Ever In Our Favor

Posted byrandy@letters-to-rachel.memorialPosted inAlong the Way, Updates From the Abandoned Planet, Wish You Were HereTags:, , , , , ,

Dearest Rachel –

First off, I suppose I need to thank you. All of the time, I’m asking you to keep an eye on us, and other things as well from time to time. But when things pan out as well or better than expected, I really need to express my appreciation. Between you and the Father, you certainly came through this morning.

I mentioned yesterday that I was fully aware of the odds of being able to actually see Fuji-san were, and how they weren’t necessarily good – especially considering the weather we had been dealing with in Kobe (and presumably would be bringing with us as we traveled back east towards Tokyo). However, this morning before breakfast, we received word that, if we were to head over to the port side of the ship, we could get an unusually good view of the mountain. Daniel was content to stay in the room (although that would eventually change), but I headed topside to see what I could.

As I was heading up, I couldn’t help wondering about the stability of the ship after an announcement such as that; if everyone were to congregate on one side of the ship to see and photograph this most iconic mountain of Japan, wouldn’t we be running the risk of listing over? However, I needn’t have worried; for the next hour or so (at least), Mount Fuji was more or less in front of the ship – and no, we were in no danger of driving the ship right into it, despite it being right in front of us. Bear in mind, it’s actually an entire prefecture beyond us; while it’s visible from quite a distance here in the ocean, it’s well inland in Yamanashi, miles past Shizuoka, where we will be docking.

But be that as it may, I did manage to get a couple of decent shots of the mountain, so you can see what it looks like. And thanks to you for helping see your way clear to see our way clear to it, too.
But thanks to the announcement, it was very much the ‘soup vs. art’ situation, as everyone congregated around the bow on the eleventh level, trying to get the best position for a shot of the mountain. I was getting paranoid that someone (particularly myself or Daniel) would drop their phone or camera (I know, same thing) as they leaned over the rail of the window to do so.
Once Daniel came up to see all the fuss, and took a few pictures of his own, we went to breakfast, and noted as to why we were warned that Fuji-san might not be as visible to us as we might like; the mountains along the shoreline were holding back a line of cumulus clouds, which, trapped as they were, obscured their peaks from a clear view.
Even Fuji itself, as we turned for Shimizu harbor, wasn’t immune from this effect. Daniel pointed out that it was visible outside our room, but we could only see its snow-capped peak as we sailed past it (and as you can see from this picture, I almost missed it slightly to the right of center, as the snow blends in against the clouds below); the cloud cover surrounded its midsection, resulting in reduced visibility of the mountain in its full grandeur.
Anyway, we were pleased to note that the S-Pulse Dream Plaza was on the harbor’s edge, and we were passing alongside it from our veranda.
Moreover, it looked to be within walking distance of where we ultimately docked. This was going to be the shortest amount of walking about we’d need to do on this trip. Thanks again, honey!
Once off the ship and run through customs, we were on our way. And our first stop at the plaza is probably the most obvious; we’ve seen these ferris wheels at various other ports from time to time, it’s time we went on one ourselves.

The circuit takes maybe about ten minutes, plenty of time to take a whole raft of pictures of Shizuoka without a whole lot of context:

It occurs to me that, considering that it’s Sunday here, there’s likely to be a lot of couples on dates today.  Daniel points out that the trope is generally to go on the Ferris wheel last thing, when it’s night, and the place is lit up, so our being here first thing in the morning (what’s left of it) wouldn’t have us encountering too many just yet.

We even get a picture taken of us by the staff manning the ferris wheel. Well, Mom and Dad have been asking us to do something like that at least one time on this trip, and since we’re getting near to the end of it… here we are.
*sigh* So many things on offer for sale; and nobody to buy any of it for.  Somehow, I just know you’d be interested in some of this stuff, and I wish I could get it for you.

Despite the apparent size of the place as seen from the ship, it’s curiously compact in here, and as a result, we’re through the second floor in no time flat.  There’s a bridge to the other side of the street, but there’s only one store there, a home goods type store, and even if we were to find something we might like from there, it would be no small burden to cart home.  So we return to the side from, and make our way downstairs.

Most of the first floor is dedicated to food of some sort or another, including three sushi restaurants right next to each other. This is Nash’s game theory of business in action; the competition drives up quality and down price, and the customer wins big. Of course, these prices may also be helped by being so close to the source, as opposed to back home, where the ocean is over a thousand miles away in either direction.
This particular photo frame, however, seems a little silly. Who would want to portray themselves as a piece of sushi about to be eaten?
On the subject of silly… one of the groceries here offers various flavors of Ramune and cider, and some border on the outlandish, like these flavors of melon bread (melon, I kind of understand, even if I don’t like personally, but melon bread?) and curry bread cider.

Another thing we did here that we haven’t gotten around to doing was to get a few souvenirs. I still don’t know what anyone really wants, but I got a few things that I know certain people might, so it’s a start.

***

I won’t call the plaza a disappointment by any means – we’ve accomplished so much in an hour and a half that we haven’t had time, opportunity or inspiration to do up until now – but after having almost accustomed ourselves to multi-kilometer long walks through shopping districts, this actually felt like we’re on easy mode.  There must be more to see.

And indeed, there is; there’s a shuttle taking people to the Shimizu station, in what presumably is the heart of the ward.  So we cross the marina by the plaza to get back to the ship and drop our purchases off, before heading back out in a new and different direction.

But not before wandering across an empty courtyard which appears to be a concert venue, if those obelisks on flanking the view of the mountain are any indication; they appear to contain light fixtures and speakers for that purpose.  And it makes perfect sense to have something like this here; if nothing else, the place is unrivaled in its telegenic nature.
There’s a boat in the harbor that has a familiar name; would that it could take one to see you in the lands beyond the shadows.
And once again, I have to thank you and the Father for arranging such a beautiful day and a beautiful view.
The area by Shimizu Station does include a shopping arcade, but it’s considerably shorter than we’re used to after the past week.

We decide to take a back alley on our return trip, with mostly bars and other indeterminate establishments along the way (although we have our suspicions).  We drop in on a pair of Lawson Station convenience stores on either side of the station complex (Really? On both sides?) among other stores surrounding the place.

We even find a church here, although there’s no indication as to what denomination it might be. It does bear a poster in the window wishing a “Happy Resurrection,” so there’s that.
Daniel suggests going into the station itself, to see what shopping might be had upstairs, like in Niigata, but no luck. There’s one small convenience store, and that’s it (unless there’s something beyond the gates for paying riders).
At the same time, the back of the station offers some interesting views of this section of downtown Shimizu ward…
…as well as Fuji-san itself.  In fact, even locals (or at least, nationals) are taking selfies at a particular corner.
So I give it a try, too, with my usual limited success.

But with that being said and done, we return to the main exterior of the station, to find a shuttle just pulling in and dropping guests off by the main arcade we’ve just wandered down. With that kind of timing, it’s only natural we hop on board.

***

Off the shuttle, the guide directs us to the ship, but seems almost amused when we turn around to go in the opposite direction toward the plaza. It’s hard to tell their expressions when they have masks on.

Anyway, Daniel had sent a few pictures from one of the plaza shops to Logan this morning to see if there was anything he might like, and while we were out in the main city, he had responded; so now we were back to get what he mentioned (among other things). To be honest, we’re not sure if he found exactly what he specified, as even Daniel admits he’s not familiar with every species of Pokémon.

What we’re really back here for is to try something local for lunch. The lower level shops have, for the most part, the ticket purchase system we saw at the observatory cafeteria in Akita, but without descriptions, or even pictures in some cases, we’d have no idea what we’re dealing with. We eventually settle on this croquette place, and I try to memorize which is which in order to point out my preferences to the clerk. But she speaks enough English to identify each item the two of us order without my poor attempts at bridging the language gap.

The clerk even calls me back after we walk off with our order, as in the confusion of trying to pay (paying in yen involves a lot of back-and-forth between coins and bills), I leave my wallet on the counter. Fortunately, I’m already realizing what has happened, as I’m patting myself down because we still need to get beverages from a nearby vending machine.

For the record, here are our impressions of their offerings: the beef and pork croquettes seem to be mostly potato; the sukiyaki has a flavorful (but slightly sweet) gravy inside it; the mushroom gratin is creamy, but still light on mushrooms; and the black curry sauce is thick and savory. That last is probably the best of the lot, and I’m glad to have saved it for such.

As we eat in the middle of a little amusement park area for kids, we’re surrounded by the noise of the rides (including a motorized Thomas the Tank Engine, playing its television theme song), and kids begging their parents for this or that from the machines (and, occasionally, throwing a tantrum when denied. Some things are the same no matter where in the world you are). We see couples here and there, and I find myself wishing you were still here so we could be one of them. And – apart from those unsatisfied children – everyone seems to be having a good time.

And why wouldn’t they be? A little bit of shopping, a little bit of food, a little bit of riding, a little bit of beach… this place has a little bit of everything, really.

But at this point, we’ve done all we meant to do, and then some. And while we have a fair amount of time before we’re required to board the ship, we’re ready to call it a day.

But not before Daniel takes one or two more pictures of Mount Fuji in its cloudless splendor.
As do I.

Once again, thank you for keeping an eye on us, and letting us see these sights. You take care, honey, and I’ll keep in touch.

Published by randy@letters-to-rachel.memorial

I am Rachel's husband. Was. I'm still trying to deal with it. I probably always will be.

3 thoughts on “Ever In Our Favor”

  1. Pingback: The Course of a Thousand Days – Letters to Rachel
  2. Pingback: The Odd Preparations – Letters to Rachel
  3. Pingback: Return To The Mountain – Letters to Rachel

Leave a comment