Kushiro!!!

Finally we docked today.  After turning back our clocks night after night I was awake before 5.  I looked out the window to thick fog and rain.  We had coffee in our room and watched all the immigration folks come aboard as we docked on our side of the ship.  We waited till almost 10:30 before being taken through immigration and then being allowed to get off the ship.  The sun actually came out and the day is cool but nice.  We walked around a bit and found a few landmarks they have talked about.  We wanted to go to the crane reserve but after getting our so late few taxis were left and no tour vendors at all.  We were worried about venturing out too far because our stay here isn’t long.  We went through the Moo and the Egg which are along the wharf for tourists to shop and eat.  The Egg is a fairly large enclosure that had some cultural activities but all the plant life inside was gone.  The Moo has fresh fish, hundreds of packaged items to eat like dried fish, noodles, many types of candy and chocolates, tea and ice cream.  There were a few coffee shops but the biggest draw was free Wi-Fi!   Everyone was wanting to connect with family and get emails.   We walked down town a bit as they told us to check out the 7-11 stores!!  They say a big item here are the different KitKat flavors but after much searching we never found any.  The port area wasn’t really very nice. It’s more of a fishing and commercial port.  We did stop by the museum but again more people here were looking for free Wi-Fi.  We found a nice display of some of the wildlife and fisheries.  I’ll include de a few photos.  

Tomorrow is another sea day and then on to Yokohama where we spend two days and have tours. In all we will visit 7 Japanese ports.  The weather will progressively get warmer.  Tomorrow the Cruise Critic group hosts anotherget together and happy hour.  Last night we had “pillow gifts” which they say only happen on grand or world cruises. They were two sturdy umbrellas.  Before that we got stationary and business satchels with the Grand Asia Cruise and date on them. I took a photo of the front of the ship as they painted in red letters the Grand Asia etc on it!!!  I hope you can see that in the photos.  

I’m going to try and get this blog out so nice we have good service then it will be time to reboard. All is good on the ms Amsterdam!!

This morning from our window as we docked. 

Notice the front of our ship where they painted the Grand Pacific & Far East Voyage!!

Preschool children outside the museum so cute!

The Moo building on the Wharf

Dan with his paper crane and crane in the background!  Ha ha. The closest he got to the crane reserve. 

This is how they decorate their sewer and water plates on the sidewalks. 

They have beautiful metal prints of the area on the overhead street signs 

7-11 in Kushiro. 

They sell shirts, underwear and blankets at the 7-11 along with all kinds of prepared and frozen food!!
All the cars are small and boxy. 

Outside the Moo

Inside the Moo lots of candy 

Fresh crabs!

The Japanese Crane

The Crested Kingfisher

The Fish Owl which is huge and endangered.  Can weigh over 7 pounds.  

At a restaurant the tables had their own stir fry cooker

See the cookers spread out on the tables for the customers at the restaurant by the wharf.