Second Trip to Hiroshima Dreamination 12/19

It's a bright sunny Sunday and we're riding our bikes to the station to return to Hiroshima today. We're passing an orange tree in someone's yard.


And potatoes have just been dug up in this garden!


We're riding on the pedestrian "old" bridge, looking at the "new" bridge where the cars drive. I love this shortcut for our bikes! Under the bridge, you can see where the river leads out into the Seto Inland Sea . . . what a view!

But this side is dry & these boats will have to wait until the tide returns!


As we ride back onto Hwy 188 to go toward the downtown train station, I see these happy green frogs in a construction area. I've seen pink and yellow bunnies, but not frogs. How cute!


We're on the local train riding to Hiroshima - that's Miyajima Island out our window.


Beautiful rolled Christmas cakes at the Hiroshima Station bakery.

Fruit & Santa . . .



Walking outside Hiroshima Station, we're waiting at the streetcar station now. I like the wording on this interesting billboard!


Looking down at the rails while we wait for our streetcar. Wonder how old these stones are? Were they here before the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima . . .???


We got off at the Hatchobori stop & we're standing in the middle of this wide road, waiting for the light, so we can cross the street. What an efficient way to design public transportation!


We were planning to have a hamburger at The Shack for a late lunch, but found out they are closed on Sundays. OK - time for Plan B. We headed instead into the large Parco Department store, and soon spotted this Cafe Du Monde. We've seen this before, but never stopped. Well, this seems like a better idea than lunch . . .

Oh yes - we decided we HAD to have beignets & coffee - it's teatime . . . Of course they were perfect and fresh-made right here.


Afterward, we went upstairs to the music department. Look at this VERY cool little electronic piano. It even has a top that raises up - just like a grand piano!


It's a Micro Piano.


As we're walking around this huge department store, Stan becomes mobbed with bigger kids - teenage girls who all wanted their pictures taken with Santa-san!


Needless to say, I soon learned how to use every cellphone camera in use in Japan!

After taking at least 50 pictures (really!) we escaped into the Hondori Shopping Street, where I took a few more pictures. It's pretty crowded today and seeing Santa-san seemed to make a lot of people smile.


Closer view of some of the overhead lights show dolphins at the top - just like my tattoo!


We decided to go into Andersen's. Love this gingerbread house in the bakery - reminds me of the ones I used to make!


Oops - Santa has had a problem with the chimney!


Christmas cakes are very popular in Japan.

Elf display at Andersen's . . .


Hmm . . . which is the real Santa-san?


Wooden soldier guards fresh bread in Andersen's bakery. We wanted to get some, but didn't want to have to carry it around while we viewed the illuminations again, so we resisted.


We did eat a light supper though made fresh on fresh-baked bread. Can you tell THIS is Stan's sandwich? (smoked salmon & avocado)


And I had a club - yum! We shared . . .

One of the many plastic food gift displays representing a real bento that can be sent for New Year's presents. This was one of the cheaper ones @ $125.50 US . . . Yum! Of course, it would feed an entire family for probably more than one meal!


After we left Andersen's, we walked out into the shopping street toward a streetcar stop. Oh look! It's gotten dark outside already . . .


Then we jumped (well stepped actually) back onto the streetcar to ride down to Peace Blvd. Don't think I showed you the tail of the whale behind the pirate ship last time . . . ?


This is the static carousel that's under the giant pink Christmas tree. Doesn't go around - just for posing children on to take pictures. This carousel horse made me think of Heather . . .


Bumble bee?


Santa-san being photographed on Peace Blvd in Hiroshima.

Christmas lights & yellow pansies . . . what a combo!


We didn't see this the last time we were here - a horse-drawn carriage!


This is the pipe organ display, but we couldn't hear the music this year . . .


Cinderella's carriage is perfect for a bride & groom who probably just got married in one of the nearby hotels . . . a popular place for a wedding and/or reception in Japan.


Look at that beautiful & happy bride! (There were lots of photographers besides their wedding photographer, so I couldn't get a better angle.)


Always my favorite - the Hiroshima A-bomb display.

Stan's mobbed by happy children . . . (so is it Santa-san or the candy canes?)


This little girl just stared and stared . . . (something they learn NOT to do as they get older - it's a cultural thing). She was just too cute!


Street scene from the streetcar on our way back to Hiroshima Station.


This lighted tree on a building kept changing designs!


Inside the station, one last look at Christmas cakes & pastries . . .

Chocolate cats with candy-cane tails.


Birds' nests, maybe?


And of course, Hello Kitty cakes.


Back in Iwakuni, we see this cute train car waiting at the station.


After our refreshing bike ride, we're back on base. This is the Commander's plane - decorated for the holidays & just inside the front gate.

Hiroshima Dreamination 12/11

We're riding our bikes to the local train station today to go to Hiroshima. That's Stan in his Santa hat leaving the front gate of MCAS Iwakuni. It only takes us about 15 minutes to ride to the station downtown, and we can park our bikes for free.


Passing by a pink camelia bush hanging over a wall in front of someone's house. Of course, we ride on the sidewalks here.


Isn't this beautiful?


Stan (aka "Santa-san") waiting on the platform at Iwakuni Station. The clock says it's 2:35. I LOVE that there are always public clocks everywhere - I never have to wear a watch!

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