinetrek Before heading to Readercon, I visited Boston's Museum of Science to see their exhibit on The Dead Sea Scrolls. I took a wrong turn en route and found myself at Edgar Allan Poe Square, conveniently across the street from a large map that sent me in the right direction. This didn't leave me much time to see the rest ( Read more... )

I survived the hike up to the Burgess Shale, and actually found fossils there, though the first thing I discovered was how hideously unfit I am (I blame the 2.3 km altitude rather than the 11km distance). Climbing the last few metres to a site that resembled nothing so much as an alien planet from an old episode of Doctor Who left me utterly ( Read more... )

I spent most of today at the new annexe of the Air and Space Museum. More accurately, I spent a lot more time on public transport, first getting to the annexe, then back to the other museums, then out to the venue for the Joan Baez and Indigo Girls concert, then back to the hostel. But I did spend a few hours at the Uzdar-Hazy annexe, which I hadn' ( Read more... )

As promised, my itinerary for my planned holiday in June/July:

June 11, arrive Washington D.C. If not completely exhausted by flight, visit Smithsonian.
June 12, visit Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and other Smithsonian museums during day, Joan Baez and Indigo Girls concert in evening.
June 13-16, World Horror Con in New Orleans ( Read more... )