Margie's First Ambulance Ride! 9/10/11

Our first mistake was riding our bikes to Iwakuni Station at 12:30 PM on a HOT September Saturday. We both know better . . . (mad dogs and Englishmen???)


Riding across the pedestrian bridge into downtown.


The water is high from a recent typhoon, but it's beautiful today - still pretty warm & humid.


Riding toward the trolley track downtown. The sidewalks have recently been divided for bikes & pedestrians.


Stan on the local train to Hiroshima. It's nice & cool on the train so we had nearly an hour to cool down. We're going to the MOCA - Museum of Contemporary Art today. It's near the streetcar line, but we will have to walk a little ways to get there.


Crossing one of the many rivers in Hiroshima that lead into the Seto Inland Sea.


Inside Hiroshima Station.


Outside Hiroshima Station waiting for our streetcar. We're taking the No. 5 today that goes directly toward Hiroshima Port, instead of winding through the shopping & restaurant area, where we usually go. But we're only going 3 stops.


But I don't think this train runs quite as often - we had to wait about 20 minutes & it was HOT outside.


A little blurry, but after a 10-minute ride (not really enough time to get cool!) we were at our stop. This sign says the MOCA is 500 meters. On the map it looks like there's a beautiful park and several other buildings as well.


Unfortunately, we realized too late that the museum & park were at the top of a small mountain . . . so our 500 meter walk was ALL UPHILL!


Partly up the hill, we found a shortcut - this steep stairway would take us up to the top more quickly - seemed like a good idea. However, about halfway up the stone stairs there was a landing and I realized too late I was overheated. I remembered the symptoms from having a bout of heat stroke from last summer. So I sat down, drank water, and doused myself with water. But I knew it wasn't enough when I began gasping for air. I needed to get somewhere cool NOW, and I couldn't even move!


So Stan entreated some Japanese ladies to call for an ambulance, and a few minutes later, it arrived. They were very kind and stayed with us & fanned me until the ambulance arrived. I felt so bad because they had to carry me down the steps on a stretcher. I remember I kept saying, "Gomenasai!" (sorry) and they were very kind and courteous. It was a surprisingly smooth & level ride down the steps - not what I expected! And it was fabulously COOL inside the ambulance. When I asked Stan to document this event with photos, the paramedics thought this was funny (weird Americans?!?!?)


Here I am being rolled into the hospital.


And here I am in the ER. The nurses were all very kind and professional. I was initially given oxygen, then an IV with fluids, heart monitors for EKG, and internal organs were checked with ultrasound, blood was drawn and I was questioned about medical history and medications. Once I was cooled down & re-hydrated, and my pulse & breathing had returned to normal, I was released - about 2 hours after arrival. Good news: my heart is very strong. Diagnosis: Heat illness leading to hyperventilation.

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After we paid our bill (about $400 - ALL inclusive - gotta love national healthcare!) we stopped in this nice coffee shop inside the hospital. I was still thirsty & iced coffee always satisfies me!


Here I am -sitting up & taking nourishment! All that water poured on my head has made my hair curl - but I've started embracing my curls in my old age . . .


Stan got us a sandwich (oops, we missed lunch!) and our coffees. Thanks!


Cute bunny origami on display in the hospital. This made me think of Barbara . . .


And a box and beach umbrellas. I can't imagine how long these take . . .


I took this picture outside the hospital so I would know where I had been!


Hiroshima City Hospital is a big, beautiful hospital!


And we took a taxi to the station - since we really didn't know where we were! Guess we'll see the museum another day, but perhaps we'll take a taxi to the top!


Beautiful sunset clouds from the window of the train.


And crossing a river after sunset.


I was feeling SO much better, so from Iwakuni Station we walked over to Monte Beer for a cool drink & dinner. I chose the salmon carpaccio - something COOL! And delicious . . .


Stan chose the home-made noodles that are not only HOT . . .


. . . but spicy hot!


Then we shared a cool dessert.


We walked back over to the train station to catch a taxi - (no biking home for me!), but first some fresh flowers. But not these - I think they're beautiful, but I'm very sensitive to them - they always make my throat burn, my eyes water & make me cough . . .

Biking in Yanai 9/5/11

Driving in downtown Iwakuni on Hwy 188.


We stopped at L-Style near the station for lunch - today is Labor Day & Stan's out of school. We LOVE their set lunch & salad bar!


After a yummy lunch, we drove back over the Hwy 188 bridge (STILL under construction) to drive to Yanai, south & west of us. Green frogs still hold up the construction guardrails here.


Happy frogs!

Driving along the Seto Inland Sea on Hwy 188 toward Yanai. Gorgeous day!


School children walking (alone!) along the sidewalk on Hwy 188.


Lotus still tall but no longer blooming. A recent typhoon tore up the leaves a bit, but the plants are still good.


A little lady sweeps alongside the highway near some train workers. After a typhoon, all the tracks are "walked" and any & all debris is cleared.

Japanese boat with "sail" on back out in the Seto Sea near Oshima Island.


There's the bridge to Oshima that also crosses the highway. The sea is considered very swift & dangerous here. But very beautiful.


See how the sign post is curved away from the road to allow large trucks room to pass by on Hwy 188? Although it's a major highway, it's not always very wide as it passes through old villages.


Driving in Yanai - At least our little Daihatsu Atrai is built for these very narrow streets. Of course they are 2-way, 2-lane streets!


And the edge of this street drops into a canal - glad there's a guard rail!


We've parked at the Yanai City Gymnasium, across from the tour bus parking, and unloaded our bikes. Yanai is a great place to ride our bikes!


At the tour bus stop across the street, there's a beautiful vine growing to provide shade inside the building. There are also rest rooms here.


Closer view of the yellow flowers & bumpy fruit this vine also provides.


Willow trees are abundant in this area. Yanai means willow. This is a good place to enter the traditional White Wall area of Yanai, where the merchant buildings were built (and some restored) during the Edo Period (1600-1867). This is an important preservation district.

Traditional buildings on Yanai's White Wall Street.


Bamboo branches with tiny paper goldfish decorations - how cute!


Stan outside a shop with larger paper goldfish on display & items for sale.


Looking up at a goldfish under the wide roof overhang. These have LED string lights inside - what a great idea!


We stopped for a cold drink.


How convenient - this machine even takes a credit card!


Beautiful & traditional White Wall Street in Yanai.


In this old warehouse called Nishi-Gura, you can make a paper goldfish & see other local crafts & art on display.


Sewer cover in the street depicting White Wall area.


This old building was a bank during Meiji era (September 1868 through July 1912), but now it's a Visitor's Information Center. Here we turned right onto Rotoro Street & rode down over the river & into the downtown area of Yanai.


This building on Retoro Street with clock tower is called Hall of Music Box Grimm. It houses a famous music box inside the open, covered area. When you're in Yanai, be SURE to check this out!

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