Nagasaki and its stairs (take 2)

Due to a stomach bug, I spend most if my night in the bathroom instead of my bed. Which means I hit the streets a lot later than usual. Firstly, I get back to Nagasaki Station, where  a "Bread Market" reaches its last day. I get some "totally french" (totally not french) bread and walk towards the first site, the stone memorial for 26 martyrs who were crucified for their christian faith. Their crucifixion also marked the start of the Japanese "sakkoku" (closure of boarders). There are a lot of homeless cats around Nagasaki I find. And unlike western cats, these seem to like me.

At this point, I notice that Nagasaki's "gentle slopes" are a dirty, dirty lie. For the next hours, as I hunt down shrine after temple after shrine, I climb an indecent amount of stairs and hills. Also, if course none of the shrines or temples are connected. So every time, I have to climb up, climb down, walk 200 meters, and repeat in infinity. At this point, it should be clear that I like shrines and temples. A lot. Especially their history, which was often turbulent as Shinto and Buddhism overtook each other as regimes or political leaders changed.

The last time I visited Nagasaki, I already did the Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Museum and Deijima. So no need to do them again.

After all of that, a take a rope way up to Inasa yama with a nice view over the entire town. Now, I am calling it an early night. Tomorrow, the Samurai/Onsen village calls.

09/22 Pictures