Amused at Osaka station by the modes of transport. Bicycles can be parked outside the station NZD $1.80 for a day. There is one seat at the bus stop. Reading overhead train signage an art in itself.
This says blah blah...at own risk no responsibility.....blah blah
Managed to catch the right train...getting a bit confident now!
Arrived in Tanabe around midday. Township was so quiet we thought they may have "shut for lunch" as in Italy and France. Wandered about and heard voices through a net curtain. Success a small eatery for lunch. Chap apologies for Japanese menu only but not to be defeated we asked other diners "any English" and pointed to the chalk board menu. Managed to work out a dish a lass pointed to called omelete. Presented with a very thin omlete filled with rice and tissue thin salad. Delicious.
Found our hotel after lunch. Ok to check in early which we are always grateful for. Had a wander about the town which is on the coast. Seaside sign " slippery when wet" amused. World wide we are all too stupid to work it out for ourselves!
Large shine had an impressive rope over the front. Looked like hereford horns to me.
Cutesy sign at the beach
History here is that two Warlords, one with a white rooster and the other with a red rooster. A cock fight ensued over land/patronage etc and the victor, white, won
Colourful signs everywhere
Next morning we got the bus to Takijiri to the start of the Kumano Kudo pilgrimage route.
The Kumano Kodo is one of the two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage routes. History of >1000 years. We are walking to Nachi Taisha which is about 70km. Today we walk to Chikatsuyu. Weather started off dry then rain, not too bad though. Plenty of up, only saw a few folks. One poor guide was trotting back and forwards trying to herd her American small group who were painfully slow. We reckoned if they stopped talking so much they could focus!
Plenty of these.
Got to keep an eye on the footwork otherwise falling would be untidy.
Occasionally you would come around a corner and find an azalea in full bloom, usually magenta, amongst all the soft green maples, otherwise vegetation is cedar and redwood.
See the rock work done who knows how long ago.
Lunch was a bento box provided by the hotel this morning. Is like a mystery parcel with bits you have no idea what they are but hunger overcomes any hesitation. Have to say though the rice cakes are pretty bland.
We arrived at the Ryokon we are in for the night in good time. Really lovely place with all one needs, spacious (hooray) and with a view to the small stream.
Yet again a mystery parcel for dinner delivered to the door.
Tomorrow we have a long hike for Hongu which is well known for it's Onsens. This is bascially hot springs baths where you wash before then enter the gender seperate bath houses. All the rage and one of the larger complexes we are staying at. It will no doubt have multiple vending machines which are everywhere in Japan. Loaded with soft drinks, snacks, beer and tinned coffee. Which we have not sampled say no more.
No comments:
Post a Comment