With the thermometer rising steadily each day and coming from a place where we are accustomed to swimming at every opportunity, it has been strange not to have easy access to a pool or a beach. Yesterday we decided to have a day at the beach. Sophie has been hanging out for a swim and so far has only had two other water experiences, apart from the bath. One swim had been at Kamakura and another at a park with water fountains. We decided to head for Enoshima Island, which is south of Yokohama and Kamakura and required catching three different trains. Sounds easy really but I think half of Japan had the same idea, say no more!!
Now that we are living in Yamashita, Yokohama our local station is Ishikawacho. This station is much, much, much smaller than Shinagawa. We caught the first train to Ofuna and then caught another train to Kamakura. At Kamakura we then caught a street car/train to Enoshima, still with half of Japan heading the same way. Once at Enoshima we walked through an underground tunnel and then across a bridge. There were no bicycles allowed in the tunnel but there was a motorbike doing a burnout and a man on a horse leading another horse. What a funny place we are now living in!
We headed straight to the beach for our much anticipated swim. Pleasingly we still had plenty of company! We quickly found a handkerchief sized piece of beach and commenced our long awaited relaxing day at the beach. I believe at this stage the pictures say it all.
After our swim we decided to meander around the island. We found a really large marina and enjoyed a quick look at the yachts.
We were intrigued with this yacht and questioned its sea worthiness. As I was poking around taking photos I was invited aboard. The owner,Yoshida, was keen to introduce himself and show me below!! Once below he produced this beautiful catalogued book all about vampires and promptly offered me a glass of grape juice (or was it blood??). He and his friend were very hospitable but at this stage I was glad to be able to acknowledge Steve, who was standing on the overhead walkway!! It turns out Yoshida had taken 42 years to build the boat. It was a work of art but I wouldn't attempt a Bass Strait crossing in it, give me Makira anytime. I, certainly, was not keen to become their next meal either.
We wandered around the streets and bought some food from the various outlets. It was so crowded and so hot and the only place we could find to sit and eat was on the foot path next to a rubbish bin. A walk to the top of the street to overlook the area was quickly negated when we saw the jammed crowds we would have to join.
We decided to catch the street car back to a beach we had seen on the way in. It was far less crowded and we enjoyed a long swim here. The sand was still black and the water a little littered with rubbish, but the water temperature was fantastic and a long soak was so refreshing. Sophie loved running in the water, getting dumped and playing in the sand. Harriet continued her taste testing!
When the time came to return home we suspected the trains would be crowded, but how crowded was even comical to the Japanese as well. It was unbelievable how many people were squeezed on, it seemed like half of Japan again! The jammed bodies and resultant body pressure was hysterical. Steve had his rear pressed hard up against another guy and under each armpit were young Japanese girls. Very funny. I was so hard pressed against the stroller that one ankle was twisted right around and the stroller handles were bruising my hips. Remember all this is happening on a 35 degree summer day. The photos below show Soph in her stroller below everyone. In one photo Sophie looks as though she may be 'turning Japanese'!
Once back on the main JR line we, fortunately, had a seat all the way back home to Yamashita. On the train Harriet was able to enjoy a long and relaxed feed. Even though the photos below show she enjoys eating sand, seaweed and ice cream, mum's milk is still best!!
We returned home sunburned (again), tired and fractious but satisfied we had experienced a little bit more of Japan and had our long awaited swim. Swimming 'Japanese style' is certainly very different to our normal beach experiences.
No comments:
Post a Comment