We’re back in Yokohama, last day of the first cruise. We’ll head out tomorrow for a couple of the northern ports of Japan and then cross the ocean to Alaska. As with any disembark/embark process, the ports are a busy location. Today, we were very fortunate to make connection with one of Ron’s Japanese company colleagues from his Intel days, Sawano, with whom he’s kept in contact via Facebook and a visit to Sonoma. Sawano lives in the Yokohama area and he became our personal tour guide for the day. He picked us up at the pier and we proceeded to Kamakura where we visited its most significant shrine (built in 1063) and its museum, gardens, then wandered the streets and shops, and had a terrific lunch. We saw the beach (across the street from where Sawano attended high school) where wind surfing was first introduced in Japan, and then onto Verny Park. Verny Park is a lovely harbor side park with well-manicured and signed (English, too!) rose garden – and views of the United States 7th fleet.
I was charmed by the cute donuts and the cute shopkeeper.
