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Letter 45
Wednesday 25.09.13 45,73 km
I go the 35 km to Takamatsu and find the station. T.I. is outside in a
building of its own. It was like in Aomori and the cities remind of each other.
Modern cities without many old houses.
Flowers en route
A great deal of the plot in "Kafka on the Beach" takes place in and around a
small private library near to Takamatsu. Now I ask if the library actually
exists? But first we must have corrected an error, it's not Komura library, but
Koomura with a long o. I couldn't see that in Mette Holms translation.
The library exixst - or more correctly: existed. But was in another place, the
town Nishinomiya near to Kobe. It was a place the author himself used to visit.
Now he's used his right as an author to alter the geography a bit.
I have a map of the city, a map of the prefecture, a map of Shikoku and also a
route to the Century Hotel, where I hope they have a bed.
They have - I have a bed for 2.ooo Y. That's cheap!
The main attraction in town is apparently Ritsorin Garden in the southern end.
That's where I'm gonna eat my lunch I decide, and here I am in the shadows in a
"rest house". The temperature will definitely reacabove 30 degr. also today, but
here in the shadows it's wonderful.
A quiet afternoon on the pond
My friend the Egret
It's a typical japanese garden as they were created in the 17th and 18th century.
With ponds, small hills, neatly cut trees and an undisturbed peace. The park is
constructed with alternating sun and shadows and if you feel like sitting down
you just look around and find a bench. Something you normally NOT do in Japan.
The egret seems to feel absolutely secure in my company - I've never been so
close to one before.
Originally it was a private garden, but in 1875 the owner made it public. Now
it's 7pm and I ate sushi today. 5€ for a meal like that - it's actually not much.
Even it hasn't that much weight as a "normal" pre-prepared dish for 3€, so I had
a rice triangle as a starter.
This Century Hotel is mostly hotel. It looks expensive both from the outside and
when you get in, but they have at least a couple of dormitories. In this there
are 5x2 berths, but the room is large, much larger than anything I've seen until
now.. But it's japanese style, which means tatami mats on the floor and a low
table (for only 4).
I've studied my new maps, been to the T.I. once more to know exactly how I get
to Route 32 in the morning.
The plan is now to spent 2 nights at a camp site in the Iva valley and then go
the direct way north west across the Inland Sea to Hiroshima.