Onsens

I see I had failed to mention the Japanese passion for onsens under Japanese surprises. Onsens are public bath houses, spring fed, where one disrobes and bathes in front of others of the same sex and then lounges about, sans towels, in pools of varying temperatures – ranging from VERY hot to VERY cold. There are also saunas available to sweat out the toxins. Alternating from boiling to freezing temperatures is common, stimulating the blood circulation. Needless to say, this method of cleaning came as a BIG surprise to our North American kin. “You want us to do what?” Fortunately, the ship had some, rather cold, shower facilities available.
Now, to solve the shower problem, Amy spent a good part of the next day searching out private bathing facilities. Alas, the lack of priest blessings on the ocean facilities meant that all showers, picnic areas, beaches and the like had not yet been opened. I suppose the water connection between unblessed oceans and showers must have been the reason…can’t have anyone drowning in a shower. And certainly it’s a fire hazard to have a portable barbecue burning in a sandy area – or so we were informed by a rather surly caretaker.