October 10th, Tuesday, Holland America
docked at Kushiro, Japan., and we went on the Holland America excursion, Lake
Akan and Ainu Village ($219.95). This was about an hours drive from the Ship - we hoped to see their big Cranes.
Lake Akan was scenic,
with lots of tourist shops around it. Then we went to a dance performance at a theatre –
we sat on wooden benches – this lasted about an hour. Very nice…..
After a little shopping in the Village, back on the
bus and we went downtown for lunch. Lunch was upstairs (there was an elevator) in a
restaurant, and was served using little pots in which you cooked soup, vegetables,
meat and there were oranges for dessert.
After lunch, back on the bus, and we went to view a stream, and took some
pictures of the trees changing colors.
Then on to the Observatory, which gave us nice views from the roof, and there were pictures of the Cranes, because we had not seen any.
There was a bus driver and a guide but, according to
their custom, we did not tip. The tour guide
was very interesting. We got back the
ship a little after 4.
For dinner, I had Bourbon Street Chicken Gumbo soup,
beef short ribs with Thai green curry, blueberry sundae, birthday cake, coke
and a double espresso.
