Day 48 Hiroshima: A Day to Remember

We took the bus from Imabari to Hiroshima this morning, then set off on foot—somehow covering 9 miles by the end of the afternoon.

The Peace Memorial Museum, Atomic Bomb Dome and memorials were deeply sobering. Much like visiting a Holocaust museum, the individual stories brought an overwhelming tragedy into painfully human focus. There were many schoolchildren visiting too. We both felt an uncomfortable sense of connection because it was the US that dropped the bomb, even though it happened before either of us was born. Hardest of all was knowing something like this could happen again. Also see the photo of the Obama visit.

Elsewhere, we stumbled upon a public health event about milk, bones and muscles, where Cindy tried milking a model cow! Later we wandered around Hiroshima Castle, its moat reflecting the late-afternoon light, and admired chrysanthemums being trained into elaborate shapes.

We also mailed our ballots, though a snag means another post-office visit tomorrow. In light of everything things that is going on at home, it seems appropriate that we mail our ballots from Hiroshima! A full day, with much to think about.Read more