Day 19 - Kii Tanabe to Kawayu Onsen

Yesterday, after my breakfast fun, I walked my bag to the Kumano Kodo travel people. Such that it would make it to my next sleeping place. I then hopped on what looked like a regular city bus to take me up to Kawayu Onsen. “Onsen” means hot spring. I stayed at a Ryokan last night...which is...an inn, I guess...much bigger than a B&B, but likely family run. Although, no beds...back on the floor with a futon. It surprises me that with all my extra padding, that I still have boney bits that feel the solidness of the floor. Regardless, I seem to pass out cold every night. 

The bus ride was about two & half hours long...which was longer than expected. Missed lunch at the local cafe. Thankfully, the ryokan I stayed at when I said: Hirogohan o Tabetai des (I want to eat lunch), I was told that the cafe closes at ni ji (2 o’clock). They don’t serve lunch, but were able to provide me with an instant pot of noodles. With verbal instructions: Use the kettle that makes water hot. Wait 3 minutes. Eat. And he supplied me with chopsticks. Cannot tell a lie...so good! I can see why they are popular. Suspect the version here is a lot less salty than the ones at home. 

View of Oto river

Dinner as always, can be an adventure. I got to cook my own rice...well, it cooked at the table over some sterno (wait 20 minutes). And cooked my own...mollusk. No idea what it was. But there was butter & lemon provided. So once thoroughly cooked (it was pretty tough, so probably overcooked), doused in butter & lemon. On the plus side, it had a very pretty shell. I remarked upon it, & was presented with it (cleaned up).

Cleaned up mollusk shell

Some sashimi: River fish, something else, and another something, and a shelled shrimp. There was soya sauce, wasabi & finally some ginger. Put them all to good use. Then along came a cooked river fish (looked like a smelt). Then some soy soup, plus raw materials to add to the soup: Bacon, a chunk of tofu & some green stuff that looked like green onion...but wasn’t. It was yummy! Then there were sweets. Well...I thought they were sweets. I was full & a little leary of the rest, so stopped there.