ST. PETERSBURG-- Mayor Rick Baker and City Council Member Jim Kennedy are heading to Japan Saturday for a goodwill trip.

The nearly two-week long trip won't cost taxpayers a dime. The mayor, who is heading oversees with his family, will pay his own way. So will Kennedy.

Most of the trip will be spent in  Takamatsu, St. Petersburg's sister city, where city officials will rub elbows with Japanese dignitaries.

Baker also plans to visit  Hiroshima, where he will present hand-made paper cranes created by St. Petersburg students.

The delegation consists of St. Petersburg College Associate Vice President Catherine Crist Kennedy (no relation to the the council member), Beth Herendeen, the city's marketing director, and each elected official's family. The group is scheduled to return July 8.

Side note: In St. Petersburg, Baker towers over practically everyone. Imagine Baker in Japan, where the average man is five feet and five inches.

Cristina Silva, Times staff Writer