OK...
I got up at 3:30 AM so it was getting a little better. Our Japanese tour guide, Reiko said we would be traveling a total of 77 miles that day.
Breakfast was awesome again. You'd think I'd gain weight, but eating all that healthier Japanese food and walking everywhere to see different sites had me losing 2 pounds by the time we got home.
While having our breakfast, the two ladies we'd met at the onsen the night before came to say hello. Good gosh! How did they recognize me with my clothes on? (I'll be blurring out everyone's faces on the tour because I never got their permission to put their faces online.)
Our first stop was the Seven waterfalls of the Kawazu area. It was very pretty. You do know, of course, that Art had to walk and climb up quite a few more stairs than the rest of the tour group.
He did get photos of several more waterfalls than the rest of us. I confess he often got better shots than I did because he was always looking for the best vantage point for his photos. He says he was thinking of my blog.
Reiko explained Japanese money to us. She said that although American money has mostly politicians on them, Japanese money has artists, literary people, educators and scientists printed on the front.
The next tour site was Perry's Road and Perry's Landing in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. There was a monument to document Commodore Perry's arrival in Japan with all his fleet threatening to destroy Japan unless they opened up to trade. The monument was to also now celebrate the friendship between the two countries.
Our bus driver then took us to Dogashima in the Shizuoka Prefecture. We went for a 20 minute boat ride to see several of the scenic islands. Zoshima (Elephant island) was one of the highlights.
Our hotel stay for the evening was Dogashima New Ginsui Hotel. It was a Japanese style room with the friendliest hostess, who came to make us tea and provide us with some snacks before dinner.
At 4:55, we met up with new friends, Dan and Wendy and watched the sun go down. Everyone who gathered to watch the sunset were presented with a glass of wine to enhance the moment. My stomach was empty so the wine definitely elevated my spirits.
Dinner was a full kaiseki meal with a HUGE assortment of dishes! Good grief! Ummm...
There was a clear covered dish with a LIVE abalone in it over a grill. Yikes! The burner was lit and the abalone squirmed while being cooked. Yiiiikes! I couldn't eat it. OK... I took a sliver and then gave the rest to Art. I know crabs and I don't know what else are put into a pot of boiling water to be cooked alive around the world, but I couldn't bear watching it.
The Dogashima New Ginsui Hotel is built on the side of a cliff so we entered the hotel on the 7th floor. It took a bit of time to get used to it.
The onsen (hot spring bath) was even hotter this time. You can only stay in it for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time and once a day is good enough for me. You are supposed to wash yourself completely before entering the bath and you are NEVER to put a towel into the onsen water. You cannot enter the bath if you have any tattoos on your body because they are a sign of the Yakuza (Japan's Mafia). You could pay extra, however, and go to the private onsen bath.
It was a lovely day and everyone was getting to know each other better and better. It's amazing how a Hawaii Tour can have everyone becoming a family in such a short time.
I got up at 3:30 AM so it was getting a little better. Our Japanese tour guide, Reiko said we would be traveling a total of 77 miles that day.
While having our breakfast, the two ladies we'd met at the onsen the night before came to say hello. Good gosh! How did they recognize me with my clothes on? (I'll be blurring out everyone's faces on the tour because I never got their permission to put their faces online.)
Our first stop was the Seven waterfalls of the Kawazu area. It was very pretty. You do know, of course, that Art had to walk and climb up quite a few more stairs than the rest of the tour group.
He did get photos of several more waterfalls than the rest of us. I confess he often got better shots than I did because he was always looking for the best vantage point for his photos. He says he was thinking of my blog.
Reiko explained Japanese money to us. She said that although American money has mostly politicians on them, Japanese money has artists, literary people, educators and scientists printed on the front.
The next tour site was Perry's Road and Perry's Landing in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. There was a monument to document Commodore Perry's arrival in Japan with all his fleet threatening to destroy Japan unless they opened up to trade. The monument was to also now celebrate the friendship between the two countries.
Our hotel stay for the evening was Dogashima New Ginsui Hotel. It was a Japanese style room with the friendliest hostess, who came to make us tea and provide us with some snacks before dinner.
At 4:55, we met up with new friends, Dan and Wendy and watched the sun go down. Everyone who gathered to watch the sunset were presented with a glass of wine to enhance the moment. My stomach was empty so the wine definitely elevated my spirits.
Dinner was a full kaiseki meal with a HUGE assortment of dishes! Good grief! Ummm...
There was a clear covered dish with a LIVE abalone in it over a grill. Yikes! The burner was lit and the abalone squirmed while being cooked. Yiiiikes! I couldn't eat it. OK... I took a sliver and then gave the rest to Art. I know crabs and I don't know what else are put into a pot of boiling water to be cooked alive around the world, but I couldn't bear watching it.
The Dogashima New Ginsui Hotel is built on the side of a cliff so we entered the hotel on the 7th floor. It took a bit of time to get used to it.
The onsen (hot spring bath) was even hotter this time. You can only stay in it for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time and once a day is good enough for me. You are supposed to wash yourself completely before entering the bath and you are NEVER to put a towel into the onsen water. You cannot enter the bath if you have any tattoos on your body because they are a sign of the Yakuza (Japan's Mafia). You could pay extra, however, and go to the private onsen bath.
It was a lovely day and everyone was getting to know each other better and better. It's amazing how a Hawaii Tour can have everyone becoming a family in such a short time.
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