Thursday p.m.

  We are having an amazingly exhausting time here!  Fun indeed but no down time these last few days.  I and another gal were hosted by a couple Reiko and Yukihiko Sato. They are in their early 50s and have two sons, one of who is s at university and the other 17 years old.  They are an extremely wealthy family, but show no sign of that in their demeanour .They all seem to drive expensive cars here, and Satos are no exception as both have Toyota hybrid vehicles. One is an SUV and the other a Prius neither of which is found in Canada.  All cars have back up cameras and gps and everyone, and I mean everyone backs into parking spaces here.  They whiz in like there is no tomorrow.  Sato and his family own a saki plant, or whatever you call it. Kind of like a winery...fermentation etc. The saki is superb and is 18% alcohol so packs a punch.  Have had it both ways, warmed and ice cold.  Our first of three nights we spent in another gal's home as Satos had water shut off to their area of the city, so that was a real adventure.  Slept on a tatami mat and freezing cold, although warm enough under the covers, my nose was cold.  They seem to have space heaters in all used areas, others are neither insulated nor heated. I, for some unknown reason, needed to go to the bathroom every 2 hours.  Fortunately, the toilet seats are warm, so maybe that was the attraction.  Last night came to Sato's and we have beds and a washroom on the same level as the bedroom. Warmer indeed.  Their living room has heated floors, and lovely hardwood floors, too. 

Today we went for breakfast to a little bakery place and had ham and cheese sandwiches and coffee, and Mr Sato (Yukihiko) had corn soup with his sandwich. We went to a castle in the morning which was rebuilt after warm time bombing.  Then lunch to a Japanese feet under the table restaurant which 6 of us treated our three hosts to lunch.  More raw fish, miso etc. each of us paid 3000 yen for our share for 11 or approximately 30$.  Then we woman went to a kimono place, then back to Sato's parents home for a make your own sushi dinner.  Finally home to pack for tomorrow's early start at 7:45.  There is no down time and my knees not great.  I am also finding it much colder than anticipated so could have used warmer jackets or sweaters or something.  It has rained a bit, as well, contributing to the coolness. Tomorrow off to Kanazawa via coach and will be able to check into our hotel at 6 pm.  It is all go, go, go. We will connect with the rest of the 35 tomorrow as we have been with 6 the last few days, so that will be nice.  It is a bit of sensory overload...maybe that is an understatement!

Diane Draffiny