Our arrival into Tsuruga is punctuated with rain showers, but by 09:30 they are mostly dissipated. Pity the poor reception group who today are semaphoring, it’s less spectacular than yesterday but equally endearing.
We ignore the offered shuttle bus and walk into town. Once again Mr Google’s opinion is at odds with reality, but it’s an interesting walk which includes a quarter mile through a tunnel, quite a curious experience, nothing like the wonderful disused railway tunnel at Thurgoland we regularly walked in the old days.
Our first stop is called Red Brick, not the most imaginative name for a building, but appropriate. It houses a eclectic combination of local radio, anime, brick-a-brack, eateries and a wonderful model railway of the town in bygone days. It’s quite a setup so I’ve only included a few photos.
We continue through the town, past the port, fishing boats – in port as it’s a Sunday and hence the fish market is closed. We love the blossom all over, and the tiny cars which seem to be the vehicle of choice for the majority, probably because most parking spaces are minuscule!
We head on to the Matsubara Beach Resort, which sounds expansive, but is actually a tiny beach adjacent to a small pine wood. Then we return to the town to find the old bank, now Municipal Museum, and next door the museum of floats, which we decide to look around.
We’re the only customers and get the royal treatment, which is fascinating. This parade has taken place in the village for around 450 years, culminating at the Jingu Shrine every September.
At the shrine we watch a blessing, which quite interestingly included the couple’s car.
As we walk back we observe a pair of birds of prey – pretty sure they are Japanese Sparrowhawk, wingspan about two feet.
As we pass, we check out the railway museum, which is in the old harbour station building. It’s not big enough to house any real engines, but there’s a huge stash of memorabilia and models with enthusiastic staff.
As we return we detect moisture in the air, but it is momentary, and we’re safely home, having ordered a pizza, when we experience a proper downpour, and spend the rest of the afternoon under the heaters at Patio Grill.
An hour before sailaway we decide to take our customary jacuzzi on the forward deck, which is super-hot, and warms us suitably so we can then stand on our balcony to watch the local school band play whilst we depart. Lots of people are on their balconies waving back at the assembled group supporting the band.
Dinner is in MDR, Husband enjoys veal cannelloni, tomato soup, venison and celeriac, banana sundae. I had gravadlax, spicy squash soup, turbot, chocolate rum and raisin cake, all excellent.
The performance this evening is entitled Earth Song, which is a new production to us. Lots of familiar songs, and unsurprisingly concludes with Earth Song which looks and sounds fabulous. Not convinced the band actually plays anything, to me it sounds like it was all on track and the three present are just miming, but hey-ho we know all about that these days, although this for different reasons!
