Hiroshima

Wednesday morning we made our way to Hiroshima. We stopped at the hostel and dropped off our bags before heading to Mazda Stadium to catch a Hiroshima Carp baseball game.

I'm not a huge fan of baseball games in America. But in Japan, it's different. And the 7th inning stretch is the weirdest tradition ever. Wheezing balloons. Everywhere.

We lost the game, but I didn't really care. It was fun to be there and enjoy an afternoon of sitting since we had been walking and hiking the last few days. We went out to find an okonomiyaki restaurant for dinner.

We needed a night time adventure. Let's jump on the last ferry to Miyajima! Off we went on a night time adventure to Miyajima Island. I'd been once before when I was in elementary school, but I'd never been at night. I didn't know people could even go at night. But it was quite amazing and a good adventure.

Thursday we got to meet my great uncle Tom and his family. He took us around Hiroshima city which included the Hiroshima Flower Festival and the Peace Memorial Museum. Complete with a trip back to his house for dinner and hanging out.

I haven't seen this side of my family since I came to Hiroshima in elementary school. I didn't remember any of them, except Uncle Tom. But it felt like family. And they all spoke English. It felt like I was at home. Laughing and joking. Asking how life in Japan was. Asking about relatives back home. Hearing stories I'd never heard before. All with an endless supply of food.

Friday morning Uncle Tom's daughter took us back to Miyajima Island. It's a different feel in the day time. We did some walking around the island and ended up at some temple with 500 statues.

Then we hiked up to the Miyajima ropeways to get a good view, except that it was a fairly cloudy day. But we were lucky. When we went back down to the main area, the tide receded and we were able to walk all the way up to the gate!

We had dinner and then said our goodbyes. A short visit with the family, but it's nice to know that family is and always will be family.