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I lived here back in 1975-1977 at the Air Force Base. We lived offbase for a year and then onbase. It was the best time of my life. It’s so far removed from the city life, so you get a true feel for local Japan.

It seemed like there was a festival of some sort every month, so it made for great fun on the weekends to go downtown, eat, and have fun watching the parade.

It was usually cold with lots of snow. The base had it’s own small ski slope that the high school kids used; we even had our own beach too. Our family used to drive out to the Pacific side of the island early in the morning and search for glass floats that slip off from the fising nets.

I try to go to Port A every year. I take the ferry and get out of the car to watch the water carry the ferry away from all my troubles left on the other side.

Every trip has to have at least one dinner at Spaghetti Works and Seafood. I enjoy the soup & salad bar and the variety of fish plates – but I usually get Richard’s fish. The furnishings could use a revamp though – with the prices of the meal they certainly earn enough to get better chairs and tables.

I wish I had more time to visit this great city. There is so much to do. I read ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ and really enjoyed seeing the city that played such a large part in the book.

I loved the design of the streets and the beautiful restored homes. The huge old trees with moss trailing down was very picturesque. We shopped a bit along the waterfront and Factor’s Walk and ate at the Mellow Mushroom – a cool place.

Bonaventure Cemetery might not be on everyone’s list of sights to see, but it left a lasting impact on me. It’s a huge cemetery with ancient oaks and a beautiful view of the river. Add in the lovely statues and the inscriptions on the tombstones written by their loved ones. It was very somber and lovely and haunting all at the same time.