Day #13, April 13th: Matsuyama

Friday the 13th would be a giant travel day.  We would be going from Hakata on the island of Kyushu to Matsuyama on the island of Shikoku.  This meant the train would be traveling through an underwater tunnel and a long bridge.

Dennis took this photo of the Toyoko Inn bed.  It was one of the thinnest mattresses we saw, but perfectly comfortable.  I have no idea why American mattresses have to be so thick these days.

The dining area was very crowded at the Toyoko Inn, but we got downstairs early and found a table.

There was a lovely selection of breakfast yummies at the Matsuyama Toyoko Inn.

The efficiency of the Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains is really incredible to see.  Politeness is seen everywhere.

Here, train attendants bow in farewell to the people on the brand new train.

It amazed us that in a city of so many people, it is a rule of thumb that civility, courtesy and cleanliness should be displayed everywhere.

Diagrams at the train boarding area explained what trains stopped there.  This diagram shows that if there are 8 cars, this would be where you could find car #7.

We passed a castle that we wished we could see.  There are twelve original castles in Japan.  We saw three of them on this trip.

I have to say the best thing about these shinkansen trains are the bathrooms.  They were definitely space age and took care of ANY need you might have.

If you need to smoke, there was an enclosed area where you could lock yourself in and keep the rest of the train smoke free.

We stopped in Okayama, sadly switched trains, bought box lunches, stamped our travel journals and continued on.

That's right!   Now I'm having to wear a mask!

I really enjoyed the lunch on the not as fancy train, but couldn't take a nap because of the Sudafed I took.  Doggone it!  Everybody else napped comfortably.

Sigh...

Unlike the new shinkansen trains, this one had the squat toilet.  Thank goodness for the handholds!

And yes, Western style toilets are also available.

We passed by this boat dock.

I noticed that on trains and everywhere else, green tea seems to be the beverage of choice.  There's not a whole lot of sugared drinks being consumed.

It was fun to notice all the cherry blossom trees still fanning delicately across the mountain sides.

It was raining in Matsuyama when we arrived there.  Here is the famous Botchan train.

It was certainly a day when our luck did not run out.  Our two suitcases had arrived safely from Kumamoto.

Reorganized again.

Mom and I needed to rest so we sent Dennis and Art out by themselves.

Ummm... Did I say this was Friday the 13th?

They got lost and returned very late.

Here they are at the famous clock that Miyazaki used in his animated film, Spirited Away.

They got to see the famous Dogo Onsen but didn't go in since it was too late and they were supposed to bring back our dinner. 

It's not like Art to get confused by the train system but somehow the two of them went round and round the city until they found their way back to the hotel.

By the time they found some food and returned to the hotel, it was 7:00.

Mom thought it was rather funny...hilarious actually!  She must have been convinced that they were helpless without her.

I don't know where they got their energy, but Dennis and Art did the laundry after all that.

That night.... I was really sick and stayed up coughing until 3:00 AM.

Not good.