In the words of the song it seemed like yesterday once more as we returned to Kanazawa. Except this time we weren't greeted by searing heat but by torrential rains. The Maasdam was tied up by 8:30am and quickly cleared for guests to go ashore. The now familiar large collection of tents were erected on the dock and they were definitely in use as rain protection.
Some might say that returning to a port that one visited just two weeks earlier would be a waste of time. But on the contrary, it has proved to be so valuable to once again experience the sites, sounds, culture, and people. With the first visit one gets oriented to the area. On the second visit one can absorb more details and appreciate the culture. I highly recommend where possible that a repeat visit be scheduled in your travels. You'll not be disappointed.
As for us on this rainy start of the day, we watched the sail-in and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in a very crowded Lido. Our independent shore excursion wasn't scheduled to start until noon so we left the ship just before 10am in a deluge and caught the shuttle to the JR station and took the opportunity to explore the shops and restaurants all over station.
Just before noon we met up with our small group of 7 (one person was sick and quarantined to her cabin) at the mascot meeting point in front of the TI office. Noon cane and our guide wasn't there so I sent an email to the tour company. I received a reply that she was on a train held up by the rain. Around 12:30 Kazu, our guide, made it to our location and we began our tour by taking a bus to the Nagamachi Samurai district where we walked through it once again.
From the Samurai district we walked to a department store where we ate a quick snack for lunch. This was the same building we ate a more formal lunch up on the 8th floor 2 weeks earlier. Interestingly, in the lobby was a crowd of people of all ages intently watching a baseball game on a large television screen. After our brief lunch break we learned that it was a semi-final championship high school game.
Kanazawa Castle Park was our next stop. We entered the grounds through the gate behind the grandmother's garden. We had exited the park through that gate two weeks earlier so we had s totally different perspective. We strolled through the Park and visited one watchtower but didn't visit the Kenrokuen Garden.
Another crowded bus ride took us over to the Higashi Chayagai or Geisha District. We visited the same gold leaf shop only this time we were able to make our own gold foil chopsticks. It was a very fun and memorable activity! Afterwards we were left on our own to stroll the Geisha district.
Promptly at 6pm, our night tour guide, Nozomi, met us at the Asanogawa Ohashi Bridge where we said our goodbyes to Kazu. Nozami then lead us on a detailed walk through the Geisha district before walking to another Geisha District (Kanazawa has three of them) where our restaurant was located. The restaurant was located in a former Geisha house. We sat on the floor which was a bit uncomfortable for many of us, but the multi course meal was very good. Another tour group shared the room with us and the leader of that group lived near us in Seattle while she was attending college.
Just before 9pm we all caught cabs back to the port (2,610 yen) and were onboard by 9:20pm. We immediately went through Japanese immigration for exiting the country. We learned there that we were number 23 and 24 yet to get on the ship. Terry Greenberg shared a travel story about Morocco and cultural stereotypes.
As has been the case in many of our Japanese ports, there was colorful send off by a dance troupe and flag bearers which was acknowledged by toots from the ship's horn. Finally at 10:40pm the lines were released and we silently slipped away from our berth and out into the black night skies into the Sea of Japan on a course to our next Port of Call at Vladivostok. It was another nice port stop and we have a sea day tomorrow. Stay tuned. And if you have the opportunity to do a loop cruise twice, just do it!
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