We took the fast train up from Fukuoka to Hiroshima. It really is fast and we were caught a bit unaware and had to scramble to get all the luggage together to get off of the train. Passengers need to be at the door with everything they own because the stop is only for a minute at most. The doors open, folks get off, people get on and off the train goes. We took a taxi to the hotel and then visited the Shukkeien Garden, a gem of a garden. We took a bus from the Hilton and we feel like we know what we are doing now "bus-wise." A couple of hours in the park took us to 5PM which made it time for some snacks. We walked towards the hotel and stopped into a grocery. We found snacks and a beer for Leslie, we sat right down on a wall and had or happy hour.
The shinkansen train station
A sleek and clean train
the scenery zooms by
Sometimes too fast to get a picture
In Hiroshima we passed this tailors shop with a great logo
Old style trolleys!
Nice view from the 16th floor on a nice day
Even the elevator is swanky
During the home games they hace Carp swag for folks to wear
This is the mascot for the store that sell official stamps: self inking, inkless, seals and such
More logo mania
Whoo whooo do we see here?
We have made it to the gardens
A few cherry trees still hanging strong
Designed in 1620 these gardens have withstood the passage of time. Many bomb victims came here to seek refuge but did not survive. They were interred in the gardens.
An island in miniature
A row of azaleas
This old boat...
A warm day
There are mini mountain ranges all around the lake
Everybody gets a snack
The bamboo grove
Very nice bamboo
Looking down to the lake
Wisteria blooms smell so good
Dense bamboo
Bamboo shoots popping up
The shoots are growing fast
Birds on the river
A restored rock buddha
In a flood, over 200 years ago, three wooden buddhas floated to this spot and were deposited here when the waters receded. A little shrine was build to house them.
The Shrine burned down in 1945 as well as the two larger buddhas but the smaller one survived and is currently housed in the reconstructed shrine.
A whole array of buildings and benches are build around the lake
Moby Kio the white fish
Gnarled tree
A miniature fire tower
Serene
Over pruned?
A water gate
A waterfall
All the landscape elements are here
A rocky island
A spider web
Rock slab bridge
River rock path
One lone lilac azalea
Many bridges
Calm waters
Two Koi, on white and one spotted
A very popular bridge
Bubbling spring
Nuts!
Mysterious sign
A large shopping area
We had a funky meal in a tiny noodle shop
This was all that it was
Back on the bus!
This was out path, half bus and half walking
