In front of Andersen's Bakery & Restaurant inside Hiroshima's Hondori covered shopping area.


Oh - the balloon man is there again today.


Inside Andersen's - we just can't resist going here whenever we're in Hiroshima!


Cute ghost pastries in the bakery area.


And gingerbread pumpkin cookies.

Cute Black Cat cookies.


Pencil & book sweet bread . . .


And yummy-looking cinnamon/walnut bread.


Pastries with red & black bean paste inside . . . (sneaking in that protein!)


And it's still the Year of the Tiger.

Look at this cute cat pastry, curled up inside a small box!


Pure maple syrup.


And now we're sitting in the window at Andersen's having coffee behind the balloon man, who's doing a brisk business today.


Walking down the shopping street, we see Fashion Leg Shop?!


Oh - they're selling cute leg warmers! These are very popular in the winter & some are made of fur.

We're standing at the streetcar station (in the middle of a very wide street) facing the entrance to the Hondori covered shopping area.


Back on the streetcar, headed for Hiroshima Station, where we catch our local train back to Iwakuni.


Looking out the window of the streetcar as we cross over one of the many bridges in Hiroshima.


Cute little boy on the local train.


As we pedal home from Iwakuni Station, we see a freight train on a nearby bridge. This is such a great way to get home & feels so good after sitting on the train!

Sunset Ride Outside North Gate 10/7/10

We're heading north along the fence on the road that runs in front of our mid-rise. When we go this direction, we're heading toward the North Gate. We're going for a late afternoon ride outside the north gate along the sea. The colors are so vivid this time of the afternoon!


Lotus and other veggies growing behind a house.


New rice just coming up - bright green and (of course!) in perfectly straight rows. Notice how black the rich, volcanic soil is here in Japan? That's why everything grows so healthy and prolific.


Look at all the beautiful pink blossoms.

Huge flowering bush along our bike trip.


And I think this is jasmine? It smelled very sweet.


Closer view of the tiny white blossoms.


And of course, pink & white cosmos - my favorites! There are many flowers and crops growing along this narrow road as we head toward the northside sea wall outside the base.

Closer view.


Biking along the sea & a little Japanese marina.


When I turn around, I see that the sun is going down.


Sunset over the marina as we continue along the sea. This road is always nearly deserted, so it's a good place to bike and walk.

Facing west where the sun has dropped.


Looking over the seawall down to the stone sidewalk along the sea.


Cute dog that was walking on this deserted road. It's owners were behind us.


Time to start back around the base & home.


Almost dark now as we ride outside the fence toward a gate to enter the base.

Yamada Denki - Iwakuni 10/5/10

Margie and large good luck cat inside the Yamada Denki - the largest electronics store in Iwakuni. Stan's looking for some computer stuff for school this afternoon.


It's the first week in October, so Autumn decorations abound!


Colorful & plentiful irons in the household department.


This closer view reminds me of pink & blue Loch Ness monsters!

Flowers decorate the iPod department.


Lots of decorations hanging from the ceiling.


Stan always loves the clock & watch department!


Alarm clock.


It's named "Sleep Buster"

Looking down the stairway and escalator as we leave. This very large store is upstairs, but the restrooms, vending machines and parking are downstairs.


Traffic circle downtown Iwakuni.


Hwy 188 runs right through downtown. Notice the arches that mimic our famous Kintai Bridge, covering the sidewalks on each side of the street.


Morning glory vines climbing up the side of a building.


Closer view of the vines.