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Now we switch to the Odakyu Line for the last part of the trip. Unfortunately, we got on the express instead of the local (we think?) and passed by our stop! (If you click on the previous link, you can see what we were facing!!!) So then we had to get off & go back the other way. Many people were trying to help us & all were very nice, but we kept getting different instructions . . . By this time, there had been some sort of accident, and all the trains stopped at Sagami-ono. We were 3 stops away from Sobuda-mae - where we were supposed to go to get to Zama! Of course I did NOT take pictures, but we saw paramedics carrying a person (with privacy sheets all around) out of the station, and then we saw a train car with a shattered windshield, so we're not sure exactly what happened, but it was something horrible. And very unusual.
Crowds were everywhere - people trying to get home from work, so we got off the train, walked out of the station, and found a nearby building with lots of restaurants. Thought we'd have a beer, maybe some food, and relax for a while until the crowd dissipated. GREAT idea! Kampai!
Cool salad, tomatoes, edamame (steamed salted soybeans) - it's still pretty HOT outside, so cool food just tastes so good! Can you see the carrot "flower" on the plate with the edamame? We're in a Chinese restaurant.
Stan had a tiny frozen strawberry dessert.
And I chose tofu dessert - cool, refreshing & flavored with almond - yum! This is similar to the tofu dessert I always have a Akiyama - our sushi-go-round at home.
We're finally in a taxi headed for Camp Zama. There were a lot of people waiting for taxis earlier (because of the train accident), but after dinner, not so many. This taxi had a TV screen in back for us. It was blissfully cool inside the taxi and we settled in for a nice long ride because the traffic outside this area (several US bases) are nearby.
However, when we *finally* arrived at Zama Main Gate, we found out it was their "Friendship Day" & were told no taxis were allowed on base . . . at least not at Gate 1, so it was another hour or two before we were able to get another taxi, go around to a different gate (#7 - pretty far away) & then wander around looking where to check in. Exhausting & frustrating! I was cranky by then, so no more pictures today . . .
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The next morning, we found out there is NO shuttle bus (!!!) on Zama, and taxis were not allowed to come on base to pick up passengers (only drop them off!), so we walked to the bike rental office on base (which also is their local travel office) and rented bikes. It was a beautiful (but HOT) day. Here my bike tires are being topped off. Hmmm . . . it's been a while since I rode a 2-wheeler, and I have to remember to balance - something I don't have to worry about on my fabulous 3-wheeler . . . but I didn't fall down.
Stan liked the bike he rented & it seemed to fit him.
We rode our bikes to the commissary to buy a few supplies for our room since we had a kitchenette. It was really too hot for me to do much bike riding during the day, but it was cooler at night, so we rode to the club for dinner a couple of times. Everything else was pretty much too far & I didn't know exactly how to find stuff - even with the map below! We were staying near Gate 4 so in order to go off base, we had to walk to that gate to get a taxi . . .
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