Hiroshima

Yesterday, we took the "bullet train" to Hiroshima Japan. We covered about 600 miles of land in about 4 hours and only made 6 stops. Avery was so excited about getting to ride it.

When we arrived in Hiroshima, we took a "rail car" to our hotel to drop off our stuff. This was an experience. The rail cars are like trains in the middle of the street.

Once we checked in, we began our journey to the Peace Park and museum. Talk about an experience...never did I think while sitting in history class learning about WWII, that I would one day get to visit Hiroshima. We learned so much and it was amazing to see actual artifacts, such as glass bottles, clothes, fingernails, and pottery, that were recovered from the destruction. Standing in the middle of a busy city with people hustling and bustling about, it was so hard to imagine that about 64 years ago I was standing in the very spot the A-bomb was dropped and over 200,000 people and most all the buildings and wild life was gone.

Inside the A-Bomb Dome.

marble chest that holds all the names of the people that died.

A model of how Hiroshima looked before the A-bomb was dropped.



This is the same view after the A-bomb was dropped.


Two melted glass bottles pulled from the destruction.


These are some steps that were outside a bank. On that morning a man was sitting on the steps waiting for the bank to open when the bomb hit. The shadow you see was cast by the man who was sitting there when the flash occurred.

This mound holds all the human remains that was collected in the rubble.


Avery ringing the bell on the Children's memorial.


Avery ringing the Peace Memorial Bell.

Today we went to an island off the coast of Hiroshima called Miyajima. Miyajima is famous for the O-torii Gate and Itsukushima Shrine. Both of which are in the ocean during high tide and on the beach during times of low tide.

Me and Avery on the ferry to Miyajima.


The torii at High tide (the big red thing behind us)

The torii at low tide.

One of the best parts about this island is that deer roam free and are so tame that you can pet on them as if you were in a petting zoo.

But you better be careful, they are curious and they will eat your maps!

While there, we also took 2 roapway cars and hiked up some more to the summit of Mt. Misen. On Mt. Misen, monkeys run wild everywhere and don't seem to mind the humans but you'd better not get too close or stare at them...they don't seem to take too kindly to that (so the signs say...we didn't test that theory)

We also saw several temples and shrines along the way and some spectacular views.

Tomorrow we get back on the bullet train and head to Kyoto for more adventures....stay tuned!