Last Sunday we decided to check out the Iwakuni train station and try taking the train somewhere – just for practice.  We headed out on foot on Sunday morning.  And to start off my blog with something pretty, here’s a picture of a manhole cover (or is it a personhole cover these days).  Anyway, they are quite lovely to look at here.

It was fairly quiet when we got downtown.  The shopkeepers were just sweeping up in front of their shops.  Notice the yellow rumble strips on all the sidewalks.  These are to help blind people find their way.

Here’s the train station.  It’s the low brown roofed building in the middle of the picture.

A close up of the station.

Just to be clear.  There are two train stations in Iwakuni.  This is the station downtown and there’s another station outside of town somewhere where we can catch the Shinkansen which is a whole ‘nother story.  For all you enginerds out there check out this great youtube video.  Well, I don’t know how to include a link so go to google and look up Japanese High Speed Bullet Train – Documentary.   It’s pretty impressive.

After studying our map of Japan the night before Chris had a pretty good idea of where we might go – west.  But looking at the board we couldn’t find anything that remotely looked like what we wanted.

While Chris was trying to figure out the trains I came upon this helpful map.

Too bad we weren’t on our way to Italy that day.  How often can you find such a map of Rome in Iwakuni?

Another sighting while in the train station.

I’ve got to get some of these great bike socks!

No train ride for us that day.  Back outside this is the view of Iwakuni as you leave the station.  Note yellow rumble strip again.

View from train station

If you park downtown and don’t put enough money in the slot or stay longer than you expected, this is what happens to your car.  When you add more money the bar goes back down. No slipping out without paying.

After a long day of walking we had a lovely commissary dinner back at our little TLF.  Steak, baked potato, sauteed onions, broccoli, salad, and of course one gin and tonic and one beer.

Steak Dinner

Chris is very proud of his beer find.  At the exchange he can get a case of Dos Equis Lager Especial for $5.40.  That’s $.45 per bottle.  Of course the limes are like $1.30 each so it all works out in the end.  Life is good.