On the Road Again w/ John & Gayle: Exploring Navy Base & Yokuska

Still no BabyG, but I've been having a great time with Kristen and Chris while we're waiting for the birth. I've also done some exploring on my own, and feel like I have a better sense the train system, since I've gone on several "practice" trips, transferring to different train lines and making it back to my starting point with only minor confusion! Maybe they won't have to send out search teams for two women who are lost, wandering around somewhere in Japan when Linda Carroll and I start our land tour next week.

I've enjoyed eating out several times either with K&C or on my own, both off base and on (lots of choices on base like Chili's, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Sbarro, Burger King, Starbucks, Subway, Pizza Hut, Cinnabon, Baskin Robbins, using dollars instead of yen -- it's just like being at any city in the States). And we went to the Officer's Club for a Sunday brunch. What a spread! There are tons of small restaurants and shops within a half-mile radius of the base, though, that are fun to try. I/We've had great Indian food, tempura, Chinese, Japanese, and a mixture of Japanese/American, some of it ordering by pointing to the picture and hoping we are ordering something we think we know what it is. One restaurant K & C had been to before, on the 7th floor of a crowded area (who knew there was a restaurant up there?), we sat in individual "rooms" at low tables with legs dangling below an open space, and Kristen ordered off a digital menu, some of it only in Japanese. It's also interesting to see huge food courts in department stores where you can buy prepared Japanese food or produce/meat or fish.

I've been to Kamakura twice, once with K&C and once on my own. It's about a 20 minute train ride away, and probably a mile to walk to and from one of the two train stations in Yokosuka, and then lots of walking once we're there. It's always packed with Japanese tourists because of its historical value, and there are many shrines all around the city, as well as a huge Buddha. There are a few secluded garden-like places near the shrines, but mostly I've noticed there are people and buildings everywhere. I can imagine that this area was once beautiful with tree-covered rolling hills, but now there are just a few tree-topped hills, and buildings, streets, apartment buildings, people everywhere. Kristen says this is a very industrial area, so outside of Tokyo or other big cities, I'm expecting it to be less crowded.

I've sat and read some on base at a picnic area along the waterfront -- a different part of the base from where the ships are docked. It's been mostly sunny and very comfortable, but more humid than at home, and a tiny bit of rain. One day at that same picnic area there was a bbq for the staff and their families who work on base, which includes Kristen's work. They had (free) barbequed ribs, steak, hamburgers, chicken, plus beans, salad, condiments, sodas, and had brought in 5 jumpy houses for the kids. I've been impressed at how family-oriented the military is, and how much is provided for the families. Free: shuttle buses around base that run every half hour, 2 great gyms, well-stocked library, lots of play areas, nice chapel (with 17 different religious services a week, including Jewish and Muslim, I think. We went to the Protestant service last Sunday). Military families have free housing, utilities, medical care. Then for a fee: large bowling alley, movie theaters, buffet nights with special themes, tours to different parts of Japan, among other things. There are several commissaries/exchanges where you can purchase almost anything you need -- if you're military or employed by the military -- but not guests. I have to show my passport and green pass that shows I'm a sponsored guest to enter the stores only with KorC, but I can't buy anything. (Of course, I did have K&C buy some patio furniture for the small deck of their apartment, and I'm paying for it, so there are ways to get around it.)

Today we plan to go to an Iris Garden in Yokosuka, with Chris driving their 3-door car off base. Both K&C have gotten very comfortable driving on the left-hand side of the road on base -- I think it will be a little more stressful driving off base, but we'll see. Still having a great time.

Pictures:
1. Buddha in Yamakura