Hiroshima

Yesterday, Brian and I packed up and went to the hospital to get his antibiotics (and be harrassed by a french guy who kept telling us what to do.) Then it was off to the train station to leave for Hiroshima. The trip on the shinkansen was fun. If you like to look at scenery, those trains are for you. I took lots of pictures. But I can't post them: my usb adapter is elsewhere.

When we got to Hiroshima, we checked into our hotel: Hotel 28, and headed up to our room on the 10th floor. It's a nice little room with two twin beds and a nice shower and bath tub. I took a bath, watched some bad TV and went to bed.

Today, we got up early. The hotel resturaunt offered 2 meals for breakfast: American and Japanese. Given my dislike for fish and miso in the morning, I chose the eggs, toast, salad, and yogurt with an odd Qoo like juice and coffee. This, apparantly is what all Americans eat each morning.

Then we walked to Hiroshima castle. It was very hot outside (I know, I know southern Japan) but I enjoyed myself. The shrine was very pretty and we got our Shodo books signed. The castle was rather like a museum. It was free for foreign students studying in Japan, but I forgot my Shoin library card and had to pay the three dollars or so.

After that, we took the train to the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Museum. The dome is fascinating. Because the atomic bomb exploded almost directly above it, a fair amount of the structure is still standing. The Museum was very sad but very interesting. The gardens and other memorials were beautiful, too.

We also went to Miyajima Island. We got to take the ferry across the ocean and it was so pretty! The island was amazing. We stopped at a really interesting shrine on stilts above the water and had our books signed again. We also went to the Aquarium. It was only one floor, but it was great! There were all sorts of crazy fish and eels and other things. Shark, otters, manatees, and jelly fish! They even had piranna. It's supposed to be one of the best Aquariums in Japan.

For dinner, Brian wanted to try Hiroshima-style Okinomiyaki. It has noodles in it. I really liked it. Right now, we're sitting in this awesome Manga Cafe. It's full of tons of manga, and we have our own little room with a couch, compiter, adn TV. Oh, and two pairs of slippers. This could serve as a hotel room if we were to run short on money. Haha, just kidding.

Tomorrow we leave for Osaka.