Leaving Takayama….

October 2, 2012 –

It's time to check out of our ryokan and head back to the bus station with all our gear.  (suitcase – check! backpacks – check!)….

Some last minute photos of Takayama (from our morning walk):

Mailing off post cards.  Thank goodness the ryokan will take care of mailing them off as we don't have a lot of time to stop at the post office.

Polite reminder to take off your shoes and stash them in the cubbies at the entrance to the inn. Cool looking flip flops! (or whatever you cal them)

Happy girls posing with their tiny sword souvenirs (that they picked out this morning). Pretending to do karate or kung fu or something…

 One reminder about traveling in Japan that I may or may not have mentioned before- most places here don't take credit cards!!!  So, that means you have to carry enough cash with you to cover the costs (and the places we've stayed at have been pricey- but well worth it).  There are ATMs all over but our bank has a limit on how much cash we're allowed to withdraw per day.  For me, having enough cash was a source of stress- you couldn't relax and say, "I'll pay with my credit card".  I don't mind that limitation when I'm at home and needing to curb my impulse purchases but I do find it stressful when I'm traveling.

This is the nice lady that shuttled us to and from the station as well as helped us out at the inn.

A very sweet older lady…I'm guessing she's one of the "local mothers" that helped prepare our meal (or, at the very least, she did help serve our meals).

At the Takayama bus station:

Checking out the vending machines inside the bus station:

Do you want a cup of steaming out noodles?

Or maybe something from this Hot Menu?

or how about bread?

We got a cold drink for Mark and I to share:

FINALLY!!!  Our bus just pulled up and it's time for us to go….

to Shirakawa-go!!!!

here's a glimpse of things to come:

I think we're nearly there…yes!  We're here! Come back in a little while and I'll show you where "here" is!