a shortcut is the longest distance between 2 points

---

Been raining on/off all day, that kind of light rain that soaks. Cant see anything of Mt Fuji, last time I momentarily saw it was on a bullet train coming here at 200+ KPH, selected action mode on the camera, pushed the continuous rapid photo button & off it went. Managed 1 reasonable photo. We purchased a Hakone 2 day pass for transport, much cheaper than individual tickets. First port of call was the Glass Forest Museum. Its French, what a grand building. It has a wonderful inner green garden It takes U back to Venice & has innovative glass deigns. The grounds have glass trees with lights, what a sight. Later I heard a smash in the souvenir shop, turned around & a Japanese lady knocked over an item. Time to go I thought.
Next was the Hakone Botanical Gardens. it was established in 1976 - it was formally a rice paddy & is now a specially designed ecosystem consisting of man made hills with rockeries, streams, ponds & moors.
We then went to Samurai Art Museum, it was quite small and of marginal interest. Checked out the cable car, followed the mist up the mountain & rejoiced at the sight of rhododendrons.
Around 5 pm we decided to return to our accommodation, thats when we felt confident about the transport system & decided to be brave & take the ubiquitous short cut. WRONG, such a beast doesn't exist We arrived home near dark, transversed the great Southern Ocean & made it home.
Now time 4 that nasty bottle of red I bought,

---

Comments

[Rodney Inge and a bit of Darren]

minor corrections
The Glass Forest Museum was Italian, not French, And, Inge didn't taste the wine before the above composition. Darren, where is your comment for today?