Every autumn I see these giant yellow flowers, but I don't know what they are! I see so much more detail when riding bikes!


Riding along a deserted street -- guess everyone is somewhere else enjoying their holiday today! Columbus Day is also a Japanese holiday: Sports Day.


Crossing a bridge at high tide.


We've gone a different way, so we can stop for dinner at Akiyama -- yum!


The sun is setting as we ride back home.

Another Trip to Hiroshima

Stan's still going to the dentist every Saturday, so we're off again. It's just the two of us again. This is the train yard as we depart from Iwakuni Station.


Passing Route 2 and the smokestacks of Otake. We can see these from our LR balcony at home.


Cute poster on the train.

Closer view shows it's an ad for a Women's College & this makes me think of Heather & Judson . . .


Looking out the window of the train at the electric stuff & cemetery on top of a hillside.


There are lots of tunnels from Iwakuni to Hiroshima.


Looking at another train beside us in a station. It's about 45-50 minutes' ride to Hiroshima on the local train, but only 15 minutes by Shinkansen. We don't take the Shin usually though, because that station is much further away & it's much more expensive than the local train.

Cute sign in a station -- M's Club is for "hair & make" . . . hmm.


We're coming into Hiroshima. Looks like the tide is out.


Inside Molly Malone's waiting for Stan who's at the dentist again. No sumo to watch today . . .


Everything I've ever eaten here is good, but I wouldn't recommend the "nachos" -- just cold chips with a little salsa & guacamole.

We didn't really want to do anything else today in Hiroshima & since we rode our bikes to the station, we decided to go on back to Iwakuni before it got too late. We're on the streetcar headed back to Hiroshima Station. Look closely at the handles above us.


Each is a baseball in honor of Hiroshima Carps professional baseball team.


Once we reached the end of the line -- Hiroshima Station -- I realized that our streetcar was entirely dedicated to the Carps team!


After our train ride, we're back in Iwakuni inside the bike parking. It's already dark.


Biking home -- there's a full moon hiding behind clouds as we cross the bridge. It's finally getting cool enough to really enjoy the quiet ride home.

Just got this cute pic of Kelly & Cody this morning. Aren't they just precious? They're growing up so fast!

Bazaar and Bizarre Stuff!

I really didn't intend to buy anything at the Fall Bazaar this year, but this Chinese cabinet just "spoke" to me. I love the wood (elm) and when I was told the inlay was ivory, I was in love and could not resist! It's @180 years old & there are no nails. All the wood pieces are fitted together and it comes apart into two sections for moving. We bought it late Sunday afternoon -- a great bargain.

 

 Here's the inside. Lots of space and more drawers.

Look at some of the inlay detail . . .click on the pic for a closer view, but arrow back to return!

Oh, and look at how the doors are hung! They simply peg into holes, top and bottom -- no brackets or hinges, and they rotate smoothly! Also, they're easy to remove -- just lift up and pull out.

 

 

I also bought another rama  -- a decorative wood piece that typically is installed over a paper sliding door  inside a traditional Japanese house. I bought it from Akai (the "van man") who told me it was at least 150 years old. It's now hanging over the window in my computer room.

 

The detail shows that it has fish carved into the design. I had never seen one like this and, you know I LOVE anything fish!

 

I didn't buy these masks at the Bazaar, but from two local second-hand stores recently. I really thought they were interesting . . . Read more about Japanese masks here

 

 

Signed plate of Kintai Bridge.

Ingrid's Last Chigerie for a while . . .

Ingrid & Jim have left for the US & won't return until January, so Barbara & I surprised her with a cake during tea-time at our chigerie class.

Matane means, "See you Later"

Ingrid was very pleased.

Ingrid with all the Japanese ladies in our class.

Looking out our upstairs window during class, Miyako told me that the yellow umbrella, cap and boots indicate that this little boy is a first grader. Not only is he walking home from school, but in the rain!

House near the community center where we have our chigerie class. The rain has thoughtfully stopped since it's time for us to leave . . .

 

Look at these beautiful morning glories -- still blooming, although it's later afternoon.

 

Oh, there's the mailman.

 

 And a dad pushes his little daughter on her bicycle. People are always outside here in Japan.

 

Aki Basho (Autumn Sumo Tournament)

Grand champions Hakuho on the left and Asashoryu on the right. Hakuho has lost one match during this tournament, and Asashoryu is undefeated. Both are from Mongolia.

Almost ready to begin. They're both giving each other the "evil eye."

Hakuho beat his opponent easily, which made them tied 14-1. Now they get to stretch and/or rest about 10 minutes before the playoff begins.

But Asashoryu won in the playoff to win the September tournament. Fans of Hakuho (me!) were disappointed, because he works so much harder, but there's always the next one in November! At the end, excited fans throw their floor cushions -- a Japanese friend told us this can show pleasure or displeasure!

Found Another Pastry Shop!

We were devastated when Ruman's owner Utae, retired and her son changed it to a take-out only shop. It was the Austrian Pastry Shop that was our favorite! Where would have our afternoon coffee & pastry? Barbara told us about a "new" shop that's nearby, so we decided to try it today. It's name is Trouvere.

 

Here are Barbara and Ingrid at our table by the window.

Looking around. This place is small, but immaculate and very charming.

 

Barbara in front of the cooler.

 

Lots of goodies in the cooler case. 

Ingrid had cake with blueberries and fig.

 

I of course, had chocolate -- this time tiramisu. Yum!

 

And Barbara favors the cream puff.