Mastering transit on a day trip to Osaka
Ship Shuttle --> Kobe train station --> Japan Rail to Osaka --> Osaka Loop Line --> Osaka Castle. Along the way to Osaka Castle there were many young schoolchildren eager to practice their English, and of course we obliged. Osaka castle and the 360 degree view from the top were beautiful, but I was less than thrilled about the museum interior.
After, we meandered through the streets to find an Indian restaurant we had read about. Unfortunately, it didn't quite meet our Indian standards, which are very high thanks to our favorite Connecticut Indian restaurant, Thali. On our Loop Line trip back to Osaka we made a stop at the Garden Observatory that turned out not to be a garden, but rather a really cool sky observatory.
It involved a few huge escalators and a Willy Wonka style glass elevator that was not for the faint of heart. But the city views at the top were truly beautiful.
That famous Kobe Beef Pops always talked about
Now this was likely my most memorable meal while on Semester at Sea. Not only was my mom there, but it also was high on the list of most delicious things I've ever eaten. The Kobe streets offered a number of establishments advertising Kobe beef on their signs. So after walking a bit we decided on one small restaurant on the main drag. Our 'basic steak' meal started with a salad as we watched the chef cook our main course right in front of us.
He served up our steaks with a heaping serving of cooked spinach, onion and thin homemade shoestring fries on top. The food was spectacular and the service just as good, so we decided to leave a tip. We quickly learned after being chased down the street by the waiter that tips aren't customary.
Sardines on a bus to Kyoto
Another short trip from Kobe was in store as my friend Mike, mom and I went to Kyoto. We took the local bus to Kiyomizu-dera, a Buddist temple that involved a big hill.
We ran into a lovely local woman who was interested in practicing her English and, after a fun conversation, offered each of us a small origami crane.
The way back was certainly a memorable bus experience. It was so crowded that there was a designated worker whose job was to push as many people on the bus as possible. Personal space was no longer an option.
We enjoyed only a few days in the Kobe area but it certainly had some exciting activities. Next up was a less than exciting activity - an overnight bus. But the good news is that it took us to our next city, Tokyo!
