Today's visit to Nagasaki was our second as we were here last year on the Volendam. In that visit we visited the A-Bomb ground zero, the museum, and the Glover Gardens area. So this year we joined another small group with a Tours by Locals local guide (Miyuki) that took a public bus (170yen) to the top of Mt. Kazagashira, enjoyed a kite museum (unfortunately they were too fragile to consider bringing one home), the views (it was a bit hazy most of the day) and walked down the mountain through small neighborhoods with even smaller streets and by various temples and shrines as well as many cemeteries. This area was sheltered from the A Bomb blast by a mountain.
At the bottom of the hill we entered the shopping district and found the oldest dam in Japan which is located on the Nakashinagawa River. Our tour ended there and we found a ramen restaurant to enjoy a nice lunch at. Unlike the previous day's ramen restaurant, this one was a bit more open and we could see the cooks and the cooking process. Like the previous one, one paid for the meal with a vending machine. And it was good, although I'd give a slight edge to the Fukuoka ramen.
After lunch we boarded a blue line train (120 yen flat rate) out to the 26 Martyrs Monument & Museum (500 yen entry fee) that documented the crucifixion of 6 priests and 20 lay persons in the late 16th century after the emperor Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned Christianity. Christianity survived underground for the next several hundred years. It was a sobering reminder on this Palm Sunday, 2018.
We had to do a face to passport immigration inspection exit of Japan and then surrender our passports as we were leaving Japan for China. Back on board the ship I led the Interdenominational service with about 30 present. Another passenger, Bill, helped and read a sermon. Our departure was delayed for an hour as 6 guests didn't make the mandatory onboard time of 4:00pm, and the immigration authorities would not permit the ship to sail.
After our customary Lido dinner, we watched the comedienne, Stevie Jo who was back with a new show. Some of his jokes were really funny, but some of the British ones went right by me.
The Indonesian crew show was at 11pm, fortunately we gain an hour tonight. Tomorrow is a very laid back sea day which will be nice. We are anticipating a scenic cruise into Shanghai up the Huangpu River starting at 9pm. Fortunately we are a small enough ship and can berth right in the center of town at the Bund. Next year the Westerdam will have to berth an hour from the city which will be very inconvenient for the passengers.
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