Christmas Day 2011

It's breakfast time & we're headed into a different restaurant this morning. It faces the seaside & it's bright & sunny inside. This seaside view of this hotel faces East.


Christmas decorations just outside the door.


And one of the many small decorations hanging on the lattice.


Inside, our server takes our picture - Merry Christmas!


It's nearly 10, so we pretty much have the place to ourselves. The buffet had just about everything imaginable and probably some unimaginable! But ALL was yummy . . . and we ate our fill.


Cereals, granola, fresh fruit, homemade yogurt and coffee & tea area. The coffee machine offered several options for each fresh-brewed cup.


I love the tinted mirrors of different shapes!


Aquarium on one end - lunch, perhaps?


These are the same type of fish that are in the Fish Tank restaurant near our base in Iwakuni.


Looking from the other direction. Those are the coffee machines at the extreme left, center.


And of course, the bar.


Back up in our room on our deck - it's a MUCH brighter day today, but still cold & windy, so no outside walk or bike ride for us today. Hmm . . . the water in our spa is much lower today. Stan said something about water displacement from both of us being in at the same time . . .


One last picture of me in our room. I really don't want to leave! If you want to see more photos of this fabulous hotel (including inside the fabulous onsen baths!) CLICK HERE! Be sure to wait for the photos AFTER the panorama finishes . . . I can't wait to return here for another visit!


In the lobby, there's a Christmas tree Advent calendar . . .


Driving away from the entrance - we could see "Aloha" spelled out in leis on the fence ahead.

Sleepy little villages on a Sunday morning.


And everywhere oranges & tangerines - Oshima is famous for them!


Colorful leaves on a hillside.


The blue sky makes the sea a much prettier color today as we drive back toward the Oshima Bridge.


Much of this drive is right along the sea - beautiful!


Tunnel & red building.


What a fabulous view that house up high on a hill must have!


Big waves crashing against the seawall. Whenever we drive in areas like this, I always think of the disaster area up north and those many quiet little seaside villages that were wiped completely away . . .


Coming out of a short tunnel.


Cemetery alongside the highway.


Look at the beautiful colors of the water here!


Beautiful old temple with stone stairs and walls.


Driving back to the mainland on the Oshima Bridge.


The currents here are said to be some of the most dangerous in all of Japan. I'm looking down at what looks like a small tsunami wave.


We're following a truck loaded with fresh Oshima oranges - oh, we forgot to buy any!


But at the end of the bridge is a shop where he's turning in, so we'll stop here.


Inside are lots of fresh seafood. Here are some of the very large shrimp/small lobster? that Stan had for his dinner last night.


And of course octopus.


These fresh fried goodies smell wonderful & contain a little of everything, but we're not hungry right now - and we're trying NOT to eat fried . . .


But we couldn't resist a hot cup of coffee! It's SO cold outside. We were served in beautiful English teacups with tiny whisks for stirring. What a GREAT idea!


Back on Hwy 188 now bound for Iwakuni. We can open our presents when we get home!


The sea is on our right & the train & a hillside of colorful trees on our left. See the train tunnel?


Outside the Monzen Gate, a small tractor waits in a dormant lotus field.


It's still early afternoon & too early to call the US, so we can open our presents. Stan is ready!


And Sachi is helping!


Well that didn't take long. We're waiting for some boxes from the US to arrive, but we still had plenty to open!


Sachi's favorite place is under the tree!


Sachi poses under one of my hand-embroidered ornaments that I made YEARS ago . . .


And in the kitchen the juicer awaits - Stan actually bought 2 big bags of oranges . . . no more bottled "fresh" OJ for us - only fresh squeezed!


Love this photo! Larry sent it of Andy enjoying the "Boys' Story Book" we sent.


And Heather sent this of some of our children & grandchildren riding the Polar Express together near Williams AZ. In the back are David & Sherri (expecting our Grandchild #6!!!), Holly & Kelly, and in front are Heather & son Cody. This was 12/26 - Happy Birthday Heather!

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