You have how many Ferris wheels?

 

November 20 2024

Osaka

The night passed without any incidents. The gays next door didn’t screw all night, or at least they were quiet if they did. We didn’t run aground and we made it to Osaka on time.

That doesn’t mean I was on time. I had read the previous day’s schedule and thought we were only here from 7am to 3pm. Seven came and we were still cruising in, 8 came, 9 and finally I went and read the correct day’s plan and found out it was from 10a to 9p. Much better than I was expecting. It gave me time to munch down a breakfast before heading out to the day.

Boy the Japanese formalities for cruise ships is strict. Not only do you need your special club card for the ship, but at each port you have to at least pass through immigration passport check. Though after that, I am allowed again to breathe the free air of Japan. We docked next to a huge Ferris Wheel so it should be easy to find my way back to the ship.

The walk to the train station was an easy stroll, over some very attractive manhole covers. In the train station it was easy as it could be. My magic app on my watch touched the glass and the doors opened. I hopped on the first train going ’that a way ‘ where ever ‘that a way’ was.

I rode for what felt like the appropriate amount of time and got off. A local couple tried to help me with where I thought I wanted to go, but the Babel Tower got in the way of communication. So the little green man with stars icon lead me through a maze of tunnels. At last I felt the fresh breeze on my face and found the exit. Escalators are a novelty it seems, all I found in the stations were stairs and more stairs. What the travelers with those large oversized monster trucks of suitcases do is beyond my ken. I guess they develop great upper body strength.

In the open air I found bars on my phone, pulled up Google maps and — nothing. It worked in the last city, but Osaka is out of it’s area. I prefer G maps to Apple Maps, but I thought I’d try it and see where it put me. It put me on a street in Osaka !

Next step in figure out where to go? Lonely planed suggested a tall building with a view, and a small Romeo and Juliet shrine to a pair of star crossed lovers in the 1600’s. Let’s go to the top of a building. 1.6 miles away I can do that in my sleep.

I followed the little blue line on my phone and heeded the buzzing on my wrist and did end up at the right location. Well it was a very tall building. There I did find escalators, got on an elevator it was bursting at the seams, I was crammed in to the back for a 39 floor whisk. At that point I found that there were no windows on floor 39 and if I wanted to observe from the observation tower, that would be $10 please. Another escalator was hung over the ground 40 floors below and moved us up 5 more floors. At the top is was exactly what I expected. A floor surrounded by glass and a city below. Well that was not very exciting. I think I got about a dollar a minute worth of views, before escalating over thin air for 90 seconds and then elevating down and onto the street. I am disappointed with myself for the $10 building. I could have spent it foolishly.

I asked Siri how far had I walked today, and she said 3.2 miles. Either I can’t follow a blue line or the measurement in steps is off, but I kind of agreed. The walk to the $10 building s took more than an hour and sure felt more that a mile and a bit.

Romeo and Juliet shrine was a little over 1/2 a mile according to blue line. I followed it

dutifully and it leads me into the land of the mole people again. No trains, only shops and restaurants. For 10 blocks this continues. It must be off, It can’t be reading right in the warren of tunnels. I look for the green guy and stairs and follow him to fresh air. maps pick back up exactly where it should be.

Onward ! The shrine is really tucked away, if you weren’t looking for it or had the maps to pinpoint the location, it would be difficult to find. I passed the alley entrance twice before realizing my mistake.

It was about the same size as the floor plan of my house and tucked in on all four sides by tall sky scrapers. A peaceful place, away from the din of traffic and very few other tourists. But is was made clear that tourists do come here because in icons and English were signs instructing on the proper was to respect the shrine. Bow, 2 claps, make your prayer, ring the bell and bow again. I hope my friend L finds a man soon.

I looked at maps again and had one destination in mind and off to the side was Osaka Castle. Castle ?!?!? Fuck ya !! A mere 1.9 mile walk away. Fuck no !! Taxi !! I shoved Osaka Castle into G Translate and shoved that into the first cab I saw and the door magically opened and I was seated in Grandma’s taxi. All the taxis are spotless inside and the seat backs are covered in doilies. Felt like if my maiden aunt owned a taxi it would look like this.

The castle was pretty nice, I would have happily walked to it instead of the $10 building. A huge fortress, high smooth granite walls, and then a moat and more smooth walls. Then in the center was an 8 to10 floored White Castle. For a Wednesday the grounds were full, it would be wacko in the weekend, or Golden week. The line to enter the castle building proper was half an hour long, to get tickets, and I decided it was something I could live without.

There was a twin sized flat granite stone that just called for my butt to sit on it. It was warmed by the sun and was welcoming to my tired glutes. I thought I was alone and felt something on my hip. Probably another tourist’s bag. I reached down and touched fur ! What the heck ?!?!? Oh, it’s just the castle cat to lounge on the warm rock and perchance get an ear scratch, which I gladly obliged. Five minutes later it was time for the cat to move on to cat business, I watched the castle and patrons for another 5.

Dotombori is one of the sights that the tourist books tout. In the day time it is just a street full of tourists, after dark it becomes a Disneyland of neon and advertisments. There is a street food called Takoyaki. Little batter balls with a piece of squid in the center. I watched the woman make them for a while and then went to figure out how to buy some. First there is a BINGO card of buttons for each item the restaurant serves, and it must be close to 20 buttons. I was lucky and was noticed my one of the Canadian women who missed the first part of the trip. They has local ‘friend’ who also helped me out on which button to press. I made my selection. Popped in a bill and it spit it out. I thought it was too big. Amex tap and pay in is. I got my 8 squid balls and they were exactly that, batter covered squid pieces. Topped with ketchup, mayo and fish flakes. I got that crossed off my list. Not bad, but I am sure that my mouth will be happier with other flavors of street food.

I am tired, my feet are tired. Watch says 7.9 miles walking. Enough. Taxi back to the cruise ship. I look in the search engine for big Ferris Wheel and find one. I look at the map and there is no water anywhere near it. Reenter the question again and who in the world would have thought there were 2 giant Ferris Wheels in the same town. The second one was next to water, and a cruise terminal. I mistype the place in G translate and the cab driver gives me the ‘look’. In a few we get that figured out and start driving, and driving, and driving. I start to question if we are going to the correct place. A couple high priced turns and the ship was right there under this big Ferris wheel. Maybe I should have prayed for better directions back to the ship at the shrine.

So back home, 7 pm, time to go do something.