The Atomic Dome is what is left of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotions Hall. The building partially survived the bomb because it exploded right over the top of it. The effects of the bomb spread out from that spot. It is really freaky to think that the building was surrounded by a whole city and, in the blink of a eye, it was all gone. After we left the park, we went to the Peace Memorial Museum where you can see an computer generated impression of the city as it was followed by the devastation when the bomb was dropped. It is easy to see why everyone is quiet. You are too shocked by what you are looking at to say anything.
Clare's favourite part of the visit was the statue of Sadako Sasaki. She had learned the story of Sadako and the one thousand paper cranes at school and she had no idea that this was the place it happened. Check out the photos below of her at the statue.
After our morning at the Park and Museum we looked at the city in a new light. It is weird to walk around a city and know that there isn't a single old building anywhere because it was all wiped out at the same time. Everything is new.
In the afternoon, we went to Hiroshima Castle, or, strictly speaking, the 1958 recreation of Hiroshima Castle (see above comment about 'wiped out'). It was really interesting. Ronan and Clare got to dress up as samurai. I had the hysterical experience of having a very old Japanese lady (with zero English) practically order me to try on a kimono and be photographed in it. She took a real interest in us once she established that we were Australian and not American. She may not have been able to speak English but she made herself understood and I did what I was told.
On the way home, Clare and I made a stop at the Hiroshima Museum of Art. They have an amazing collections of French impressionists there. We were really surprised at the extent of their collection.
It was a great day in a 'not so run of the mill' city.
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