"just another day in paradise....."

Yesterday was a national holiday here..."Bunka no hi" or "Cultural Day". It is a day that many schools, community centers, and various groups choose to have bazaars, festivals and whatever. Our day was spent at Koji's daycare...eating lots of good food, playing games and visiting with our friends. It's a good day especially, because, when most of us are dropping our kids off, it is "hiya, good morning, see ya" as we are all rushing to our respective places....so we have a day when we can actually talk to each other...or in my case, do the best I can!!! :-D

Today, Kiyoshi took a day off and we spent the day climbing a mountain....Nagasaki is surrounded by mountains, (not Rocky Mountain caliber, but still 'mountains' nontheless!!) all with trails going up and they offer a beautimus (yes, that's my own word!) view of the area. We climbed Mt. Konpira, altititude 363 meters...pretty good hike, but it was fun. The leaves haven't 'turned' yet, but it was still pretty.
There is a place up there where in the 1870's (I think that is what it said!), it was chosen as one of the best sights to see Venus as it was coming close to earth. Japan was the best place and there were 4 or 5 sights where people gathered and Nagasaki was one. Astronomers from many countries came to watch and there is a special monument on the mountain....quite cool, if you really think about it!!

Oh...and just in case anyone is wondering....Issei and Koji just got their hair cut this morning....Koji's hair is still too soft to go very short, but Issei's....personally, I think that he looks like a Buddhist monk! :-D It is quite short....but we love it!!!

*and yes, Mother....this was yet another place that you haven't too....we will put it on our list for the next time you come!! (and that would be.....when??) :-D

This was the first time that I had actually been on this particular mountain...seems strange if you think about it 'cause, ever since I met Kiyoshi, we have been driving all over Kyushu and hiking up mountains...seems funny that we are just now getting to the ones close to home!!
It was a wonderful day....unseasonably warm for November...I think my arms even got a little sunburned!!
I hope you all had a great day too...