A day of firsts

Nakate Bed and Breakfast innkeeper
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My first day not getting lost, not even once! My first day helping someone else find their way. My first time treating myself to a cab ride. And the first time I watched the Red Sox in Japan.

It's been a very good day which is a relief after my two spent constantly lost in Kyoto. There were so many sights to see that I felt a lot of pressure to see as much as I could in two days; I should have been more realistic and calm about it.

Free internet, a cheap locker, and an english speaker: trifecta!

The McDonalds in the Kyoto station had small desk areas for free internet and power! Also there was a bookstore nearby; I was looking to possibly buy another book to read and saw a Dave Barry book on Japan. But was $25!!
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This morning I had a lovely chat with a Japanese woman who was also staying at the Nakata Bed and Breakfast. She worked for a French marketing company and had lived in Paris for years; moving there when she knew NO french! Her english was quite good and it was fun to connect with someone. My first long conversation with a female. The innkeeper and I had a nice goodbye, taking pictures of each other. He was very kind and hope I remember his lovely gifts of fruit and take away bags.

I headed off for Kurashiki which is a small town just south of Okayama. It was nice to get back on the speed train and not constantly be on the local train as I had been going back and forth from Kyoto to Nara. To my fellow Chicagoans, trains in other cities suck as well. It was late, delayed half the time I was on it! And it's much more frustrating when you have no idea what's going on.

My new favorite place; the first city in Japan where I haven't gotten lost.
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The weather was BEAUTIFUL. The sun was very warm and the tourist information center was excellent. Free internet, a cheap locker, and an english speaker: trifecta! The town's maps were clear and I had no trouble getting around. I was also able to locate an ATM that would take my debit card; another relief to have enough cash again.

Town was quite beautiful as you can see in the pictures. It was quiet and some things were closed as it was Monday, but I had a great time looking in the shops and quickly walking through their art museum.

Kurashiki
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Next stop was Hiroshima. The sun was setting behind the mountains when I was in the train: gorgeous. The man who gave me my reserved seat ticket put the wrong station on the ticket, but I figured it out without freaking out or getting lost! Small victory.

Arriving in Hiroshima right before the tourist information office closed, I was able to find someone to clearly tell me how to take the streetcar to my hostel. Again the only Westerner around; I made it just fine. I'm in my hostel now. The first time I'm sharing a room. Imagine my other rooms w/ four beds all side by side, not much room, but it's clean and half the price of the other places.

The water wound its way around, teeming with fish
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Although it was already dark out, I didn't want to hang out in my room five hours before bed time, so I headed out with a good map and walked to the going out area. I was very intimidated at first. The Japanese people don't stare and they do their best not to look you in the eye; I've gotten used to it, so it was unnerving when I was walking by myself and some younger hoodlum looking types stared me down. I was planning on stopping in somewhere for a drink, but after that encounter thought I'd just walk around and head back to the hostel. Until I found a bar replaying the Red Sox game. Despite already knowing the outcome, it was still exciting to watch and made it less awkard to be in a bar by myself. The female bartender was quite nice and there was another kind bar patron whose english was very good (he had lived in Australia for six months).

Me getting up the courage to ask someone to take my picture...after I had already taken theirs
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I stayed longer than expected, so I treated myself to a cab ride home. The cab driver didnt speak a word of english, but I just showed him where I needed to go on the map.

I am hoping to enjoy the city of Hiroshima tomorrow and then perhaps take a hike the next day. Enjoy the pictures; Japan is a beautiful place.