Back to our Okinawa stay.  One day we spent exploring the local glass and pottery crafters in Yomitan Village about a 45 minute drive north of us.

This is an interesting old village of potters and a glass making site.  One thing the village is known for is this old style “climbing kiln” or Noborigama.

Here are a couple of Shisa or spirit guards protecting some pottery.  (The shisa are believed to be protectors.  The female shisa, always placed on the left, has her mouth almost closed to keep the good spirits within the home or building.  The male shisa, on the right, has his mouth open to scare away the bad spirits.)

But our favorite spot was watching the glass making process

especially this fascinating fellow who appeared to be the master craftsman.

From here we drove over to the west coast to have a look and came upon this beach

but we couldn’t get down to it so we continued up the road and found this lovely spot with easy access.

Then it was back to our room just in time to catch the inn’s shuttle van that took us to American Village.  We’d heard about it so we thought we’d check it out.  This picture’s for Jeffy, my little brother, although I doubt he reads my blog.

and this one’s for our son Justin and wife Lauren (and the whole Sargent clan) who just spent Christmas in Cuba.

We had to make a stop here because they had 24 beers on tap including two from Coronado Brewing Co, as well as Stone, Alpine, Pizza Port, and lots more.

Then a walk along the sea wall

and finally dinner at Bisono’s Brazilian BBQ.  Six different kinds of bbq’d meats and an amazing rum and sugar cane drink.

And finally it was time for our nice walk back to Westpac for the night.