We’ve only been in Japan for five minutes and I’ve taken my shoes off and put them on again more often than I would in an average Queensland winter, not counting thongs (the foot variety). Having been here numerous times before, you’d think I knew what to expect. I guess I naively though there would be some dispensation for ignorant tourists, but not to be. So the heavy duty waterproof shoes of the first three stops have been replaced by slip on laceless sketches. They had to come off today when we stepped inside a long-dead samurai’s house in Kanazawa but at least I didn’t have to worry about negotiating a stiff back to do up the laces when we left. As a corollary to this, we booked a tour in Sakaiminato which involved a castle visit and a boat trip round the moats (more of this later) and I figured there’s two activities which should require shoes at all times. Not a chance.
I’m currently sitting on our balcony writing this while the CB washes her hair in preparation for dinner with the senior crew in a couple of hours. As frequent flyers with Azamara (this is our fifth) we’ll be hobnobbing with people who’ve done 30+ cruises with this outfit, l expect. To retain a shred of credibility regarding our cruising chops considering our relatively feeble accomplishments, we’ll just have to lie. I’ve travelled enough that I just might get away with it, like Basil Fawlty not mentioning the war.
There’s a lot of activity down below me on the wharf. There’s lights and speakers being set up and sound systems being checked. When we left Wismar in Germany a few cruises back we were serenaded by a very good Electric Light Orchestra tribute band and as I mentioned previously, we got the fireworks treatment in Akito. It looks like there’ll be a show on tonight. Either these people are pleased to see us go or a boat load of Kardashians are on the horizon and getting closer. “Love Me Do” is blasting out at the moment so maybe Ringo’s on his way.
Just watched the farewell show. About 30 dancers in traditional gear including a few who look like they were let out of kindergarten early plus about eight people rythmically waving some of the biggest most colourful flags I’ve ever seen. Waving them to exhaustion it seems as after a few songs they had to rest their jellied arms. Incidentally, if there were celebrities coming in it could have been James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich because the last song was Japanese Metallica – a voice that could turn a crowbar into iron filings and a thumping drum beat.
Again, we have been feted for being the first cruise ship of the season. I’d much sooner be third and have better weather.