A Treat for the Senses

Sights, sounds and experiences of Nagano:

* Before going up the mountain, a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and French fries.

* Houses of all sizes and shapes, stuck into any available space and close enough together to qualify for removal to San Francisco.

* Comfortable buses with cut-glass light fixtures, reclining seats, trays and cup holders, TV sets and white-gloved drivers who thank you for riding.

* The old TV “Batman” theme when the Zambonis come out to resurface the ice at the M-Wave speedskating rink.

* People carrying umbrellas during snowstorms.

* People riding their bikes during snowstorms.

* People riding their bikes and carrying umbrellas during snowstorms.

* Traffic signals that tell you it’s OK to walk with electronic bird chirps.

* The traffic signal at Nagano Station that tells you it’s OK to walk by playing “Coming Through the Rye.”

* Pizza Huts, KFC’s, McDonald’s and 7-Elevens.

* Vending machines modestly labeled, “Drink Paradise.”

* Cigarette vending machines touting “Silent Smokes.”

* The Big Business Building.

* The Big Fin Building.

* The countdown for each freestyle skier at the moguls venue, “Sree, two, one--NA-GA-NO!

* Two sections, and two sections only, doing the wave at speedskating.

* Elderly women shopping, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, complete with thonged clogs.

* Palm trees wrapped and tied for the winter in straw blankets, wearing cone-shaped hats.

* The sign in the cafeteria at the main press center advising, “Found article,” with a dollar bill and a pocketful of Japanese coins taped to a piece of cardboard.

* Craggy, rocky, steep mountainsides cut by running streams.

* Bright morning sunshine that gives way in minutes to sifting snow.

* Japanese cars that don’t look anything like the Japanese cars sold in the United States.

* Little kids who sing and dance at some of the venues, dressed in futuristic costumes.

* People everywhere wearing surgical masks, and one man wearing his over one eye.

* Pin traders carefully laying out their wares, then quickly scooping them up when snow squalls hit.

* Flag-waving Japanese fans, their cheeks painted with the Rising Sun.

* The joyful celebration at the Central Square for the Jonny Moseley-Picabo Street medals ceremony Wednesday night.