Castle in the Mud

The blog postings have really gone awry while we have been on holidays. We are currently in Nagasaki with free internet access so will try to give a quick update.

We have had an onsen (hot bath), ridden a cable car over a volcano crater, been to the Hiroshima atomic bomb memorials and museum (gut wrenching), ridden the bullet train, mastered the Tokyo public transport system, visited temples and shrines and seen cherry blossom wherever we go.

Things you will not discover from the tourist brochures:

Shopping is the national pastime
The millions of taxis have really kitsch lace 1/2 seat covers
Restaurants/cafes have plastic food models in the display windows. If they are designed to entice customers inside I am afraid they fail miserably with me.

Also tested the Japanese health system when Baby O became quite ill a couple of days after we arrived. In fact we have all had terrible colds but have managed to get out and about and enjoy ourselves anyway.

If I do not post again before I get home there will be more info in about a week.