Welcome to Japan, Nagasaki, and the Atomic Bomb

May 13th - the flight arrived in Fukuoka on time in rain and fog. A two-hour-and-a-bit bus ride to Nagasaki and we arrived at the hotel a bit before 8 pm. Bikes were reassembled the next morning and taken to our room, properly attired in undies to keep the room clean. 

Nagasaki is known, of course, for the detonation of the second atomic bomb after Hiroshima, bringing an end to the second world war in the Pacific. We visited the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum which were located where the bomb had exploded. The museum and various other explanatory plaques in the park focused on the bomb, the destruction, and the devastating effect on the people. It avoided the whys and wherefores of the war; it avoided the blame game and who did what to whom; it stuck to what I think are the incontrovertible facts with the simple message that we oughtn't let such destruction and devastation happen again, leaving it to us to do the interpreting and judging of how to achieve that. 

I think that approach is good. It happened. Discussing the decision to use it can't change the fact that it was used. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Fountain of Peace...

Peace Statue...

Bell of Nagasaki...

Atomic Bomb Hypocentre...

1945-08-09 - the clock stopped at 11:02...

Remains of Urakami Cathedral...

Near the hotel was Dejima Island, a Dutch trading post on the water comprising warehouses and a small Dutch community that was essentially segregated from the local people.

Ursula dressed in the robes given by the hotel to go to the Onsen (spa/hot and cold pools). Some hotel guests wear them to the dining room too.

Right turn out of the hotel to Chinatown and dinner...

Tomorrow morning is the first of four days on Kyushu Island, first of Japan's four major islands.