We, too lucked into the sky suite deal, but only business class. The plane was even nicer than the JAL that we took over from Vancouver! We arrived at the hotel last night. The Mercure hotel is right in the center of town and we fell into our bed upon arrival. The room is teeny, but has all the "right" appointments...pajamas, robes, fash washes, sea salts, free beverages, the room had "things to come" with a burgundy framed tv that matched the room and a designer decorated Keurig coffee maker.

We've had a long day in Sapporo. Doug started the day for us at 4am and I eventually stumbled out of bed.

Sapporo is surrounded by mountains and we can see the ski lift from our room. It must be pretty in good weather. The weather was weird...at times sunny and warm and other times rainy and cold. This changed every 10 minutes or so.

What's Sapporo like? Neon everywhere. Loads of retail. Not many banks. Fashionably dressed women.talking crosswalks with music.There is an Eiffel Tower in the center of town. It seems very safe...folks don't lock up their bikes and they left their umbrellas outside with no seeming fear of losing them. The department store clerks were elegantly dressed with hats and uniforms.

This morning we met Mitch and Bert for breakfast and begin our day which we named "Lost In Translation." The guys were armed with a map which wasn't much help because they couldn't read any of the street signs or the map. We walked and walked and found ourselves back where we started. The only good part is we found some interesting stores. We walked past fruit stands with watermelons selling for $30 and cantaloupe was a bargain at only $15. They must be really great for that price. The guys got us lost right into a department store which was ripe with cheaper things than the fruit, so all wasn't list. Then, we decided to go to the Sapporo Beer factory. Since Doug and I are old pros with Beer Factory tours (coming from midway between Chicago and Milwaukee) we decided to add this tour our list. Mitch suggested we take the bus. We went up stairs and down stairs, round and round blocks, and couldn't find the bus station...must have been an hour of this. Finally, Bert and I plopped ourselves down on some stairs and suggested a cab. The guys ventured off still looking for the bus station. We thought we'd lost them for good when they turned up even more confused than ever. Bert took matters into her own hands and asked directions as only a woman knows how and found the bus we needed. We gleefully hobbled onto the bus and got off, of course, at the wrong station. Instead of the Beer Factory, we ending up at a Factory Outlet mall, which was fine by Bert and me. We insisted on a taxi this time and ended up at the Beer Factory and found out the tour was in Japanese and free beer was NOT included. We settled for some beer ice cream. Not too exciting a day, but full of laughter and memories we won't forget.

We were tired when we finally returned from our adventure. The guys said we'd walk to the restaurant tonight. Not fully trusting we'd ever eat, Bert and I sent them to scope out the restaurant in daylight, not expecting them to return for a few hours. They somehow found the restaurant and their way back to us, and Bert and I had fun looking at our purse purchase and marveling at our bargains.

Thanks to Mitch, we had a yummy omakase at an Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant which Mitch recommended. We decided that the hit of our seven courses was the wasabi tomato pasta. Exhausted and full, we headed back eager to get to bed and rest up for the fun on Sumo.