A night in Tsuruga, Fukui - Day 2 - Nuclear Power Plants, Mountains, and crinkly leather jackets

We woke up and went down to the free "continental" breakfast to see what delights were available.  I have learned, a long time ago, that any breakfast advertised as "western" will in fact be not western at all.  Our hotel this trip had potato salad, meatballs, miso soup, rice, carrot juice and croissants.  As you can see, only one makes the cut for a real breakfast item. At least according to my definition.  I am not complaining.  I am used to breakfast in Japan.  I just don't like false advertising.

After our delicious breakfast we got in the car and drove along the coast towards the East to see....something.  No plan really.  The coastal road was beautiful and since it eventually ends at the tip of the peninsula, and the largest thing out here is the nuclear power plant, traffic was non-existent.   

About thirty minutes from the main city, we encroached upon the power plant.  It kind of felt like a James Bond film.  Everyone in hard harts being shuttled around.  

If you look closely...

...you must wonder if they have a lot of people stopping by with their concerns.

 At the end of the road there is a collection of old houses that look as if they hadn't been used in years.  I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. 

With a sign for a lighthouse and a warning for bears we set off for adventure-

A graveyard was the first landmark-

With a beautiful view-

Isn't this beautiful?

Looking back at the houses-

At the end of the flat trail was a very very steep set of stairs.  We they ended we did not know.  Curiosity got me and dragged Yukino and Aki along for the ride- 

She looks happy but she was quite out of breath-

Finally, the end was in sight-

If they had cleared around the lighthouse better a beautiful 360 degree view would be possible.  But, it wasn't cleared and our view was very limited-

I had the duty of carrying Aki back down and luckily made it all the way safely.  I don't want to think of what would have happened if I had slipped.

We stopped by a beach-

Our first time on a beach with snow-

Cutting across the peninsula and down the coast some more brought us to a few lakes.  These lakes open up to the ocean and were a safe haven for fishermen.  I have never seen such a fishing oriented lack before-

 These men standing on floats fishing confused me-

Further down were even more....  Can you tell me why?

Hoping to see a really cute old train, we stopped at a small train station but was not very happy with what I had waited for-

We were starving and stopped at a Chinese restaurant.  I went in to scope it out for comfortablity and smoke odor.  I asked, in what I think was pretty good Japanese, "Do you have non-smoking seats."  The waitress thought I had wanted a menu.  I repeated the question.  She looked at me like an alien.  I tried again.  She had no idea.  I said, "I do not smoke so is that okay?"  She was completely lost now and got some old guys to try to help.  I asked the same questions to only get the same response.  The only thing that worked was making the gesture for smoking and "NO."  Eventually they got it but I was so fed up that I didn't even want to eat there anymore.  A little childish on my part but I was just so frustrated with that encounter.  We ended up at this place- 

Which was mmmuuucchhh better.  Aki was sleeping when we went in.  Immediately, an old Japanese man decked out in rubber boots, a red leather jacket that audibly crackled as his breathed and a military hat came over and in a voice way to loud for anyplace outside of a concert went on to talk to Aki.  Aki didn't sleep after that.  The man was very nice and we talked throughout our whole lunch.  Which was very good.  His wife and the owner of the place was very nice and accommodating when we had to change him on their couch.  I wish I had gotten a picture of Aki and the old man. He was a hoot.  And, he could understand my Japanese.

After a lot of driving in the snowy mountains again, we came out to Biwako lake where I amazingly/stupidly snapped this photo while driving. 

 The End.