Papier-mâché and origami created this whimsical scene for passerby.
If only I had packed a bike, I could have ridden this 5-mile cycling road built on the foundation of a former railroad bed. Compared to USA’s Pacific coastline, the waves were smaller and the air didn’t smell briny.
As it so happened, a pleasant reunion with Arnold. The randomness of these encounters always mystified me.
The same cat logo keeps popping up. It’s a cat carrying her kitten using her mouth. Surely it must be a veterinarian’s logo; except, it appears all too frequently. The two Italian women solved the mystery. It’s the logo of a Japanese postal service similar to the American UPS or FedEx.
If only the Henro’s could use it in addition to trains and buses. How much more easy we could move about!
Last night’s hostess went into great detail where to leave backpacks for an out-and-back high hike to Temple #27. As tempting as that sounded, leaving your pack limits options and posses potential problems. The two Italian young women offered company as we plodded upward. The view was well worth the climb.
Tsunami evacuation signs are seen all along the coast.
The 2011 tsunami resulted in 20,000 deaths. A 2012 simulation tsunami project predicted a huge undersea quake could bring a tsunami as high as 112-feet. Hopefully nature will be kind.
Day-to-day life in Japan
Bodies. Make a wish by purchasing a Mini-Body Statues for 1,000¥.
Sunrise start of the day.
Walk. Why?
Many accommodations offer public baths, a rich opportunity to soak chin deep in hot water. Men and women have separate baths. First shower for cleanliness. Then soak in a hot bath. A second bath has ice cold water so you can cycle between hot and cold…Naked of course. Can there be a better way to end the day?
Today Naomi and I went to Sea Rest Muroto, a public onsen (public bath) on the beach. An outside hot salt-springs bath slowly roasted the body chin to the toes while the cool sea breeze refreshed the face. A combination of whirlpool and salt water gave buoyancy to legs and arms. An indoor hot bath without salt offered a different feel to the skin. The natural spring hot baths are valued for their mineral content as being healthy.
There is a wonderful mixture of people at the onsen. Some people in business attire popping in after work, adults bringing and caring for aged parents, retired folks. There is a balance of community gathering and quiet time.
Linda Scandore 