Fall Bazaar and Off to Hiroshima for a Carps Game! 10/22/11

Saturday morning and we're checking out the Fall Bazaar inside the sports court at the IronWorks Gym. It's just not as much fun anymore being inside the gym instead of at the old Mac Dome - so perfect for the bazaar - but alas, it's been torn down in the name of progress . . . and to make matters worse, it's VERY HOT & steamy inside this morning since it's been raining - NO ventilation. Well, this won't take long! (click photo for a closer look)


I bought a few earrings from Ikue, but saw nothing else I could NOT live without.


After pedaling home to change clothes, we're off on the train to Hiroshima - passing a parked freight train. Tonight at 6 PM we're attending the Hiroshima Carps professional baseball game, so we're going up early to shop & eat.


Stan's excited & has brought his noisemaker from the last game he attended. When you shake it or strike it, it sounds like hands clapping. We're hoping to find more stuff before the game and we're both wearing red.


Goldenrod blooming alongside the track. It always reminds me of Alabama. It used to be the State Flower when we were children, but later was changed to the camellia. I still think it's beautiful though & it's in bloom everywhere right now.


Persimmon trees are loaded with the sweet fruit right now. Japan's persimmon is extremely sweet and nutritious. Read more HERE!


These HS girls were very friendly and sat down in front of us on the train. They wanted to practice their English and were excited when they found out that Stan is a HS teacher. They're in school uniform because most HS students attend at least a half-day on Saturday. The girl on the left had a bag that featured Dubai and a photo pin of the President of UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. I had to ask her who he was . . . She said she had visited Dubai and liked it very much. I thought that was interesting.


And these 3 were their friends standing nearby. All such cute & friendly young women!


Getting off the streetcar at Hondori (Main Street) stop for the Hondori Street covered shopping area. We're headed to Andersen's Bakery for lunch, which is just a block or so down the street. It's a beautiful historic building that is one of the few that survived the atomic bomb in 1945. The first floor houses not only the huge bakery, but floral shop, deli, wine, etc, as well as a small restaurant where we're eating today. Of course the second floor has many restaurants - all kinds of cuisine available there. But we just wanted a light sandwich.


My BLT (with egg) club - yum! And of course iced cafe latte.


Stan has the salmon & avocado - both are on bakery bread & yummy.


Back out on Hondori Street . . . Well - I don't remember seeing THIS store before! Another new one . . . wonder what they sell???


And a little further down I look up and see a sign for The Shack - must be up on a higher floor. They used to be across the street from Molly Malone's but we heard it moved - that whole building is undergoing renovations - but we didn't know where. Now we do! They have really FABULOUS hamburgers at The Shack.


We've taken a left turn out of the covered street down a narrow little street - looks interesting. Look at this beautiful floral shop.


Stan was intrigued with this carved pumpkin. We don't usually see orange colored pumpkins - especially this large - in Japan. It's been carved from the bottom instead of the top, and is sitting over a glass with candle inside.


And it's expensive! 5,250 yen which is $69.05 - yikes!