"Roadtrip to Hiroshima"

"We are each of us angels with only one wing, 
and we can fly only be embracing each other." -Lucian de Crescenzo

My friends, Yuu ♂ and Reiko ♀
took me with their family and Finnish exchange student
on a 4-hour roadtrip to Hiroshima.

After lunching,
we drove to the docks
and hopped aboard Yuu's father's friend's private yacht
destined for the sacred Itsukushima Island
{popularly known as Miyajima, the "Shrine Island"}.

And indeed,
there were many shrines,
many coins tossed,
many prayers chanted.

When the tide is out,

these areas are walkable.

I kinda liked all the water, though;

it gave it a more island-y feel.

A rickshaw

in front of an ancient shrine.

The red torii gate

stands as a symbol of

leaving the profane world

and entering a pure one.

Famous Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

with famous Hiroshima-style kaki oysters.

Famous momiji manju,

a maple leaf bean-jam pastry.

At the Hiroshima Peace Park,

I was overcome with wonder that

I was standing beside my Japanese friends,

in the same spot our ancestors fought 

in war.

But there we stood,

Japanese and American,

hearts knitted into one.

{♪ "A Song of Birth" via Eri Sugai}