First day at Sea out of Kobe

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First full sea day - Kobe to Nagasaki

It was a quiet day today (we left Kobe just before midnight). We went in a golf putting competition in the morning without success. In the afternoon, we discovered that on the Volendam, the foredeck in front of the captain’s bridge was open for passengers to use right up to the front of the ship. This gave a 180 degree view of everything up front. There was lots of local sea traffic about with constant smaller cargo ships sailing past on both sides of us. A local pilot came on board at about 4.30pm and took us past some close by islands. On some of the larger islands there were shoreline cities and there was also substantial industrial areas with mills and big chimneys. We could easily see cars and movement on shore. In one of the cities (on our left), what stood out on the left shore was a mini “St Marks Square” as in Venice - not the sort of thing one would expect to find down in lower Japan . As the Portuguese were the first European traders 500 years ago to reach Japan, just maybe, there was an old Portuguese connection in there somewhere as the architecture was certainly well out of place amongst the other shoreline buildings and structures., If we can find out more about this strange sight, we will fill it in later. The ship then sailed under a long suspension bridge, which joined two of the many islands we were passing. Soon we were back out to open sea and it was sunset at about 5.45pm
PS - (I have since found out that we sailed thru the strait between the cities Shimonoseki the most southern city on Hokkaido and Kitakyushu the most northern city of Kyushu)

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Photos

Volendam Library
Rechecking our course

Mens golf putting competition
Didn't win

ladies golf putting competition
Got close

Volendam 12th Oct 2009 102
Sunset sailing in the strait between Kyusu and Shikoku

Comments

[Gail]

Safe Travels
Good to hear that your having a good time. We have heard about the typoon so we keep ears open to all weather news. All is well here, Max has gone to Collingwood as a defensive coach. We've had lots of rain and more is predicted later in the week. Sayonara.

[carole]

Gray line trip in Tokyo
I took the exact same trip that you took! It was such fun to remember all of the sights. Sounds like you are having a super time. Carole

[raewyn]

Hi Travellers
Hope you haven't given up on me. It has been a great effort to get someone to help me when it suits both of us.I just wrote out a letter for you but not knowing what to do lost it all! Hope this finds you all well. I remember Heather saying how spotless Japan is. It is so good to hear from you and the photos are wonderful. It sounds as tho you are having an exciting and eventfull time. Hope you are having good weather for the cruise. Hannah is having her op on nov 27th. Luv to you all Raewyn.