Pearls & Prose

The Imperial Palace is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. We couldn’t get very close because the Emperor was in residence. There were a lot of guards everywhere too.

I was able to get this shot, though.

We were able to wander around the grounds, however. I’m not sure what this tree is, but I think it might be a Kwanzan cherry tree. Those were the only cherry blossoms we saw, alas.

One of the gates around the palace.

The bark looks like a Kwanzan Cherry tree, but those are not Kwanzan blossoms.

These buildings were very close to the Palace.

Not sure what this building is used for.

The grounds were really lovely.

Things were just beginning to bloom.

Lots of stonework.

I suspect this wisteria was recently planted.

This wall was massive.

More stone walls.

And last, some doors to the Palace.

I’m sorry I’ve been absent, I’m working on a memoir of travels through the Middle East and Europe. Luckily I kept a diary of that time.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

My friend and I visited a local flower market and it was incredible. I think it’s safe to say we were in “hog heaven.”

Gold ranunculus

Blue and cream hydrangeas

Pink peonies. They don’t grow here so we have to import them. Trader Joe’s always has a few.

A beautiful yellow bouquet.

I love the color of these blue hyacinths.

They actually had lilacs! It’s so rare to see them in California. They smelled heavenly.

I have no idea what these little buds are. They used them a lot in bouquets.

Purple dahlias

Salmon-colored dahlias.

Some yellowish and pink ranunculus

Yellow ranunculus. If you think typing “ranunculus” is easy, you would be wrong, ha ha.

Pinkish-purple lisianthus

Aren’t these tulips so beautiful? I love the colors.

Great weekend, everyone….

{carole}

According to Wiki, the name Akihabara is a shortening of Akibagahara, which comes from Akiba, named after a fire-controlling deity of a firefighting shrine built after the area was destroyed by a fire in 1869. Akihabara gained the nickname Akihabara Electric Town, shortly after World War II for being a major shopping center for household electronic goods and the post-war black market.

I only have one photo of the area because the wind and rain blew out my cheap umbrella. Thank heaven I had a hood or I would have been done for.

Hope you’re having a good weekend, everyone….

{carole}

Of course we had to do the world-famous Shibuya Crossing. It was absolutely insane, but it somehow worked. I have never seen so many people in a crosswalk.

Look at all those people….

There were really modern buildings around the crossing.

And lots of shops.

And more shops….

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

Ueno Park is a large public park in the Ueno district of Taito, Tokyo. The park was established in 1873 on lands formerly belonging to the temple of Kan’ei-ji. It was one of the country’s first public parks. The park was founded following the Western example, as part of the borrowing and assimilation of international practices that characterizes the early Meiji period.

How sweet are these paddleboats? We didn’t have time to do that because we had so many things to see that day. Believe me, we were at a breakneck pace.

Probably the cutest paddleboats I’ve ever seen.

Of course there were food vendors. I have never eaten octopus and probably never will.

These were for writing wishes or prayers.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

I was very careful to not photograph people with their faces showing.

They’re such an elegant couple, aren’t they? I noticed a lot of kimonos whenever we went to temples.

I got permission to photograph these lovely teenagers. Only one of them is facing the camera and she was fine with it. Aren’t the kimonos beautiful?

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

We had such a beautiful day at the Askusa Market.

The Asakusa Market was extremely crowded, as you can see. And we were there on a weekday! You just had to move with the crowd. Not sure why the sky is showing up as white here.

They had everything.

Cute crane chopstick rests.

I’m not sure what this is, and I don’t think I wanna know.

I think these may be some kind of green onions?

Shouro is sweet red soybeans. It’s used as a snack.

There were also restaurants.

And cool colorful shops.

Where you could buy cute drawstring bags.

Another food place.

Strawberries were very popular.

The strawberries were huge.

Another mystery vegetable.

Such a cute bento box.

And finally, different kinds of baked goods.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}

This is one of my favorite photos of 2024. I’m so happy the sun was hitting the underside of the arch right when I took the shot. If ever you get the chance to see Arches National Park, I recommend it highly.

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}