We were at the train station by 9:50 AM for our 10:40 train. There was no need to be there early but old habits are hard to break. There were a couple other anglos there early as well, but all the locals waited till five minutes before departure to arrive. Out first train r1de was on the Marine Liner and it took us to Okayama. There we switched to a Shinkansen high speed train past Hiroshima to Kokura. Here we switched to The Sonic train for and hour ride to Beppu. We finally got to our destination at around 3:00 PM and settled in. We had the club lounge to enjoy and then a fine dinner at the Altier.
The first class section is on the top
Lots of farms on the way
Bling
These bridges span the islands of Honshu and Shikoku
Large solar power arrays
A cool amphitheater
The tidal flow were visible
Many rivers were seen
Many small towns
The Stadium in Hiroshima
They are the Carps
We invented a new treat on a stick
The cherry blossoms are still out in force
Towns fly by on the high speed train
Drinks or snacks anyone?
A huge elevated highway
Getting more rural
The end of our High Speed Leg
Waiting for the Sonic Train
The engineer and his assistant
Much more mountainous on the Island of Kyushu
Even more agriculture here
Bug bays
And the Oscar goes to...
Rugged
Rivers
And feilds
The town, not the country
This reminds me of parts of Austria
Many tunnels
A huge sculpture along the way
Flowing water
The lonesome farmer
Graffiti?
We are now in Beppu
The hotel sent us a taxi
Taro is the artist from the Osaka Expo Park
More blooms
The town is filled with color
Steak House Logo
We want this umbrella!
Sleeping in the domes
Another huge elevated highway
A graceful span
The Lobby of the Intercontinental
Art everywhere
Club Lounge
Tea cups
So cute
Bamboo Art
Our welcome drinks
The view
More bubbly
Steam is rising
We will be having dinner here later tonight
The city of Beppu
Much steam
The fourth floor
The bigger restaurant
The meat cutting section
Chop chop
Our dinner spot
Our baby sardines on a cracker as an amuse
Cute little fishes
A bean and cream emulsion
Shaving some dried yellow tail on our trevally fish dish
Tasty
Cute baked piggies
Salmon with spring potato gnocci
A fine Italian wine
Wagu steak
Butter
Happy 35th to us!
Too much to eat right away
Smooches!
The regular dessert
Mr. Piggie comes for a visit
The Manager / Sommelier Jack of all Trades entertained us all evening
Sun setting
Beautiful Beppu
The bathroom lies behind this
A herbal tea
Good night Beppu
