under another sun

After a night in and lots of sleep, feeling quite refreshed. Up early and showering, making tea for Lorraine and then she and I wandered over to Starbucks to find Toby and Romy reading papers there. A quick coffee and a bite before Lorraine and I sloped off to do a spot of shopping and bought ourselves a very reasonable Japanese teapot and a a pair of cups. Rather buoyed by finding ourselves able to communicate even though there were half a dozen words in common. The process aided by Lorraine doing a teapot impression which made the woman laugh behind her hand a good deal. Then off in taxis from The Hotel Trusty to the station. Here we caught a local train to Kagaonsen station, in the Ishikawa Prefecture. A taxi was waiting for us there and we crammed ourselves and our cases into it. We were handed flannels by the taxi driver to refresh ourselves. Then we drove out of the small town across a plain of fallow rice fields, towards a rainy line of hills, lining the fields were stands of ...

Breakfast at the hotel Trusty. A poor night's sleep for some reason, but a nice buffet and cups of coffee. Once we'd got ourselves organised off for another walk through Kanazawa. First another nearby shrine with another gorgeous pool. Then off through little more residential back streets, stopping at a little bakers, and walking through a busy food market. As usual lots of fish, including barrels of thick octopus legs coloured scarlet, and ranks of long legged crabs on their backs, and various bony fish and dried flattened squid. From there we wandered some more until we found ourselves on the edge of the Old Geisha district. More picturesque streets, and we happened upon an artist studio of a Finish American artist called Clifton Karhu who, after his death, has a growing reputation.  Beautiful work, highly graphic and excellent colour choices. A very friendly animated man told us all about Karhu, and showed us many of his fine prints. From here a wander through the lanes o...

The best night's sleep so far sleeping on the floor in a futon, under a huge snow white duvet. The colds that had plagued plagued Lorraine and I now officially in abeyance. Up at nine and off for an an unforgettable breakfast. Romy chose western style, and Toby, Lorraine and I opted for a Japanese, which was unforgettably delicious, with bowls of rice, soup, salmon and plates of dainties. Then back to our rooms to complete packing to move on to our next hotel a short distance away in Kanazawa. The ladies of the Ryokan could not have been more gracious. They helped us locate the new one, and the lady who had been looking after us led us down the street to our new hotel. Unfortunately this was the wrong hotel, so she secured us taxis on the street and instructed their drivers. This all conducted in her traditional kimono. Warm farewells. The new hotel where we will stay for the next two days is a just-opened business hotel called Hotel Trusty with impressive Christmas decorations...