Day 24 - Friday, 6th Oct. - Nagasaki, Japan

We berthed at Matsugae Wharf, Nagasaki early this morning and again massive queues to go through Customs – even had our temperatures scanned!!  Running 15 minutes late to meet our Goodwill Guide, Yoko, we saw her in the distance and waved – she waved back and once we got through the terminal, we introduced ourselves and headed for the tram station for our first stop at the Atomic Bomb Museum.  It was just as horrific as we had imagined, albeit very well presented and of course, very one-sided.  Approx. 40,000 people died instantly here in Nagasaki at 11.02am on that fateful day and tens of thousands suffered injuries – it's just too hard and senseless these days to put the gravities of war into words….

 

Next a short walk to the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Statue (which is located on the hypocenter of the A-bomb) a very sobering place to reflect.  It was then time for coffee, so we walked back into town and quenched our thirst, finding out more about our delightful Yoko as we go.  Just a short stroll away was Chinatown and we walked up and down this vibrant and colourful stretch, with a multitude of little restaurants, all showcasing their dishes on billboards or in their windows, and decided to have our lunch – yummy noodles in a nice restaurant!!  Next Yoko took us to a very large department store – we checked out the Ninjargo Leggo, but far too expensive – in fact, everything was far too expensive and we didn't buy a thing!! 

 

We then decided we wanted to go up to Mt. Anase and the quickest way was by taxi – there is also a cable car, but that would have taken far too long.  The winding trip up the mountain was interesting as we got to see the local housing and people going about their chores and once we reached the top, the views were breathtaking and the photos just don't do it justice.  There were only about 8 people up there at the lookout and amongst them were our dinner mates, Annie & Mike!!  The taxi waited for us, so we didn't linger and headed back to catch a couple of other trams to the Glover Mansion & Gardens, which were dedicated to a Scottish entrepreneur (Thomas Glover) whose contributions in several industries, greatly assisted in modernising Japan.  We just thought the gardens would be on street level but NO, hundreds of steps up and some very steep travelators to reach the summit – again great views and a pretty spot.  The mansion was built in 1863 and is the oldest example of Western architecture in Japan.  Lots of souvenir shops dotted along the way and we decided to try Yoko's favourite iced coffee – well it was very, very strong but cold and wet. 

 

We said our goodbyes here to Yoko, reimbursed her for the tickets she had bought for the tram travel and gave her a gift of a colourful scarf and some little 'koalas' and of course, thanked her for a wonderful day.

 

We were given an enthusiastic farewell by an orchestra of school children and some traditional dancers on the dock and then with ropes hauled in, we were on our way again.  Anytime Dining, so it's off to Horizons and feeling rather weary, we didn't 'go out' tonight.

 

PHOTOS:  The Peace Statue;  Anyone for lunch;  Cheeky school kids;  Two great views from Mt. Anese;  With 'our Yoko';  We rode on a dozen of these trams;  Posing with a young couple in funky trad garb;  Colourful carp at Glover Gardens;  Beautiful colour in Gardens;  Nanna with Ninja;  Wonderful farewell by school orchestra;  Mike & Colin as we sail out of Nagasaki.