Minam-Izu - Three Days in Paradise!

It's becoming a bit of a tradition with us, we spend Christmas weekend in Minami-Izu.

Info note:Minami-Izu is a town located at the southern tip of Izu Peninsula in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

After riding various trains all morning we arrived at the the last train stop in the town of Shimoda - time for lunch! Emi had done a little advance research and picked this restaurant in the old-town part of Shimoda.

Nothing beats an ice cold beer with lunch; especially when one doesn't have to go back to work after lunch.

The front of the restaurant. The food was excellent, the service was great and the atmosphere was superb! Highly recommended by me.

Next morning early before breakfast I went down the Yumigahama beach hoping to see a spectacular sunrise. It just didn't happen; oh well.

Despite the lack of a super cool sunrise I did enjoy a nice walk on the beach.

Walking back to the hotel I passed by this famous seafood restaurant.

After breakfast Emi and I embarked on a nature walk along the Aono river.

I've walked along this river so many times and I never get tired of it.

Every bridge is beautiful - in it's own way.

This is strange, the Kawazu-zakura cherry blossom trees are already starting to bloom.

 Nothing beats a morning walk along a river.

I see that the nanohana (mustard greens) are starting to bloom too!

And, here come the daffodils too! Nothing like spring time in December.

For most parts of the river there are paved walking paths on both sides. It makes walking or jogging very easy.

Heading back to the hotel we pause for the traditional taking pictures of each other.

Older and wiser still the same as the years go by.

Next morning again I get up early and head down to the beach in optimistic anticipation of a beautiful sunrise. Is there a bit of luck in the wind? Will it happen?

Maybe!

Looking like it might happen!

Good enough!

Perhaps it's not great but compared to yesterday it's fantastic.

Walking back to the hotel; I feel good.

By-the-way, it is Christmas morning and I've got the entire beach to myself - Merry Christmas!

A side wind is blowing across the wave crests.

A last look back at Yumigahana beach. After breakfast we'll checkout of the hotel and take the free shuttle back to the Shimoda train station.

Inside the Shimoda train station and we decided to upgrade and book seats on the "Super View Odoriko Train". We'll be riding to Yokohama in style. Life is good!

The Super View Odoriko Train - Nice!

We are greeted at our coach.

There's a reason they call it the "Super View".

Emi tells me not to get used to this. She says next time we'll be back on the local train riding in the cheap seats.

Maybe so but for today I'm soaking it in.

Passing by Atami city.

The beauty of the Pacific ocean.

It's time for a cup of coffee and a piece of cake - sometimes it truly is good to be me.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike


Bonus poem!

Sweet Seventy One

One Day I’ll be seventy one

I can hardly wait

It’s going to be fun

W-2s will be a thing of the past

I’ll be drawing social security

Man, what a gas

With silver hair atop my noggin

I’ll be doing the disco duck

Even if I can’t remember my login

Seventy one will be the new sixty

I’ll just be getting warmed up

I’ll probably feel more like fifty

My enthusiasm to age is simply amusing

It’s like looking forward to death

Like winning at losing

-- Mike

Bonus picture!