I’ve had some free time over the winter holidays here. A group of us headed out for a full tour of the local area the other day. We started by hopping a train to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Park, located at the impact point of the atomic bomb. It was an interesting and sobering experience.
Many Marines stationed here wind up visiting the site, but I wasn’t sure how Americans (and particularly servicemen) would be welcomed at such a sacred location. It turns out that the Peace Park and associated museum are a popular tourist spot for all kinds of nationalities. Everyone was very respectful, and if I had any impression at all it was that the locals were happy to have us there appreciating the exhibits. We even had a few gentlemen come up to the group and start chatting with us to practice their English. It was an impressive memorial and very well done museum.
We then jumped back on the train (and a ferry) to visit the island of Miyajima. I went there back in August, when I flew out here on a cross-country. It was a little nicer climbing mountains when the weather is cool out though. It’s a beautiful island and it was a beautiful day to explore it. There are all kinds of cool spots, that are best described in pictures, which you can see here.
The end to a near-perfect day was grabbing a bite at one of the many kiosks in the town area. As the sun went down, it started to get cold, and a table full of hot steaming meat buns were just too tempting.
A couple of those, washed down by a Kirin Ichiban were just what the doctor ordered. It was a perfect end to a perfect day and a great end to a long but enjoyable deployment. I’ll be getting on a plane early tomorrow morning for my trip home. Now, a big hug from my girls at the airport will be the perfect end to this deployment, and a perfect start to normal life again.
Awesome pictures Jason. Glad to hear you are coming home. Can’t wait to come and visit you guys after the baby is born. Have a safe flight home. See you soon.
Ryan