Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Wednesday in Japan, , , Tako Ferry

The Tako Ferry Runs from Akashi Hyogo Port to Awaji Isalnd.
I mean really people... who would not want to ride on this ferry.

It is about a  20 minute ride that carries people and cars over the Seto Inland Sea.
What was so fabulous was you would see small to huge whirlpools as you motored by.

On my last trip to Japan,  son took us for one last ride. They have now shut the ferry down.
As thehamish would say, oh woe is me !
Woe !
.

.

.

The ferry went under the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
.

 I have written before about my love of this bridge.

One of the longest Suspension Bridge in the world.
 It connect Kobe on the Honshu side to Iwaya on the Awaji Island
over the Akashi Straits of the Sento Inland Sea.

I am a bridge person and while I understand the economic need for bridges,
 I look at them as works of art.
To see this bridge in person is to be amazed.
Besides the sheer sheer length of this bridge it is quite graceful.

It is also called the Pearl Bridge and at night the lights on the bridge will change
 and tell you what kind of weather you can expect the next day.
.

.

.

.

and we have Vending Machines !
If I could have smuggled them onto the airplane I would have !
.

The Akashu Hyogo port side

So sad I will never ride the ferry again.
It was amazing.

A big thank you to Japanese Son on for  always finding me
the most interesting sites for me to explore.
.

And here is your mid week pretty.

Sunset at my home.
The evening light was pure gold,
as we had a most unusual Fall rain zoom in and out.
.


pretty. . . parsnip
music . . . Sailing,  The Cafe Carlye Sessions, Christoper Cross.
Posted by Picasa

22 comments:

  1. Those colors in your backyard are amazing. Wow. Bridges are interesting but I have a slight fear of heights when I cross over them....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't like heights either but I adore bridges.

      Delete
  2. I like that song by Christopher Cross. I think he's the one the Buggles were writing about when they sang about homicidal videos ...

    And can I just say that I pretty much love the idea of you smuggling a vending machine onto a plane. I know you would if you could!!

    Magnificent photos, as always, p.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The amount of stuff I have decided to smuggle out of Japan I could be in jail for years.
      The song by Christopher Cross is redone and amazing in this Session.

      Delete
  3. I think Ferries are fun. I used to love to take the Staten Island ferry, back in the day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Staten Island Ferry - you know, that's how the Vanderbilt empire began?

      Parsnip, why are they shutting down the ferry? Ferries and bridges are a major factor of life up here on Lake Champlain.

      Delete
    2. I never found out the reason, kinda just hit some hard times gas is expensive in Japan. I always saw lots of people with their bikes, Grandmothers with shopping and when I rode it it was always full.
      But one reason was, part of an economic stimulus in Japan is all the toll roads in Japan are now a flat rate of $10 US on weekends. To go over the bridge is about $40 US one way. So the cars using the ferry now use the bridge.
      I remember we were driving home late and used all the toll roads to get home one being the bridge and it cost us about $100. Not that you would do that everyday but it was late.
      I still don't know why it shut down the Kobe side is very built up and the Awaji Island side is a less dense and you need to drive to get somewhere so maybe the time to take the ferry was not relevant ?

      Delete
    3. Ferries are certainly impractical compared to bridges. Entire economies are significantly altered once bridges are built. Over the past two summers, we visited places with exceedingly long bridges that replaced ferry cultures: Prince Edward Island and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

      Delete
  4. I love these little glimpses into another culture

    ReplyDelete
  5. Not surprised you love that bridge - it's absolutely beautiful. I do love these posts Parsnip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You... I like remembering all the fun times

      Delete
  6. Oh my...breathtaking. How wonderful and beautiful! I also love bridges...the bigger and higher the better! Dear parsnip...you take us places we may never see but so very much appreciate through your eyes. xoxox.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You , I think that is why I like the blogs I read. I get to see places I have been or want to see.

      Delete
  7. Love your backyard. And yes, bridges are a work of art. While boating on the Tames and some river in Paris, I saw many different bridges built in different times. Amazing! I need to make time to post those pictures.

    Hugs and chocolate!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I especially love the shots of the bridge. It's funny...I love the water, and even though I swim like a rock, I won't think twice about going in the ocean. But I won't go near our Mississippi River--don't even like crossing it on the bridge.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I enjoyed reading this Parsnip because it reminded me that when I was a child and lived in Lincolnshire, we used to go to Hull in South Yorkshire for the day and we went on the ferry across the mouth of the River Humber. That ferry has also closed and they have built a magnificent bridge instead, but I still look back with affection on the ferry.

    ReplyDelete
  10. «Louis» would like to link this to his Sunday Bridges meme. It will open at 22h00m central Europe time Saturday evening.

    ReplyDelete
  11. oh... that evening photo is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete