Day 70 – Friday 21st March
2014 – Nagasaki
The ship was
alongside the passenger terminal at 07.30 and we went to the Britannia
restaurant for breakfast at 08.00.
 |
| Queen Elizabeth & Bridge |
At 09.30, we
were ashore in the passenger terminal and exchanged money, given maps of where
to go, and obtained a tram day pass. A
walk along the shore line was very interesting inside the park, passing the maritime
museum and cafes.
 |
| Tram |
We board the tram a
wonderful mode of transport and to the delight of me, the driver. As each one paid their money or showed their
pass, they were given an arigato (thank you) and a bow. We went six stops
before receiving our bow, and walked across the river bridge and along to the
ropeway.
 |
| Cable Car |
The cable
car takes you up to the top Mount Inasa a height of 333 metres and a stroll
along to the observation platform gives you incredible views over the city on a
fine, clear day, like today.
Back down on
the cable car a five minute ride, and back over the bridge to the tram stop,
and another five stops along we arrived at the Peace Park.
An atomic
bomb was dropped on Nagasaki at 11.02 am on 9th August 1945. The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed, and
a tremendous number of lives were lost. People who narrowly escaped death
suffered physical and psychological damage.
Even now, many A-bomb survivors are suffering.
 |
| Peace Statue |
Inside Peace
Park is the Peace Statue. The statue’s
raised right hand pointing to the sky symbolisers the threat of nuclear
weapons, his flat, outstretched left hand represents eternal peace, and his
eyes are closed in prayer asking that the souls of the victims may find rest.
 |
| Hypocenter Monolith |
The atomic
bomb exploded approximately 500 metres above this monolith on 9th
August, 1945. The bomb caused roughly
75,000 injuries and 74,000 deaths (as of the end of 1945). A micro-filmed list of the names of the
A-bomb victims is kept in the stone box in front of the monolith.
In the
Nagasaki atomic bomb museum you learn about the events that led up to the
dropping of the bomb, the tragedy that ensued, the road to recovery, and the
history of nuclear arms development.
You are
taken in by the enormity of what happened here, but I came away, after paying
my respect, that the whole story had not really been told. There is no mention of the Japanese
atrocities committed during the pre-war years in China, nor in the Second World
War, in their quest for power in the Far East.
The feeling I got, was they could not understand, why this had happened
in Nagasaki.
Back on the
tram and into the city centre to the main shopping area, where we found a
bar/restaurant and had beers with a tempura (a light meal with your choice of
meat, soup, and salad) before wandering back to the ship.
 |
| Farewell |
We sailed
away at 18.00 to the music of the school swing band and accompanying majorettes
and passed under the Nagasaki Bridge at 18.30 on which there were people waving
and cheering us on our way.
In the Café
Carinthia, today’s cocktail, pina colada, then into the restaurant for dinner,
consisting of clam chowder/beef/spotted dick pudding and all wonderful.
Early to
bed, as we say goodbye to Japan after four wonderful port visits, and in the
morning we arrive in South Korea.
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