April 18, 19, 2015, Saturday, Sunday, Nagasaki, Japan

Saturday we were en route to Japan through the East China Sea.  We learned that the S. China Sea is the largest Sea in the ocean at trivia last week.  We were glad of a sea day to unwind and relax.  We didn't do anything much.  I played bridge again with John and David also played today.  We did trivia at 4:30 but enjoyed dinner with  Robert and Celia from Victoria.  I watched some of the shore lecture on Japan.  Don the speaker played bridge as well.  He is not allowed to play trivia!  He says because his mind is like glue and it would be unfair.

A Ferris Wheel on a building in Nagasaki

April 19, Sunday while docking in Nagasaki, it was raining, however it was not as cold as we anticipated.  We wore our new Around the World waterproof and breathable jackets.

The jackets are very nice.  Many little details like reflective lines, hood tucked into the collar, fabric covering the zipper, nice zippers, etc.

The tour was Highlights.  I vowed I wouldn't take a highlights tour, I wanted something more unique if possible, but somehow this is what we signed up for many months ago.  Beau told us that we could do the same tour by taking the street car to the museum and Peace Park for $ 0.75.  But for 100 times as much money we had a bus and a guide to shoo us along and point out the important sites.

Before anyone could go ashore we had to have a face to face recognition by the Japanese authorities. We went through several lines.  I had my copy of my passport as required all folded up the size of the photo, and then folded again in four more parts to fit into my room key card case.  The official slowly opened my folded document, pasted the large form on the back, and then slowly, carefully folded it up exactly as I had it, like origami.

Peace Park in the rain on Sunday was nice because it wasn't crowded.  The main thing is the statue with his one hand pointing up to indicate the continued threat of nuclear destruction, his eyelids closed in anguished prayer for the 165,409 victims.  There are various other statues surrounding the park sent by different countries, which were very moving and beautiful.

Peace Memorial Statue

From USA

from Argentina

Looking through the peace fountain shaped like a bird's wings, to the statue.

We also visited the Atomic Bomb Museum.  This had many pictures and artifacts such as steps from a school which was destroyed showing the bubbles from the heat, clothing in shreds and melted bottles.  There were descriptions from survivors and photos of bodies.  The museum is quite new.  Everywhere are paper cranes.  One chain of 1,000 was strung on the stairs leading down.  You got a paper crane if you signed this petition stating you were against any nuclear armaments. 

 Nearby is ground zero, the area closest to the explosion.  the bomb was dropped from over a mile above the city, and exploded about 150 meters above ground.

Ground Zero

Statue at ground zero

After returning to the ship we got foot massages in the terminal.  We had museum feet.

As we drove through town our guide pointed out the one pillar pagoda, a pagoda gate that somehow survived with only one side standing, Chinatown, the museum of history and culture, and the catholic church which, while only 1% of the population is Catholic, is a prominent feature in the city.  There is also an overlook of the city which is hilly, said to be the third most beautiful night vista in the world, but others went there and said it was above the clouds, and obviously wasn't night when they saw it.

Before we left we enjoyed a performance of young boy and girl Taiko drummers.  After that, another school played band music for us from the pier in the pouring rain.  They held up a banner "See you again in Nagasaki"  We haven't had such a sendoff from a port yet.  They genuinely seemed to want the cruise ship business and had it as a priority.  Very nice.

New Trivia team today

Apparently our trivia team exploded last night while we were at dinner.  Glad we were not present.