Deb Lund ad lib

Kameoka (or Hirado) Castle was our fist stop with Geena, Tom, and Jason on our last day with these Sasebo friends.  The castle is perched on the hillside above the town of Hirado, looking over the sea. Little Kurokojima Island floats below. We hiked the grounds, peered into several out-buildings, and looked at the city below. It was our castle for the day, with hardly anyone around. Magical…

As always, if there was a path to explore, I lost sight of Kaj.

In another area of town, seen long before we arrived to greet her, was the great Kanzeon, or Kannon, the Goddess of Compassion. She stares out above rooftops, over homes almost overlapping each other, welcoming all in her court and her temple within.

Setting. It becomes a character itself in a well-written book. Hirado must be brimming with stories.