Friday, September 17, 2010

Today I visited the hypocenter of where the A-Bomb exploded, but we'll save that for last.

The day started at about 8am this morning. I woke up, cleaned up, ate up, and buckled up for my trip to the Hiroshima A-Bomb Dome.

It's about a two mile walk from my hotel, but that's okay. At least my backpack wasn't weighted down with anything too heavy. 

I crossed one of the rivers that flows through town. There was a bit of graffiti on the wall of the bridge. 
   

As I was walking, there were some kids playing baseball, I had to get a picture. 


I walked a bit further and I came upon a bridge that went above the road. Sweet view shot:
 

'Nother pop machine. These things are EVERYWHERE!!!
But I suppose, since it's so humid out, if you need something to drink immediately, these aren't hard at all to come by.


This is actually the first gas station I saw. Gas for them is a little over $1 a gallon. Grr... Not sure if it's the same "kind" of gas. And yes mom, we all know you have gas, no need to share it anymore. 


I walked past a really neat mall. I liked the architecture of the building.
  



Statue!



Hiroshima Castle

This is a nice place. 
 
 

There was probably a good 10 turtles that are floating around the surface by the bridge.
 

These trees are still standing after the A-Bomb destroyed everything around them.
 

 

 

This is the Hiroshima Castle itself.


a 1/100th scale of Hiroshima "back in the day"


 



Another statue. I had to make sure to get the castle in the background. 


Little girl playing near the river. 


This is one of the many tunnels that go beneath the road so people can cross the roads easier. 




This was in a nice little garden I passed. 


This is the Motoyasu-gawa river. The river just below where the Atomic Bomb exploded. 


Two girls near the river.


The A-Bomb dome. It stands approximately 490 feet away from the hypocenter of the bomb (nearly directly above it). The building has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing, and now serves as the reminder of nuclear devastation and as a symbol of hope for world peace and elimination of all nuclear weapons. 

 
 
 


Every year on August the 6th, people from all over the world visit Hiroshima and they all send off thousands of paper lanterns that represent the souls of the dead down the river. 
 
 
 



During the festival, musicians come to play their instruments and some artists come to sing.


And there are lots of nice and friendly people!


Saori and I.


Me with some new friends :)



I helped out with some of the lanterns. I got in the water and helped push them out. They were all gathering on the sides. But silly me didn't take off his shoes and socks, so they're drying right now. :P


That's all I have for you all. Tomorrow I leave for Usuki. I will spend the day there and then at the end of the day, I will travel to a town called Beppu. 
Not sure when I'll get the internet again, so please be patient. 

It's 2:10Am right now, I've gotta go to bed. 


Dewa Mata


Yes, I'm a little late on this post. 

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