Our suite upgrade on the Diamond Princess entitled us to a "Mimosa breakfast at Sabatini's."
We decided to try it. They really did serve us a mimosa (champagne and citrus juice). It was quite lovely. Mom and I tried it. Art took a pass.
We hadn't been going to Sabatini's for our breakfasts because their portions were so huge. It was delicious, but we decided it would be our last time there.
It was apparently the first time that the Diamond Princess had stopped in Niigata. Town officials came and there was a ceremony.
We took a shuttle into Niigata without any inkling of what to do there. The shuttle dropped us off at the Niigata Train Station where we were met by a cadre of official young townspeople offering to take us for a free Sakura bus ride to Hakusan Shrine.
Mom is rubbing that sacred rock, hoping for good health.
We then went across a street to a spectacular park brimming over with blossoming cherry blossom trees.
Since mom had missed seeing more cherry blossoms in Tokyo, this was especially wonderful for her.
It was eye popping gorgeous everywhere we turned.
We weren't sure if all the musical/dance programs were being held because of the cruise ship, or if it was some sort of festival. We had such a great time watching all the performers and hated to leave.
It really was breathtaking!
The canopy of cherry blossoms blanketed everybody with a feeling of joy.
Too soon, it was time to return to the ship.
That evening, I had the best gazpacho I've ever tasted. Our waiter, Dante is such a sweet man. We loved getting to know him. He was helping mom cut her Schezwan shrimp.
It was truly a wonderful day! I'd venture to say it was probably our favorite day on the cruise!
We decided to try it. They really did serve us a mimosa (champagne and citrus juice). It was quite lovely. Mom and I tried it. Art took a pass.
We hadn't been going to Sabatini's for our breakfasts because their portions were so huge. It was delicious, but we decided it would be our last time there.
It was apparently the first time that the Diamond Princess had stopped in Niigata. Town officials came and there was a ceremony.
We took a shuttle into Niigata without any inkling of what to do there. The shuttle dropped us off at the Niigata Train Station where we were met by a cadre of official young townspeople offering to take us for a free Sakura bus ride to Hakusan Shrine.
Mom is rubbing that sacred rock, hoping for good health.
We then went across a street to a spectacular park brimming over with blossoming cherry blossom trees.
Since mom had missed seeing more cherry blossoms in Tokyo, this was especially wonderful for her.
It was eye popping gorgeous everywhere we turned.
We weren't sure if all the musical/dance programs were being held because of the cruise ship, or if it was some sort of festival. We had such a great time watching all the performers and hated to leave.
It really was breathtaking!
The canopy of cherry blossoms blanketed everybody with a feeling of joy.
Too soon, it was time to return to the ship.
That evening, I had the best gazpacho I've ever tasted. Our waiter, Dante is such a sweet man. We loved getting to know him. He was helping mom cut her Schezwan shrimp.
It was truly a wonderful day! I'd venture to say it was probably our favorite day on the cruise!
Lovely and the food looks extremely tasty, but I agree that large portions can put me off. Our last cruise they had two eggs Benedict per plate and I caught on and told them I wanted only one.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! The cherry blossoms... sigh.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about portions. It's so tough to control when eating out.
This cherry blossoms, ah, feeling of happiness just from your lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing adventure - those cherry blossoms look like artwork! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI too have to say WOW. You stopped somwhere new and were royally welcomed with beauty. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI was in Niigata the same day you were, although not on a cruise. I took my 94-year old father to visit the Northern Cultural Museum. It is truly a must visit destination. Coincidentally, the director of the museum asked me not to visit on the 14th because there were groups from three cruise ships that would be visiting that day, so we went on the 15th. There are many things to do in Niigata. Just across the river from where the cruise ships dock is a place where you can make (and eat) your own sasadango. That's what we were doing on the 14th.
ReplyDeleteHi Phyllis! It's so wonderful to hear from you! How awesome that you were there at the same time as us. I hope you got to see the cherry blossoms too. It was such an unexpected experience for us. My mom would probably have LOVED the museum if we had the time. Then again, we might never have been able to pull her out of there. I can't believe we were in the Kanagawa Museum for such a long time. And your dad is 94? That is so awesome!
ReplyDeleteThose cherry blossoms are incredibly beautiful, and it seems you were there just at the right time. Mom sure does look like she's having the time of her life. What a great trip it turned out to be. :-)
ReplyDeletePretty trees
ReplyDeleteThe times we blunder into things sometimes turn out to be the best.
ReplyDeleteConsidering you didn't know what you were in for, that day worked out great!
ReplyDeleteThe trees seem magical; I'm noticing they don't have any green leaves showing at this stage. I think that makes them seem like they're floating. My parents booked my first flight to Hawaii in first class which included mimosas. Lovely flight it was.... Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteSo happy your Mom got to see those blossoming cherry trees! Glad she rubbed that stone for health. She is doing something right! Y'all look like had such fun I am glad. x
ReplyDelete