Hiroshima Trip

March 29th, 2010.

We start our journey early in the morning. Christina, Gretchen and I depart from Hofu station, and we are headed to Tokuyama to pick up Al! He can't just hop on the train with us, because I have the ticket that we are all using!

I bought this special ticket for 11500 Yen. I gives you unlimited local train travel for the day, 5 times. One person can use it five different times, or 5 people can use it all at once, sort of thing. Getting this special ticket essentially made traveling to Hiroshima 1/2 price.

So now all 4 of us together board the train, and proceed to our final destination. As for me, if feels like I felt when I was a kid and got to go to Disneyland! Getting out of my Prefecture is just what the doctor ordered!

It takes about 2 more hours from Tokuyama to arrive at Hiroshima. Christina and Al are leading because they seem to know Hiroshima better. I'm completely happy just wandering. I just want different air--no agenda here in Hiroshima!

Gretchen and I decide to eat lunch at Subway (yay!) where they have everything that a Subway in the States has! Well, in terms of sandwich. They don't have the fine collection of chips and cookies that I am accustomed to. :)

We walk around a lot. Its around Hanami season. We didn't quite hit the nail on the head--it is quite a cold day, but the flowers are still blooming and radiant. Its just a slight bit dreary as we criss-cross the city on streetcar and foot.

We visit the Hiroshima Peace Museum and see a new temporary exhibit. Of course it is heartbreaking. But important.

We basically wander around the city--our train to return home will arrive at 6:30 p.m. which will give us a total of 6 and a half hours to meander around a big city. We enjoy conversation in a coffee shop, we look around all the shopping areas.

I can't really buy anything, trying to save money.

Time to hop on the train! Well that wasn't that exciting for YOU was it? :) It was extremely exciting for me. Its hard to realize how exciting actual cities are, until you have to live in the countryside.

P.S. On the way home we stopped at Mike's TexMex in Iwakuni. Mmmmmm. Okay, that maybe has been a big highlight of today. Mexican food............................ *mouth waters