As we waited our turn to disembark we had a good long time to sit on our deluxe, veranda sitting on our lounges, and enjoying the American music and the view of the volcano, Mt Sakurajima behind. As Dad asked, now where is this located, and we told him the most southern tip of Japan. He said, “This is the whole area that I bombed…” and after a few moments of silence, Kriss said, “…and they are OK. Kriss and I looked at each Dad and each other and all three of us were crying.
We purchased the day bus ticket so we could get off and on as desired. First stop was Sengan’en Garden, laid out more than 300 years ago by the Shimadzu clan, along with walking through the Iso Residence, a villa built 350 years ago, and then two museums including items almost 700 years old, including family heirlooms and beginning of industrial tools in Japan.
Then stuffed in a “city tour bus” returning to the train station we found an Internet…of which you were the recipients yesterday in Japanese. We were able to read our emails but hit reply, and the keyboard only typed in Japanese, even though it had the regular alphabet letter on it.
Then we took a ride on the huge Ferris wheel, boarding on the 6th floor of the mall. It carries you up in a 15-minute circle to view the city from the sky. We could even see our ship clear out in the port.
We taxied back to the ship just in time for the farewell entertainment group of a Japanese drums show, including costumes and dancing. Again our veranda was just like box seats at the theatre as we watched and listened for the last hour while our ship had to wait for one lost/late woman, as Japan wouldn’t let us have clearance until every soul was on board.
Today brings resting up for next few days along with packing our bags as we disembark the ship tomorrow at 6:30 AM.
We just returned from a “private party” farewell brunch for the occupants of the deluxe veranda suites. There are only 54 of us among the 1500 guests on board, of which only about 40 attended the brunch. It was an amazing spread that Jimae would have loved to see. Kriss took pictures of the display included an ice sculpture. We had a string quartet playing music, and I had my first and my last taste of caviar. Champagne was free flowing, of which we enjoyed our fresh squeezed OJ and Cranberry Juice. Dad just kept asking, “Why are we included on this?... Why are we so lucky? ….Is it because we paid our tithing?....Are we really getting that refund for this cruise but get all this?” When we were finished and ready to leave, he said, “Let’s not go, we won’t ever have something like this again.” Dad had said he didn’t even want to go as he had eaten a cookie a half hour ahead, but when the rest of us were going he said he didn’t want to miss out on anything so he decided to go with us….and he was sure glad he did.
This afternoon we land in Kobe port, near Osaka. Thus ends the cruise portion of our trip. Tomorrow is early bullet train to Kyoto, all our luggage in tow, hoping for lockers or storage room for the 6 hours we will be there, then back to the train for 3 hour bullet train to Tokyo. There we will check into our Marriott hotel, again thanks to Courtney.
Dad/Gpa has been great. He has done almost everything we have done. If he gets tired he will sit in his chair and read his book, while we run to see one last thing close by. He has really loved it all and we are so glad we had the amazing opportunity to share this long awaited dream with him.
Thanks to all of you who have carried on for us and allowed us the time to do this great trip of a lifetime.
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