Yamaguchi Monthly Market 2/6/11

It's been several years since we've been to the "Monthly First Sunday" Yamaguchi market (it's very large & involves a lot of walking) but with my relatively "new" right knee & my left knee feeling much stronger, I'm ready to try it again. Plus - we're taking our bikes in the back of the car. It's just before 7:30 AM and we're planning to leave about 8 AM. That's Japan's Rising Sun outside my BR balcony. . .


Crossing a river in Iwakuni as we head for Rt 2 & beyond to Yamaguchi City.


Exiting from a short tunnel as we leave town. We're now on Rt 2, heading toward the Sanyo tollroad.


Attractive recycling of old tires . . .

Driving along the elevated Sanyo tollroad so we can arrive in Yamaguchi City faster this morning. The speed limit is 80 km, which is just under 50 mph, but we're so used to the slower speeds, it feels like we're FLYING! We'll be there in about 2 hours.


Heading into yet another tunnel. There are many along Japanese highways. See the stars decorating the outside of it? And the yellow sign tells drivers to turn on their headlights. It must be a long one.


Inside the long, curved tunnel.


Seaglass pieces imbedded into a retaining wall at a rest stop. Well, here's something I could do with my collection of sea- and china-glass I've rescued along the beach!

Margie inside a nice booth at Yamaguchi market. It takes several hours to see ALL the booths at this enormous market!


Yum - this is the "food court" area & it smells delicious! It's still early, but difficult to resist these goodies being fresh fried on the large chrome cooker. I opted for sweet potato fries (standing up in the blue containers) - still warm!


Little fish being roasted over hot coals.


Below is where you drop the heads & bones . . .


Ah - more fish have been added to the grill. I'm taking pictures, but I'm really just getting warm . . . it's chilly this morning.

Lots of old & interesting things for sale on the ground, but I don't do "ground-level" very well.


Lots of rabbit garden sculptures for the Year of the Rabbit. This vendor is happy to pose for me.


Volcanic rocks maybe? along with some old blowtorches (we have a couple) and a beautiful roof ornament fish.


Oh - look at this Samurai costume! They're always VERY expensive! Of course, they are becoming more and more rare . . .


Margie & Samurai . . . As you can see this Samurai was not very tall.

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We ran into Jake & son Owen - Pam's here somewhere . . .


Owen playing hide & seek! Hey - where's your sunglasses, Little Dude?


Look what's holding up the lid of this old phonograph . . .


I never can resist the plant area, but I didn't buy any today.


Oh, ume (plum) trees in bloom!

Perfect ume (plum) blossoms!


Stan's packing our treasures on my bike as we prepare to leave. His bike is the "Giant" with the blue basket cover.


Riding out of the park, I see red camellia hedges along the sidewalk.


Closeup of the camellia blossoms.


It's lunchtime, so after a few blocks out on the wide, divided street, we found a little coffee shop that looks promising . . .

Pink camellias in front of the restaurant. Camellias are Japan's most prolific winter flower.


Inside, no English menu, but our waitress spoke a little English, and we spoke enough Japanese to order successfully. This is Stan's curry lunch. I'm not a curry fan, but he said it was delicious!


I ordered a "lunch set special" and I really scored! There are at least 16 different items/tastes on this fried pork cutlet (tonkatsu) lunch set, and everything was delicious! Click on the photo (to get a closer look) - can you see the white item at about 3PM, just above the little silver container of sweet beans?


It's a bunny made from an apple slice - in honor of the Year of the Rabbit! The entire lunch for both of us, including fresh-brewed hot coffee, was about $12.


Back out on the street, we can see the towers (and hear the beautiful chimes!) from Xavier Memorial Church. It's a Catholic church - not something you expect to see so prominently featured in this Buddhist / Shinto country. Read more about it's fascinating history HERE!

Manhole cover in Yamaguchi featuring Lantern Festival. Every town has different designs.


We're riding our bikes into the main downtown shopping area near the train station. Several vendors are selling items along the street.


Little girl helping in her mother's booth, shows me her string game - some things are the very same around the world!


We found the covered shopping street - every city has one! This young man was selling fresh sushi from his cart & he laughed when I asked him it was made out of tiger meat!


Looking up inside the shopping street in Yamaguchi. The stained glass windows likely represent Xavier's Memorial Church - a famous landmark here.

Beautiful little boy hanging out with his Grampa inside the shopping mall.


Look at the size of these blossoms in front of a coffee shop!


We're stopping to park our bikes & go into this department store.


Candy counter on main floor is all ready for Valentine's Day. Read about how this holiday is different in Japan RIGHT HERE!


Look at these amazingly beautiful chocolate hearts & other yummy candies!

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Beautiful chocolate hearts.


During a potty stop, I've found the "extra" roll of TP that shows a new-style center - made from crinkled paper instead of cardboard. Great idea!


Back in the first floor grocery area, we found some beautiful apples.


Oh look! Fresh-cooked foods ready to go . . .


Yummy BBQ pork?

More yummy prepared foods to go. Looks like fried shrimp & oyster at bottom.


In the fish department, beautifully packages ready to travel.


Ah - the bakery department! Our favorite . . .


Of course we had to purchase a few goodies to take home.


Look at these heart-shaped pastries for Valentine's!

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