The First Days

So I'm here. In Japan. Reunited Eddy and I are in nested in Shikoku, the smallest of the major islands in a town born of copper mining called Niihama. I've been here for month and here are a few scenes from the earliest days.

As seen from the bike path, our place is on the far left tucked behind the trees and in the foreground is the neighbor's rice crop.

The view from our local Takinomiya Park where "zoo" keepers

lovingly maintain a small menagerie that include

a couple of peacocks,

a few silkie chickens,

and bunnies.  

On a sweltering soggy Saturday, my second official day in town I was properly welcomed with an all-day city sponsored bus tour.  We started with a ferry to Oshima, a tiny nearby island.

We ate a humble meal of udon that included the local shiro imo or white potato. 

Onward to the Hirose Museum to take in some intelligible history of copper mining and an important fellow's well-preserved home.

I'm with this guy.   It was stinkin' hot.

My day of site-seeing was fun, I embraced playing obedient tourist and rather enjoyed being cajoled by our army of tour guides but by the end I was spent.

To recover from our tour Eddy took me to his favorite swimming spot.

I also got a new bike.

Isn't her banality lovely?
No frills here.  True to her Made in China petigree my bike is pure practicality, equipped with 6 gears, built-in lock, dynamo-driven head light, and large cargo basket. Wow-w dahling, welcome to Japan.