After two weeks we’re back in Yokohama for a day, and then in two more weeks we return to get off the ship at the end of our cruise. So today is really our only chance to explore the city, famous for tyres of course, but many other things too.
Unfortunately the forecast for today is disappointing, infact it’s due to rain all day, and at several times a considerable amount. Having somehow managed to swerve nearly all precipitation since that awful pre-cruise day in Tokyo, it’s a bit sad but we mustn’t grumble!
We decide to abandon our initially planned 10 mile walk, and stick to the nearby town centre, although the first destination is the same for both plans. Passing thought Yokohama Park as we go, this tiny square is a burst of fabulous colour, and the nearby streets are preparing for the blossom festival to start.
We head for Chinatown, having read how vibrant this area is. It cértainly doesn’t disappoint, except perhaps we shouldn’t have eaten a full breakfast as those dim sum look fabulous.
Moving on we pass through another park, finding the ruins of a house that collapsed in the 1923 earthquake, and nearby a beautiful house still intact. The area is where wealthy merchants lived in the heydays, indeed looking at the properties, cars and private medicine all around, nothing has changed since. Berrick Hall is quite beautiful, as usual we have to wear slippers to visit, and change again to dedicated ones to visit the loo!
Next we find the British Consulate house, we’re not clear if this is historical or current, but it’s certainly friendly enough to allow people to wander around, oddly not a single sign in English!
The gardens are lovely too. Passing through they become Harbour View Park rip back down to the harbour to find Hikawa Maru a gorgeous liner that regularly made the crossing between Yokohama and Vancouver with freight and passengers between 1930 and 1960, albeit as an hospital ship midway.
The visit is fascinating, Only a few customers’s rooms on view but several public ones, and a fabulous look at the marine engine.
We have managed not to get too wet, and decide to hot-foot back to the terminal so as to get back before the horde of new customers are allowed on, although we spot a gorgeous show of mini gardens which need a quick tour.
We pass Noordam once again also on turnaround day receiving new customers. Within minutes of settling down with a pre-lunch drink we notice the heavens have opened, we couldn’t have timed it better!
We do work for a while at the “office” but it does get quite cold so we go to our cabin to continue, and later come for a warm in one of the jacuzzi on deck eight.
Soon it’s time to dress for dinner and for a change we go to observation lounge on deck ten to meet with friends Diane and Cliff for pre-dinner drinkies. Dinner is at Solis and we have a wonderful evening catching up on our activities of the last few days, and many other matters. It a shame that the latter part of the evening is ruined by two bawdy customers behind me, and their waitress, who should have known better, making enough noise for a party of ten.
