February 17, 2010 Nagasaki, Japan
The exchange rate $1 equals 83.63 Yen
Nagasaki means “long Cape”. Today was a wonderful experience. This is the first time the ship docked in a in a non container port. The temperature was about 50 F and mostly sunny. We bought an all day tram pass which was good as to the number of times we got on and off. The Hypo-peace Park is hard to describe the significant and beauty the park is with memorial statutes for USA, and many other countries from all parts of the world. We also stopped by the Atom Bomb Museum, Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall. The Urakami Cathedral and the Peace Statue are in the park and other interesting sites are in the area. Back on the QM2 for lunch, and then back off. We walked through China town to Glover Park and Confucian Shrine.
We back onboard in time to attend the inaugural ceremony held in the Royal Court Theater. Four of the QM2 officers were presented with flowers and gifts from the city of Nagasaki and Captain Bates gave plaques of the QM2 to the mayor and other dignitaries. This was followed by children from a local nursery sang and danced. The girls were dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos and the boys in Samurai outfits. They were well rehearsed and did a beautiful job for 4 & 5 years olds. The program was closed by 2 women doing a portion on Madam Butterfly opera. The women and the lady pianist did well but we’re not opera fans.