After breakfast we got on the bus and we drove to Kamakura which is
about 25 miles south of Tokyo.
We visited the Great Buddha of Kamakura which is really an imposing
site as it dwarfs the landscaping and buildings around it. 
We visited Hase-dera and climbed the steps to the top for a magnificent
view. They had a library which was on a revolving shelf. If the shelf
revolves around you as in one of the other temples then it is as if
you have read everything on the shelves.
We then had a very enjoyable lunch at a pre-arranged spot. Howard Tours
had ordered Bento box lunches 
which
were very good at a restaurant that housed all of us from the 2 buses.
We all laughed as we looked across the street and they had a Denny’s
Restaurant. Kamakura is a very nice little town. We were getting to
the point where one more shrine was getting meaningless.
We then visited the Tsuru-go-oka Shrine and Chieko-san asked who was
interested in climbing the stairs to see what was not to different from
before. Out of 32 people 3 raised their hands and walked up the steps
only to say “I am done” and they turned right around and
walked down.
We then drove over to the shopping area of Kamakura and had a very
pleasant one and a half hours walk. Someone on the bus found a garage
sale or an estate sale and scored big time and bought 3 Kimonos @$10
each. We were all envious that we did not find that sale.
Barbara Anguis and Lee Lynch had a great experience when they went
walking in the shopping area. They were tired of the crowds so they
decided to get an ice cream cone and sit in the little isolated courtyard
sitting area. There were a bunch of school kids sitting nearby and the
waitress/manager came over and asked with sign language if Barbara and
Lee would mind sitting with the children for a photo op. The kids were
delighted and squealed with happiness.
It was hot and muggy so cindy and I walked back to the bus and relaxed
in the shade. Dude Angius was wonderful. He had beaten us there and
had opened all of the windows.
We drove back and this was the last night for our famous Sunset Parties
that have been a nightly tradition. It was great since we got to hear
some of the jokes that Peter Hom had been holding back.
Saying Goodbye from the Sofitel Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.
See you tomorrow on the web site.
Ron and Cindy Sekkel
