We started with a very interesting lecture by Professor Michelle Damian on “Traditional Fishing and Sailing”.

The welcoming committee was a group of young women dressed in silk-painted kimonos that are a specialty of the area.  After the lecture we took buses to Kenroku-en, considered by some to be the best landscaped garden in Japan. Kenroku means “combined six” that refers to the required six attributes for perfection: seclusion, spaciousness, artificiality (such as specially pruned trees), antiquity, abundant water, and broad views.  The garden was started in 1676 and contains 25 acres of bridges, fountains, ponds, and waterfalls.  It contains over 8,000 trees, with about 160 different plant species.  Each of the trip’s groups (AIA, National Trust, Harvard, and Stanford) had group photos taken at the garden.  The fountain in the photos is created by gravity only, no electricity.

Lunch was on board ship and passengers had their choice of two afternoon excursions.  One tour went to a Saki Brewery for tasting and to the Omicho Market, Kanazawa’s largest fresh food market since the Edo period.  The other group, including Tom, visited the Higashi Chaya historic district and had a short tea ceremony demonstration looking out at a tiny Gyokusen garden.  Higashi Chaya area was next – a geisha teahouse district.  Both areas are known for their gold leaf, even putting it on ice cream cones ($20 each).

A baton and dance troupe gave the ship a farewell.  Dinner tonight was a special barbecue on the Lido deck, and it was breezy enough that many had to use the supplied blankets.  After dinner, the crew took turns singing karaoke and dancing for the passengers.  That was followed by most of the passengers dancing, including us!

Cheryl

Here are photos of our lecture, and the Kenroku-en garden:

Here are photos of the tea ceremony demonstration, followed by photos of the Higashi Chaya district:

Here are photos of the  dancers and barbecue dinner: