A Day in Irago

"I turn my face to the sun
Close my eyes and let my defenses down
All those wounds that I can't get unwound"

So, we decided an extra day in ocean paradise was warranted, so we took full advantage of it, "sleeping in" until 7 before heading down for their breakfast buffet.

I've heard of imitation shrimp, but...

I call them the "Brady Bunch Plates"

After which we went back up to our room, opened the patio door to let the ocean breeze in....and passed out until noon. Sometimes that's what vacation is for! In any case, after rousing ourselves we decided to go find a konbini to buy food for dinner and breakfast tomorrow, since we didn't pay for any additional meals through the hotel. We're so isolated here that the nearest konbini was 5 miles down the road. Contrast that to Tokyo, where more than four blocks is a surprise. On our way out, we saw signs for the ruins of the Tõdaiji kiln site (where the roof tiles for the famous Tõdaiji temple were made) and the Hatsudate dam, which, according to maps, had created a large lake in the center of the peninsula. So, we ventured in for a look.

Tõdaiji Kiln ruins. This is a stock photo, as there was a lot of construction going on,
and we couldn't get close to the ruins ourselves.

No swimming or fishing at the dam because....

...there's no water...

So, I know nothing about dams, other than they are used for power and water control. The entire lake was drained and they were hard at work doing...whatever it is you do to the bottom of a man-made lake. It was an enormous pit of sand and dirt, with construction cones and blocked roads everywhere. Usually, there's a nice jogging path around the lake (when there IS a lake), but it kinda looked like a wasteland to us. Not the most exciting sightseeing.

Anyway, we continued on in our search for a store, and came across an open air market that specializes in melons in the winter and strawberries in the summer!

Melons are a big deal in Japan. These were normally prices as you would see in the states.
Some can go for, no kidding, $100.

Free samples sucked us in

We couldn't fit actual melons in our bags, but melon chocolate? Sure!

Just next door was a little cafe, and as we hadn't eaten since early in the morning, we figured we could get some noodles or something. What we found was... authentic Italian pasta?

al dente spaghetti with tomato, basil, olive oil, parsley and parmesan cheese...out here?

Surprised, but pleasantly full, we grabbed more road food from the store across the street and headed back to the hotel for dinner on the beach.

The sand beach stretched for over a mile, with palm trees, coconuts and sea birds.

Enjoying the surf and a sunset

Perfect night on the ocean

Not very active, but a great, relaxing day. Tomorrow, we're back on the road to Tsu!