Day 9: Hiroshima


I realized that my style of vacation blogging is not the perfect fit when visiting memorials.  It's almost a 2 hour train ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima.  So a lot of time to think...  The Dodgers were playing the Mets - so that passed some time.  I did think about how Japanese think about Americans - especially in the city of Hiroshima.  I could pass myself off as an Italian (nose) or a Swedish (probably not likely).  I got comfortable with just paying my respects and knowing I visited.


140,000 people died from the bombing.  Another 80,000 in Nagasaki.  It happened in 1945, my Dad was 8 years old.  I'm not going to get political.... but...... not cool to kill that many innocent people.  We probably could have used the money - 2 billion+ and planned a more micro attack vs. the macro killings.  I'm done.  I'm glad we experienced it.  I'm glad my kids and niece and nephew got to see it.
Only building that survived
We walked to the point where the bomb actually landed.  It detonated 600M above ground.

It's hard to imagine a bomb landing in Los Angeles.  Actually, I don't imagine those kinds of things.  But when visiting Hiroshima it's hard not to think about a modern day disaster.  We are all fortunate, grateful, and thankful.  RIP innocent victims. 


Ok.  Time to eat.  Is that bad?  The Japanese do not blame modern day Americans for the bombing.  They actually feel bad if we are to carry any guilt.  As a Jewish boy, I always carry guilt.  But I tuck it way, way back somewhere in the mind closet.  Is that bad?  Back to vacationing...
Max says, "Best Ramen Ever" - Ichuran - I think.  Yelp it. 
On our way back to Kyoto, we stopped in a local neighborhood, just to see how people live in Japan.  The way Marika described it to me sounded a lot like Calabasas.  Very nice lawns and very large homes. 




We got caught in a rainstorm.  Nice to wash away, but not forget...


Luckily Amy brought an extra pair of dry clothes

By the time we got back to hotel it was after 7pm.  We decided to go out for Indian food.  A pleasant surprise close to our hotel.  They have good Indian in Japan.  And we didn't even need to make an Indian reservation.  Bad joke.  No one got it.  But they don't allow drones, just in case you packed one.


 Hiroshima was heavy.  I choose (we all have choices) to embrace a life of:


Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special.

 Our Hiroshima day was hard at times, but it was also spread with many Hygge moments.  I thank Wendy, Julia, Reid, Amy, Brad, Max and Evan for them.  

RIP Innocent Victims









































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