to southern Kishu (3-1)

I had a good appetite the next morning.
I enjoyed a breakfast buffet viewing the ocean.



(橋杭岩)


(our hotel)


We left the hotel at eight in the morning.
Our bus was running for 熊野古道.

Now we started to walk from here.









(那智の滝）

to southern Kishu (2)

The first sight we visited the next day was
花の窟（はなのいわや）神社. in Kumano.

According to 日本書紀 it is the oldest shrine in Japan.







I was overwhelmed by the sacred rock.

We had lunch at a restaurant called 熊野倶楽部.



After lunch it began to rain but we went to 瀞峡（どろきょう）,
which is a canyon with a river running through Wakayama,
Mie and Nara.

It was raining and I did not expect too much of boarding
瀞峡ウオータージェット船.



But as the boat went on, I was excited with joy at high, steep
or huge rocks. Amazing!







Before going to Kushimoto, we visited 潮岬,
which is the southernmost part of Honshu.

(on the way from my bus window)




Here I am!





I was so tired that I had little appetite.

to southern Kishu (1)

I joined a package tour to the southern part
of the Kii Peninsula with Mrs. M.

On October 23 we met at Nihonbashi Gate
in Tokyo Station at 8 a.m.

We thirty members, including 12 couples,
took the Kodama Super Express bound for Nagoya..

At Nagoya Station we got on a sightseeing bus.

First we visited 伊勢神宮・外宮.
A soft rain was falling but I didn’t mind it at all.









Then we visited 伊勢神宮・内宮.









I purified myself at 五十鈴川御手洗場.



Then I walked to 正宮　and prayed.



After the 62nd 神宮式年遷宮, the scent of 檜 filled 伊勢神宮.

M-san and I ate あか福 and enjoyed walking along おかげ横丁.





Our hotel was located near the ocean.

(from my hotel room)

what a beautiful morning!

Yesterday morning I came back
to my apartment from my trip to southern Kishu （南紀）.

I think I’ll write about it later.

As soon as I came home I did a lot of washing,
then hurried to the community center where koharu’s
brass band club was invited to play on the stage
for 公民館まつり.

They played, sang and danced.
Their performance was so fine and made us audience
happy.

Tears came to my eyes. I couldn’t stop them.
koharu, my granddaughter, is getting stronger
in mind and body each year.

In the evening I was invited to koharu’s Birthday Party.

Today is koharu’s 14th birthday.

Happy Birthday to You, koharu!

(銀杏　and 欅 in front of my apartment)

to the hairdresser

It was very cold today.
I wore warm clothing for winter.

I went to my hairdresser this morning.
I had my hair cut and tinted dark brown.

I usually go to my hairdresser once a month.

But this time a little bit earlier than usual,
because I am going on a trip of three nights
and four days to 伊勢神宮・熊野古道・高野山.

I'll start out on the trip on October 23.

By the way, my hairdresser’s daughter got
the 4th place---

in the Floor Exercise Final on Day Seven
of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
Belgium 2013 held in Antwerp, Belgium---

世界体操２０１３ベルギー大会.

Her name is Mai Murakami.

I’ve known her since she was a little girl.
She is now a cute 17-year-old high school girl.

She played the heroine in the TV drama 「ウメ子」
when she was 8 or 9 years old.

Congratulations, Mai-chan!
You made it!

I know you wanted to get the Gold medal
but I can't but admire you, Mai-chan.