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Cute "Baby on Board" sign on the car in front of us. Makes us think of Sherri & David - yay! A new grandbaby is coming in 2012 ! ! ! ! And we can't wait to meet #6 . . .
Bummer! It's raining as we continue along Rt 2 toward Miyajima, but I see a little blue sky. Guess this is what "Party Cloudy" means.
Interesting roof decoration on a beautiful tile roof as we're stopped for a light.
See the little happy face?
Coming out of a tunnel into sunlight! Many of the trees are still showing bright Autumn colors.
And here we are at the ferry landing, but we're going straight ahead toward the large parking lot to park & unload our bicycles first. Not much traffic today, although it's a National Holiday - the Emperor's Birthday - so it only took us 35-40 minutes to drive here. The train is much faster, but we can't take our bicycles on the train . . .
Santa-san on the Miyajima Ferry . . . you can just see the bright orange torii gate to his right behind him.
Misty clouds as I look back toward the mainland. Maybe it will be nicer weather on the island.
Santa-san coming down the stairs on the ferry. He posed with LOTS of families during the short ferry ride.
Sign on door that goes inside the heated cabin on the ferry.
Her smile is why Stan enjoys being Santa-san during Christmas time. Santas are not very common here - so it's a really BIG deal . . .
He drew a crowd wherever we went & he gave out over 200 candy canes that day. But even after he ran out, the children (and parents!) still loved him, and were happy to shake his hand!
Me inside the restaurant where we took a short lunch break. It's VERY cold today, so I'm wearing my warm fur scarf.
Stan had curry & rice and fried rice for me - hot comfort food on a cold day.
Oops - blurry (sorry) but Stan HAD to try "Lemon Squash" when he saw it on the menu because they talk about it on "Around the World in 80 Days" - one of his favorite movies.
Hot cafe au lait for me.
Back out on the street.
I love this shot with the bright pagoda behind him!
Buddha baby . . .
Santa-san at our favorite oyster stand. Yum!
And posing inside the Miyajima cookie factory where we stopped to warm up & potty.
I'm holding a warm cookie - which is really two pressed cakes, shaped like a maple leaf, with a gob of yummy chocolate inside. There are many flavors, but chocolate (of course!) is our favorite. Hot green tea is always provided free here as well. VERY nice way to warm up.
Beautiful orchids in the rest area near the toire' (potties).
The resting area had a beautiful view of an outdoor garden, but the pond is partially covered to protect the koi from the cold weather.
Souvenirs of Miyajima for sale inside the shop.
Back on the street with the huge stone torii behind.
And Santa-san under the colorful pagoda on the hill - outside our favorite coffee shop. After posing for hundreds of more photos, it's time to warm up again!
Yum! Cake & hot coffee . . .
A pile of oyster shells outside a restaurant as we head out again.
The sun is setting and we're working our way back toward the ferry, but we stopped at the famous orange torii for a "few" more photos . . . The tide is coming in, so it's "floating" again.
It's getting dark and the stone lanterns have turned on.
Rickshas nearby.
Even the deer want to get involved . . .
Lights have come on to light the Torii, and someone generously offers to take our picture. Yay!
Back on the ferry, these 2 little boys could just not get enough of Santa-san! They were SO excited . . .
My bike at the parking lot. It's time to load up & head for home.
Now the traffic is heavy, so it took us much longer to get home. Guess everyone is heading for home after a day off. Another big day for Santa-san . . .
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