Fitful night’s sleep on the futon…back and hip discomfort, and some discomfort in my left arm and left hand. Got up around 0700 and did some exercises in a bid to loosen up. Breakfast was delivered and set out on the coffee table for us. Aki feeling better this morning…decided to postpone looking for a dentist until we hit Kanazawa.
I ventured out to grab a coffee…found a little traditional coffee house around the corner. Little old man running the gaff made my latte but when it came to paying wanted cash…had to walk back to the house to get 500 yen off of Aki…only to find he wanted 650 yen…I had to nip back for more funds! Got there eventually…fortunately the coffee was worth the effort.
Packed our bags and walked over to the Lounge, where we left them while we had a wander round the Morning Market. Very disappointing…a dozen or so temporary tarpaulin coveeed shacks selling junk, or snack food. Walked on by the river, then took a detour to the shrine, then back into town for a light lunch with a river view. Picked up our baggage and trundled our way to the bus station. 1250 bus to Kinazawa, with a brief ten minute stop in Shikogawago…Aki took the opportunity to photograph a couple of the historic traditional houses that make this a World Heritage site. A lot of snow on the mountainsides!
Rocked up at Kinazawa station on time at 1510. Taxi to our accommodation on the fringe of the city centre. We share a two-bed ‘apartment’ on the 9th floor. It’s trying to convey a Japanese look, with screens, and futons on raised pedestals, but everything is plastic and a little tacky. Still, it’s comparatively roomy. Did some washing in the laundry on the second floor. Went out to find some dinner…met up with Kim Catcheside, Aki’s Rowing Club pal, who has just arrived in town having holidayed in South Korea…she’s hooking up with her son in Kyoto.
It’s Friday night in Kanazawa and we found all the restaurants full, mainly of salarymen celebrating the end of their working week. We eventually found a cramped table in a simple third rate ramen joint, and caught up with each other. Kim had been in Thailand with her daughter before heading for Korea…she’s getting about a bit. Walked back to our hotel in what felt like sub-zero conditions…picked up our washing from the laundry, ran a bath, and flaked out!
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